TESLA ROADSTER

2010 Tesla Roadster Sport

N o other car can match the stealth qualities of the Tesla, especially the Tesla Roadster Sport. Imagine a sports car capable of accelerating to 60 mph is 3.7 seconds with hardly a sound, and able to reach a top speed of some 125 mph.

Company officials insist the Roadster Sport can beat nearly anything in its price class – yet it is twice as efficient as compact hybrid sedans. The price of this all-electric, zero-emission vehicle starts at $128,500.

While earlier Tesla models resembled the Lotus Elise, for obvious reasons, the newest models share fewer than 7 percent of parts and assemblies with the Elise, according to company officials, enabling the Tesla Roadster Sport to stand on its own.

Looking inside the Roadster Sport, you can’t help but notice the absence of a gear shift. A push-button gear selector replaces the previous aluminum gear level, and the interior has been beefed up with a bit more carbon fiber and leather than previous Tesla models.

For some enthusiasts, the silence of the Tesla Roadster Sport can be discomforting. But for those thinking green, but still wanting exhilarating performance, there’s a solution. –LS

Click the link to see Tesla's upcoming sedan, the Tesla Model S .

PHOTOS and VIDEOS at right.

SPECS:
Price: $130,000
Engine: 375-volt AC induction air-cooled electric motor with variable frequency drive
Horsepower: 288 / Torque: 295 @ 0-5100 / Top Speed: 125 mph