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Showing posts with label Tesla. Show all posts

2011 Tesla Roadster Convertible

Review 2011 Tesla Roadster Convertible

At first there was the Tesla Roadster. Well, not really the beginning, there were other electric cars before. However, only car batteries should, in fact, become as common as some believe, this sport can be expensive in history as someone who was far ahead of his time.

Tesla Roadster Convertible 2011

The Tesla Roadster has been on the road since 2008 but only now there is another all-electric car for sale - Nissan Leaf. While the sheet is a long-awaited answer for everyday driving oriented small green Tesla Roadster 2011 still holds the crown of the range, surpassing the road over 100 miles. It is also a certified sports car with a very quick, quiet acceleration, combined with crisp handling. The latter is because the Tesla is based on the Lotus Elise, a paradigm for the lightweight, stripped the car.

There are problems, however, that DNA. Like Elise, the Tesla Roadster is the most narrow cabin of any car sold in this country. It 'hard to get in and out (in particular, a removable cap in place), and once you are side by side with the person next to you. At least the Tesla has been added to the carpet, insulation, and other high quality materials to make the interior more comfortable (and quiet). Still, can not escape the harsh atmosphere of the cabin, although expensive package "executive" leather. Frankly, we expect a lot more sophisticated and luxury properties for $ 100,000.

The trip is also quite good (to a lesser extent, with the possibility of adjustable suspension), and no power steering, which is both a pleasure in the curve is forced to be a pain in the parking lots. So the practical point of view, 2011 Tesla Roadster runs out of juice, even among the exotic sports cars, especially in view of its relatively limited and the 3.5-hour charge time. Even gasoline-free transmission can not be so cheap to feed, depending on how you pay for electricity.

Yet, like most sports cars, the Tesla is probably the convenience quotient of great concern to them with sufficient means to choose a toy yet another weekend. You do early adopters when the time could be electronic, but if you are powerful, fast and fun cars that will never need to visit a gas station, then the 2011 Tesla Roadster is more than a trendsetter.

Tesla Roadster Convertible 2011

Body styles, trim levels and options

2011 Tesla Roadster is a two-seater convertible comes in two trim levels. Roadster 2.5 is standard with aluminum wheels (16 inch front, 17-inch rear), a soft removable, cruise control, climate control, leather interior, heated seats, power windows and locks, free mobile terminal electronic, touch-screen connectivity mail, Bluetooth and four speaker audio system with CD player and iPod / USB audio interface. 2.5 Sport offers more power, forged alloy wheels and adjustable suspension. Besides the power boost, should be read as a model of an optional basis.

Options include special connectors loading a hardtop body-colored carbon fiber, or winter tires, carbon fiber exterior styling is developed, leather upholstery, improvement and expansion of leather interior. The group adds a touch interface biggest Infotainment, a navigation system, rearview camera and an audio system with seven speakers with subwoofer, satellite radio and HD radio.

Engines and performance

In 2011, Tesla Roadster has a 375 volt AC induction air-cooled electric motor that produces 288 horsepower and 273 lb-ft of torque. Sport gets a bump to 295 lb-ft of torque. Both come with a unique gearbox. Base Roadster goes from zero to 60 km / h on a 3.9 Tesla-estimated second. Sport is 0.2 seconds faster.

Tesla says the Roadster's lithium-ion battery has a maximum range of 245 miles. Using the optional high-power 240-volt charger, it will take 3.5 hours to charge from empty.

Security

Tesla Roadster is equipped with antilock brakes and traction control. Side airbags are not available. A rearview camera is optional.

 
Tesla Roadster Convertible interior 2011

Interior Design and Special Features
As the Lotus Elise on which it is based, the tiny 2011 Tesla Roadster has a rather spartan interior. There are heated seats and leather upholstery standard, but otherwise do not expect the kind of luxury normally associated with a car that costs $ 100 000 - even with extended leather face "executive" package. Sports cars rarely provide an abundance of space, but even in the narrow section of the cabin of the Tesla Roadster is restrictive and difficult to enter and exit. Taller drivers, in particular, want to go through the training of circus contortionist before getting in - especially with the roof up.

In 2011, Tesla has fortunately included redesigned seats and extra sound insulation that improves cabin comfort. A new large touch screen interface that is available with the group Infotainment much improved functionality, while bringing with it a navigation and a rearview camera.

Driving Impressions

As far as Tesla within the roots of suffering for Lotus Elise, it benefits greatly when it comes to handling. The suspension may have been softened Tesla in disguise, but it is still one of the best handling cars on the market. Paragraph 10 of adjustable suspension mode has the potential to do even better. One would think that electric cars have electric power steering, the Tesla Roadster, but lousy steering, which makes for an excellent response and feel, but a lousy time in parking lots.

The real story is muted, however, the frightening thrust electric motor. Shot noise is audible as a faint cry from the electronics behind the right shoulder, but the acceleration of the Roadster is breathtaking, especially in standing starts, all that torque on tap.

Price $ 109 000


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Tesla Model S Update: Pricing to start from $57,000 before credits

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Tesla recently held a celebration in honor of its newest store, located in Milan, Italy. At the event, customers and company-folk mingled while chatting about their favorite electric car company. One of the key talking points was the upcoming Model S, and Tesla took the opportunity to answer a few questions.

Deliveries of the North American-market Tesla Model S are scheduled to begin in the mid-2012. The first 1,000 vehicles peeled off the assembly line will be Signature Series cars, which means they’re fitted with 300-mile range batteries and identifying options. Once the Signature Series run has been sold, Tesla will continue to produce 300-mile range cars while optional 230-mile and 160-mile Model S sedans will follow later in the year.

The base 160-mile range Tesla Model S will start at $57,000, but a $7,500 tax credit will cut that price to $49,500. Stepping up to the 230-mile range Model S will add $10,000 to the bottom line. The range-topping 300-mile Model S adds $20,000 to the base price. Tesla plans to produce 5,000 units in 2012 before going full-tilt in 2013 with a 20,000 vehicle production run.

Not limited to just the North American market, Tesla will being selling the Model S in Europe during the latter half of 2012. By the middle of 2013, the company will have a right-hand-drive version for the rest of Europe and Asia. Those launches will also features the Signature Series edition.

[Source: Tesla]

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Governator says Tesla teaming up with Toyota in Cali

Tesla Model S sedan

California Governor Arnold Schwartzenegger has apparently let slip ahead of a scheduled 5pm Pacific announcement that Tesla Motors will be teaming up with Toyota to build electric cars.

While some might speculate that the agreement could result in the re-opening of Fremont's idle New United Motor Manufacturing Inc. plant (NUMMI), SFGate says that this is somewhat unlikely. Any production agreement will likely involve the forthcoming Model S sedan, and NUMMI's facilities are significantly larger than what the model will require, as it was originally scaled to accommodate the joint venture between Toyota and General Motors which required much greater capacity. The smart money is on a new factory location, probably in Downey, CA (in Los Angeles County).

It is not yet clear what Toyota will bring to the table or what, if any money or stock is changing hands with this rumored agreement. Also, no word yet on how Mercedes-Benz feels about all this – the German automaker already has a 10 percent stake in the company after opening its coffers to the struggling EV manufacturer back in May of 2009.

[Source: SFGate]

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Tesla planning to launch 2011 Roadster in more right-hand export markets

Tesla Roadster

According to Tesla CEO Elon Musk, the long-anticipated right-hand-drive Roadster is coming in the first quarter of 2010 and will be available in both standard and Sport guise. The first market that's slated for electrification is, as you would expect, the United Kingdom, and Tesla's first European showroom has already opened up in Knightsbridge.

In addition to Great Britain, Musk has also indicated that Japan, Australia and India are seen as important right-hand-drive markets for the automaker to pursue in short order. The switch from LHD to RHD is surely made easier by the fact that the Lotus Elise, which shares a large portion of its chassis with the Roadster, was initially designed as a wrong right-hand vehicle.

Interestingly, there's already a lone Tesla Roadster in Australia, but that left-hand-drive car was imported by a man named Simon Hackett for his own personal use at a cost of about $200,000 Australian dollars – nearly twice what a Roadster costs in the States.

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Tesla Roadster Drifting



Will it drift? That is the age old question being asked by the guys at AutoCar, but this time they have chosen to get sideways in an electric car, although it boasts sports car power and styling, is the Tesla Roadster driftable?

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Tesla cancels plans to move to San Jose

Tesla Logo

Tesla's plans to eventually build a pair of new factories for the Model S and powertrain components in San Jose, CA have run into a ditch. The move was announced last September, just before the (official) collapse of the world's financial markets. However, the plan ran into trouble quickly when Tesla was unable to complete a $100 million round of Series venture funding. Not long after that, the up-start nearly ran out cash before existing investors put in another $40 million. The bulk of the $400 million required to build the two factories and move its headquarters from San Carlos to the new San Jose campus were expected to be provided by low interest loans from the Department of Energy.

However, the DOE loan program favors redevelopment of existing industrial sites and the San Jose location was a greenfield. Tesla is now looking for new locations including former factory sites in both the Silicon Valley area and Southern California. Without the DOE money, it will be extremely difficult for Tesla to build anything new and getting that loan will be increasingly problematic. The program requires applicants to raise matching equity investments of 20-30% of the loan amount, which in this case would amount to $100-150 million. Since Tesla already failed to raise that much last fall, it's not clear that it can happen now.

[Source: BizJournals.com]

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Tesla Roadster Sport new pics

Here are some new shots of the Tesla Roadster Sport, special version of the American electric spider. Tesla Sport will be 15 percent more powerful than the standard model (which may receive an upgrade all the same), and is sold for a price of 112,000 euros.

Tesla Roadster Sport -2Tesla Roadster Sport -1Excluding the special colouring and new carbon fibre details, the most important news is in the driver’s compartment. New sports seats have been added, along with a new dash with updated battery display in the centre, central console with new single-gear feature (rather than the previous gear shift) with keyboard set-up.

© Source: eurocarblog
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100th Tesla Roadster delivered

The 100th Tesla Roadster has been delivered in the course of this last week, showing that perhaps there is still a market out there for the Californian company that specialises in electric cars. While it’s an expensive vehicle at 109,000 USD, a recharge of the battery costs between $2.50 and $5.50 and gives a range of 244 miles.

 Tesla Roadster-1 Tesla Roadster-2Difficult times for Tesla have seen a lag in production from the 30 cars a week initially expected to be produced, down to 15. The original target of 30 was set to be reached by spring 2009. As long as the Roadster has its problems, the second model from the company, the Model S sedan, is unlikely to ever see the light of day.

The Tesla company is holding out for some government funding to continue production, which could be difficult in current economic times. Strange though, that governments are prepared to make anti-pollution laws but are often less prepared to finance the very projects that may achieve those aims.

© Source: eurocarblog
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Brabus presents tuning program for the Tesla Roadster

Wow, that’s something interesting. Though actually we were wondering when will the first tuning programs for electric cars show up. And it looks like German tuner Brabus, specialized in programs for Mercedes cars is among the first ones to announce a tuning program for the Tesla Roadster. No power upgrades here, only a series of styling upgrades. These include a “space sound generator” that makes the Tesla sound as if powered by a mighty V8, race car engine or “Beam” and “Warp” futuristic sounds. Brabus has also fitted the car with LED running lamps, underbody neon lighting, a rear wing, new wheels (18 inch on the front and 19 at the rear), plus a matte white paint finish.

Tesla Roadster-1Tesla Roadster-2The outcome depends a lot on each person’s tastes, but all in all we think it’s a decent upgrade and it shows that electric cars are ready to go mainstream. Of course, that doesn’t mean Tesla is ready, because they have a lot of problems on their hands now, not to mention that there haven’t been many Roadsters available so far.

© Source: autounleashed
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Tesla Roadster, European details more than 300 hp

The specs related to the Tesla Roadster destined for the European markets have been released and skimming the document there are plenty of surprises. The document, coming from the Norwegian importer, states that the little spider with the green spirit will have a capacity of more than 300 CV or 225 kw, and a red zone of 13,000 revs.

Tesla Roadster-1The updated model will be slightly different from the original with some aspects having been reviewed before sale in the US and Europe. The new transmission, created by Ricardo, is equipped with a single gear compared to the previous model (by Magna) with its two. The cooling system is also new and more efficient.

Returning to the numbers, the most notable are the four seconds acceleration from 0-100, the maximum speed of 200km/hr and the recharge time of four hours, with rapid recharge possible at much more brief times. The 250 cars destined for the old continent (at a price of 99,000 euro), will be available as a signature edition with new colors and numbered plates.

© Source: eurocarblog
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2008 Tesla Roadster

After remaining dormant for several years, electric cars are surging back into the news. First, there was the summer debut of the documentary Who Killed the Electric Car? followed soon after by the announcement in Los Angeles of the Tesla roadster, a $100,000 electric sports car built by a Silicon Valley entrepreneur.

2008 Tesla Roadster2008 Tesla Roadster-22008 Tesla Roadster-3The battery-powered Tesla is based on a modified Lotus Elise chassis. Its maker, Tesla Motors, of San Carlos, California, claims it’ll zap 60 mph in four seconds, juice it to 130 mph, and spin the meter for up to 250 miles between charges (the GM EV1 did up to 150 miles). And, unlike the Lotus, the Tesla Signature One Hundred Collector’s Edition (the first 100 cars, in other words) will have a cup holder.

Changes to the Elise structure accommodate the Tesla’s higher curb weight — it’s 2500 pounds, says the company, about 500 more than an Elise — and allow a larger cockpit and a comfort level above that of a kielbasa casing. Lotus Engineering performed much of the rework, and the Tesla will be assembled on the Elise line in Hethel, England.

The proliferation of hand-held electronics and the subsequent development of small, stout lithium-ion batteries to power them for days without charge are what make the Tesla possible, says Eberhard. Think of the pack as 6831 batteries measuring 1.0 by 2.6 inches, about the same size as a C battery. With a 220-volt, 70-amp charger made by Tesla that is hard-wired into your garage, the roadster will go from flat to flat-out in 3.5 hours. The car will be offered with a cord and a conventional 120-volt wall plug, should you be away from home, but charging time stretches to 33 hours. The pack will be warranted for five years or 100,000 miles.

The Tesla has a three-phase, 248-hp motor with a 13,500-rpm redline. A solenoid-operated two-speed manual transmission performs gear reduction and torque multiplication. A/C, anti-lock brakes, and airbags are part of the standard kit.

© Source: caranddriver
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Tesla Electric Vehicles Won't Go to Franchisers

Tesla Motors, maker of the hot and hotly anticipated $92,000 electric Roadster, will sell its products through factory-owned stores, not traditional dealerships. The company will put the first cars on sale in Santa Monica, California, in November, then move to major cities including San Francisco, New York, Chicago, and eventually Denver, Boston and other major markets.

tesla roadstertesla roadster 2Automotive News quoted Tesla Marketing Vice President Darryl Siry as saying, "We can't hand over the car to an independent franchiser" who would "spend his time apologizing for the car's shortcomings." Therefore the company plans to run its own sales outlets, which he said would be more like an Apple computer store than a traditional vehicle dealership.

Bloomberg reports 400 orders have already been placed for the first model, the two-seat Tesla Roadster, with California Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger and actor George Clooney on the list.

A second model, the WhiteStar sedan is due in 2010. Whether or not Tesla has the cash to produce the second model is still a question.


© Source: insideline
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