Body style: Convertible (spider/spyder, cabrio/cabriolet, drop/open/soft top)
Segment: Roadster & Convertible
Production years: 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012
This was the firestarter of the electric car revolution. It wasn't the ignition plug since it had none of those: only an electric motor and 4000 cells formed into a battery.
In the dawn of the XIX-th century, the battle between the electric cars and gasoline-powered ones, the latter prevailed. Fast forward a century, the things looked way different, and the American car-company Tesla came with a new idea. That was the 2008 Tesla roadster.
It took the lightest chassis on the market from a Lotus Elise. The little Roadster seemed perfect for the job. The bodywork was adapted. It was still sleek and aerodynamic, with a Targa-style convertible system. In the front bumper, Tesla installed a wide grille needed to cool the battery packs and the engine. Unlike the Elise, it didn't feature side-intakes behind the doors since there was no internal combustion engine to cool it.
The Roadster's interior was very minimalist. A dashboard, a pair of seats, an air-conditioning unit, and a sound system were all the interior equipment. Some metallic parts were still exposed, like in a Lotus Elise. There were even less sound-deadening materials since the electric motor was very silent, and there was no gearbox. The instrument cluster featured two analog dials with a tachometer that showed up to 13.000 rpm. A gauge showed the battery charging status.
The Tesla Roadster faced a few problems when it was launched because the transmission failed. After the problems were fixed and the little open-top vehicle proved its worthiness, the orders started to pile-up, and the waiting line began to be longer. The 0 to 60 mph (0-97 kph) acceleration time was under 4 seconds, and that was faster than any supercar from that era.
ENGINE SPECS - AC induction 1AT (248 HP) | |
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Cylinders: | 375 volt AC induction air-cooled electric motor with variable frequency drive |
Power: | 185 KW @ 4500-8500 RPM 248 HP @ 4500-8500 RPM 248 BHP @ 4500-8500 RPM |
Torque: | 276 lb-ft @ 0-4500 RPM 374 Nm @ 0-4500 RPM |
Fuel System: | AC induction |
Fuel: | Electric |
PERFORMANCE SPECS | |
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Top Speed: | 130 mph (209 km/h) |
Acceleration 0-62 Mph (0-100 kph): | 4 s |
TRANSMISSION SPECS | |
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Drive Type: | Rear Wheel Drive |
Gearbox: | Single Speed |
BRAKES SPECS | |
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Front: | Ventilated Discs |
Rear: | Ventilated Discs |
TIRES SPECS | |
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Tire Size: | 175/55 R16 (front) - 225/45 R17 (rear) |
DIMENSIONS | |
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Length: | 155.4 in (3947 mm) |
Width: | 72.9 in (1852 mm) |
Height: | 44.3 in (1125 mm) |
Front/rear Track: | 57.7/59 in (1,466/1,499 mm) |
Wheelbase: | 92.6 in (2352 mm) |
WEIGHT SPECS | |
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Unladen Weight: | 2723 lbs (1235 kg) |