With the ever popular Tesla Model S and Model X dominating the EV market and the more affordable Model 3 planned for next year, you would be forgiven for forgetting all about the electric carmaker's humble beginnings with the Tesla Roadster. Essentially, the Roadster was an electrified Lotus Elise that shared the lightweight sports car's components with Tesla's all-electric technology. This resulted in severe compromises to the handling, which of course was one of the main appeals of the nimble Elise.

However, the fact it was the first production all-electric car with a range of over 200 miles, not to mention the publicity gained from a legal dispute with Top Gear, paved the way for the manufacturer's future success in the EV market. Since then, rumors have been rife that a successor to the Roadster is happening, but now we have official confirmation from Tesla's co-founder Elon Musk via Twitter. In reply to a fan asking if we will be seeing a new Tesla Roadster, he simply said: "Some years away, but yes." Details are still thin on the ground other than that, but it's reassuring to learn that Tesla will continue to expand its EV range beyond the Model 3 next year.

Tesla's Nordic Countries Manager Peter Bardenfleth-Hansen has previously hinted that the new Roadster "will look a little different, a little faster, and a little bigger" and will have a new acceleration mode called "Maximum Plaid" referencing the sci-fi parody film Spaceballs. In "Ludicrous Mode," the Model S can reach 0-60 mph from a standstill in just just 2.5 seconds, making it the fastest sedan in production today. Should the new Roadster surpass this, it should be capable of outrunning the mighty McLaren P1. Who said electric cars were unexciting? The resurrected Roadster is expected to go on sale in 2019 (at the very earliest) and will most likely be based on the Model 3's platform.