Tesla's first car ran out not of demand but of donor gliders when Lotus stopped supplying Elise bodies.
Median 321 hp across 17 similar cars
Lead trim: Roadster Sport (2.5 Sport)
Tesla RoadsterRoadster 1st gen · 2008–2012
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Nobody in Burbles has spotted a Tesla Roadster yet. See one on the street, point the app at it, and the first card is yours — with your @handle permanently credited on this page.
FactTesla's first car ran out not of demand but of donor gliders when Lotus stopped supplying Elise bodies.
The first-generation Tesla Roadster is a battery-electric two-seat roadster built on a Lotus Elise-based glider from Hethel, with final assembly in Menlo Park, California. It was the first highway-legal serial-production electric car to use lithium-ion cells and the first production EV with more than 200 miles of range; the EPA rated it at 244 miles. Its rear AC induction motor drives through a single-speed BorgWarner gearbox; 0–60 mph took 3.9 seconds, or 3.7 in the Roadster Sport introduced with the 2010 model year, and top speed is 125 mph. Tesla sold about 2,450 in over 30 countries before the Lotus glider supply ran out and production ended in January 2012.
Collectors Spotted in the Tesla Roadster Lineage
No member has published a public street spot of the Tesla Roadster yet — the First · Worldwide stamp is wide open.
Trims & Figures
2 published trims in the catalogue. A blank is a figure not recorded, not zero.
| Trim | Years | Engine | Power | Torque | 0–60 | Drive | Gearbox | MSRP |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Roadster | 2008–2012 | — | — | — | 3.9 s | RWD | single-speed | — |
| Roadster Sport (2.5 Sport) | 2010–2012 | — | 288 hp | 295 lb-ft | 3.7 s | RWD | single-speed | — |
Owning one
We don’t estimate running costs for a car like this. What it costs depends on its condition, its specialist and how it is driven, and an average would mislead.
Owners’ builds
Nobody has claimed one yet.
Photographs
Announced in 2017 for a 2020 start, the Roadster slipped to 2028, with a redesigned two-seater shown in October 2026.
Tesla's first car ran out not of demand but of donor gliders when Lotus stopped supplying Elise bodies.
Rivals
Same body, same money, other badges — tap any card to flip.
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