Autoblog

Pics Aplenty: Tesla finally drops real images of Roadster Sport

Jeremy Korzeniewski — Thu, 20 Aug 2009 10:00:00 EST

Filed under: Convertible, Performance, Tesla, Electric

Tesla Roadster Sport - Click above for high-res image gallery

It's been seven months since Tesla first announced its intentions to build the Roadster Sport, a higher performing version of its electric sportscar. Seemingly many moons later, the Silicon Valley-based automaker has finally offered up some real high-res images of the EV along with more details explaining what makes the Sport extra special.

First and foremost, the Sport's hand-wound electric motor adds a bit more oomph to the already quick Roadster, taking off two-tenths of a second in the rush to 60 mph (it now checks in at just 3.7 seconds). Also included are bare carbon fiber hood louvers and rear spoiler, a push-button transmission selector to replace the aluminum shift knob and a central touch screen that displays estimated range along with the total number of oil barrels saved over a fossil-fueled automobile. That's worth the $20K price increase itself, don't 'cha think?

Gallery: Tesla Roadster Sport

[Source: Tesla]

Pics Aplenty: Tesla finally drops real images of Roadster Sport originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 20 Aug 2009 10:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Rumormill: 2010 Tesla Roadster gets upgrades including wifi connectivity

Sebastian Blanco — Fri, 10 Jul 2009 17:59:00 EST

Filed under: Hybrid, Green

Tesla Roadster Sport - Click above for high-res image gallery

While owners of the current Tesla Roadster get the benefit of driving their bad ass electric vehicle today, people who are on the list for a 2010 model will get a few benefits that make 2009 owners jealous. Tesla Motors Club member DrComputer wrote about "a conversation with Ted at corporate" that revealed some improvements to the new cars. A tipster sent in a similar list of upgrades. The upgrades include:

New power electronics module
Better cooling for the power electronics
Improved AC with variable speed fans
Built in WiFi cards that connect the Roadster to the Internet (unless you turn the feature off) and gives Tesla the ability to interact with the car remotely. Also, this could open the door to mobile phone apps that talk to the car.
Glove box locks when you lock the car (to leave it out with the top down)

Both sources mention the ability to switch vehicle performance modes - from Range to Standard or Performance (but not back to Range) - with the key instead of needing to change modes via the screen. There has been no official confirmation about these upgrades, but none of them would surprise us if they were true. Thanks to Dan for the tip!

Gallery: Tesla Roadster Sport

[Source: Tesla Motors Club | Photo by JUNG YEON-JE/AFP/Getty]

Rumormill: 2010 Tesla Roadster gets upgrades including wifi connectivity originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 10 Jul 2009 17:59:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Tesla Roadster Sport packs a little more punch for a lot more coin

Damon Lavrinc — Sun, 11 Jan 2009 12:57:00 EST

Filed under: Convertible, Hybrid, Green

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

Continue reading Tesla Roadster Sport packs a little more punch for a lot more coin

Tesla Roadster Sport packs a little more punch for a lot more coin originally appeared on Autoblog on Sun, 11 Jan 2009 12:57:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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