Tesla Roadster Sport Model

James · 01-07-2009, 11:51 PM

Discussion continues from here.

There is a "sport" model of the Roadster coming this summer.
0-60 mph in 3.6 seconds. They were not sure on the cost yet.

dpeilow · 01-08-2009, 12:00 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by James

There is a "sport" model of the Roadster coming this summer.
0-60 mph in 3.6 seconds. They were not sure on the cost yet.

That's huge news! I wonder if it will have the mods for sustained high speed running?

James · 01-08-2009, 12:15 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by dpeilow

That's huge news! I wonder if it will have the mods for sustained high speed running?

It will also have a better frame or suspension for higher performance. I will remember to ask for more details tomorrow when I go back.

WarpedOne · 01-08-2009, 12:31 AM

Quote:

There is a "sport" model of the Roadster coming this summer.
0-60 mph in 3.6 seconds. They were not sure on the cost yet.

Is this a 300BHP that is going to Europe also?

James · 01-08-2009, 01:27 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by WarpedOne

Is this a 300BHP that is going to Europe also?

I will try to ask tomorrow.

If anyone wants specific questions asked, post them here. I will try to get some details.

dpeilow · 01-08-2009, 04:35 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by James

If anyone wants specific questions asked, post them here. I will try to get some details.

James, for starters you could try for:

- Mass of the battery
- Capacity of the battery / range
- Likely cost of the car
- Whether it will be stripped out - i.e. no radio or air con
- Whether it is 300BHP as WarpedOne has mentioned above
- Drivetrain 2.0 type features (e.g. for sustained autobahn running / track use)

graham · 01-08-2009, 05:58 AM

Wow, this is huge news! I wonder how much of this is specific to the Roadster, or bleed-over from the newer tech planned for the Model S?

It should be a relatively straightforward thing to reduce weight enough to get the acceleration up (with sacrificing range, comfort, etc). But a much more difficult thing if they plan to increase the sustainability of the top end.

malcolm · 01-08-2009, 06:25 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by graham

It should be a relatively straightforward thing to reduce weight enough to get the acceleration up (with sacrificing range, comfort, etc). But a much more difficult thing if they plan to increase the sustainability of the top end.

Maybe they don't intend to change the weight significantly as this might trigger re-doing crash tests. It could just be tweaks to the PEM/battery to realise more (all?) of the 300 hp the eMotor can deliver, but the EPA range figures would still stand.

Sustaining high speeds really needs better motor/PEM cooling but once you increase weight to achieve that, battery capacity becomes the weakest link in the chain. Maybe it's not worth it outside of a Model S prototype.

Great to see them continuing to push the Roadster specs. Is this Powertrain 1.6?

James: Can you ask if there are plans to tweak the regen profiles given that a more powerful motor can also be a more powerful generator (but I suspect that safe braking under regen is the limiting factor here) and when will the instrument panel get a re-design? Thanks.

vfx · 01-08-2009, 08:07 AM

Hasn't Elon already said this in interviews?

graham · 01-08-2009, 08:38 AM

Elon and other Tesla members have mentioned "considering" doing such a thing. Nothing has been announced that they are actually planning to do so.