Tesla Roadster Sport packs a little more punch for a lot more coin
Click above for a high-res gallery of the Tesla Roadster
With 150 Roadsters delivered to customers and another 1,100 people on the waiting list, Tesla decided now's the time to release a more performance oriented version its Elise-based EV. The Tesla Roadster Sport features a hand-wound stator that increases winding density to help eliminate resistance while increasing peak torque. In conjunction with a set of Yokohama Ultra High Performance tires (likely the same Advan A048s fitted to the Elise/Exige), Tesla claims a 0-60 time of 3.7 seconds – 0.2-seconds faster than the standard Roadster. The Roadster Sport also benefits from a few other Lotus-derived components, including adjustable dampers and anti-roll bars that can be tweaked to suit the driver's tastes.
Deliveries of the Roadster Sport will begin in late June, with a starting price of $128,500 in the US and €112,000 (excluding VAT) in Europe. Customers on the waiting list for their "base" Roadster have the option to upgrade to the Sport model, but if you're looking for more stick, a nice set of Ohlins, some aftermarket sway bars and a new set of tires could be had for considerably less than the $28,000 premium of the Sport model.
Gallery: Jason Calacanis' Tesla Roadster
PRESS RELEASE
SAN CARLOS, Calif.--Tesla Motors Inc. began taking orders today for the Roadster Sport, a high-performance sports car based on the world's leading all-electric, zero-emission vehicle.
The Roadster Sport does 0 to 60 mph in 3.7 seconds, compared with 3.9 seconds for the standard Roadster. It comes with a hand-wound stator and increased winding density for lower resistance and higher peak torque. In addition to Yokohama's Ultra High Performance tires, the Roadster Sport has improved suspension with adjustable dampers and anti-roll bars that will be tuned to the driver's preference.
The Roadster Sport starts at $128,500 in the United States and €112,000 (excluding VAT) in Europe. Deliveries begin in late June.
"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 is the first derivative of Tesla's proprietary, patented powertrain. San Carlos, Calif.-based Tesla plans to begin producing the all-electric, zero-emission Model S five-passenger sedan in 2011.
Tesla has delivered more than 150 Roadsters to customers, and about 1,100 people are on the waiting list. Customers who haven't taken delivery may upgrade to the Roadster Sport.
"The Roadster Sport embodies Tesla's spirit of continuous improvement," said CEO, Chairman and Product Architect Elon Musk. "The Roadster has been a great success, but no one at this company remains satisfied with the status quo."
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
Mike Z 2:39PM (1/11/2009)
One of Jeremy Clarkson's main issues with the roadster was the tires it came with.
Of course, these tires are likely to drop the range. I wonder how much.
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TurboAWD 2:44PM (1/11/2009)
No thanks, I'll take a better engineered Dodge Circuit over this Hollywood toy ANY DAY.
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Red 3:38PM (1/11/2009)
I'd like to see your proof of the Circuit being "better engineered", please. Thanks.
Hardcore 9:57PM (1/15/2009)
And I'd take a flying Delorean. Doesn't mean they make them....or ever will.
Ted 4:39PM (1/11/2009)
A hand wound stator is more efficient?? Logically i would have expected quite the opposite, surely a machine will always be able to position a length of wire more precisely & consistently compared with a human after a weekend on the booze!
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Chris M 6:28PM (1/11/2009)
I see what you mean. In the development of the Eliica electric car, their motor maker devised a special motor winding machine just to pack the windings in more tightly, thus improving performance.
Of course, Tesla is manufacturing their own motors and is using a different type of motor than those on the Eliica. Maybe this is a result of further tweaks, perhaps improved batteries, that will provide a bit more profit to Tesla, and a bit more exclusivity to some wealthy purchasers.
nick 7:14PM (1/11/2009)
I remember Tesla claiming that the Roadstar was a significant improvement upon from the Elise, and they shouldn't be considered the same car. However, this article makes it seems like all that Tesla did was cheapen up the Elise components and to get what comes with a Lotus you have to pay more!
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jake 1:03AM (1/12/2009)
I think they mean it's not a simple Elise conversion since they had to modify the chassis and have a whole new body, etc. And the standard Tesla have a lot of stuff standard which are options on the Elise (most of the comfort items). Also the acceleration is definitely no doubt better than an Elise, and then there's the EV aspect.
Adjustable dampers and anti-roll bars are also options on the Elise and Exige I believe.
Herm 11:05PM (1/11/2009)
A person can do a better job packing more copper into a motor than a machine, it does take experience.. but we are talking at most 5% more power, unless the motor winding machine was really bad.
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jake 12:51AM (1/12/2009)
http://mms.businesswire.com/bwapps/mediaserver/ViewMedia?mgid=167897&vid=5&download=1
They also released a picture with the press release which I have linked. There might be other ones too.
Seems like it comes with some unpainted carbon fiber.
Quite a bit more money for only a little bit more performance. But that's on par with a lot of the exotic cars like Ferraris and Lambos.
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jharlan 1:00AM (1/12/2009)
It's a nice toy for the extremely wealthy, but I wouldn't want it even if it was free.
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jake 1:00AM (1/12/2009)
I think they mean it's not a simple Elise conversion since they had to modify the chassis and have a whole new body, etc. And the standard Tesla have a lot of stuff standard which are options on the Elise (most of the comfort items). Also the acceleration is definitely no doubt better than an Elise, and then there's the EV aspect.
Adjustable dampers and anti-roll bars are also options on the Elise and Exige I believe.
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Gift Horse's Mouth 7:25PM (3/20/2009)
@ jharlan.
Fine. I'll take the free one you don't want.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Top_Gear_Test_Track
It got a pretty good time, right up there with more pricey exotics and that's not even the quicker, driver preference adjustable, Telsa Roadster Sport edition mentioned in this article.
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