11/1/2014
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`Tesla Roadster road test
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`NEWS & OPINION
`
`ROAD TESTS
`5 MINS WITH.. KNOWLEDGE HUB
`Roadster 2.5 Sport
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`Tesla Roadster 2.5 Sport gallery
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`SUMMARY
`
`ROAD TEST
`
`By Will Dron July 18, 2011 5:23 PM
`
`A true electric supercar that’s
`made petrolheads sit up and take
`notice.
`
`Basic Stats
`
`Rating: 5 stars
`Availability: 2011
`Type: Pure Electric
`Range: 245 miles
`Power: 288 hp
`Top Speed: 125 mph
`0-60mph: 3.7 secs
`Weight: 1,235 kg
`Seats: Two
`Price: £102,895
`
`OVERVIEW
`
`The Tesla Roadster has been around since 2006 so it’s not exactly fresh off
`the blocks, but after launching TheChargingPoint.com at the end of February
`this year, we put it at the top of our road test wish list. They’re in short supply –
`just 1,700 examples have been made worldwide so far – and press demand is
`still high, but Tesla handed us the keys.
`
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`Tesla Roadster road test
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`The car we’ve tested is a Roadster 2.5 S – sportier than the base model, its
`3.7sec 0-60mph time and 245 miles of range per charge are the headline
`features. But how does it achieve those performance figures, is it actually any
`fun to drive and how practical is it in the real world? Here’s our official guide to
`everything you need to know about the Tesla Roadster 2.5 S...
`
`
`
`DESIGN
`
`The Roadster might be based on the Lotus Elise, but the body panels are
`unique to the Tesla – the shell has been modified to accommodate the
`batteries and powertrain, with the windshield being the most significant shared
`external component. No argument, though, that the Roadster is good looking,
`poised and purposeful.
`
`The huge and heavy battery pack has been snugly positioned just behind the
`driver and passenger seats in a stack, meaning the main bulk is centred in the
`monocoque chassis. That’s good for the car’s dynamics.
`
`The body is a carbon-fibre and aluminium construction designed to be strong
`yet light, with Tesla clearly aiming to maintain rigidity while minimising the
`impact of the extra weight of the batteries.
`
`As you’d expect, there’s a wide selection of colours on offer - we really liked
`our ‘Very Orange’ test car with the Tesla logo emblazoned along the sides in
`black, but other choices include Electric Blue, Racing Green, Radiant Red and
`Lightning Green. I think we must have missed the meeting where it was
`decided lightning was actually green.
`
`Halogen headlights and LED tail lights comes as standard.
`
`
`
`INTERIOR AND COMFORT
`
`Inside, there’s a surprising amount of room. Cramming my 6’5” (198cm) body
`into an Elise is a bit of a tight fit, but the Tesla is actually quite accommodating
`for a tall frame. There’s not a lot of adjustment in the driver’s seat – it slides
`backwards and forwards but doesn’t tilt, recline, raise or lower – and the
`passenger seat is fixed. Having said that, the seats are comfortable and hold
`you in place very well through fast corners. And while supercars aren’t really
`about luxurious comfort, air conditioning, electric windows and central locking
`do come as standard.
`
`On the model we drove the main touchscreen display housed the stereo and
`satellite navigation and reversing camera view. That last item is extremely
`useful given the compromised rearward visibility.
`
`A secondary, smaller touchscreen contains clever readouts and gizmo
`controls. Tyre pressures, detailed energy usage info, charge timers and a valet
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`mode, which locks the glovebox and counts the number of times the boot has
`been accessed, are just some of the clever gubbins within. Untrustworthy
`valets beware!
`
`The dash is simple with good old analog instruments instead of a fully digital
`display. The energy usage meter clearly displays kilowatts currently being used
`or recovered through regenerative braking. Range is shown on a small digital
`display, along with the odometer.
`
`Open the boot and you’ll find a space for luggage. There’s not a lot of room in
`there, but enough for golf clubs or a couple of overnight bags should you wish
`to disappear for a long weekend.
`
`
`
`PERFORMANCE
`
`The Tesla Roadster isn’t just fast for an electric car; it’s fast full-stop. When
`you consider that its 0-60mph time of 3.7secs puts it in the same league as the
`£152,000 Lamborghini Gallardo, the £100,000+ price tag starts to make more
`sense.
`
`The custom-built drivetrain is amongst the most efficient on the market. In fact,
`Tesla’s ingenuity has convinced major players such as Daimler and Toyota to
`use them as technology suppliers. The 375-volt electric motor belts out the
`equivalent of 288 horsepower and, crucially, 295 foot pounds of torque. And,
`being electric, that torque is available from zero revs, meaning overtakes at
`speed are as punchy as a blast away from the lights.
`
`Top speed is limited to 125mph, which is well short of the Lamborghini,
`obviously, but it’s easily fast enough for you to lose your license. And if you do
`that, a mega top speed becomes a bit irrelevant.
`
`
`
`HANDLING AND RIDE
`
`Of course, it’s not all about power. The handling is what gives ultimate driving
`pleasure and we were worried that the extra weight of the batteries would spoil
`the driving experience. After all, the Tesla Roadster tips the scales at 1.2
`tonnes, some 300kgs heavier than the Lotus Elise.
`
`We needn’t have been concerned – the Tesla still corners with precision thanks
`to its well-tuned weight distribution, structural rigidity and four-wheel
`independent suspension. The Roadster Sport also gets a custom-tuned
`suspension with 10-position adjustable dampers and anti-roll bars, meaning you
`can fine-tune it to suit the road and track.
`
`Unsurprisingly, the Roadster’s ride quality is on the firm side but in roadgoing
`tune, completely acceptable given the car’s supercar remit.
`
`The steering feels quite heavy at low speeds as there’s no power assistance.
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`The steering feels quite heavy at low speeds as there’s no power assistance.
`But at higher speeds the steering feels brilliantly direct with great precision,
`akin to driving a kart. With excellent feedback through the steering wheel,
`you’re filled with absolute confidence that it’s not going to do anything
`unpredictable – no twitchiness and no surprises.
`
`We would have liked a little hooligan oversteer but that’s actually very hard to
`achieve – the mechanical grip and resistance to wheel-spin on dry tarmac,
`even when traction control is switched off, is phenomenal. Really go for it and
`you can have a bit of sideways fun, but the Tesla is not quite as raw an
`experience as you might think, not quite as lively and adjustable on the limit as
`an Elise. Slightly clipped wings, perhaps, but it means virtually anyone can
`jump into this car and have fun without being caught out.
`
`
`
`RANGE AND CHARGE TIMES
`
`How does 245 miles sound? Tesla goes against the current thinking from the
`likes of Nissan and Renault and is very much of the opinion that you need a lot
`more than 100 miles range to convince buyers. Of course, range varies
`depending on driving conditions, but motorway stints in a Tesla are not
`something to be feared.
`
`The power pack itself is a custom microprocessor-controlled lithium-ion battery
`with 6,831 individual cells storing 53 kilowatt-hours of juice. That’s more than
`twice the capacity of the Nissan LEAF’s power pack and has enabled those
`1,700 Roadster owners to rack up a total of more than 10 million miles of
`motoring.
`
`As a result, charging takes more than twice as long as for the LEAF. If you
`plug a Roadster into a standard UK domestic 13 amp 240-volt supply, you’re
`looking at around 16 hours for a charge. But that’s from flat – the chances of
`you driving it 245 miles every day are slim, so in the real world you’d be looking
`to top up overnight, which would take far less time. A full charge will cost
`roughly £3 to £4 depending on your electricity rates, and without complicated
`engines to maintain, running a Roadster is extremely cost-effective. In fact, it’s
`a bargain.
`
`Of course, you have the option to charge faster if necessary – a 70 amp 240-
`volt High Power Connector can do the job in just 3.5 hours. A network of these
`connectors has just been set up down the spine of the UK, meaning it is now
`possible to drive the 894 miles from John O’Groats to Land’s End (the length of
`Britain) in two days. Not a trip you’re going to do very often, but it’s reassuring
`to know it’s possible, isn’t it? A more practical use for the chargers is a quick
`top-up stop for the very occasional cross-country journey, which makes the
`Tesla Roadster a highly usable and practical motor.
`
`Interesting fact: one couple managed to squeeze 347.2 miles out of their Tesla
`Roadster, but they must have had the world’s most boring travel day, as they
`motored at a constant speed of 25mph.
`
`
`
`SAFETY
`
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`The Tesla has been crash-tested in the United States and passed all the
`necessary Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standards (FMVSS) test
`requirements.
`
`There are a number of standard safety features, including a rigid safety cell
`with front and rear crumple zones to protect occupants in the event of a
`collision. There are also front airbags, which are a minimum requirement these
`days. And four-wheel anti-lock brakes and traction control give the car good
`dynamic safety.
`
`
`
`VERDICT
`
`The Tesla Roadster is a landmark electric car. Its impact should not be
`underestimated – with its dramatic arrival on the scene, Tesla demonstrated
`with the Roadster that electric cars could be proper supercars. Fast, exciting
`and cool.
`
`And getting behind the wheel does not disappoint – it’s a genuine thrill to drive
`a Tesla Roadster. It feels swift, responsive and it steers with remarkable
`precision. The 245-mile range it offers also means real practicality for everyday
`use in the real world, whatever those chaps on a certain popular BBC car show
`might say. With that kind of range, you wouldn’t think twice about jumping into
`a Roadster for a weekend trip to the country, let alone doing the daily commute
`(if your daily run is more than 245 miles, you need a new job!).
`
`Sadly, production of the Roadster is now winding down. Tesla recently ordered
`the components it needs for another 100 Roadsters, 80 of which are for the UK
`market and 20 for the rest of Europe. Sales will continue in Europe into 2013,
`but there are no plans to continue it after that. So our message is, if you can
`afford a Tesla Roadster then stop hanging around – get in there and pick up a
`piece of automotive history.
`
`
`
`VIDEO REVIEW
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`
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`http://www.thechargingpoint.com/manufacturers/tesla/roadster-2.5-sport-roadtest.html#roadTest
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`11/1/2014
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`Tesla Roadster road test
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`TESLA ROADSTER IN NUMBERS…
`
`Performance
`Trim level tested: Roadster 2.5 S
`Range: 245 miles
`Acceleration: 0-62mph in 3.7 seconds
`Top speed: 125mph
`Peak power: 288bhp
`Torque: 400Nm (295ft.lbs.)
`Kerb weight: 1,236kg
`
`Battery
`Type: Lithium ion
`Capacity: 53kWh
`Operating voltage: 375V
`Recharge time: 16 hours at 13 amp, 3.5 hours at 70 amps (0-100% level)
`
`Dimensions
`Length: 3,940mm
`Width: 1,852mm
`Height: 1,126mm
`
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