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4
Handling
Performance
5
Usability
3
Feelgood factor
Readers' rating
3.5
By Ben Oliver
First Drives
19 August 2008 09:44
This story about the Tesla Roadster is different, because after years of hype, anticipation and the almost-inevitable delays in production, CAR Online has finally driven one at length, on British roads and in near-production trim. This is a car burdened by expectation; some created by its billing as the world’s first truly green supercar and the first electric car you can use every day, some created by its astronomical price. Question is, does the Tesla Roadster live up to the hype?
It’s extraordinary: the Tesla is hugely, comically fast, and somehow manages to feel even faster than its claimed, supercar-standard sub-four second 0-60mph time. The electric motor makes its torque constantly, instantly available, the single gear means you don’t have to change down or wait for kickdown, and the huge thrust is generated with nothing more than a Star-Trek whirr. The Tesla eventually runs out of steam – or whatever it is electric cars run out of – at around 125mph, but it will still generate a solid shove in the back at 90mph. It's pretty spell-binding stuff... Click 'Next' to see how the Tesla copes with corners
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supercarrambler says
RE: Tesla Roadster CAR review
Well Top Gear had to apologise in the New York Times over the Tesla roadtest, looks like the lads were caught lithium handed
05 January 2009 17:08
lsjdp says
What a relief; we will still have supercars in the future, and they won't be to shabby looking at this Tesla. Although there wont be any mechanical noise to enjoy, I think its silence on the road should help to enhance the surprise of its apparently brutal acceleration!!! A project that brings huge joy and relief to many car fans I'm sure!!! Even if you don't want one, its good to know that relatively CO2'less thrashes are possible.
15 December 2008 17:13
tom7 says
Holy... I want this car if it accelerates like that!! To JB, I didn't bother reading all the comments, and I dunno if anyone's pointed this out yet, but you do have to consider that we do have to abandon oil in the next century or two simply because it's going to run out...
03 December 2008 03:14
yamagataboy1 says
Where is angry Johnny Bimmer and who's paying him for his shoddy opinions? Has he had a science class in the last 20 years? His endless rants about climate change, clueless as they may be, are opinions after all. Unfortunately for him he is incorrect and nearly EVERY science organization on the planet feels that humans are at fault. How's it feel to be a solitary man, Johnny? The article was originally about the Tesla and I thank Car Magazine for testing the car and informing us. It sounds like an amazing vehicle. I have a feeling that angry Johnny rants on numerous sites across the internet about his sad life. I have met people like Johnny before and I hope Johnny is indeed in the UK and does not have access to any weapons for fear of him harming others, or himself. So Johnny, relax, take a deep breath and get some help. There's got to be someone you can talk to about the real issues in your life. Mat
28 October 2008 18:51
JohnnyBimmer says
JPO - you show great certainty (Houston, we've got a climate problem) in great uncertainty (our computer predictions have faults - junk in, junk out). That climate change has a scientific "consensus" is a big hoax. More scientists worldwide disagree with man made climate change than agree with the theory. Simialrly the governments that believe in this hoax can be cornered to socialist Western governments as neither China, India, Russia, America et al. believe this nonesense. Everything about Earths climate is normal. There is no rate of change, actual change or perceived change in our current or recent climate that is either abnormal nor un-natural. All is well. The claims of change, such as extreme weather, are all hoaxes. The predictions of future change, based on computers that fake warming because they only add warming, but cannot subtract known cooling effects are predictions that aren't worth the paper they're written on. Finally the studies that show only the first 22ppm of CO2 does most of the warming indicates the hoaxers answer to climate change, by curbing CO2 emissions, will have no effect. Because man cannot get CO2 down to below 22ppm because nature is making 97% to 99% of all annual CO2 emissions. By reducing our CO2 by 50% will have NO IMPACT on atmospheric CO2 levels. It is estimated it will cost man over $1 Trillion to curb our CO2. Other scientists can cool the Earth for around £1.5bn (1,000 cheaper) by emitting reflective material through Jet fuel or pumping soot-like particles from land into the atmosphere. So CO2 isn't even a clever or least cost option, in fact it is the most costly, the slowest to achieve a result (if any) AND the least effective (ie. it is very, very dumb). In short, from start to finish climate change and its aims is a hoax, dodgy, futile and a fraud from any angle you care to look.
01 September 2008 02:26
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