Ferrari CEO Praises Tesla Roadster, Rates Presentation 10/10
Benedetto Vigna cited the Roadster as proof that bold innovation remains possible in the mature automotive industry.
Ferrari CEO Benedetto Vigna awarded Tesla’s new Roadster presentation a perfect score, citing its technological ambition and daring design as a wake-up call for the established automotive world.
What Happened
Speaking remotely from India at an automotive conference hosted by Italian magazine Quattroruote in Milan, Vigna rated Tesla’s Roadster event a 10 out of 10 for both technology and presentation. According to Reuters, Vigna praised the redesign as evidence that "there’s still a lot to be done" in the industry. "We have to keep dreaming," Vigna said. "As a European, thank you for showing us how that, even in an old world, you can still innovate and dare." The praise followed a demonstration where the Roadster drove upside down on an inverted ramp, performed a kickflip over Tesla’s vehicle lineup, and achieved a 0-60 mph time of 0.81 seconds using cold-gas thrusters developed with SpaceX. The vehicle features 1 MW of power and a suction fan system for downforce that enables the upside-down driving capability.
Why It Matters
The endorsement from the head of Ferrari, a direct competitor in the high-performance sector, highlights a shift in how legacy automakers view Tesla’s engineering capabilities. While Wall Street remained cautious due to the Roadster’s production start being scheduled for 2028—years after its initial 2017 announcement—the design itself has moved significantly closer to traditional supercar aesthetics. The new model features a low, wedge-shaped silhouette and manual scissor doors, diverging from the curvy, "S3XY" design of the earlier concept. Vigna also noted that Ferrari’s own push for innovation, including its first fully electric vehicle, the Luce designed with former Apple executive Jony Ive, relied on external perspectives to rethink fundamental questions, a sentiment that mirrors his admiration for Tesla’s approach.
The Bottom Line
Tesla’s Roadster has secured high praise from a major rival, but practical competition remains distant as production is still two years away. The vehicle’s technical specifications and bold presentation have challenged the notion that the supercar segment is immune to disruptive innovation.
