Car Amey Lheyah: Roadster

Showing posts with label Roadster. Show all posts

Saturday, June 18, 2011

Next post Tesla’s Roadster To Exit In 2011Model S,

If you want a Tesla Roadster, you better sign up now. Tesla Motors plans to stop building the car in 2011.
Buried deep inside the Securities and Exchange Commission paperwork Tesla filed ahead of its IPO is the announcement that production of the two-seater and its souped up Roadster Sport sibling (pictured) will stop next year, and a replacement won’t hit the road until 2013 at the earliest.
Why? Because it doesn’t have anyone to build it.

“We do not plan to sell our current generation Tesla Roadster after 2011 due to planned tooling changes at a supplier for the Tesla Roadster,” the company wrote in the filing.” The Roadster is built by Lotus, so presumably Tesla is talking about changes at the British automaker’s factory in Hethel, England, but we can’t confirm that because Tesla spokesman Ricardo Reyes declined to comment.
Tesla plans to replace the Roadster, but not “until at least one year after the launch of the which is Model S,not expected to be in production until 2012.” The company just closed a $465 million loan with the Department of Energy to finance construction of the Model S sedan, and it is focusing most of its time and resources on that car.
Stopping production of the Roadster could could present a problem, because it means Tesla won’t have any cars to sell — and no revenue coming in.
“As a result, we anticipate that we may generate limited, if any, revenue from selling electric vehicles after 2011 until the launch of the planned model S,” the company says in the SEC filing. That may not be a problem if S production starts on plan and goes off without a hitch, but if Tesla hits any snags, things could get ugly fast — a point it concedes in the filing.
“The launch of the Model S could be delayed for a number of reasons and any such delays may be significant and would extend the period in which we would generate limited, if any, revenues from sales of our electric vehicles.”
The move amounts to killing the car that made Tesla famous for the sake of the Model S. Tesla better hope everything goes according to plan, or it surely will regret that decision.

2011 Tesla Roadster 2.5: New looks, wheels, seats, less noise

Tesla's on a roll, it seems. Two days after its successful public stock offering, the company has released details of the latest updates to its Roadster electric sports car--known as "Roadster 2.5" after software-release numbering. The 2.5 version sports some new styling at front and rear, including a new front fascia
After spending an afternoon with the world's first volume produced electric sports car, it strikes me as something of a conundrum. On the one hand, I respect it for the accomplishment it represents, but at the same time the limitations it imposes give me pause.
The afternoon I spent with the Roadster, we covered 143 miles and it had 28 miles of range left when I took it back. Which theoretically means I could've driven it 171 miles in my admittedly uneconomical fashion on the charge it had when its key was handed over to me. Thing is, I could not have driven it to where I did and back like that if I'd s Tesla.
As a sports car, that limitation is something of a buzz-kill for me. However, taken as a commuter, it has the potential to be absolutely wonderful. Even if my job were 60 miles away from my home, it'd still have more than enough range to bring me back--on the same charge. And that's not even considering I'd Lotus Elise certainly have a place to plug it in while at work.
As a commuter car, the Tesla Roadster would be pretty tough to live with though. Based as it is on the and inheriting that car's notoriously unfriendly ergonomics, contorting myself to get in and out of the Roadster to go to and from work everyday would get old fast. Remarkably, the thing it ought to be good at is fraught with peril while the thing it is good at is fraught with impracticality.
And that's before we even consider the price.
As tested, the Roadster I drove carried a $150,000+ sticker. For that kind of money there are more than a few truly amazing sports cars you can drive wherever you like without the need to limber up before trying to get into them. Also, while the Tesla is low and sleek, when the road gets twisty it isn't exactly as swoopy as those other cars either.
You can dance with the Roadster when the music's hot, but you have to be very capable of managing understeer. The first time I tried to turn the Tesla aggressively into a corner, all that weight in its hind parts, coupled with the unexpected heaviness of its steering found me running considerably wide of the apex I'd aimed for.
Despite its diminutive size, and familial relationship to the go kart-like Lotus, the Tesla prefers to be set up for a corner as if it is considerably larger than it actually is and finessed through. Do that, you can run quite quickly, but it's conundrum time again. Here's a small sports car that wants to be driven like a larger GT car.
The Roadster is quite stable at triple digit speeds and its combination of regenerative and friction brakes are more than up to the task--absolutely fade-free and genuinely confidence-inspiring. I also like the way the strong regenerative braking helps slow the car, as downshifting would do, when entering a turn. This has the added advantage of generating more juice too.

The interior of the car is lovely, with exceptional quality in evidence throughout. The backlit pushbuttons for the single speed transmission's functions are slick and the iPod dock at the edge of the center stack is pure genius.
Again, for the accomplishment it represents, the Tesla Roadster deserves our unfettered adulation--rousing applause even. It has attracted considerable interest to electric cars, and some say it even embarrassed GM into creating the Volt. The viability of the Roadster's powertrain attracted partnerships from established players like Panasonic, Mercedes-Benz and Toyota. As a marketing device for the Tesla Company it is an absolute success. Taken on its own as a sports car though--in this writer's opinion--the Tesla Roadster leaves some things to be desired.

2011 Tesla Roadster

The Basics:

Tesla has delivered on its promise: The 2011 Tesla Roadster 2.5 is truly the first green alternative to more than 100 years of fast cars powered by gasoline. The Roadster's classic two-seat shape, complete with soft top, provides what can only be called kick-ass performance without a tailpipe, emissions, or a fuel tank.
The 2011 Roadster has been updated to "Version 2.5," in Tesla's Silicon Valley argot. This third model year for the low-production Roadster includes a restyled front end, more comfortable seats, better noise insulation, and an optional backup camera. Otherwise, it's the same all-electric Roadster whose performance has earned raves from reviewers all over the globe.
Based on a heavily revised platform borrowed from Lotus Elise, the Tesla Roadster was first unveiled in 2006. Volume deliveries began early in 2009 at a price of $109,000 for the standard Roadster, and $128,500 for the even quicker Roadster Sport.
The Tesla Roadster will always be a low-volume vehicle. Tesla is moving closer to introduction of its Model S all-electric mid-size sports sedan, now planned to occur before the end of 2012. But Roadster production winds down in December 2011, once an assembly contract with England's Lotus ends with a total of 2,400 cars built.
As a proof of concept to show what a modern electric can offer, the Tesla Roadster will go down in automotive history whether or not Tesla Motors survives as an independent company. The Roadster did more to update the image of the electric car than any other single vehicle. And it did it using the best of all possible arguments: It's truly, impressively, addictively fun to drive.
The 2011 Roadster is a 2-door, 2-passenger convertible sports car, available in two trims, the Convertible and the Sport.

Upon introduction, both trims are equipped with a standard MOTOR, 288-horsepower, electric engine. A 1-speed automatic transmission is standard.
Tesla's on a roll, it seems. Two days after its successful public stock offering, the company has released details of the latest updates to its Roadster electric sports car–known as “Roadster 2.5″ after software-release numbering.
The 2.5 version sports some new styling at front and rear, including a new front fascia (the grille-and-bumper area) that incorporates diffusing vents. There’s also a different rear air diffuser that reflects, says the company, “the future of Tesla design.”
The changes come, Tesla says, as the result of its “close feedback loop” with its customers. “These improvements are a direct result of customer feedback,” says CEO Elon Musk. In other words, they’re fixing things that buyers have probably complained about.
Other updates include new “directional” forged wheels, offered in black or silver;
Inside, the most significant alteration is undoubtedly more comfortable seats, which have larger bolsters and now include a lumbar support system. Interior noise has been reduced in several ways, including new sound-suppressing front fender liners.
There’s now an optional backup camera in a 7-inch touchscreen display as well.
Finally, Tesla has further modified the Roadster’s power-control system, adding unspecified hardware to permit “spirited driving” (which we presume means maximum electric power) in exceptionally hot climates.
The company is now taking orders for the 2011 Tesla Roadster 2.5, and it will appear shortly in Tesla's network of stores in the U.S. and overseas. “Where feasible,” according to Musk, “we will also offer existing customers the ability to purchase the upgrades.”
Its two newest Tesla Stores–in Newport Beach, California, and Copenhagen, Denmark–will open with evening receptions. Both will have the Roadster 2.5 on display.
Tesla has now sold more than 1,200 Roadsters to buyers in 23 countries. It claims the cars have logged a total of more than 5 million miles. Questions remain, however, over even after whether the company can remain independent its IPO.

Tuesday, May 24, 2011

BMW Sport Cars 328 Hommage Concept

BMW Sport Cars 328 Hommage Concept

This year the dream sports car is celebrating its 75th birthday. The new BMW sport car makes extensive use of carbon fibre-reinforced plastic, a material already used by BMW in the M6 and M3. The BMW Sport Cars 328 Hommage Concept gets an extremely wide and flat front end with generous surfaces and a powerful appearance. The rear has a particularly angular tail, with lights that echo the look of the Vision ED eco-supercar that’s earmarked for production. A carbon fiber bonnet and low-reaching sidewalls will ensure an excellent stability for the 328 on the road.

BMW Sport Cars 328 Hommage Concept

Celebration will begin near Como’s Lake at Mille Miglia. Over there, in focus main will on car affinity races BMW 328. To today, BMW’S award-winning vehicle 328 Touring Coupé stills to hold champions for supreme average speed at Mille Miglia’s circuit and, on year 2010, once more can win historic evocation of race. One week then at Villa Concorso d.’ Eleganza d.’ Este, functional aesthetic two seater wills be attention focuses.

BMW Sport Cars 328 Hommage Concept

Based on Connected Vision Drive concept unveiled in Geneva, the 2011 BMW Sport Cars 328 Hommage Concept is a tribute to the celebration of the modern interpretation of classic sports cars from 1930. The appearance of the vehicle combines the characteristic diagonal carbon fiber, focus homage to 328 lightweight with carbon fiber reinforced plastic (CFRP).

BMW Sport Cars 328 Hommage Concept

At this region conflicting tradition as tween and modernity, BMW is Group gives respect to 2011 BMW Sport Cars 328 Hommage Concept on birthday chance with model special BMW 328 Hommage. “With Hommage 328 BMW, we want to give respect to are ardour and compose from father of 328 BMW, “be clear Karl Bäumer, CEO BMW is Classic’s Group. “They create one ikon, that Ered’s judgment crossbar in car history.” BMW 328 Hommage translate principle and time vehicle characters into present term and offers interpretation who may about how designers that time, Fritz Fiedler and Rudolf Schleicher, maybe have built BMW 328 on today at ease technology.

The BMW Sport Cars 328 Hommage Concept will be powered by a 3.0-litre straight-six engine, but BMW hasn’t revealed any official statistics or performance figures. The expressive exterior design of the BMW Sport Cars 328 Hommage Concept depicts the modern interpretation of a highly emotional and dynamic two-seater Roadster – just like the BMW 328 75 years ago. Even 75 years ago, the BMW 328 stood for sportiness and agility through light-weight construction.

The BMW Sport Cars 328 Hommage Concept Car pays tribute to this past and shows how BMW lightweight construction will develop. Carbon is the material of the future.” (Adrian van Hooydonk) In keeping with its role model, the BMW 328 Hommage has a streamlined design and is clearly recognisable as a sports car. Precise lines run across all of the car body’s taut surfaces.

The lightweight BMW Sport Cars 328 Hommage Concept original weighed just 780kgs and BMW has concentrated on keeping weight down in the Hommage. The body is made from carbon-reinforced plastic, the same material used in the i3 electric car and the stripped out cabin is simple and driver-focused.

BMW Sport Cars 328 Hommage Concept

The BMW 328 is the most successful and best-looking sports car of 1930. The BMW Sport Cars 328 Hommage Concept success was the result of design through the use of systematic lightweight construction, aerodynamic lines, optimum engine types and excellent chassis technology. These historical facts have laid the foundations for a new vehicle concept to its 75th Birthday set. With one of these characteristics, the BMW 328 being then your embodiment of what are the BMW brand still means today – dynamics, aesthetics along with a higher level of innovation.

BMW Sport Cars 328 Hommage Concept

Not only do the exterior and interior BMW 328 CFRP elements create an extraordinary statement. skin smooth, matt and high-gloss black and polished aluminum pestle and visualize the interior of CFRP in Hommage BMW 328 roadster pure and functional character of a sports car that day.

The inside BMW Sport Cars 328 Hommage Concept visualises functional radiate passion had returned it. Viewed from above, slightly asymmetrical design of the hood and windshield driver-oriented construction highlights from Hommage BMW 328. This provides the BMW 328 with a special authenticity. Instruments featured in the BMW 328 Hommage both sporty and functional to the same level. Regardless of the instrument and tripmaster, BMW Sport Cars 328 Hommage Concept is also equipped with more advanced features drawn from motor racing.