- 2010
2008 Tesla Roadster
Tesla Roadster - What the Auto Press Says
The 2008 Tesla Roadster offers spectacular sports car performance in an Earth-friendly package.
Overall
Fueled by electrically charged battery packs, the 248-horsepower Tesla Roadster offers 100 percent of its available torque all of the time, from 0 to 13,000 rpm. What's more, Tesla Motors reports that it can travel up to 220 miles without a recharge, maxes out at 125 mph, and can accelerate from 0 to 60 mph in only four seconds. Car and Driver confirms its abilities, reporting: "On a wet public road, with mediocre traction, we measured a 0-to-60-mph time of 4.4 seconds (shifting at 62 mph) and a quarter-mile of 13.3 seconds at 104 mph (shifting at 45 mph, which is what's represented in our spec panel)."
Though Tesla Motors has already filled reservations for all available 2008 Roadsters, interested buyers may reserve one for the 2009 model year.
- "Not only is the Tesla the first genuinely eco-friendly vehicle to deserve a spot in any self-respecting car guy's fantasy garage, but it's also the first car to make a plausible case for all-electric personal transportation in the not-too-distant future." -- Automobile Magazine
- "Based on the Lotus Elise, the Tesla is a high-performance sports car motivated by a completely electric powertrain-meaning, an electric motor juiced by a battery. For those who believe such a powertrain is only suitable for overgrown golf carts-the various Th!nk and GEM products, for example -- the Tesla is a revelation." -- Car and Driver
Performance
Despite its 1,000-pound battery pack, test drivers find that the electrically-charged Tesla Roadster accelerates quickly and handles well. "Although it is, in fact, based on the Elise, the highly modified Tesla is more refined in every way," writes Automobile Magazine. "And despite the addition of the 1000-pound battery pack, the Roadster is everything a sports car ought to be -- agile, responsive to driver inputs, and rewarding at speed." According to Tesla Motors, the Roadster can travel up to 220 miles without a recharge -- though heavy-footed drivers report figures closer to 180 miles. A full Tesla Performance Review is coming soon.
Exterior
Though the Tesla Roadster is modeled after the Lotus Elise, critics believe that it's more attractive. According to Automobile Magazine: "The exterior design is more conventionally handsome than the insectlike Lotus. The chassis is two inches longer and stouter, primarily to accommodate the battery pack, and the doorsills are lower to make it easier -- 'easier' being a relative term -- to get into and out of the car." A full Tesla Exterior Review is coming soon.
Interior
Reviewers find that the Tesla's interior resembles that of the Elise. "Due to the Tesla Roadster's partial sharing of Lotus Elise DNA, it doesn't surprise us that the cockpit evokes déjà vu," writes Road and Track. "But because its chassis' needs differ from the Elise (the Tesla is larger in every dimension save for the rear track), engineers saw this as an opportunity to improve certain areas including the interior ergonomics." A full Tesla Interior Review is coming soon.
Safety
The 2008 Tesla Roadster has yet to be crash tested by the federal government. However, it features such safety equipment as four-channel anti-lock brakes (ABS), energy-absorbing zones, and driver and passenger airbags. A full Tesla Safety Review is coming soon.
Reliability
Tesla Motors has yet to finalize a warranty period for the 2008 Tesla Roadster. Their Web site reports, "We are still finalizing our service plans but expect to ask our customers to bring in their cars every 12,000 miles/12 months." What's more, Tesla claims: "The battery pack in your Tesla Roadster is expected to maintain good driving performance for about 100,000 miles or five years, whichever comes first." A roadside assistance program will be included with the warranty period. A full Tesla Reliability Review is coming soon.