New Tesla Roadster to hit 400km/h

Tesla has hijacked the world debut of its own Semi electric truck with the surprise debut of its second-generation Roadster.

And what a hijacking it was.

While the EV company is making big claims for its big Semi, the figures it's bandying about for its new Roadster are even more impressive.

How about a top speed of in excess of 400km/h, 0-100km/h in 2.0sec and a quarter-mile in 8.9sec?

Indeed, the company claims this is not only the first production car to break the 9.0sec standing quarter benchmark but that it will be the world's fastest production car when it arrives in 2020.

Bugatti may argue that point...

The new Roadster is also claiming a driving range approaching 1000km and a 0-100mph (160km/h) acceleration time of 4.2sec.

Powering the Tesla Roadster v2.0 is a total of three electric motors, one fore and two aft. This all-wheel drive set-up and an undisclosed (but no doubt astronomical) torque figure is the secret to the car's bonkers acceleration.

The claims are lofty, the design is futuristic, even the steering wheel looks like something from a science-fiction movie.

And you can place a deposit... Tesla is asking $US45,000 ($A59,500), which for US buyers will secure the car at its launch price of $US250,000 ($A330,000). First delivers will be in 2020, says the company.

At the live-streamed California launch of the new Tesla Semi big-rig this afternoon, the Roadster emerged from a trailer and stole the show.

Even company boss Elon Musk appeared to be more energised about the Tesla Roadster than his company's new zero-emissions long-haul truck, which is set to go on sale in some markets 2019.