Tesla Roadster - Test Drive
Could the Tesla be the Start of a New Generation of Muscle Car?
Apr 9, 2009
The establishment of the company, and the short history of Tesla is well documented, but what is the Roadster like to drive? Could this car really live up to all the hype?
No Performance Problems
So, what is the Tesla Roadster like to drive? One major criticism of Hybrid vehicles in general and electrically powered cars in particular, is their performance--or lack thereof. The Tesla Roadster rewrites the rules on electrically-powered car performance: it’s stunning! With a restricted top speed of 125 mph, and a zero to 60 mph time of less than four seconds, this car has all the performance most drivers will ever want or need.
Getting into, or more precisely getting out of, its sister car (the Lotus Elise) is a memorable experience, convincing the would-be driver that they are either too old, or too big to be driving a sports car. With this in mind, the Tesla engineers redesigned the side sill depth to make it easier (not easy) to get in and out of. Sitting behind the leather-trimmed, three-spoke steering wheel drivers will find nothing out of the ordinary. And so it remains until the ignition switch (a misnomer on this car) turned on.
Smooth Power Delivery
Once the switch is turned on, a plethora of lights and gauges comes to life. But drivers will notice something unusual at this point, there is no engine noise. In fact, there is no noise at all, save for a quiet humming sound emitting from a small electric motor powering the brake servo.
Sliding the car into reverse is like engaging reverse on any automatic car, but there is no lurching or clunking here. Pressing the throttle pedal gently brings in the electric motor, and once engaged, the car gracefully moves off with hardly a sound.
Drivers will initially find the Tesla much like any well-engineered sports car - a little harsh on the suspension and a seating position that makes you feel you are sitting on the road. But as soon as the car is unleashed, a whole new experience comes in.
First Impressions
The first impression is that this car is fast, very fast! The second impression is that the electric motor just sounds wrong. Anything that accelerates this fast should be accompanied with the shrill sound of a V10 or a rumbling V8. But this car has a sound of its own (nearer to an F1 car screaming along at 18,000 rpm, than a street legal sports car).
Most noticeable is the wind noise which gets higher with every mile per hour increase. This wind noise is something of a consequence of not having a piston engine to drown it out. However, in fairness to Tesla, the car being driven was a pre-production unit.
Handling of the Tesla is nearly as good as the Lotus – a car to which most test drivers will compare it to. Driving hard into a corner will induce a little under-steer but nothing the average enthusiastic driver would be concerned about.
Transitioning through left and right-hand corners shows that the car’s taunt chassis and suspension are well up to the performance standard of the motor. The brakes too are of a very high standard, stopping the car from 70 mph in 213 feet).
Unlike conventional cars, when the brakes are operated, a regenerative system kicks in and charges the batteries. Even when the throttle pedal is lifted for coasting, as on a down hill section, the regenerative systems starts the replenishing phase.
As with petroleum powered cars, the faster the Tesla is driven the more fuel (battery current in this case) it will use. But with steady economy-style driving the Roadster will travel 220 miles before needing a three and a half hour charge. Drive it like a racecar and the range will drop to around 180 miles. (At current costs, that breaks down to an equivalent fuel consumption of 240 miles per gallon!)
Inside Out
From the outside, the Tesla looks very much like the Lotus Elise: small, low and sporty: reminiscent of so many British sports cars. Inside the car is much better appointed than the Lotus (it should be, it costs more than double the Lotus’ base price).
The interior trim is made up of anodized aluminum, carbon fiber, and leather in a practical yet appealing environment. A nice touch is the windshield, which has a special coating to completely block UV rays and reduce infrared rays by around 30%.
There is still a waiting list for the new Tesla Roadster. Buyers can expect a wait of up to 12 months from placing a deposit to getting their car. However, as the company proudly declares in their press hand-outs:
“… when you can soar along at top speed, knowing the only oil in the car is in the transmission, the only emissions are the songs from the radio, the ride becomes more enjoyable still.”
Although there have been the inevitable prototype problems with the car, production is expected to hit 100 per month later in 2009. And while it has taken five years to get to the production stage, it must be remembered that the internal combustion engine (and gearboxes) fitted to most cars have been developed for more than 120 years!
In a nut shell, Tesla may well have introduced the motoring public to the future with their Roadster. It may not be a muscle car in the true sense of the name, but it certainly delivers a punch most drivers will be pleased with.
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