0.90 g - Car and Driver
TESLA ROADSTER Price
Vehicle type: mid-motor, rear-wheel-drive, 2-passenger, 2-door targa Options: high-capacity 240-volt quick charger, $3000; stereo and navigation package (includes nav system, Bluetooth connection, satellite radio, and speaker
(AS TESTED)
$126,595 BASE: $110,950
DIMENSIONS
ENGINE MOTOR
AC permanent-magnet synchronous electric Power (SAE net): 248 bhp @ 5000 rpm Torque (SAE net): 277 lb-ft @ 0 rpm Redline: 13,000 rpm
BATTERY
Liquid-cooled 375-volt pack consisting of 6831 lithium-ion cells; 53-kWh capacity DRIVETRAIN Transmission: 1-speed direct drive GEAR: Ratio/mph per 1000 rpm 1st: 2.65/8.7 Final-drive ratio: 3.12:1
MAX SPEED IN GEAR 122 mph 14,000 rpm
1
5 5
CHASSIS Chassis type: unit construction Body material: carbon-fiber-reinforced
plastic
STEERING
Rack-and-pinion
Ratio: 15.8:1 Turns lock-to-lock: 2.8 Turning circle curb-to-curb: 36.7 ft SUSPENSION Front: ind, unequal-length control
arms, coil springs, anti-roll bar Rear: ind, unequal-length control arms, coil springs, anti-roll bar Traction control:
Standard: power windows and locks, remote locking, cruise control, tilting steering wheel Audio system: JVC; AM, FM, Sirius radio; CD player; iPod input; 7 speakers
package), $3000; forged aluminum wheels, $2300; premium paint, $2000; premium seats, $1800; mobile 240-volt charge cord, $1500; clear adhesive paint protector, $1495; solar control glass, $400; floor mats, $150
fully defeatable
COMPETITORS
Wheelbase: 92.6 in
Length: 155.4 in
Height: 44.4 in
Width: 68.0 in
Front track: 57.7 in
Rear track: 59.0 in
Drag area: Cd (0.36) x frontal area (17.4 sq ft) = 6.3 sq ft Ground clearance: 6.0 in
WEIGHT
Curb: 2756 lb Per horsepower: 11.1 lb
DISTRIBUTION
HANDLING
TEST RESULTS
Front: 34.7% Rear: 65.3%
ACCELERATION
TOWING CAPACITY 0 lb GVWR 3274 lb
Zero to 30 mph . . . . . . . . . . . 1.8
ROADHOLDING
SECONDS
0.90 g
40 mph . . . . . . . . . . . 2.5 50 mph . . . . . . . . . . . 3.3 60 mph . . . . . . . . . .
INTERIOR
200-ft-dia skidpad
4.1
70 mph . . . . . . . . . . . 4.9
RESTRAINT SYSTEMS Front: 3-point belts, driver and
passenger front airbags
80 mph . . . . . . . . . . . 7.0
UNDERSTEER
SEAT ADJUSTMENTS Front: fore-and-aft, lumbar support
90 mph . . . . . . . . . . . 9.0
MINIMAL
100 mph . . . . . . . . . . 12.2
MODERATE
MEASUREMENTS (in)
110 mph . . . . . . . . . . 16.3
Head
Leg
Shoulder
FRONT
36.7
42.0
52.0
SAE VOLUME
Front
Trunk
5–60 street start: 4.5 sec
46 cu ft 5 cu ft
WHEELS + TIRES Wheel size/type: F: 6.0 x 16 in,
R: 7.5 x 17 in/forged aluminum Tires: Yokohama Advan Neova AD07; F: 175/55R-16 80W, R: 225/45R-17 91W Spare: none
BRAKES
Hydraulic with vacuum power assist and anti-lock control Front: 11.0 x 1.0-in vented, cross-drilled disc Rear: 12.0 x 1.0-in vented, cross-drilled disc competition mode
launch mode
EXCESSIVE
120 mph . . . . . . . . . . 22.0 Top gear, 30–50: 1.6 sec
Top gear, 50–70: 2.4 sec
¼ -MILE: 13.2 sec @ 103 mph TOP SPEED: 122 mph
WEATHER Temperature: 61˚F Humidity: 47%
BRAKING 70 to 0 mph . . . . . .
ODOMETER
(REDLINE LTD)
170 ft
INTERIOR SOUND 49
(dBA)
Test-vehicle mileage: 2639
TIRE INFLATION
IDLE
74 78
Barometric pressure: 27.45 in Hg
FULL THROTTLE 70-MPH CRUISING
Test pressures:
Front:
30 psi
NOTES Heat is the enemy, mainly for the air-cooled motor. We let the Tesla cool for 10 minutes between runs. Acceleration slows dramatically around 100 mph.
Rear:
40 psi
Vehicle type: mid-motor, rear-wheel-drive, 2-passenger, 2-door targa Options: high-capacity 240-volt quick charger, $3000; stereo and navigation package (includes nav system, Bluetooth connection, satellite radio, and speaker
(AS TESTED)
$126,595 BASE: $110,950
DIMENSIONS
ENGINE MOTOR
AC permanent-magnet synchronous electric Power (SAE net): 248 bhp @ 5000 rpm Torque (SAE net): 277 lb-ft @ 0 rpm Redline: 13,000 rpm
BATTERY
Liquid-cooled 375-volt pack consisting of 6831 lithium-ion cells; 53-kWh capacity DRIVETRAIN Transmission: 1-speed direct drive GEAR: Ratio/mph per 1000 rpm 1st: 2.65/8.7 Final-drive ratio: 3.12:1
MAX SPEED IN GEAR 122 mph 14,000 rpm
1
5 5
CHASSIS Chassis type: unit construction Body material: carbon-fiber-reinforced
plastic
STEERING
Rack-and-pinion
Ratio: 15.8:1 Turns lock-to-lock: 2.8 Turning circle curb-to-curb: 36.7 ft SUSPENSION Front: ind, unequal-length control
arms, coil springs, anti-roll bar Rear: ind, unequal-length control arms, coil springs, anti-roll bar Traction control:
Standard: power windows and locks, remote locking, cruise control, tilting steering wheel Audio system: JVC; AM, FM, Sirius radio; CD player; iPod input; 7 speakers
package), $3000; forged aluminum wheels, $2300; premium paint, $2000; premium seats, $1800; mobile 240-volt charge cord, $1500; clear adhesive paint protector, $1495; solar control glass, $400; floor mats, $150
fully defeatable
COMPETITORS
Wheelbase: 92.6 in
Length: 155.4 in
Height: 44.4 in
Width: 68.0 in
Front track: 57.7 in
Rear track: 59.0 in
Drag area: Cd (0.36) x frontal area (17.4 sq ft) = 6.3 sq ft Ground clearance: 6.0 in
WEIGHT
Curb: 2756 lb Per horsepower: 11.1 lb
DISTRIBUTION
HANDLING
TEST RESULTS
Front: 34.7% Rear: 65.3%
ACCELERATION
TOWING CAPACITY 0 lb GVWR 3274 lb
Zero to 30 mph . . . . . . . . . . . 1.8
ROADHOLDING
SECONDS
0.90 g
40 mph . . . . . . . . . . . 2.5 50 mph . . . . . . . . . . . 3.3 60 mph . . . . . . . . . .
INTERIOR
200-ft-dia skidpad
4.1
70 mph . . . . . . . . . . . 4.9
RESTRAINT SYSTEMS Front: 3-point belts, driver and
passenger front airbags
80 mph . . . . . . . . . . . 7.0
UNDERSTEER
SEAT ADJUSTMENTS Front: fore-and-aft, lumbar support
90 mph . . . . . . . . . . . 9.0
MINIMAL
100 mph . . . . . . . . . . 12.2
MODERATE
MEASUREMENTS (in)
110 mph . . . . . . . . . . 16.3
Head
Leg
Shoulder
FRONT
36.7
42.0
52.0
SAE VOLUME
Front
Trunk
5–60 street start: 4.5 sec
46 cu ft 5 cu ft
WHEELS + TIRES Wheel size/type: F: 6.0 x 16 in,
R: 7.5 x 17 in/forged aluminum Tires: Yokohama Advan Neova AD07; F: 175/55R-16 80W, R: 225/45R-17 91W Spare: none
BRAKES
Hydraulic with vacuum power assist and anti-lock control Front: 11.0 x 1.0-in vented, cross-drilled disc Rear: 12.0 x 1.0-in vented, cross-drilled disc competition mode
launch mode
EXCESSIVE
120 mph . . . . . . . . . . 22.0 Top gear, 30–50: 1.6 sec
Top gear, 50–70: 2.4 sec
¼ -MILE: 13.2 sec @ 103 mph TOP SPEED: 122 mph
WEATHER Temperature: 61˚F Humidity: 47%
BRAKING 70 to 0 mph . . . . . .
ODOMETER
(REDLINE LTD)
170 ft
INTERIOR SOUND 49
(dBA)
Test-vehicle mileage: 2639
TIRE INFLATION
IDLE
74 78
Barometric pressure: 27.45 in Hg
FULL THROTTLE 70-MPH CRUISING
Test pressures:
Front:
30 psi
NOTES Heat is the enemy, mainly for the air-cooled motor. We let the Tesla cool for 10 minutes between runs. Acceleration slows dramatically around 100 mph.
Rear:
40 psi
