If there’s one thing upstart automaker Tesla has made clear, it’s that electric cars don’t have to be slow or goofy. The automaker reported today its Roadster model achieved a 12.7 second time down the quarter mile. At a terminal velocity of 105 miles per hour, the Roadster holds its own against performance-oriented gasoline-powered sports cars.
The Roadster model used was equipped with the “version 1.5″ transmission, which features a single-speed gear ratio, rather than the two-speed gearbox used in the original drivetrain.
The driver’s reaction time was 0.764, and the 60-foot sprint took just 2.058 seconds. 330 feet were history in 5.384 seconds, while 660 feet were covered in just 8.170 seconds.
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11/04, 2:46 PM
posted by:
pav8581
I don’t think anyone debated that these cars wouldn’t be fast. There’s no reaon a car with that much juice, and that small a package wouldn’t be. It’s the feasibility of it being affordable that’s the problem…
11/04, 2:51 PM
posted by:
Need4SSpeed
LOL a ZO6 does the 1/4 in 12.7… lol
that 60ft could have been better though… still not bad….
11/04, 2:55 PM
posted by:
zoomzoomer
It does the 1/4 mile in 12.7 seconds.. then runs out of juice about a mile (or about a minute) later!
11/04, 3:01 PM
posted by:
beatusmongous
This is a Tesla, not a GWiz. It will go 3 miles before running out of juice.
Just kidding.
11/04, 3:06 PM
posted by:
Blakkarr
The issue is not acceleration with this car, shown to be extremely good for any sub-300hp car, or range, well over 200 miles per charge, but top speed. For around $100K, you are not going to give a flip about gas mileage or supporting new technology. For half that you can get a car that will outrun the Telsa roadster.
With a top speed under 130 mph, the Tesla Roadster is a slow poke among sports cars. Telsa Motors needs to get that top speed up to 150+ mph to be taken seriously by those with the means to buy one.
As much as I have faith that this is where cars will ultimately go in terms of technology, This current car is too much of a gizmo-toy. It grabs interest but it doesn’t bring much to the performance party when it comes to performing.
11/04, 3:06 PM
posted by:
non_biased_enthusiast
The trap speed is low for a 12.7
11/04, 3:07 PM
posted by:
johnnycanuck
Was there a smoky burnout involved or did they have someone other than a customer behind the wheel?
11/04, 3:08 PM
posted by:
928dreamer
Not bad considering a termal speed of 105 mph. If this was able to be geared better allowing a higher top speed the 1/4 time would be even better. But, the way these cars will be driven on the road here, top speed just doesn’t matter that much. On back road blasting, this will have great acceleration with all of that torque. It just won’t set any land speed records.
11/04, 3:25 PM
posted by:
eliteski2
In real life driving, 130 is more than enough for fun driving. But even so, I don’t understand why a “multi-gear” transmission is so difficult. Every other car seems to have it figured out. I understand that power figures are significantly different, and the torque curve is outrageous, but still.
Congrats to Tesla. They’ve done what no one else has.
11/04, 3:53 PM
posted by:
golf4me
And then it died…and the driver was stuck there for 8hrs before he could go home.
Here’s their tagline….”Tesla, the worlds fastest golf cart. Well, maybe not because you can’t even carry your bag..”
I think mini-reactors should be powering vehicles. Why not? Ships have them. Been reliable for 50 years. Wouldn’t be expensive in volume production. Computing power and sensor & control technology is there. Just go get ‘em fueled and dumped once per month or whatever. Put all the waste in the South Side of Chicago. That’s my plan, and I’m sticking to it!
11/04, 4:00 PM
posted by:
Fromes
top seed is not that important….the lotus Elise tops out at 130 mph
11/05, 5:39 PM
posted by:
F3INT))AP3X
The Elise tops out at 155 actually or around there (maybe 160 with a new chip). Anyway a 12.7 quarter mile time on a car you plug in at night along with superb handling (thank you Lotus) is a pretty unbeatable combination save for the pricey tag. But hey, it’s to “save the environment without compromise” and all that garbage so it can’t be all that bad when it comes time to compare yourself to the other guys at the next neighbor party, company function, etc. 100k for social integrity is a small price to pay for people too rich or busy to earn it the normal way.