2012 Tesla Roadster 2.5

Basic Specs

Base Price TBA
Drivetrain Rear Wheel Drive
Curb Weight (lbs) 2723
City (MPG) TBD
Hwy (MPG) TBD
Horsepower 288@5000-6000
Torque (lb-ft) 273@0-5400
Wheelbase 92.6
Length (in.) 155.1
Width (in.) 72.9
Height (in.) 44.35

The Roadster is an all-electric sports car developed by Silicon Valley-based Tesla Motors. It was launched as a prototype in July of 2006, and, back in March of 2008, Tesla first announced it would produce the car.

Since its introduction, the Roadster has been updated, and is now found in "Roadster 2.5" form, which features upgrades and updates throughout.

The Roadster 2.5 sports a revised front fascia and rear diffuser, which Tesla says indicates the future design direction of the company. Directional forged wheels are now on offer, available in silver or black.

The Roadster’s interior also gets a sprucing for version 2.5, boasting updated seats with better comfort and support, an optional 7-inch touchscreen display with backup camera and more sound deadening material for a quieter cabin.

The two-seater has a top speed of 125 mph, along with zero-to-60 mph acceleration time of just 3.9 seconds. It shares a chassis with the Lotus Elise , but the similarities stop there. It has a carbon fiber body, and shares only seven percent of its components with the Elise.

The Tesla Roadster can be ordered with a $3,000 high-speed charger, which enables a 3.5-hour charge time via 220V/70A service in a residential setting. The standard charger takes around 8 hours for a complete fill. A mobile "trickle" charger kit is also available, for connecting to a basic 110V outlet.

The base price of $108,000 is a little off-putting at first, but after spending some time driving at an equivalent 135 mpg and an estimated cost of less than $0.02 per mile, the cost should turn out to be a lot more affordable that it may seem at first flance. What's more, there's a hefty tax credit of $7,500 available to purchasers.

Powered by 6,831 lithium-ion cells, the car's battery pack weighs roughly 900 lbs. Of course, this hefty sum is offset partly by the lack of a gearbox or a heavy gasoline motor.

The Roadster makes an equivalent 288 horsepower (up 40 from launch), as well as an always-available 273 lb-ft of torque with a redline of 14,000 rpm.

A full charge can take as little as 45 minutes, but only with a commercial-grade electrical connection. Tesla says the pack will retain 80 percent capacity after 100,000 miles.

The range? an impressive 245 miles on a full charge, more than two and a half times as far as any standard electric vehicle on the market, and with a whole heck of a lot more power to boot.

Standard fare on the Roadster includes heated sport seats with inflatable lumbar support, a three-spoke steering wheel, a Homelink remote, and a Blaupunkt MP3-capable CD player with an auxiliary jack. Things consumers now take for granted, such as power windows and locks, cruise control, air conditioning and a (retractable) cup holder are also included.

That's not to say there are no options, as Tesla is happy to offer a premium leather interior in a choice of colors, premium microfiber seats, a carbon fiber hardtop with headliner as well as a choice of metallic and premium exterior paints.

Even Tesla Motors floor mats can be specified. Inside, more comfort and convenience options include a Bluetooth interface system for cell phones, a touch-screen navigation system with voice guidance, as well as a seven-speaker premium sound system. 'Propeller' style aluminum wheels are a $3,000 option.

Key competitors
Because of the fact that the Roadster is a pure EV sportscar, it technically does not have a direct competitor. However, the Fisker Karma is a similarly eco-minded sporty vehicle that may appeal to some cross-shoppers, while the Lotus Evora delivers relatively comparable looks and driving dynamics, albeit with a thirsty V6 engine and a fixed roof.

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    • General
    • Body Style: Roadster
    • Size: Compact
    • Market Segment: Performance
    • Weight: 2723 lbs
    • Exterior
    • Length: 155.1 in.
    • Width: 72.9 in.
    • Height: 44.35 in.
    • Wheelbase: 92.6 in.
    • Ground Clearance: 5.1 in.
    • Front Track: 57.7 in.
    • Rear Track: 59.0 in.
    • Weight Distribution: TBD
    • Drag Coefficient: TBD
    • Interior - General
    • Seats: 2
    • Passenger Volume: TBD
    • Cargo Volume: TBD
    • Cargo Volume (Seats Folded): TBD
    • Interior - Front Row
    • Volume: TBD
    • Leg Room: 42.0 in.
    • Head Room: 36.7 in.
    • Shoulder Room: 26.0 in.
    • Hip Room: N/A
    • Propulsion
    • Fuel Type: Electric
    • Engine Type: -
    • Power: 288 hp @ 5000-6000 rpm
    • Torque: 273 lb-ft @ 0-5400 rpm
    • Transmission: 1-Speed Fixed Ratio
    • Highway Fuel Economy: TBD
    • City Fuel Economy: TBD
    • Forced Induction: None
    • Direct Injection: No
    • Chassis
    • Layout: Rear Wheel Drive
    • Front Suspension: Double Wishbone
    • Rear Suspension: Double Wishbone
    • Wheels
    • Front: 16" Aluminum
    • Front Tires: 175/55R16
    • Rear: 17" Aluminum
    • Rear Tires: 225/45R17
    • Trailering & Hauling
    • Trailer Weight: N/A
    • Payload:
    • Tongue Weight: N/A

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