21 August 2009 - 12:00
Tesla charges up
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…
Want to comment on this?
But more importantly how long will the power last
You are about to report a comment for breaking our Code of Conduct.
Please note, we will not remove a post just because you disagree with what is being said.
This form can only be used for reporting a comment. If you want to contact us please go to our contact us page.
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.
You are about to report a comment for breaking our Code of Conduct.
Please note, we will not remove a post just because you disagree with what is being said.
This form can only be used for reporting a comment. If you want to contact us please go to our contact us page.
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.
You are about to report a comment for breaking our Code of Conduct.
Please note, we will not remove a post just because you disagree with what is being said.
This form can only be used for reporting a comment. If you want to contact us please go to our contact us page.
I'ld love to see the Tesla in a race. Something like the LeMans....
You are about to report a comment for breaking our Code of Conduct.
Please note, we will not remove a post just because you disagree with what is being said.
This form can only be used for reporting a comment. If you want to contact us please go to our contact us page.
Smugometer, nice. I always wondered what happens if you drive an electric car through a low water crossing. Does it die, or does it kill all the animals in the water? Anyone care to let one of the hosts try that one out? Or just use an intern and film it "for science."
You are about to report a comment for breaking our Code of Conduct.
Please note, we will not remove a post just because you disagree with what is being said.
This form can only be used for reporting a comment. If you want to contact us please go to our contact us page.
It would fail there. The only viable solution would be to lift the car, drop the batteries off, roll in a new, fresh pack and set off again. And have soemthing like 3 or 4 packs, that would charge in the time it took the active one to empty out. And you'd need to change the rules to allow that, since people could do the same with petrol tanks. But i doubt that'd be any faster than it already is.
You are about to report a comment for breaking our Code of Conduct.
Please note, we will not remove a post just because you disagree with what is being said.
This form can only be used for reporting a comment. If you want to contact us please go to our contact us page.
It would fail there. The only viable solution would be to lift the car, drop the batteries off, roll in a new, fresh pack and set off again. And have soemthing like 3 or 4 packs, that would charge in the time it took the active one to empty out. And you'd need to change the rules to allow that, since people could do the same with petrol tanks. But i doubt that'd be any faster than it already is.
You are about to report a comment for breaking our Code of Conduct.
Please note, we will not remove a post just because you disagree with what is being said.
This form can only be used for reporting a comment. If you want to contact us please go to our contact us page.
well it doesnt make any difference to me its still a rubbish car and its hiddious aswell!
You are about to report a comment for breaking our Code of Conduct.
Please note, we will not remove a post just because you disagree with what is being said.
This form can only be used for reporting a comment. If you want to contact us please go to our contact us page.
Wow, a sportier Tesla? That makes me wanna go out and buy... a Lotus Elise R.
You are about to report a comment for breaking our Code of Conduct.
Please note, we will not remove a post just because you disagree with what is being said.
This form can only be used for reporting a comment. If you want to contact us please go to our contact us page.
the Smugometer ... HAHAHAHAHA LOOOL .... I just signed to say whoever wrote this should get a promotion at topgear
You are about to report a comment for breaking our Code of Conduct.
Please note, we will not remove a post just because you disagree with what is being said.
This form can only be used for reporting a comment. If you want to contact us please go to our contact us page.
Just please put a soundtrack of a V8 or something in, noise is just as much part of the experience... and you won't hit any dogs. Greenies would not like you if you hit a dog.
You are about to report a comment for breaking our Code of Conduct.
Please note, we will not remove a post just because you disagree with what is being said.
This form can only be used for reporting a comment. If you want to contact us please go to our contact us page.
Hmmm... Um... I just relized... Thats a really pretty car.
You are about to report a comment for breaking our Code of Conduct.
Please note, we will not remove a post just because you disagree with what is being said.
This form can only be used for reporting a comment. If you want to contact us please go to our contact us page.
They didn't tell us the price! probarbly about 110-120 thousand pounds!!! That is more than a 911 Turbo Convertible (105,904, according to TG mag) and into Aston DB9 Volante territory (120,334) - but what would you rather have? Turbo Conv, DB9 Volante (my choice - the best looking and - although slower than Turbo and Tesla - 4.7 secs to 60 isn't exactly pedestrian...) or Tesla Roadster Sport?
You are about to report a comment for breaking our Code of Conduct.
Please note, we will not remove a post just because you disagree with what is being said.
This form can only be used for reporting a comment. If you want to contact us please go to our contact us page.
Still looks like an Evora (not really a bad thing), but I agree with Mikeado, it just makes me like my Lotus even more. Don't they realise at Tesla that all that they need to do, if they really want to make electric cars seem a proper option they just need to lower the bloody price. And anyway, I've said before, that Lotus' are soooooo much better. And they don't sound like something your granny would have instead of curtains.
You are about to report a comment for breaking our Code of Conduct.
Please note, we will not remove a post just because you disagree with what is being said.
This form can only be used for reporting a comment. If you want to contact us please go to our contact us page.
Its a GeeWiz w/ a lotus body and a electric motor from a food blender instead of the r/c car motor you get in the GeeWiz if you ask me. Its not smuggee like a prius, however, because people buy a prius so that they look like they made the sacrifice of buying an ugly car to save the planet while the tesla owner has the right to be smug about his/ her car b/c the tesla is saving adorable baby polarbears while killing your lotus at the lights
You are about to report a comment for breaking our Code of Conduct.
Please note, we will not remove a post just because you disagree with what is being said.
This form can only be used for reporting a comment. If you want to contact us please go to our contact us page.
Advertisement
Advertisement feature
Discover the new Insignia VXR
The Vauxhall Insignia VXR is in showrooms now. To read more about the car and for your chance to win an iPod Touch, click here.
Test Driven
.jpg?p=080926_03:52)
Audi TT Roadster
Forget the hyperdrive quattro versions. This honest, no frills TT is one of the best you can buy.
Advertisement
Open Car Bar
rraptor commented on this article
21 August 2009
wow first comment :) its my firt time
Link to this comment
Report this comment
You are about to report a comment for breaking our Code of Conduct.
Please note, we will not remove a post just because you disagree with what is being said.
This form can only be used for reporting a comment. If you want to contact us please go to our contact us page.