2009 Tesla Roadster Sports unveiled
January 13, 2009 by George Skentzos
Tesla Motors has introduced a new high-performance Roadster Sport edition based on the world’s leading all-electric, zero-emission vehicle – the Tesla Roadster.
Despite lacking a combustion engine, the Roadster Sport is by now means a slouch, launching from zero to 100km/h in just under four seconds.
The Sport model uses a hand-wound stator and increased winding density for lower resistance and higher peak torque.
Agility has also been improved with Yokohama’s Ultra High Performance tyres and improved suspension with adjustable dampers and anti-roll bars that will be tuned to the driver’s preference.
“This car can beat nearly anything in its price class – yet it is twice as efficient as compact hybrid sedans,” said Michael van der Sande, Tesla’s senior vice president of global sales, service and marketing. “If you refuse to compromise on performance or the environment, the Roadster Sport is your only option.”
The Roadster Sport starts at $128,500 in the United States, with Tesla offering the more than 1,100 people currently on the waiting list an option to upgrade to the new model.
The Californian-based company also plans to begin producing the all-electric, zero-emssion Model S five-passenger sedan in 2011.
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I would really like a Tesla Roadster but they aren’t on sale in the UK yet. I don’t think batteries are the way forward but I don’t really care with this car. It has good range, great performance and from the reviews I’ve read for it, it’s almost as good as the Lotus that it’s based on. It is very expensive but I don’t care. People complain about the price of these compared to a Lotus but at least Tesla has given it performance figures to match.
By the way CA, it’s zero pipe emissions, not zero emissions – the electricity plant will still put out so much for every time you charge it.
Alex – German Auto Experts Brabus who are more well known for their work on Merc-Benz’s have just created their own version of the Tesla Roadster.. which goes to show that Hybrids can be environemtally friendly [initially] look good and be fun to drive
Finally ‘eco’ cars that look the part. Its a shame it has taken so long for this technology to come to the fore, but there can be only better to come.
We are in the midst of merely a trickle, and within a few short years the flood gates will open with cars of this type at a more affordable price.
Good for the environment….? Well that is another debate, but less reliance on petrol cannot be a bad thing.
Hello Alex (again)
Please also read Clarkson’s review of the Tesla in The Times Driving web site.
John
awesome car, can’t wait to get one. although yes it will still pollute via the electricity plant, the efficiency of a coal power plant Vs a petrol car CANNOT be compared, coal plant is more efficient by mega proportions. so yeah it still pollutes, just a huge amount less.
I would still rathr have a might HSV!!!! bigger engine and cheaper and faster!!!111!!!
“HSV … cheaper and faster!”
Your not wrong the’re faster, just look how quick they depreciate!! I think my sons plastic wiggles car holds better residual.
A HSV being faster? What HSV goes from 0-100km/hr in under 4 seconds?
To John, I read that the other day. I think the thing is that you can’t go with Clarkson all the time. I’ll admit that I often do but I think the Teslas they had at Top Gear were a fluke because I have read reviews where they got the full range quite a few times and had no reliability problems. I think he was also wrong about what he said about how it drove because once again, many other have said the opposite. I think it was just bad luck and I think I’ll go against him this time.
Alex, i’d agree with you there because Clarkson really is more about being entertaining. But his point about cornering compared to the Elise would be totally valid. But also consider the pounding TGUK would have given the Tesla compared to what it would recieve from a normal driver. But here it is on youtube..
au. youtube. com/watch?v=4O1m33bLoW0
An awesome car, so want one!
Less relience on petrol is a good start, but we need the factories and other transportation to convert to other energy sources so our children and childrens children won’t be too pressured to change the way they live, just because of us and everyone that screwed up the planet before us.