Tesla

Tesla pulls plug on pricey Roadster, focus shifts to sedan

The Tesla Roadster electric car can now be considered a collectors’ car. The much-touted California start-up manufacturer has announced it will stop taking orders for the $109,000 vehicle at the end of July 2011. The reason: The Telsa Roadster didn’t sell particularly well. Further, the innovative company is focusing on its less expensive Model S electric car, a four-door sedan. Now in version 2.5, the Tesla Roadster is a two-seat coupe. It’s fast (3.7 seconds, 0-60 mph), features a carbon-fiber body designed by Lotus, and a 245-mile-rated range. Powered by a liquid-cooled battery pack made up of 6,831 lithium ion cells (similar to those found in laptop computers), the Tesla Roadster delivers 295 lb-ft of torque and has an electronically

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Eco-Friendly Cars: Toyota Prius to Tesla Roadster, Part 2

Despite vast promotions and bright, constant media spotlights, Chevy and Nissan are not the only new green players. Tesla, the Bay Area-based manufacturer, debuted its all-electric, super-quick but limited production Roadster in 2006. About 2,000 Tesla Roadsters with a 244-mile range, have been sold worldwide.  And the Tesla’s less expensive, estimated $50,000 S sedan will be available next year with three range options. Automakers carefully choose when and how they debut new models, although most often it occurs at various auto shows around country throughout the year, The buzz for hybrids and electric vehicles was particularly prevalent at the Detroit Auto Show, the year’s first major show, in early January. Ford unveiled the Focus Electric, C-Max Energi and C-Max Hybrid,

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Eco-Friendly Cars: Toyota Prius to Tesla Roadster, Part 1

Without fanfare or an exact date, there must have a collective automotive epiphany in recent years. Somehow, all major carmakers were in on it, except Toyota. It had its awakening 14 years ago. The Japanese carmaker introduced its hybrid gas-electric car in 1997 and then debuted it in the United States car market in 2001. It wasn’t the first electric or hybrid car available in the country. But it was the first mass-produced gasoline-electric hybrid car in the U.S., and the auto industry hasn’t been the same since. Combine the increasing influence of the environmental movement, pending federal regulation for increased fuel efficiency and diminishing reliance on foreign fuel and the auto industry en masse now gets it. The “greening

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Coda joins Tesla, Hyundai, sets debut in shopping mall

Coda Automotive Inc., the electric carmaker, will join Telsa and Hyundai when it opens its first showroom in July at a Southern California shopping mall. The Santa Monica auto and electric battery company has signed a lease to open a 900-square-foot store at Westfield Century City. Its current occupants are primarily high-end clothing and jewelry retailers. Hyundai and Tesla also have showrooms in shopping malls. To hopefully jump-start sales, Coda is negotiating fleet deals with companies looking to increase their use of alternative fuel vehicles. Both Hertz Corp. and Enterprise Holdings Inc. have expressed interest in placing $44,900 Coda sedans in their rental fleets once they go into production, according to a report in the Los Angeles Times. The company

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Tesla testing five-seat Model S sedan, production in 2012

Tesla has sold about 1500 of EV Roadsters globally since its debut in 2008. It’s a small number, particularly when compared to how many Toyota sells a week around the world. But Tesla hopes its Model S will bring a practical, stylish electric sedan to more garages at about half the price of the EV Roadster. The development of the five-seater Model S has been a long and twisty road, but Tesla final has rolled out the car for testing. “The first Alpha (test car) is amazingly agile for a car of its size. It has great handling balance and a poised ride with communicative steering. Just goes to show what combining a low center of gravity with a very

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Nissan Leaf, Tesla Roadster top 2011 'gas' mileage honors

The influx of hybrid vehicles and intensified competition among manufacturers has shuffled the  annual listing of most efficient cars. For 2011, some cars are familiar, but there are a few surprises. Compiled by editors of the web site, thedailygreen.com and published on Huffington Post.com, the Nissan Leaf, the first standard production, all-electric car on the road in the United States, shares the best “gas” of any car in the country, the equivalent of 99 mpg, with the Tesla Roadster, the limited production electric sports car. Here’s the description of the Leaf and the list of the top-15 cars for 2011 with the best gas mileage averages: “The first all-electric car on the road in the U.S. is the Nissan Leaf,

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Tesla Roadster: Fast, lean and green driving machine

As part of its Go Electric Roadster Tour, Tesla Motors showcased its Roadster in Sacramento for the first time last week about two years after the Palo Alto, California-company debuted the high-end electric sports car. According to Tesla, an estimated 1,300 Roadsters are now in circulation worldwide. They’ve have been driven almost seven million electric miles, saving more than 350,000 gallons of gas and 18,000 barrels of oil. Tesla Roadster facts and figures: * The zero-emission Roadster, hand-built from carbon fiber, accelerates from 0-60 mph in 3.7 seconds. * The Roadster is powered by a liquid-cooled battery pack, made up of 6,831 lithium ion cells (similar to those found in laptop computers); * It delivers 295 lb-ft of torque and

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GM, Tesla, Aston Martin announce recalls for potential fire hazards

Tesla Motors is recalling 439 of its electric sports cars because of a possible fire hazard involving the 12-volt electrical system is its 2010 Roadster 2.0 and Roadster 2.5 with “a 12-volt auxiliary cable.” AUTOMOTIVE RESOURCES AND INFORMATION Auto Shipping Quote–Car Financing–Car Insurance Quotes–Car Loans–Online Car Insurance–Rental Cars–Used Cars Tesla discovered the 12-volt cable may have been improperly routed, allowing it to be pinched or abraded. One Tesla customer reported a complained of smoke and fire in the auxiliary system but the problem was resolved without injury. And Aston Martin is recalling almost 1,100 of its 2007 and 2008 DB9, DBS and V8 advantage models because a suspension failure could cause steering problems and increase the chance of a crash,

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Toyota's big, new plans: Six hybrids, two electric cars will debut in 2012

Takeshi Uchiyamada announced the automaker’s plans during a speech Sept. 13 in Detroit. Toyota’s Prius gasoline-electric hybrid vehicle has dominated the segment. The world’s largest automaker has been less certain about the market for fully electric vehicles like Nissan’s Leaf due out this year. Tesla and Toyota announced a partnership in May to develop electric vehicles under the strategy of the start-up company for its $109,000 Roadster, powered by more than 6,800 laptop batteries. Toyota had previously announced plans for its first electric vehicle. James RaiaA sports, travel and business journalist for more than 45 years, James has written the new car review column The Weekly Driver since 2004. In addition to founding this site in 2004, James writes a

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Tesla Roadster price slashed to $1,658 (per monthly lease payment)

The Tesla retails, depending upon options, for $104,000-$111.000. But a three-year, 30,000-mile lease is now available for as little as $1,158 per month, or about $55 per day. There’s small type, too: the leasing customer needs to provide $12,453 due at signing, which includes a $9,900 down payment and $895 acquisition fee but not taxes, title, license, registration, and “locally applied” fees. The Tesla Roadster has two seats, 248 horsepower and powers from 0-60 mph in less than four seconds. Such performance, of course, likely means expensive insurance premiums. They’re not included in the monthly lease payment. Like other leases, those leasing the Tesla Roadster can purchase the car after the contract expires or turn the car back in with

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Tesla Roadstar Sport tests the Rocky Mountains (Video)

But that’s what Roman Mica, editor at-large of The Weekly Driver had in mind. and he had only question: Can you take an electric car across country and across the great Continental Divide in the winter and not be worried that it will run out of juice before you get home? Mica’s answer? Yes and no. To view for new car reviews and video content, visit: www.tflcar.com. James RaiaA sports, travel and business journalist for more than 45 years, James has written the new car review column The Weekly Driver since 2004. In addition to founding this site in 2004, James writes a Sunday automotive column for The San Jose Mercury and East Bay Times in Walnut Creek, Calif., and

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Tesla Motors moves quickly again, announces $100 million IPO

The public offering has been rumored for months. Headquartered in San Carlos, California, Tesla makes the $109,000 Roadster sports car. It has plans to start selling less expensive models including the model-S at around $60,000, $10,000 less with tax credits. The model-S will have three battery pack options for a range of up to 300 miles per charge. Tesla has taken more than 1,500 reservations for the Model S and expects to begin production in late 2011 for the 2012 model-year. Tesla said it lost money between 2006 and 2008, and in the first nine months of last year reported losses of $31.5 million. Tesla has been selling its all-electric Roadsters for nearly two years, and it’s the only highway-capable

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Tesla Motors receives $465 million DOE government loan

The Palo Alto facility will assemble electric vehicle battery packs, electric motors, and related electric vehicle control equipment, both for Tesla’s own electric vehicles and for sale to other automobile manufacturers. The agreement was negotiated and signed by the Department’s Loan Programs Office, which supports the development of innovative, advanced vehicle technologies to create thousands of clean energy jobs while helping reduce the nation’s dependence on foreign oil. Tesla’s planned Model S will consume no gasoline and will not produce any tailpipe emissions. It is being designed to offer a variety of range options depending on the battery pack used, from 160 to 300 miles on a single charge. Volume production of the Model S is planned to begin in

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Shelby, Tesla, Datsun (?) among world's top-10 fastest electric cars

“Below, we’ve listed the world’s top 10 fastest electric cars, based on the best available information (and a little creative license). Note that our criteria does not take into account a variety of important factors like charging time, availability and cost. All cars are simply ranked by the time it takes them to get from 0-60 mph. “Most of the machines shown here are either not available or otherwise out out of the realm of possibility for most, but then again, so are most high-performance gas-powered cars, but that doesn’t keep us from admiring them.” And here’s the list: 1. Shelby Supercars Aero EV, 2.5 seconds 2. 1972 Electric Datsun, 3.0 seconds 3. Wrightspeed Xi, 3.07 seconds 4. L1X-75, 3.1

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Tesla debuts prototype of Model S, its new, all-electric sedan

Founded in 2003, Tesla‘s debut vehicle is the $109,000 Roadster sports car. The 300th Roadster was recently delivered to its owner and the waiting list includes more than 1,000 wannabe owners. The Model S, which Tesla touts as the first mass-manufactured all-electric car, will cost $57,400, or $49,900 after tax credits. Elon Musk, Tesla Motors’ chief executive, and chief designer, Franz von Holzhausen, debuted the Model S to a gathering and industry analysts and the media March 26 in Hawthorne, Calif. According to a report in the New York Times, Musk said, “When gas savings are taken into account, buying a Model S will be comparable to buying a $35,000 Ford sedan. Would you rather have this car (the Tesla)

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Electric Sports Car, Tesla, Makes Los Angeles Debut

According to an Associated Press report, the Tesla can travel 225 miles on one charge and fully recharge in 3 1/2 hours. The car was developed in San Carlos, Calif., with venture capital of more than $40 million. Google Inc. founders Larry Page and Sergey Brin were among the initial investors. A distribution for San Carlos as well as in Chicago, New York and other cities by early next year. Although a fully loaded model can cost $124,000, the Tesla’s 6,831-cell lithium-ion battery pack gives off no emissions. The Tesla accelerates from 0 to 60 mph in slightly less than four seconds and it has a top speed of 125 mph. According to the Associated Press: * Tesla officials report

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