The Tesla Roadster is commonly appeared again on as the primary automobile that made EVs look cool to the general public. With its sub-four-second acceleration time and flashy styling, it was sure to show heads when it first barged onto the scene. And but, to the untrained eye, the automobile appeared like an electrified Lotus Elise, a stigma that also prevails to today. In actuality, this couldn’t be farther from the reality. Yes, the Roadster was certainly impressed by the Elise, and partly constructed on it (to hurry up the manufacturing course of).

However, the ultimate model of the Roadster solely ended up borrowing seven-percent of its elements from the Elise, whereas the remaining was fully modified. In 2008, the corporate wasted no time in distinguishing its crown jewel from the Elise, insisting that the Roadster had a very completely different drivetrain, physique panels, aluminum tub, rear sub-frame, brakes, ABS, HVAC, and rear suspension. Alas, the stigma by no means actually went away.

Darryl Siry, who labored as Tesla’s Vice President of Sales, Marketing, and Service again then, additional insisted that “If you were to try to convert an Elise to a Tesla and started throwing away parts that aren’t carried over, what you would basically be left with is a windshield, dashboard (complete with airbags!), front wishbones and a removable soft top”

In order to provide the latest and correct info doable, the info used to compile this text was sourced from producer web sites and authoritative sources, together with Tesla, Motor Trend, and The Gruber Motor Company.

The Tesla Roadster Is More Than Just An Electrified Elise

The powertrain distinction between the Elise and the Roadster places them worlds aside. While the concept of electrifying a Lotus Elise may need appeared easy to the general public, it introduced fairly a couple of challenges behind the scenes. Tesla’s engineers needed to fully rethink the outside design of the first-gen Roadster, elongating elements and altering dimensions as wanted, whereas additionally bringing radical adjustments to the underlying construction and the inside tech.

The Design Was Completely Altered

The 1,000-pound battery within the midsection of the automobile required drastic modifications, as the structure of the ICE-powered Elise merely couldn’t accommodate it. To treatment that, the engineering workforce needed to redesign the aluminum tub chassis and enhance its energy. The crash construction on the entrance was additionally made greater to accommodate the additional weight. The battery pack was additional revisited to extend rigidity. The side-rails had been additionally lowered to enhance ingress and egress, in order that taller passengers might get out and in extra comfortably.

Tesla additionally labored on a brand new rear sub-frame, successfully adapting it to the battery pack, motor, and transmission. Since the Roadster was packing some heft because of the heavier electrical powertrain, it additionally added new wishbones. With these alterations, it now had a wheelbase that was about two inches longer than the Elise.

Exterior Dimensions: First-Gen Roadster vs. Lotus Elise

(Figures sourced from the producers)

The Overall Tech Was Revisited From A To Z

Another space that Tesla needed to account for was the 12-volt equipment, such because the followers, headlights, air con, heaters, and many others. In a extra standard, gas-powered automobile just like the Lotus Elise, these techniques would usually feed off the interior combustion engine.

The first-gen Roadster, then again, ran on a 400-volt battery, in lieu of an ICE, so Tesla needed to design and combine all of the aforementioned tech particularly. Since the ability brakes on the Roadster couldn’t generate enhance from an inside combustion engine, they required an electrically pushed vacuum pump and likewise needed to be re-adapted.

In 2006, Martin Eberhard, Co-founder of Tesla Motors, took the time to clarify Tesla’s relationship with Lotus, forward of the Roadster’s launch. Even again then, the web neighborhood was curious concerning the bond between the British roadster and its American counterpart. All in all, the Roadster was provided with these extra options that weren’t initially included within the Lotus Elise:

• Redesigned seats, made wider by a number of inches
• New padding materials with carbon fiber, in lieu of Lotus’s fiberglass
• An in-house developed, carbon-fiber console
• A customized, coloration LCD
• A brand new Blaupunkt radio with an iPod connector, and an elective satellite tv for pc radio and satellite tv for pc navigation system.
• A carpeted ground, to reduce noise and warmth switch from the highway
• New in-house developed doorways with electrically-activated latch
• Leather-trimmed door panels
• Electric trunk launch

The First-Gen Tesla Roadster Is Unique

The Roadster isn’t just distinctive, it’s a one-and-done form of automobile. For starters, most of the engineers who worked on it back in the day left the company. With the lack of ancestral information, the corporate was pressured to retrain the brand new members of the workers who weren’t but acquainted with the automobile, by having them follow on outdated Roadsters that had been being purchased again from house owners.

You’ve guessed it at this level, Tesla can not merely name Lotus for assist. Not solely are the Elise and the Roadster solely seven-percent comparable, however quite a lot of the elements used on the well-known electrical convertible had been sourced from different suppliers, of assorted nationalities, a few of that are now not in enterprise.

A Once In A Lifetime Vehicle

When the Roadster first got here in, it had a $98,950 price tag connected to it. Mind you, this was throughout a time when individuals didn’t have a lot religion in EVs. This meant that this new high-end electrical automobile needed to justify that scolding-hot MSRP, partly by together with cutting-edge inside options. As a outcome, the cockpit got here full of premium expertise.

The VDS touchscreen, VMS Module, and ESS pack’s inside electronics had been designed particularly for the Roadster. These components had been so distinctive that they’re almost irreplaceable at this level. Today, it’s estimated that replicating the inside tech for the Roadster would cost nearly seven figures. This is kind of problematic for first-gen Roadster house owners who want to interchange sure components over time, which is sure to occur.

To cope with this predicament, Tesla is encouraging proactive upkeep, but additionally taking a extra unconventional strategy. In 2019, the Austin-based producer started shopping for again first-gen Roadsters from earlier house owners at a better price than their market worth. These items are supposed to function elements donors, which can be later dismantled and repurposed to re-equip the opposite Roadsters which can be nonetheless getting used.

The Roadster Has Forged A Legacy Of Its Own

In 2012, Tesla discontinued the Roadster after merely 4 years of manufacturing. Tesla’s contract with Lotus for two,500 gliders had already expired in 2011, and the corporate subsequently stopped taking orders within the United States in August of the identical 12 months. In the tip, only 2,450 copies had been made, and just one,500 of them had been despatched to American shores. Despite this succinct shelf-life, the Roadster was in a position to reside on as a timeless icon. Nowadays, it’s appeared again on as the primary Messiah of electrical autos, and boy, the second coming promises to be even better, as we have beforehand mentioned!

So, whereas some may nonetheless consult with it as nothing greater than an American Elise, the connoisseurs who know its historic worth are keen to spend good-looking quantities of cash to grab a bit of their very own.

First-generation Tesla Roadster Performance Specs

(Specs sourced from Tesla)

Some Roadsters Are Now Worth Seven Figures

Since the first-generation Roadster is a dying breed, it has turn into a sought-after commodity for wealthy aficionados, who acknowledge its growing worth. As the historic convertible will get extra scarce, every unit turns into an much more prized relic of the previous. The final Roadster ever constructed now costs a whopping $1.49 million, placing it forward of some of the priciest electric vehicles on earth, such because the Lucid Air, the McMurtry Spéirling Pure, or the $1.3 million Drako GTE.

Similarly, the final Tesla Roadster to roll off the meeting line within the United States is also listed at $1,500,000. For what it is price, this one was autographed by Elon himself. Whether you assume these costs are too steep or not, the actual fact stays that the first-generation Tesla Roadster is an irreplaceable artifact in each method doable. Be it the design, the underlying tech, the historic worth, or the general status, you’ll by no means discover a automobile fairly just like the very first Roadster, not even the Lotus Elise!