Tire Tracks: The Tesla Roadster

It’s a roadster and it’s electric, so that means it only gets two seats. While not really the quintessential grocery-getter (oh noooo), it looks cool and has a claimed speed of over 130 mph. Maybe this whole running out of gas thing isn’t the end the world after all.

When we think of electric cars we think of cars that look like they have a tampon compartment:

But get a load of this emm-effer:

Sleek lines and modern styling impresses even the casual viewer. If you didn’t know it, you would never think it was battery powered. Just like that time you blindfolded your ex-girlfriend... but we won't go into that.

The Tesla features a clean and uncluttered instrument cluster (unlike this sentence). We haven’t sat in one (neither has anyone else really) so we can’t tell you if it’s cramped or spacious. It looks OK and features a satellite navigation device (though what car doesn’t these days).

Is this the flux capacitor? Oh, no it’s where you plug your car in for the night. It's both very sci-fi and very earth-friendly, the latter being ever-increasingly popular.

 

While super-cool and friendly to Mother Earth, the (gulp) $92,000 price tag is a bit steep. But it looks almost like a Ferrari so we still want one, or at least want to drive one.  Some notable owners include Arnold Schwarzenegger, George Clooney and musician will.i.am. Not that impressive of a roster... but good enough. I'll be totally convinced as soon as F1 Drivers start getting 'em.

So what are the chances of you seeing one in your garage? About as likely as us trying to figure out the "station-to-wheel" fuel efficiency equation. Yeah, right.

  

Vital Stats:

Manufacturer	Tesla Motors
Production	2007-present
Country of origin	Lotus factory in Hethel, England
Class	Roadster
Body style	2-Seat convertible
Layout	Rear Mid-engine, Rear-wheel drive
Engine	3-phase, 4-pole AC induction motor
Transmission	Magna two-speed electro-hydraulic sequential manual
Wheelbase	2352 mm / 92.6 in.
Length	3946 mm / 155.4 in.
Width	1873 mm / 73.7 in. (incl. mirrors)
Height	1127 mm / 44.4 in.
Track	1464 mm / 57.6 in. (front), 1499 mm / 59.0 in. (rear)
Top Speed	130mph
Fuel capacity	56kWh (200 miles / 322 km)