Just like how MINI had Sir Alec Issigonis, telecommunications has American inventor Thomas Edison to thank as he contributed numerous inventions to mass communication. Then of course there's Nikola Tesla - an electrical engineer and a Serbian inventor of commercial electricity - the man many devoted engineers and physicists are grateful for given that the he was named after the SI derived unit of magnetic flux density.
As much as writing about historic events that took place centuries ago would make me feel like a boy genius, I cannot help but to cut the long introduction short and jump straight to the Tesla Roadster Sport that made many drool when it attempted to penetrate the market last year. Although the authorised car dealer, Tesla Motors, failed to bring the electric car to Singapore due to unfavourable regulatory and tax conditions for green vehicles then, FSG Mobility Concepts (Fast Sexy & Green) took the opportunity to homologate the electric car.
And they couldn't have found a better time. Of late, electric cars have a thing going on. Just a couple of months ago, led by Energy Market Authority (EMA) and Land Transport Authority (LTA), Singapore launched the Electric Vehicle (EV) test beds to gauge different EV prototypes and charging technologies in our local urban environment.
Needless to say, with the electric supercar having difficulties attaining the green rebate the first time, it just means that the Tesla Roadster isn't exactly chump change. But bearing in mind that unparalleled automotive experiences are rarely cheap, the star who is willing to put down more than half a million bucks to start the trend will certainly be the cream of the crop rather than the typical.
As much as writing about historic events that took place centuries ago would make me feel like a boy genius, I cannot help but to cut the long introduction short and jump straight to the Tesla Roadster Sport that made many drool when it attempted to penetrate the market last year. Although the authorised car dealer, Tesla Motors, failed to bring the electric car to Singapore due to unfavourable regulatory and tax conditions for green vehicles then, FSG Mobility Concepts (Fast Sexy & Green) took the opportunity to homologate the electric car.
And they couldn't have found a better time. Of late, electric cars have a thing going on. Just a couple of months ago, led by Energy Market Authority (EMA) and Land Transport Authority (LTA), Singapore launched the Electric Vehicle (EV) test beds to gauge different EV prototypes and charging technologies in our local urban environment.
Needless to say, with the electric supercar having difficulties attaining the green rebate the first time, it just means that the Tesla Roadster isn't exactly chump change. But bearing in mind that unparalleled automotive experiences are rarely cheap, the star who is willing to put down more than half a million bucks to start the trend will certainly be the cream of the crop rather than the typical.
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Exterior
Having the car smacked right in front of you on an idle Tuesday morning produces different kinds of feelings hardly imaginable. It is an establishment at its finest, like a limited edition watch, that intrigues Tesla fans, creating elements of what humans have come to believe make up words such as 'beauty', 'enticing' and 'lustrous'. The graceful diamond-shaped headlamps and neat detailing of the bonnet draws your eyes to the sharp Tesla logo while the well-functioned grille of Tesla's offerings is subtle and well-toned.
But it has to be the strong character lines by its side that accentuate its powerful curves. Some may say it is pure poetry in motion, with lines that forces your eyes to flow with the car's curves and creases. Coupled with the carbon-fibre roof and voila - you could hardly believe the car came out of the factory looking the way it is.
It's, then, at this point where the objectivity of 'driving pleasure' becomes secondary. A walk round the Tesla Roadster Sport would make you realise that the spec sheet (or a hard-cover booklet for FSG) is no longer as important as how you thought it would be half an hour ago. To put it in a standpoint - if looks could kill, this electric vehicle could easily send electrifying emotions through your body before you could say Jack Robinson.
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Interior
Based on an expanded platform and chassis built by Lotus to accommodate the battery pack, the interior of the Tesla is more spacious and less claustrophobic as compared to the Elise. Head and legroom sport a generous metre respectively, allowing full-sized adults to occupy without much fuss. This is due to the narrow centre console which has provided for the much needed legroom.
The only complain? Well, like the Elise, slipping in and out of the Tesla can be tad troublesome but that's really just faulting a flawless car. We reckon it's all about getting use to.
Once inside though, you'll find yourself coming into contact with carbon fibre surfaces often. The cabin, while equipped with leather-upholstered bucket seats, is swarmed with tons of carbon fibre materials which remind you that this isn't just another one of those toy-like cars you're handling. Everything falls into hand easily - from the buttons that replaces the gear lever to the audio and air-conditioning controls, the interior has a familiar outlook and feel of the Lotus Elise.
Based on an expanded platform and chassis built by Lotus to accommodate the battery pack, the interior of the Tesla is more spacious and less claustrophobic as compared to the Elise. Head and legroom sport a generous metre respectively, allowing full-sized adults to occupy without much fuss. This is due to the narrow centre console which has provided for the much needed legroom.
The only complain? Well, like the Elise, slipping in and out of the Tesla can be tad troublesome but that's really just faulting a flawless car. We reckon it's all about getting use to.
Once inside though, you'll find yourself coming into contact with carbon fibre surfaces often. The cabin, while equipped with leather-upholstered bucket seats, is swarmed with tons of carbon fibre materials which remind you that this isn't just another one of those toy-like cars you're handling. Everything falls into hand easily - from the buttons that replaces the gear lever to the audio and air-conditioning controls, the interior has a familiar outlook and feel of the Lotus Elise.
The thick leather-clad steering is a delight to hold as it manages to retain the back-to-basics three-spoke styling of sports cars. Right behind it is where you won't be able to find the usual instrument panel. The speedo is still there but the tachometer that displays the rev range is now replaced with a counter that sees the amount of power input in kilowatts (kW).
More importantly, a centrally mounted display screen to monitor real-time data such as the estimated range and power regenerated is also visible to the driver, letting him know how much further he can travel before the car is required to be plugged in.
More importantly, a centrally mounted display screen to monitor real-time data such as the estimated range and power regenerated is also visible to the driver, letting him know how much further he can travel before the car is required to be plugged in.
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The Drive
If you're still bumped out by the fact that this car is going for over half a million, perhaps flooring the accelerator could change your mind. It goes like nothing I've tried before. Technically speaking, the Roadster Sport is pushed by 288 horses and 399Nm of torque at the driver's command. This massive figure of torque may not be as high as some of the supercars out there but for the fact that it's the only moving part (since there are no gears whatsoever), this car surges with incredible force the moment you tap the accelerator. As a result, it gives drivers the leisure of hitting the century mark in merely 3.7 seconds.
In our very own words, perhaps, you slam the accelerator and everything around you becomes a blur within seconds. You try to hold back the first time because it's ridiculously fast and you cannot help but to ease the pressure on the accelerator. So you go for a second round. You feel the same brutal response from the car and seconds later, your entire life flashes right before your very eyes. You take a peek at the speedometer and before you know it, you're hitting the 180km/h mark. That's when you'll start to wonder if neck braces are necessary for the rest of the week.
Around town, there is so much torque on tap that darting in and out of traffic seems like a walk in the park. And because it's so easy and ready, you can't help but to feel that there is more than enough savagery in the way it goes, accompanied by a jet-like sound with every thrust of the right foot. Acceleration from almost any speed is always unrestrained and there is not once when you'll be left wanting.
If you're still bumped out by the fact that this car is going for over half a million, perhaps flooring the accelerator could change your mind. It goes like nothing I've tried before. Technically speaking, the Roadster Sport is pushed by 288 horses and 399Nm of torque at the driver's command. This massive figure of torque may not be as high as some of the supercars out there but for the fact that it's the only moving part (since there are no gears whatsoever), this car surges with incredible force the moment you tap the accelerator. As a result, it gives drivers the leisure of hitting the century mark in merely 3.7 seconds.
In our very own words, perhaps, you slam the accelerator and everything around you becomes a blur within seconds. You try to hold back the first time because it's ridiculously fast and you cannot help but to ease the pressure on the accelerator. So you go for a second round. You feel the same brutal response from the car and seconds later, your entire life flashes right before your very eyes. You take a peek at the speedometer and before you know it, you're hitting the 180km/h mark. That's when you'll start to wonder if neck braces are necessary for the rest of the week.
Around town, there is so much torque on tap that darting in and out of traffic seems like a walk in the park. And because it's so easy and ready, you can't help but to feel that there is more than enough savagery in the way it goes, accompanied by a jet-like sound with every thrust of the right foot. Acceleration from almost any speed is always unrestrained and there is not once when you'll be left wanting.
With such powerful forces at play, it probably explains why the regenerative braking was ample enough to bring the Roadster Sport to a reasonable slowdown within milliseconds. You'd hardly have to use the brakes on highways or around town. It's used mostly to bring the car to a complete stop.
The real problems with this car though are the manual steering which makes parking a tad difficult and the intruding wind noise. As nicely attached as the carbon fibre roof is, outside noise permeates a fair bit, more so when the car is travelling at high speeds (which happens most of the time in the Tesla Roadster Sport). But because you're focusing so much on the roads due to the lightning speed, you don't realise that wind noise is intruding, not until you get use to the speed after a couple of runs.
Conclusion
The Tesla Roadster Sport is a car that will start many green trends to come. Although the interior isn't worth the money you're paying for, it's a pure bred sports car that's meant to turn heads and snap necks.
We reckon it's simply an epitome of unique.
What do you think? Jot down your opinions at the comment box below.
The real problems with this car though are the manual steering which makes parking a tad difficult and the intruding wind noise. As nicely attached as the carbon fibre roof is, outside noise permeates a fair bit, more so when the car is travelling at high speeds (which happens most of the time in the Tesla Roadster Sport). But because you're focusing so much on the roads due to the lightning speed, you don't realise that wind noise is intruding, not until you get use to the speed after a couple of runs.
Conclusion
The Tesla Roadster Sport is a car that will start many green trends to come. Although the interior isn't worth the money you're paying for, it's a pure bred sports car that's meant to turn heads and snap necks.
We reckon it's simply an epitome of unique.
What do you think? Jot down your opinions at the comment box below.
