Razz1

The Telsa is here.

Sure wish I could afford one.

EdwardsB

Nice looking, I knew they worked with lotus on the frame, but they def just cut and pasted the side mirrors from one on to it.

I also wish I could afford one, I don't mind it being electric.

alnielsen

iTrader: (4)

How about Tesla. http://www.teslamotors.com/

mysql101

they're shipping them with the crappy single gear transmission

BigRed

I decided to build my own EV. It is definitely not built on a lotus frame, but a 1993 VW Fox .

hemanrulez

Why is that crappy? It'll still go faster than an RX-8 and will probably even handle better.

bose

iTrader: (5)

Faster maybe but handle better I think your up in the night.

Jethro Tull

iTrader: (6)

A fast electric sports car is a nice idea on paper, but-

Does it have AC? Heat? Defrost?

mysql101

It's crappy because they couldn't get the two speed functional. So they're shipping it with the crappy one speed and trying to work out the bugs later.

Maybe you should look up this stuff before accusing me of saying it's slower than the Rx-8.

Jedi54

iTrader: (7)

doesn't even look that good to me.

Rootski

iTrader: (1)

It's definitely got the power to scoot, but I don't know about getting those heavy battery packs around a corner.

BigRed

also, how the hell and why the hell would you compare a 25-35k car with a 100k car? seems pointless to me... this car wasnt made really to be the best car ever, but to prove a point that electric cars will be the future. period.

TopGear8

iTrader: (3)

Any reviews on it yet?

Razz1

Yes, check Road and Track.

New Yorker

I hope it does well. I don't expect it to be the perfect car or anything, but the fact that it even exists and is possible is pretty exciting. After all, it's the first electric car that's not slow, pokey or a glorified golf cart. I expect perfecting the idea and making it really practical/affordable will take several years. That's understandable… and ok.

Razz1

The Tesla feels composed and competent at speed with great turn-in and transitioning response, picking up a gentle understeer when pushed through a corner a little too hard. The suspension achieves a good balance of sportiness and compliance, without jarring over average road undulations. The accelerator (not to be confused with a throttle) offers extremely precise control and power modulation, thanks to the instantaneous power and torque characteristics of an electric powertrain. Another advantage of such a setup is extremely quick-reacting traction control (which doesn't require brake intervention) because of the motor's ability to react instantly.

chickenwafer

iTrader: (9)

Yes, it has all that, according to Automobile magazine.



I personally think it's really cool. If I was uber rich and has $100k burning a hole in my pocket, I would buy one.

It has a 13,000 rpm redline which is kind of cool, and makes 248-bhp. Full torque (over 200 ft-lbs) is also available from 0-6000 rpm. Talk about on-demand.

kersh4w

iTrader: (3)

the rx8 isnt even in the same class...

i dont know what you guys are talking about. tesla > rx8.

JRichter

I drove a VW Fox in the mid '90s. Loved that thing. Probably light enough for a good start.

BaronVonBigmeat

It has a "crappy" (read: extremely reliable and simple) 1-speed gearbox because...it doesn't need multiple gears to begin with. Electric motors are efficient over a much, much broader RPM range than gasoline engines.

Socket7

I want a Telsa eclectic arc too!

Detrich

it's a really tiny car for the $... dunno if i'd feel safe putting around in that thing around the LA SUV jungle...

hemanrulez

actually you need to read up. Tesla has confirmed that the single speed will be as fast as the 2 speed they were planning on making

mysql101

You don't give up do you? They are shipping with the one speed now because of issues with the 2 speed. When they work out the issues, they'll retro fit the cars with the 2 speed. The issue is with the transmission is dealing with so much immediate torque and the huge rpm range, plus overheating. They've gone through several different units and couldn't get it working. Rather than continuing to hold up the release of the car they're moving forward with what they have. They're going with the higher gear, so the acceleration will suck. Additionally, the top speed is decreased. Even with the single speed, they don't want it faster than 125 to lower the chance of overheating.




hemanrulez, Let me know if you're done jacking off here. I'd appreciate it if you didn't make up random **** and then call me out based on stuff you pulled out your ***.

mysql101

gear ratios work the same way on electric motors as they do on fuel powered engines.

Additionally, the top speed is 125 mph, and they're getting around 80 miles before the batts get low, when driven spiritedly.

Therefor I submit to you that my RX-8 would soundly thrash the $100,000 tesla in top speed, acceleration, and even "miles per tank"