Leverage an existing sports car (the compact and impressive-handling Lotus Elise), add Tesla’s lithium-ion battery pack (generating 200 kilowatts of juice—sufficient to propel the 288-horsepower pocket-rocket from 0 - 60 in less than 4 seconds), and prove to enthusiasts and the press that electric vehicles are a compelling alternative. Enthusiasts raved.
Electric car maker Tesla Motors has been getting a lot of press over the past year as the automaker launched its gorgeous Tesla Roadster, an all-electric sports model that can go from zero to sixty mph in just 3.5 seconds. After numerous delays, a transmission swap out, and management changes, the Roadster finally went into production earlier this year.
The 2011 Roadster's exterior design is functional
