Acceleration's New Measure

TWENTY-FOUR HOURS AFTER PILOTING the '10 Tesla Roadster Sport along undulating ribbons of blacktop that wind through Bay-area forests of aromatic California Laurel near Menlo Park, the disappointment lingers.

Not because the electric vehicle's interior, despite an inspired upgrade, smacks of an aftermarket refit. Or that its $128,000-plus price tag is an affront to the segment.

Disillusionment festers because every other vehicle now on the market, and most of those to come, will be shackled by the vagaries of internal combustion.

Harnessing electron flow affords pull so intense, it seems unnatural. So to those auto makers that would still claim prodigious pickup from a gas pedal: You need to shut up.

Acceleration no longer is measured in degrees of delay. And the benchmark is the Roadster Sport. With a 0-60 mph (97 km/h) rating of 3.7 seconds, the car's 288-hp electric motor delivers maximum torque on demand. All 280 lb.-ft. (380 Nm). No waiting.

Cruising around an on-ramp at 60 mph, we spy an orange Carrera. We catch up and show the Tesla's LED taillights to the Porsche, almost instantly upping the ante to 80-plus mph (128 km/h) with the flick of a foot.

Now we know how Han Solo felt when the Millennium Falcon kicked in to hyper-drive, minus Chewbacca's histrionics. Because there is no growl. No roar. No exhaust system, period. Tesla's top-line 2-seater surges with a whirr. Like a refined carnival bumper car.

The dearth of rich sound from such an athletic ride is, at first, disconcerting. But the performance benefit of electric drive makes this sacrifice worthwhile.

The tranquility also accommodates comfortable cabin conversation, which comes easily anyway, even with the top down.

Equally remarkable is the car's deceleration. Releasing the accelerator triggers the motor's dynamo function, which not only generates energy but actively slows the vehicle as if you were gearing down.

Of course, with the car's single-speed gearbox, there is no shifting.

The Roadster Sport adds new dimensions to input modulation. Control is enhanced and brake-wear is an afterthought.

Other maintenance bonuses: Oil changes are moot, along with emissions checks. The only red flag in the owner's manual is a recommendation to change, at five to seven years, the antifreeze serving the battery pack's cooling system.

On a twisting hill descent on a narrow back road, we tap the 4-wheel discs twice, relying on the motor's extraordinary push-pull to negotiate curves. And when we reach bottom, we've actually added 2 miles (3.2 km) of range.

The 6,831 lithium-ion cells in the battery pack promise 244 miles (393 km) of driving on a single charge.

Expect a drained battery to recharge in about 10 hours on the 240-volt, 30-amp circuits found in most homes. So range anxiety becomes a non-factor for the average commuter who tops up at the end of every work day.

But because a nationwide infrastructure of high-powered public charge outlets appears years away, and one hour of charging on a standard 120-volt, 12-amp circuit equates to just four miles (6.4 km) of travel, road trips in a Tesla portend some genuine adventure.

Note: Mobile connectors are optional equipment — $1,500 for 240-volt; $600 for 120-volt. But the light show that accompanies the charging process provides some amusement. Pulsating LEDs in the charge port glow blue, yellow and green to indicate progress.

Absent any range concerns, the Roadster Sport assures memorable driving experiences. While the Mini Cooper long has evoked go-kart comparisons, the Roadster Sport comes much closer — if only because of its manual steering.

The steering setup offers a light workout in city driving. But at highway speeds, particularly with the exceptional level of available boost, a tight tiller is welcome.

Tesla also offers a custom-tuned suspension to Roadster Sport buyers. This is an appealing feature given the car's stiffness, an attribute engineered by Britain-based Lotus Cars, whose Elise 2-seater inspires Tesla's Roadster line.

To accommodate its battery pack and power electronics module, the Roadster Sport has a longer wheelbase and wider track than the Elise.

The carbon-fiber Roadster Sport comes with a fabric top. It rolls up to fit easily in the trunk. But be wary of the optional removable hardtop. The trim, sculpted Tesla wears this lid like a bad toupee.

Inside, carbon fiber accents are constant reminders that the Roadster Sport is high-tech. So why does this 6-figure car's interior look like it was done by a backyard customizer?

The Roadster Sport inherits from Lotus a cramped footwell and glaring deficiencies in fit and finish. The leather upholstery on our tester's door is puckered and wrinkled, while instrument-panel control knobs (one of which falls off) retain an industrial-grade feel.

More pleasing are the haptics emanating from the driver-information screen, which delivers data ranging from tire pressure to the number of barrels of oil saved while driving the Tesla.

The previous model's faux shifter has been replaced by a tastefully trimmed console adorned with buttons: ‘P’ for park, ‘N’ for neutral, ‘R’ for reverse and ‘D’ for drive. Arguably, there also should be a button marked ‘W’ — for wow.

'10 Tesla Roadster Sport

Vehicle type: RWD electric-powered roadster

Motor: 375-volt AC induction air-cooled electric

Power: 288 hp

Torque: 280 lb.-ft. (380 Nm)

Transmission: single-speed gearbox

Wheelbase: 92.6 ins. (235 cm)

Overall length: 155 ins. (395 cm)

Overall width (with mirrors): 73.7 ins. (187 cm)

Overall height: 44 ins. (113 cm)

Curb weight: 2,690 lbs. (1,120 kg)

Base price range: $128,500

Range: 244 miles (393 km) at maximum battery charge

Competition: None

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