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Way back in January, we told you about Tesla’s plans to build a more powerful, faster, more expensive version of its already plenty powerful, fast and expensive Roadster.
And, finally, here it is in proper production form: the Tesla Roadster Sport. Packing 288bhp – 40bhp more than the standard Tesla Roadster thanks to a new hand-wound stator (well, obviously) – it’ll hit 60mph in just 3.7 seconds, 0.2 seconds quicker than before.
Other upgrades include stickier Yokohama tyres – as seen on the Lotus Exige – along with adjustable anti-roll bars and dampers. Not that the standard Roadster is especially prone to rolling or, er, damp.
There’s also a new push-button gear selector to replace the normal Roadster’s aluminium shifter, plus a touch screen that tells you exactly how many barrels of oil you’ve saved by not driving a dirty petrol powered car.
Just call it the Smugometer…
Tesla charges up
More powerful version of Hollywood’s favourite all-electric car is here. Form a wealthy, smug queue
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What do you think?
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rraptor commented on this article
at 01:23 pm on 21 August 2009
wow first comment :) its my firt time
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Klasco commented on this article
at 01:54 pm on 21 August 2009
But more importantly how long will the power last
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sweetlizard commented on this article
at 01:55 pm on 21 August 2009
I'm still a bit worry about the batteries... How long wil it run before replacing them? And as seen with recent incident with iPhones, lithium-ion batteries really don't like heat... which is a problem when you have thousands of them... I'm expecting a tesla to burst into flame sooner or later.
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TennantsLager commented on this article
at 02:07 pm on 21 August 2009
And that's the crux of the matter. I'm sure you *could* make an electric car as fast as our beloved petrol powered monster supercars, but if it doesn't have the range, and the charge up time is measured in hours rather than minutes...then what's the point? If electric cars are ever to become commercially viable rather than pure technical exercises then they have to be comparable in all aspects of performance & convenience to the existing fossil fuel models, and indeed the anticipated hydrogen fuel cell machines.
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Afaque commented on this article
at 03:19 pm on 21 August 2009
I'ld love to see the Tesla in a race. Something like the LeMans....
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