New Tesla Roadster

[dmann]

I posted a week or so ago about an S model being at RA. Now check this out!
http://www.roadandtrack.com/new-cars...r-photos-info/

[13COBRA]

Those performance numbers are unreal.

Musk has been manipulating the Tesla stocks since their inception, I would venture to guess after this roadster, and the semi announcement he'll ride the tide to its peak, then sell.

[viperBase1]

Butt dyno in my car says 0-60 in 1.7 seconds.

Musk also said “The point of doing this is to give a hardcore smackdown to gasoline cars,” Musk said. Driving any other turbo-charged sports car, is going to feel like a steam engine with a side of quiche."

Notice how he didn't go near the naturally aspirated cars.
F' that guy anyway!!

[IHOP]

Butt dyno in my car says 0-60 in 1.7 seconds.

Musk also said “The point of doing this is to give a hardcore smackdown to gasoline cars,” Musk said. Driving any other turbo-charged sports car, is going to feel like a steam engine with a side of quiche."

Notice how he didn't go near the naturally aspirated cars.
F' that guy anyway!!

I will run that bitch down when we hit the turns!

[Martin]

Kind of a cool concept, but I'm still not buying into the electric car thing. This one has a 200 kWh battery - so if you're really straining your home's electrical system and able to deliver 10kW of power through the charger, it's still going to take 20 hours to charge the thing?

The numbers are impressive - and if that thing really does generate over 7000 lb-ft of torque, that would be pretty amazing.

[ACRSNK]

I don't care if that thing does 0-60 in less than one second...not interested!

[Vypr Phil]

I assign about as much credibility to Elon Musk’s claims as I do to Gloria Allred’s accusations.

[TrackAire]

What a great looking roadster.....too bad it doesn't have a 500 hp twin turbo V6 in it.

[J TNT]

It'll be interesting to see real world and track numbers .............

[gerardsauto]

You could sit in your driveway and listen to your Viper idling and still get a boner. The Tesla not so much....

[Fatboy 18]

I don't like the design at all

[dmann]

It is interesting.

The guy at RA stated that he could run decent times but when the batteries started to get hot it would kind of go into limp mode.

[Space Truckin]

Doesn't move me at all, no pun intended. ....JM2C...I could be wrong...

[Scott_in_fl]

This is the electric era that we are entering. Electric motors can push mad torque and spin rpm's measured in units of 10k. Yes, you need an electrical source capable of delivering big energy, but that is coming. Thus, I'm not entirely surprised by the numbers presented if we're talking about something that is still a couple years out.

What is more interesting is the comment that he is doing this to put the nail in the coffin of gasoline powered engines. Not that I did not understand that to always have been his vision, but that finally I see how he can accomplish that -- by teasing everyone to believe that he is getting ready to deliver something as groundbreaking as what has been shown. Basically, he is going to force everyone to start thinking differently (or else risk having to shutter their businesses).

Imagine the board room discussions going on right now, today, at every single sports car MFG (Ferrari, Lambo, Porsche, Mac, etc.). If they are not already developing something similar, they will be left behind by those who are.

For example, how is Ferrari going to sell cars at $400k per when performance is no longer a reason to purchase one? It may continue to always be rolling art, but how far does that go? Instead, Ferrari engineers need to ponder how they can build something similar.

If others are working on it, then that means they have stopped working on developing fossil fuel platforms (or are getting ready to significantly reduce developmental resources assigned to such tasks). Using the Ferrari example, if they already have ideas on the drawing board, they need to start devoting more and more resources to ensure that their timetable matches everyone else's.

And since such information is likely secretive (i.e. how far along others are), it is likely that everyone is either already pushing as hard as they can, or are going to start. In other words, very, very soon (maybe even sooner than we initially thought), MFG's need to start turning their ship.

Changing the mindset about how we view electric cars, and scaring others into believing that they better have something similar to compete or be left behind, is how Musk ends the era for gasoline powered vehicles.

[TitanSnake]

This is the electric era that we are entering. Electric motors can push mad torque and spin rpm's measured in units of 10k. Yes, you need an electrical source capable of delivering big energy, but that is coming. Thus, I'm not entirely surprised by the numbers presented if we're talking about something that is still a couple years out.

What is more interesting is the comment that he is doing this to put the nail in the coffin of gasoline powered engines. Not that I did not understand that to always have been his vision, but that finally I see how he can accomplish that -- by teasing everyone to believe that he is getting ready to deliver something as groundbreaking as what has been shown. Basically, he is going to force everyone to start thinking differently (or else risk having to shutter their businesses).

Imagine the board room discussions going on right now, today, at every single sports car MFG (Ferrari, Lambo, Porsche, Mac, etc.). If they are not already developing something similar, they will be left behind by those who are.

For example, how is Ferrari going to sell cars at $400k per when performance is no longer a reason to purchase one? It may continue to always be rolling art, but how far does that go? Instead, Ferrari engineers need to ponder how they can build something similar.

If others are working on it, then that means they have stopped working on developing fossil fuel platforms (or are getting ready to significantly reduce developmental resources assigned to such tasks). Using the Ferrari example, if they already have ideas on the drawing board, they need to start devoting more and more resources to ensure that their timetable matches everyone else's.

And since such information is likely secretive (i.e. how far along others are), it is likely that everyone is either already pushing as hard as they can, or are going to start. In other words, very, very soon (maybe even sooner than we initially thought), MFG's need to start turning their ship. This is how Musk ends the era for gasoline powered vehicles.

It all irrelevant until our aging power grid can support it. If even 25% of the drivers on the road converted over to all electric, we are going to need to fire up all those shuttered coal plants, not to mention updating every homes electric connection.

[ForTehNguyen]

more vaporware products to hype and pump the stock price of a company on the govt dole

[Scott_in_fl]

TitanSnake, great point. But Tesla is still going to build its sports car and the others better have a response.

The performance is not just incremental, and the advancement is not evolutionary. We're talking about a complete paradigm shift that instantly makes every Porsche, Fcar, Lcar, and Mac obsolete.

Even if it takes 20 hours to charge (but then lasts 620 miles, which for me is 2 months), this is a game changer if it ever becomes reality.

[Whitemamba]

TitanSnake, great point. But Tesla is still going to build its sports car and the others better have a response.

The performance is not just incremental, and the advancement is not evolutionary. We're talking about a complete paradigm shift that instantly makes every Porsche, Fcar, Lcar, and Mac obsolete.

Even if it takes 20 hours to charge (but then lasts 620 miles, which for me is 2 months), this is a game changer if it ever becomes reality.

Well this so called wonder car sounds great and all but most sports cars are judged in how they compete on the track. So using the infamous 24 Hrs of Lemans as the benchmark, I don't see the wondercar being all that spectacular. For the first part of the race it would excel but then heat from the constant strain on those batteries and you get an overheat condition and then you have the dreaded recharge of the car after the initial charge runs out. The article does say 650 miles per charge but it never says at what rate of discharge to get that 650 miles driven.

But I do have to admit it is a nice looking car. I wouldn't mind having one to do my around town driving. As for road trips, not a chance especially when those trips often take detours that could add tons of miles. lol

[viperBase1]

Well this so called wonder car sounds great and all but most sports cars are judged in how they compete on the track. So using the infamous 24 Hrs of Lemans as the benchmark, I don't see the wondercar being all that spectacular. For the first part of the race it would excel but then heat from the constant strain on those batteries and you get an overheat condition and then you have the dreaded recharge of the car after the initial charge runs out. The article does say 650 miles per charge but it never says at what rate of discharge to get that 650 miles driven.

But I do have to admit it is a nice looking car. I wouldn't mind having one to do my around town driving. As for road trips, not a chance especially when those trips often take detours that could add tons of miles. lol

Unless they embed the track with chargers... then it'll go foreva...

[Lawrenzo]

Unless they embed the track with chargers... then it'll go foreva...

That technology already exists and is being tested in urban settings.

[IHOP]

This is the electric era that we are entering. Electric motors can push mad torque and spin rpm's measured in units of 10k. Yes, you need an electrical source capable of delivering big energy, but that is coming. Thus, I'm not entirely surprised by the numbers presented if we're talking about something that is still a couple years out.

What is more interesting is the comment that he is doing this to put the nail in the coffin of gasoline powered engines. Not that I did not understand that to always have been his vision, but that finally I see how he can accomplish that -- by teasing everyone to believe that he is getting ready to deliver something as groundbreaking as what has been shown. Basically, he is going to force everyone to start thinking differently (or else risk having to shutter their businesses).

Imagine the board room discussions going on right now, today, at every single sports car MFG (Ferrari, Lambo, Porsche, Mac, etc.). If they are not already developing something similar, they will be left behind by those who are.

For example, how is Ferrari going to sell cars at $400k per when performance is no longer a reason to purchase one? It may continue to always be rolling art, but how far does that go? Instead, Ferrari engineers need to ponder how they can build something similar.

If others are working on it, then that means they have stopped working on developing fossil fuel platforms (or are getting ready to significantly reduce developmental resources assigned to such tasks). Using the Ferrari example, if they already have ideas on the drawing board, they need to start devoting more and more resources to ensure that their timetable matches everyone else's.

And since such information is likely secretive (i.e. how far along others are), it is likely that everyone is either already pushing as hard as they can, or are going to start. In other words, very, very soon (maybe even sooner than we initially thought), MFG's need to start turning their ship.

Changing the mindset about how we view electric cars, and scaring others into believing that they better have something similar to compete or be left behind, is how Musk ends the era for gasoline powered vehicles.

This very true, however Musk has missed just about every predicted release or unveiling date that he has ever set. Like the other posts, I don't think the technology is there yet for sustainable for performance that high. While this is the start I don't think the end is that close. I believe we will see more cars like the holy trinity using hybrid and high performance gasoline engines working together before they start thinking of outright reducing or stopping development of high performance cars that are not full electric.

[nx91notch]

Yes!!! A forum that still gets the spirit of cars!!!!

I made a post on a FB page claiming the Tesla's are impressive and no doubt fast and nice looking cars.....I am actually giving props to the car. But at the end I said it's not my cup of tea and that I personally find them boring. HOLY CRAP!!! You would've thought I said something bad about their mother's. I got attacked to no end.

Give me my gas guzzling v10, no self driving, limited nanny assisted, 6 speed manual car any time over the Tesla's

[ViperDC]

If they are not already developing something similar, they will be left behind by those who are.

For example, how is Ferrari going to sell cars at $400k per when performance is no longer a reason to purchase one? It may continue to always be rolling art, but how far does that go?

Short answer? Real far. Why do people pay millions for a 60s Ferrari that gets destroyed in performance by a 2004 C5 Z06 Corvette?

[Coloviper]

These cars like Tesla has created here, are leaps forward in automotive history and if reliable, are pretty damn cool. I love my old V10s, V8s and hopefully here soon V12 and the entire experience they provide. I hope for the sake of Elon, he does NOT include auto-pilot or AV in this particular car on purpose, to make a point.

The styling looks good and the performance is off thee chart but owning a car is more than just pure performance, styling or color. You have to have a connection with it. It is intimate at it's core. Some get that and some never will. Some want heritage, some want prestige, some just love how it makes them feel.

I fear AV and I am vehemently opposed to the AV intrusion but I do not fear electric cars. I hope there can be a clear distinction in the near future between these to electric types. I still do not see the electric being really mainstream in just 5 years but the truck fleet vehicles may be a major move forward in certain parts of the country and inner city situations. To have your ROI paid back in 2 years is amazing in the case of the 18 wheeler. If the economics work out, long haul trucks and city supply will be all over that.

Bottom-line one has to ask, is what the hell is going on at FCA? This is like the second or third Roadster to come out from other manufacturers after the death of Viper, Viper which helped put roadsters back on the map 25 years ago. So, so disappointing they just let it die, without even being a roadster again which would have sold more.

Will be fun to continue to build this car when they get that part of the plant up and ready for system equipment!

[Unlimtd]

The electric era is here to stay. Volvo recently announced that starting in 2019, every car it manufactures will have an electric engine ( hybrids and pure electrics). Mercedes recently announced that it is accelerating the timing of its electric models. https://www.bloomberg.com/news/artic...-electric-push
Porsche made a similar announcement. https://futurism.com/porsche-ceo-our...d-of-schedule/

Mercedes and Porsche have enormous financial resources available to them and most people agree that they also have the best automotive engineers in the world. Tesla has some clever creative engineers and minimal resources. From a purely objective financial point of view, Tesla is operating on hype, a wish and a prayer. So if Mercedes and/or Porsche announce a car that equals or betters the performance of the 2020 Tesla coupe, the game is over for Tesla. Who in their right mind would buy a car like that from a company so financially fragile with a minimal dealer/repair network if they can get one from Mercedes or Porsche?

I wish that FCA had the money to let the SRT engineers loose in this area but it does not and, to my knowledge, Ford and GM have no secret pure electric or hybrid supercar in the works.

My guess. Porsche and/or Mercedes do and when the time is right it will be shown and Tesla will be left holding its corporate genitals.