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Convoy of Tesla Roadsters in California commemorates 500th delivery [w/VIDEO]
UPDATE: Added Speed and Motion HD Video after the jump
Just what do you call a gathering of 30 or so Tesla Roadsters all in one place? A gaggle? A flock? After taking a look at the photos of such an event from our friends at Speed and Motion, we'll go with "convoy." This crowd was brought together to commemorate the one-year anniversary of Tesla's first retail store and the delivery of the 500th Tesla Roadster, meaning that the cars you see in the pictures below represent less than one tenth of total Roadster production so far. Elliot from Speed and Motion describes the experience this way:
[Source: Speed and Motion]
Videos:
PRESS RELEASE:
Tesla Motors' "Roadster Rally" to Commemorate 500th Delivery and Anniversary of First Retail Store
WEST LOS ANGELES, Calif. - (Business Wire) Tesla Motors will host a road rally Saturday to commemorate the electric vehicle manufacturer's 500th Roadster delivery and the one-year anniversary of its first retail store.
Several dozen Tesla owners are expected to participate in event, which will begin at 10 a.m. at Tesla's showroom in West Los Angeles. Owners and their invited guests will then travel a scenic mountain route to Malibu for a barbecue at a Greener Pasture Ranch, a Tesla customer's private home.
The 60-mile drive will likely be the largest gathering of Tesla Roadsters on public streets. It's expected to attract eco-conscious sports car buffs, EV enthusiasts, and the elite Roadster Club members from the region.
It's also an important customer appreciation event for Tesla, which delivered its 500th Roadster last weekend.
"People who buy Roadsters are getting a superlative sports car that drives more like a performance jet than a car – and they are supporting a new American automaker committed to building well designed, high performance vehicles with a level of efficiency far greater than any other automaker in the world," said Jeremy Snyder, Tesla's General Manager for the South Western Territory. "We're hosting this event to say thank you to our owners and stay engaged with our passionate community of customers."
In addition to the West Los Angeles store, which opened a year ago, Tesla has a showroom in Menlo Park, Calif., in the heart of Silicon Valley. The company is scheduled to open regional sales and service centers this summer in New York, Chicago, London, Seattle, Miami, Washington, Monaco and Munich.
San Carlos, Calif.-based Tesla is the only production automaker selling highway-capable EVs in the United States or Europe. The Roadster beats nearly every other car in acceleration yet is twice as energy efficient as a Toyota Prius. It costs roughly $4 to refuel and can be completely recharged in as little as 3.5 hours.
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Tesla Roadster convoy - Click above for a high-res image gallery
Just what do you call a gathering of 30 or so Tesla Roadsters all in one place? A gaggle? A flock? After taking a look at the photos of such an event from our friends at Speed and Motion, we'll go with "convoy." This crowd was brought together to commemorate the one-year anniversary of Tesla's first retail store and the delivery of the 500th Tesla Roadster, meaning that the cars you see in the pictures below represent less than one tenth of total Roadster production so far. Elliot from Speed and Motion describes the experience this way:
What a treat it was to experience 60 miles along the streets and freeways of LA including a run through the scenic Malibu canyons. What surprised me was how quick (0-to-60 mph acceleration of 3.9 seconds) and agile in the corners this electric vehicle really is on the road. We made a pit stop at the Rock Store before heading over to for a wonderful for a barbecue at Greener Pasture Ranch, a Tesla customer's private home.See the rest of the photos here and be sure to click past the break for a couple of videos that were taken during the event along with the official press release.
Riding in these cars is so peaceful and tranquil. It sure was a change from the loud and wild exotic cars that we are used to experiencing here at speedandmotion! One thing I can say for sure is the owners are such a spirited and lively group, not to mention car aficionados at heart.
Gallery: Convoy of 50 Tesla Roadsters
[Source: Speed and Motion]
Videos:
PRESS RELEASE:
Tesla Motors' "Roadster Rally" to Commemorate 500th Delivery and Anniversary of First Retail Store
WEST LOS ANGELES, Calif. - (Business Wire) Tesla Motors will host a road rally Saturday to commemorate the electric vehicle manufacturer's 500th Roadster delivery and the one-year anniversary of its first retail store.
Several dozen Tesla owners are expected to participate in event, which will begin at 10 a.m. at Tesla's showroom in West Los Angeles. Owners and their invited guests will then travel a scenic mountain route to Malibu for a barbecue at a Greener Pasture Ranch, a Tesla customer's private home.
The 60-mile drive will likely be the largest gathering of Tesla Roadsters on public streets. It's expected to attract eco-conscious sports car buffs, EV enthusiasts, and the elite Roadster Club members from the region.
It's also an important customer appreciation event for Tesla, which delivered its 500th Roadster last weekend.
"People who buy Roadsters are getting a superlative sports car that drives more like a performance jet than a car – and they are supporting a new American automaker committed to building well designed, high performance vehicles with a level of efficiency far greater than any other automaker in the world," said Jeremy Snyder, Tesla's General Manager for the South Western Territory. "We're hosting this event to say thank you to our owners and stay engaged with our passionate community of customers."
In addition to the West Los Angeles store, which opened a year ago, Tesla has a showroom in Menlo Park, Calif., in the heart of Silicon Valley. The company is scheduled to open regional sales and service centers this summer in New York, Chicago, London, Seattle, Miami, Washington, Monaco and Munich.
San Carlos, Calif.-based Tesla is the only production automaker selling highway-capable EVs in the United States or Europe. The Roadster beats nearly every other car in acceleration yet is twice as energy efficient as a Toyota Prius. It costs roughly $4 to refuel and can be completely recharged in as little as 3.5 hours.
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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 2)
tigerinca 1:35PM (6/09/2009)
Pack...as in battery pack! :)
Reply
TigerMil 1:39PM (6/09/2009)
A pack of (packs) is redundant...but nice choice!
Jake 1:35PM (6/09/2009)
Were they all on a convoy back for a recall?
Reply
TigerMil 1:38PM (6/09/2009)
The picture doesn't show the semitrailer-mounted 5MW turbine generator to recharge all these toys.
TigerMil 1:36PM (6/09/2009)
A Tinkle of Teslas.....
Reply
Berto 1:38PM (6/09/2009)
I love these roadsters.
I have had the opportunity to see a couple just take off in front of me, which is really awesome and incredibly silent.
I remember always seeing a light blue one around Berkeley, which was a nice change from the other silent cars around that plague its streets.
Reply
Redeemed 1:40PM (6/09/2009)
Silent cars won't last. The government is going to set minimum noise level requirements.
It appears silent cars pose a danger to pedestrians, so the argument goes.
TigerMil 1:46PM (6/09/2009)
So what...the quieter the better. Darwinian selection for dumb pedestrians who step in front of cars outside of marked or even unmarked intersections.
Besides, those itty-bitty Italian air horns work pretty good...and I understand some companies are working on motor sounds....I vote for Bicycle-playing-cards-on-bicycle spokes as the signature sound for the Tesla!
Motor_Yakuza 1:38PM (6/09/2009)
Tesla is growing nice. But it need to do it faster. Hope Daimler won't kill 'em like they did with Chrysler.
Reply
Farmboy 1:47PM (6/09/2009)
So is that where the only owner of Tesla cars keeps them?
Reply
TigerMil 1:43PM (6/09/2009)
I sure to hell wouldn't describe it as more of a performance jet than a car. There are numbers and a quite well described performance envelope in performance jets, much less military jets, that require a rather more obsessive attention to detail, akin to OCD, than driving a Tesla roadster.
C'mon guys...it's just a car, built on a Lotus chassis, albeit the beginning of a performance electric car with its attendant limitations.
Maybe Tesla could license Saab trademark...then they would truly be Born From Jets.
Reply
dukeisduke 1:44PM (6/09/2009)
I'd call it three million dollars. Cha-ching!
Reply
dukeisduke 1:45PM (6/09/2009)
Did the band Tesla perform?
Reply
phil.gappa 2:20PM (6/09/2009)
Now I just need Letterman's money to buy one.
Reply
IOMTT 2:27PM (6/09/2009)
I can not get excited about cars without a mechanical symphony. I have no amount of enthusiasm for electric vehicles. Sorry.
Reply
patrick clement 2:36PM (6/09/2009)
Make mine with a m3 v8, electric cars would not do it for me, as a fun car, it is just fast with no soul, this would get old fast.
Reply
dsharp23 3:24PM (6/09/2009)
ditto
Carlos 2:57PM (6/09/2009)
I like the green one
Reply
Erik 4:00PM (6/09/2009)
60 miles? Wow, that's pushing your luck. Hope "Greener Pasture Ranch" has a whole lot of outlets. Would hate to see their power bill this month!
Reply
Marc-O 4:31PM (6/09/2009)
How's 60 miles even remotely pushing your luck in a Roadster ? C'm'on now...