We Need to Talk About the Tesla Roadster's Wipers

From Road & Track

Last night, Tesla shocked everyone by revealing its new Roadster. Nobody expected to see it at the reveal of the Tesla Semi, and there was definitely no expectation of the specs that were announced: a 200 kWh battery pack that provides 620 miles of range, gets it to 60 in 1.9 seconds and 100 in 4.2, runs the quarter-mile in 8.9, and can hit a top speed of at least 250 mph. It'll cost $200,000.

And look at it, it's gorgeous, sleek and low. That's why Tesla is often thought of as the Apple of automakers. And, like the camera bump on iPhones, Tesla found a way to put a wart on the exterior of the Roadster. Check out the photo below, tweeted by Fox News's car guy and friend of R&T Gary Gastelu and on Instagram from Roadshow's Tim Stevens:

Look at that wiper! It's huuuuuuuge. And, conveniently, it wasn't noticed in the press photos because the car Tesla photographed didn't have a wiper on it.

When you look at that, you wonder what the designers were thinking. Were they told at the last second that windshield wipers are required on cars? Why isn't there one that goes right up the center of the windshield, race car style? What about lasers? Why didn't Elon insist on lasers? Or speed? Why not just say the car is quick enough to shed all the water from its windshield under acceleration?

We've asked Tesla if the wiper is removable or a final design and will update when we hear back.

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