If we want to discuss the history of the electric car, it’s necessary to travel back to the early 20th century, where the first examples were actually produced. But I’m not in the mood for a history lesson right now. Not after having driven what I would consider the most, dare I say, electrifying car in my recent memory.
The ’11 Tesla Roadster Sport is an amazing machine, to say the least. There’s something about this car that just makes me smile — I think it’s the nearly 300 ft-lbs of torque, delivered instantly from the hand-wound 375-volt electric motor that’s the root of it all, combined with the fact that it all happens without spewing out a single molecule of dangerous gas into the atmosphere. But there’s more to the car than the simple fact that it not only is fast but also produces zero tailpipe emissions. In fact, the Roadster doesn’t even have a tailpipe to emit from.
On the surface, the Roadster Sport is a small 2-seater sports car, based around the design of the Lotus Elise. Small and sleek in appearance, the Roadster is a truly striking vehicle. The outer body panels are all constructed of lightweight carbon fiber, a familiar material for sports cars, and with the Roadster, shedding weight is especially important when considering the battery cells that power the car. The louvers in the hood provide not only a great aesthetic addition but also aid in cooling the vehicle’s extensive electrical systems. The Roadster’s rear end design is pure sports car — angular aerodynamic lines and a low profile leave little to be desired visually. Design cues have been taken from many places — I personally see a lot of Lancia Stratos in the Roadster — and that’s a good thing.
After basking in the Roadster’s exterior beauty, a stark reality sets in: I have to figure out a way to stuff my 6-foot, 1-inch, 190-lb body into this tiny car. After a few moments of planning (and a couple of awkward attempts), I find myself snugly tucked into the low bucket seat and ready to go. Saying the Roadster has a spacious interior or ample cargo capacity would be a lie, but that doesn’t matter with a car like this — no one would own a Tesla Roadster as his only car. (No sane person, at least.) I found that after a few adjustments the seats are quite comfortable and supportive, and the steering wheel feels right at home. This is all that really matters to me from the interior of a sports car, and the Roadster is exactly that.
The dash is elegant and modern, with a simple function-based design; you won’t find too many extra gimmicks in here. The SAT NAV is easy to use and the dash display is clear and concise. Where you would expect to find a gear selector in a normal car, the Roadster instead features four simple buttons: park, neutral, reverse and drive. Since the electronic motor powering the Roadster delivers linear power, the transmission is a fixed single-speed. This is a bit strange at first, but once you get settled in, the car is truly a blast to drive.