RacerX Posted August 2, 2006 Share Posted August 2, 2006 Look at the bodywork on this new electric car! It's now available and is called the Tesla Roadster. Take a look: http://sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/gate/archive/2006/08/02/notes080206.DTL RacerX Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Warren Posted August 2, 2006 Share Posted August 2, 2006 The article at that link is even more entertaining (meaning HONEST) than the car is appealing. Don'tcha just love it when the truth comes out? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Datsun350Z Posted August 2, 2006 Share Posted August 2, 2006 So, uh... when do we see the drivetrain in a Z? Quick, someone go buy one and crash it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
olie05 Posted August 3, 2006 Share Posted August 3, 2006 So' date=' uh... when do we see the drivetrain in a Z? Quick, someone go buy one and crash it.[/quote'] it's mid-motor I'm sure. I guess there could be a mid-motored z if the motor was compact enough. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
spdkilz02 Posted August 3, 2006 Share Posted August 3, 2006 we were talking about this exact car in the opel forum that i belong to. the one guy actually saw this car in person at an airfield i believe, where they were testing it out. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AK-Z Posted August 3, 2006 Share Posted August 3, 2006 The test versionof the tesla was actually powered by recycled laptop batteries, lol. Saw it on Speed channel like 2 years ago. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ZuL8r Posted August 3, 2006 Share Posted August 3, 2006 It looks like the offspring of a Lotus Elise and a NSX. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mario_82_ZXT Posted August 3, 2006 Share Posted August 3, 2006 It looks like the offspring of a Lotus Elise and a NSX. I believe it is based on an Elise chassis, and I think the motor is in the back. Mario Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AK-Z Posted August 3, 2006 Share Posted August 3, 2006 I believe it is based on an Elise chassis' date=' and I think the motor is in the back.Mario[/quote']Most likely it is. With electric cars, you can have the motor pretty much anywhere as long as can get the power to the wheels. the ariel atom is still quicker with a 0-60 of 2.9 sec (quoted fromt top gear), with better power to weight than a enzo (atom has 600hp per ton, actual; 300hp to 1/2 ton, again qutoed from top gear). Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Austenp405 Posted August 3, 2006 Share Posted August 3, 2006 it's mid-motor I'm sure. I guess there could be a mid-motored z if the motor was compact enough. Would it be that big of an issue, since you don't have to deal with exhaust heat and noise? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
240Zed Posted August 3, 2006 Share Posted August 3, 2006 The Chassis and bodywork is made in England by Lotus. Heres a more informative article. http://www.wired.com/news/wiredmag/0,71414-0.html?tw=rss.index Did that guy ever finish building his electric 240z? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
OlderThanMe Posted August 3, 2006 Share Posted August 3, 2006 that 0-60 of the ariel atom is not MPH. It is in KPH...atom is closer to 4.5 sec. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AK-Z Posted August 3, 2006 Share Posted August 3, 2006 that 0-60 of the ariel atom is not MPH. It is in KPH...atom is closer to 4.5 sec. Nope. MPH 2.9 for the supercharged version. TopGear only tested that version. base model still gets to 60 in 3.5. and top gear always quote 0-60 in MPH inless other wise stated. refference here: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ariel_Atom Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest l28et Posted August 3, 2006 Share Posted August 3, 2006 Most likely it is. With electric cars, you can have the motor pretty much anywhere as long as can get the power to the wheels. the ariel atom is still quicker with a 0-60 of 2.9 sec (quoted fromt top gear), with better power to weight than a enzo (atom has 600hp per ton, actual; 300hp to 1/2 ton, again qutoed from top gear). The Atom is an awesome car, but you're missing the point. The Tesla is the first mass produced, "affordable", high performance ELECTRIC car. The Atom is gas powered (Ecotec or Civic motor?). The Tesla is sweet, requires no maintinence up to 100,000 miles (Minus brakes/tires) and charges overnight. I think its great. http://www.teslamotors.com/ Go read all about it. You'll want one after you're done. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mike kZ Posted August 3, 2006 Share Posted August 3, 2006 The Tesla is the first mass produced, "affordable", high performance ELECTRIC car. At $80K it's a little high still. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AK-Z Posted August 3, 2006 Share Posted August 3, 2006 I never said that I didn't want one but the atom is more obtainable. The tesla, last I heard on the news when the premiered it at pebble beach, was said to have a projected price of $100-150K. Don't know if thats true or not, but most likely the atom would be cheaper. Plus all the electrical problems (if you do have one) would be a pain. EDIT: ^ so its 80K, still to high. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Forrest Posted August 3, 2006 Share Posted August 3, 2006 I like the idea, but it's out of my price range. If I spent 80k on a car, it would have to have a lot more than 180ftlbs of peak torque. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
quicker240 Posted August 3, 2006 Share Posted August 3, 2006 I think theres a bit more to consider here.So what you have is a 80k car,what is that $1300.00 per mo?,with ZERO fuel bill for 6 years?Probably a slight increase in your electric bill though.If you have to commute more than 30 or 40 miles a day,I can see this car making a lot of sense.Especially if you are a tree hugger!Add your gas bill to your car payment and see what it adds up to.Not to mention that it is a very nice looking car!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Deamarus Posted August 4, 2006 Share Posted August 4, 2006 Most likely it is. With electric cars, you can have the motor pretty much anywhere as long as can get the power to the wheels. the ariel atom is still quicker with a 0-60 of 2.9 sec (quoted fromt top gear), with better power to weight than a enzo (atom has 600hp per ton, actual; 300hp to 1/2 ton, again qutoed from top gear). those figures actually sound alot more like the tiger Z100 powered by two kawasaki gsxr1000 engines, tested by 5th gear: http://www.tigerracing.com/cars/tiger-z100-main.php Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pop N Wood Posted August 4, 2006 Share Posted August 4, 2006 Electric cars have existed for years. What makes you guys think this car is going to be anymore succesfull than an EV1? The guy who wrote that article is a moron. This thing, if it even sellls 1000 units, will do absolutely zero to reduce our dependence on foreign oil. Fuel cost will not be zero because electricity is expensive. The car will not be zero emmissions because it will still be charged by an electric plant fueled by some type of fossil fuel or nuclear power. Face it, all these guys did was put a bunch of lap top batteries and an electric motor in a Lotus. Big whoop. Cushman has been doing it for decades. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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