Top Gear races Tesla Roadster vs Lotus Elise

PeakOilGarage · 12-18-2008, 02:30 AM

This was a hot drag race. The chaps at Top Gear did a drag race between a Tesla Roadster and a Lotus Elise. The Tesla Roadster was originally based off of the Lotus Elise design. In fact, every Tesla Roadster comes from the Lotus factory (England) without the gas engine, then has the batteries and electric motor installed in California.

Top Gear reviews the Tesla Roadster Peak Oil Garage

YouTube - Top Gear Tesla Roadster

patsparks · 12-18-2008, 03:11 AM

But have you seen the circuit race? The Tesla with its extra weight and LRR tyres is at a disadvantage around corners. It looked rather unstable actually.
Although on watching the video it did well in the hands of a tamed racing driver.

PeakOilGarage · 12-18-2008, 03:17 AM

But the Tesla Roadster always takes them side by side in the straight area. The extra weight from the battery is clearly an issue in the turns compared to a lighter sportscar. But most people just want the thrill of the 0-60 speed. In fact, Tesla has the fastest acceleration time ever recorded from 30 to 70 mph. That is the sweet spot.

patsparks · 12-18-2008, 04:24 AM

Please don't get me wrong, the Tesla is a sexy car, and overall it was an outstanding effort to be equal to a Porsche around their track as a first effort, awesome!! I guess to be constructive I could say I think some work by Tesla to lower the centre of gravity will reap major rewards.

I was also a bit miffed that they hammered the car for 50 miles then expressed surprise that the battery ran out of juice. They did this without reminding the viewer that any other car would have run out of fuel before a 1/4 or it's normal tank range if driven the same but made a big deal of the charging time. It isn't a long range tourer, we all know that, but a stylish commuter and fun car, too right it is!!

DaveinOlyWA · 12-18-2008, 06:09 AM

its easy to see that the Tesla would be parked most of the time if driven that way around here...

drive it like a maniac, get busted spend night in jail...by the time i get released on OR in morning, Tesla would be fully charged, so i go out, drive like a maniac, get busted...

patsparks · 12-18-2008, 06:20 AM

well when you look at it that way ...

clett · 12-18-2008, 07:21 AM

YouTube - Top Gear takes Tesla Roadster to the track

Some of the cars beaten by the Tesla around the top gear track:

Porshe 911 GT3 RS
BMW M3
Mitsubishi Lancer EVO X FQ-300
Subaru Impreza WRX STi
Dodge Viper SRT-10
Mercedes Benz CL65 AMG
Lamborghini Murcielago

patsparks · 12-18-2008, 07:59 AM

The last line he uses,
"In the real world it doesn't seem to work."
When did Top Gear ever do a real world test? Anyone here drive like that in the real world?

Mjolinor · 12-18-2008, 10:42 AM

Sadly, Top Gear is no longer a motoring programme, it is a chat show.

daniel · 12-18-2008, 10:47 AM

Toward the end he says it's "the first electric car you might actually want to buy."

Not true!

I'd have wanted to buy an EV-1. But GM would not sell me one because I didn't live in CA. And I wanted to buy a Xebra sufficiently that I did actually buy one and it's now my primary car.

However, I recognize that guy as the same one who did a piece on the P50.

P50

So I'm willing to cut him some slack because that was a great piece. (At the very end he answers "Yes" when asked if the P50 is the best car they've ever had on Top Gear.)

12-18-2008, 03:11 AM	#2
patsparks An Aussie perspective Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: Adelaide South Australia Posts: 9,054 My Car: 2004 Prius Model: N/A Package: Base Thanks: 108 Thanked 174 Times in 133 Posts Friends: 33	Re: Top Gear races Tesla Roadster vs Lotus Elise But have you seen the circuit race? The Tesla with its extra weight and LRR tyres is at a disadvantage around corners. It looked rather unstable actually. Although on watching the video it did well in the hands of a tamed racing driver. Last edited by patsparks; 12-18-2008 at 03:22 AM.

12-18-2008, 03:17 AM	#3
PeakOilGarage Nothing less than 99.9 Join Date: Oct 2008 Location: Pacific Northwest Posts: 334 My Car: 2009 Prius Model: Package: #6 Thanks: 0 Thanked 12 Times in 12 Posts Friends: 8	Re: Top Gear races Tesla Roadster vs Lotus Elise But the Tesla Roadster always takes them side by side in the straight area. The extra weight from the battery is clearly an issue in the turns compared to a lighter sportscar. But most people just want the thrill of the 0-60 speed. In fact, Tesla has the fastest acceleration time ever recorded from 30 to 70 mph. That is the sweet spot.

12-18-2008, 04:24 AM	#4
patsparks An Aussie perspective Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: Adelaide South Australia Posts: 9,054 My Car: 2004 Prius Model: N/A Package: Base Thanks: 108 Thanked 174 Times in 133 Posts Friends: 33	Re: Top Gear races Tesla Roadster vs Lotus Elise Please don't get me wrong, the Tesla is a sexy car, and overall it was an outstanding effort to be equal to a Porsche around their track as a first effort, awesome!! I guess to be constructive I could say I think some work by Tesla to lower the centre of gravity will reap major rewards. I was also a bit miffed that they hammered the car for 50 miles then expressed surprise that the battery ran out of juice. They did this without reminding the viewer that any other car would have run out of fuel before a 1/4 or it's normal tank range if driven the same but made a big deal of the charging time. It isn't a long range tourer, we all know that, but a stylish commuter and fun car, too right it is!! __________________ All the warranty I need. Still averaging 4.4L/100km across town 2004 silver base model Prius Shark fin, genuine mudflaps, colour matched side mouldings, rear bumper scuff guard, sheepskin seats, BT Plate. I love it!

12-18-2008, 06:09 AM	#5
DaveinOlyWA 3rd Time was Solariffic!! Join Date: Apr 2004 Location: South Puget Sound, WA Posts: 12,321 My Car: 2010 Prius Model: IV Package: Solar Roof Thanks: 23 Thanked 119 Times in 101 Posts Friends: 10	Re: Top Gear races Tesla Roadster vs Lotus Elise its easy to see that the Tesla would be parked most of the time if driven that way around here... drive it like a maniac, get busted spend night in jail...by the time i get released on OR in morning, Tesla would be fully charged, so i go out, drive like a maniac, get busted...

12-18-2008, 06:20 AM	#6
patsparks An Aussie perspective Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: Adelaide South Australia Posts: 9,054 My Car: 2004 Prius Model: N/A Package: Base Thanks: 108 Thanked 174 Times in 133 Posts Friends: 33	Re: Top Gear races Tesla Roadster vs Lotus Elise well when you look at it that way ...

12-18-2008, 07:59 AM	#8
patsparks An Aussie perspective Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: Adelaide South Australia Posts: 9,054 My Car: 2004 Prius Model: N/A Package: Base Thanks: 108 Thanked 174 Times in 133 Posts Friends: 33	Re: Top Gear races Tesla Roadster vs Lotus Elise The last line he uses, "In the real world it doesn't seem to work." When did Top Gear ever do a real world test? Anyone here drive like that in the real world?

12-18-2008, 10:42 AM	#9
Mjolinor Senior Member Join Date: Oct 2008 Location: Greece Posts: 165 My Car: 2002 Prius Model: Package: N/A Thanks: 0 Thanked 1 Time in 1 Post Friends: 1	Re: Top Gear races Tesla Roadster vs Lotus Elise Sadly, Top Gear is no longer a motoring programme, it is a chat show.

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