2009 Tesla Roadster
- 2010 Tesla Roadster
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Tesla Roadster - What the Auto Press Says
The 2009 Tesla Roadster blasts like a Ferrari without a need for gasoline. As such, it stands tall in a class of its own.
If you have a hundred grand to spare and wouldn't mind getting your hands on an engineering marvel that's bound to make automotive history, Tesla has the car for you. The all-electric Roadster offers 100 percent of its available torque all of the time, from 0 to 14,000 rpm, giving it powerful acceleration. What's more, Tesla Motors reports the Roadster can travel up to 220 miles without a recharge, maxes out at 125 mph, and can accelerate from 0 to 60 mph in less than four seconds. All this supercar performance comes without the need to use a single drop of gas.
While test drivers focus most of their attention on the Roadster's ability to blast to mind-numbing speeds with ease, the real story here is the environmental benefits. "The Tesla Roadster produces no emissions on its own, though electricity produced by coal- or natural-gas-fired power plants obviously has associated emissions," writes Edmunds. "Because of the Roadster's highly efficient nature, however, Tesla claims the associated carbon dioxide emissions would only be about a third of those for a popular hybrid car."
Still, the Roadster isn't without faults. Like the Lotus Elise, with which it shares some components, the Roadster's interior cabin lacks comfort, luxury, convenience and cargo room. Most sports enthusiasts, however, won't give a damn. Its performance capabilities alone are enough to keep serious shoppers interested.
Because the Tesla Roadster is the first-ever mass-produced electric sports car, it has no competitors. Those in the market for a thrilling track-tuned sports car can get similar -- or even greater -- performance specs and figures from a Porsche, but no car in its price range can match the Roadster's quick delivery of torque, let alone its Earth-friendly engineering.
For 2009, the Tesla Roadster drops its clumsy two-speed transmission for a single gear and is available in both base and Sport trims.
- "If this is the future of cars, enthusiasts have nothing to worry about." -- Automobile Magazine
- "Tesla has picked up where others left off and has showed the world fuel efficiency can be fun." -- Detroit News
- "Tesla...is a roadster's roadster. It's a head-turner, jaw-dropper. It is sexy as all get-out. And, at $109,000 a copy, it's pricey. ... Wheeeeeee! If this is the future of the automobile, I want it. Let's do whatever we can to get the price down." -- Washington Post
- "For whatever missteps and overreaching Tesla has been guilty of, and whatever follies there are to come, the Roadster is here now, a divine spark, an animating lightning stroke of a whole new kind of car industry." -- Los Angeles Times
Roadster Performance - NA
Though the Roadster is hailed for its Earth-friendly engineering, test drivers report that the real performance highlight is its quick power delivery and thrilling handling dynamics. "There are people who praise the Tesla Roadster for its environmental attributes," explains the Washington Post. "It consumes no fossil fuels, spews no tailpipe emissions and leaves a relatively minor carbon footprint. But all of that is missing the point, because those are also attributes of the decidedly non-sexy, campus utilitarian, golf-cart-like cars assembled by Global Electric Motorcars, a Chrysler company." Read More
Roadster Exterior - NA
Based on the Lotus Elises' underpinnings, the low-slung '09 Roadster is attractive. While a removable soft top is standard, a carbon fiber hardtop is optional. Read More
Roadster Interior - NA
Critics find many faults with Roadster's interior cabin -- including its pain-in-the-butt seats. "As in an Elise, the Tesla's seats seem to consist of little more than black paint on the fire wall," writes Car and Driver. "Now that waterboarding is banned, may we suggest simply locking terrorists inside a Tesla." The Roadster's cabin is also plagued by a scant list of interior convenience features and limited cargo room. Read More
Roadster Safety - NA
The Tesla Roadster hasn't been crash tested, but features assuring safety technology -- including traction control, side-impact door beams, and driver and passenger airbags. Read More
Roadster Reliability - NA
The Tesla Roadster carries a 3-year/36,000-mile base warranty - which includes the battery pack. Shoppers interested in buying a car from any new auto manufacturer should keep in mind that there is no history of reliability to assure them that their purchase is sound. Read More