Next gen Roadster

[dsm363]

Does anyone expect the next version of the Roadster to include a few features to make people fit into the car a little better like moveable steering column and seats? A slightly taller windshield would help taller drivers too.

Dave

[DRM]

Although I'd love to see a next-gen roadster, I'd be surprised if Tesla rolls one out before the model-S gets into
production. Something like a larger windshield would entail a major redesign; if they do make some improvements
to the roadster, my best guesses would be:
1. changes to reduce mfgr cost of the PEM and battery pack.
2. upsell option of using higher energy-density cells / longer range.
3. up-to-date airbag leveraging off of work done at Lotus
4. Any misc changes Lotus makes to the platform that are easily ported including tilt steering, etc.
5. electric power steering.

[mt2]

Although I'd love to see a next-gen roadster, I'd be surprised if Tesla rolls one out before the model-S gets into
production. Something like a larger windshield would entail a major redesign; if they do make some improvements
to the roadster, my best guesses would be:
1. changes to reduce mfgr cost of the PEM and battery pack.
2. upsell option of using higher energy-density cells / longer range.
3. up-to-date airbag leveraging off of work done at Lotus
4. Any misc changes Lotus makes to the platform that are easily ported including tilt steering, etc.
5. electric power steering.

Agreed. They don't need the revenue burn of redesigning the Roadster yet.

[dsm363]

Yeah, that's kind of what I figured. It looks like the 2011 Lotus Elise will be slightly bigger so maybe they'll use that.

[shark2k]

Yeah, that's kind of what I figured. It looks like the 2011 Lotus Elise will be slightly bigger so maybe they'll use that.

Except only like 10% of the car is based on the Lotus and Tesla said it plans on moving it to the skate platform after they get that completed (the Model S is going to be their first car on the skate platform and the rest of their cars will all be built off of that).

-Shark2k

[vfx]

Yeah, that's kind of what I figured. It looks like the 2011 Lotus Elise will be slightly bigger so maybe they'll use that.

Have you seen the Evora? A Tesla big brother.

I talked to Franz about it. He agreed that Lotus ripped off the Tesla's styling but conceded that they would never admit it.

[stopcrazypp]

Have you seen the Evora? A Tesla big brother.

I talked to Franz about it. He agreed that Lotus ripped off the Tesla's styling but conceded that they would never admit it.

To be fair, wasn't the design exterior styling originally done by Lotus (there was a styling contest if I remember correctly)?

[TEG]

Random picture of a Lexus LFA convertible concept:


And then there is this:
LeftLane News render
Illustrated: 2013 Tesla Model R

[Doug_G]

Looks very sweet. And bigger... it almost looks like you could fit the current Roadster inside...

[NigelM]

If there is a 4-seater convertible then they have to come up with a way to make the ride comfortable in the back seats. Ladies hate it generally as they get buffeted by the wind, everyone hates riding in the back because you cannot hear anything from the conversation in the front seats. I seem to recall that Mercedes came up with a concept to force the air up and over the back seats to fix this problem but it wasn't very pretty.