Tesla - Electric car with Lotus Elise guts... - LotusTalk

Mattnshilp · 05-06-2008, 11:24 AM

Take a look at this:

Jay Leno's Garage

Tesla - Electric car with Lotus Elise skeleton....

Cool, but why mess with perfection???

-Matt

Butters · 05-06-2008, 11:29 AM

But it's not really an Elise skeleton. It's been highly modified from the original. I don't think people realize the sort of engineering challenges that went into making this car. Do some poking around in their blogs. Lots of good insight from key engineers to be had.

fitfan · 05-06-2008, 11:32 AM

because an elise is far from perfect when gas becomes 10 bux a gallon

mp3moose · 05-06-2008, 11:34 AM

Welcome to several years ago.

Bedlam Bikes · 05-06-2008, 11:48 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mp3moose

Welcome to several years ago.

Ditto!!

Besides, who'd spend an ADDITIONAL 30+ THOUSAND on a much heavier car that doesn't handle as well as the Elise?

Well, besides Leno and typical Corvette owner...

fpitas · 05-06-2008, 11:50 AM

buzzy · 05-06-2008, 12:04 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Bedlam Bikes

Ditto!!

Besides, who'd spend an ADDITIONAL 30+ THOUSAND on a much heavier car that doesn't handle as well as the Elise?

Well, besides Leno and typical Corvette owner...

30K buys a lot of gas, even at $10/gal.

kestrel74 · 05-06-2008, 12:29 PM

Wow....what a concept !! I've never heard of this before !! ( they DO store them in this barn in Portugal )

edited !

smicker · 05-06-2008, 12:34 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mattnshilp

Take a look at this:

Jay Leno's Garage

Tesla - Electric car with Lotus Elise skeleton....

Cool, but why mess with perfection???

-Matt

Mythbusters Part 2: The Tesla Roadster is not a Converted Lotus Elise

fpitas · 05-06-2008, 12:47 PM

Shouldn't this thread be in the Tesla sub-forum?

cory1000 · 05-06-2008, 12:50 PM

No, but I bet is was the barn in Portugal....

Quote:

Originally Posted by kestrel74

Wow....what a concept !! I've never heard of this before !! ( they DO store them in this barn in Poland )

climb4fun · 05-06-2008, 01:01 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Bedlam Bikes

Ditto!!

Besides, who'd spend an ADDITIONAL 30+ THOUSAND on a much heavier car that doesn't handle as well as the Elise?

Well, besides Leno and typical Corvette owner...

This car is great. You shouldn't compare it with the Elise because the primary goal of making this car wasn't the handling or extreme lightness. It's a electric for god seeks; of course battery weights more. In exchange, it doesn't pollut the air like combustion's engine. No noise: great for cities, good for environment.

Right now Tesla is too expensive for many, but the future is bright for electric car. In 5 or 10 years will be significantly less $.

I actually like to experience how it rides/handle: Abounds of torque right from 0 rpm must feel very different.

Great look, good size, CF body panels ->for composite fanatics , etc..

In addition, you know in fact that it's a Lotus Elise fitted with electic motor.

PhoneBoy · 05-06-2008, 01:11 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by fitfan

because an elise is far from perfect when gas becomes 10 bux a gallon

It will be even better - less people on my roads

fpitas · 05-06-2008, 01:15 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by PhoneBoy

It will be even better - less people on my roads

+1

Mattnshilp · 05-06-2008, 01:21 PM

Seriously though, I have an enormous amount of respect for the design and what they have accomplished. A true performance car running on DC only is pretty damn amazing!

And I agree that I would love to try out that torque from the get go as opposed to cranking the rev's.

Without these type of vehicles, we will never progress.

But for now, I think I would stick to a regular Elise. I mean, it's no fun without the music of the engine.

-Matt

Gizmo3000 · 05-06-2008, 01:41 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by smicker

Mythbusters Part 2: The Tesla Roadster is not a Converted Lotus Elise

That's Tesla's version of Bill Clinton's "I did NOT have sexual relations with that woman".

They naturally want to downplay the Lotus connection as much as possible and make it sound like they did everything themselves. But I'd say that little PR spin article goes a bit too far in doing so.

Obviously, the Tesla isn't an electrified/converted Elise.
but there's also no doubt it IS in essence a modified/electric version of the Elise.
from wikipedia:
"The chassis design is licensed from Lotus, based on the Elise chassis, was built using the same Lotus software tools used to build the Elise chassis, and is built by the same Norwegian manufacturer. Similarly, the body panels were designed under contract by Barney Hatt of Lotus Design Studios in cooperation with Tesla, but are manufactured from carbon fiber by a third party vendor. Final assembly of the Tesla Roadster is done at Lotus Cars in Hethel, England by both Lotus and Tesla employees."

fitfan · 05-06-2008, 01:50 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by buzzy

30K buys a lot of gas, even at $10/gal.

when gas is $10, a tesla like car will not be 30k more!

its called change - and it happens progessivly - or called "crossing the chasm" someone has to be the early adopter of new technology...

slaughtr · 05-06-2008, 01:59 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by fpitas

Shouldn't this thread be in the Tesla sub-forum?

Best answer yet.

Gizmo3000 · 05-06-2008, 02:18 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mattnshilp

Seriously though, I have an enormous amount of respect for the design and what they have accomplished. A true performance car running on DC only is pretty damn amazing!

Agreed!

I'd take one (if only it wasn't for the cost)
But for the wealthy who have the money, it offers all the celebs true performance and style.
vs the Priuses they drive now.

mp3moose · 05-06-2008, 03:52 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Gizmo3000

That's Tesla's version of Bill Clinton's "I did NOT have sexual relations with that woman".

They naturally want to downplay the Lotus connection as much as possible and make it sound like they did everything themselves. But I'd say that little PR spin article goes a bit too far in doing so.

Obviously, the Tesla isn't an electrified/converted Elise.
but there's also no doubt it IS in essence a modified/electric version of the Elise.
from wikipedia:
"The chassis design is licensed from Lotus, based on the Elise chassis, was built using the same Lotus software tools used to build the Elise chassis, and is built by the same Norwegian manufacturer. Similarly, the body panels were designed under contract by Barney Hatt of Lotus Design Studios in cooperation with Tesla, but are manufactured from carbon fiber by a third party vendor. Final assembly of the Tesla Roadster is done at Lotus Cars in Hethel, England by both Lotus and Tesla employees."

Exactly, I've read that article before and I found almost no argument to it. Even though they only used 7% of an elise, a ton of parts are just modified elise parts.

Wow, they stretched the chassis 2 inches, it's a totally different car!!!
Not

05-06-2008, 11:24 AM	#1 (permalink)
Mattnshilp Registered User Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: Basking Ridge, NJ Posts: 65	Tesla - Electric car with Lotus Elise guts... Take a look at this: Jay Leno's Garage Tesla - Electric car with Lotus Elise skeleton.... Cool, but why mess with perfection??? -Matt

05-06-2008, 11:32 AM	#3 (permalink)
fitfan Regurgitated User Join Date: Jan 2004 Location: San Diego! Posts: 4,092	because an elise is far from perfect when gas becomes 10 bux a gallon __________________ Driving it around!

05-06-2008, 11:50 AM	#6 (permalink)
fpitas User, Registered Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: Leesburg, VA Posts: 1,827	__________________ Francis 2006 Chrome Orange Elise: LSD/TC, Nitron SAs with 425/650 springs, BWR 7/8" Front Bar, Eliseparts bumpsteer kit, VF Stage 2, 2bular Header + Sport Cat + 8x24 GT3 Muffler, ECU Tune by Jermaine, Smaay's fuel rail, ACT XT clutch, Saikou Michi dual catch can, Moroso pan, Manly's mount inserts & FF Engine Damper 2000 Black Integra Type R: - 213,000 miles...running again!

05-06-2008, 12:29 PM	#8 (permalink)
kestrel74 G-200 Driver Join Date: Jun 2004 Location: North of Detroit; Watkins Glen, NY Posts: 9,311	Wow....what a concept !! I've never heard of this before !! ( they DO store them in this barn in Portugal ) edited ! __________________ 74 Europa Zetec TC Special 3614R Elise #2292 / Chrome Orange !! / Starshield / Nitron Sport SA / RTDbrace / Uprights machined / Down Low rails / ChaseCam / V1 / SS lines w/ R4-S "My daily driver does .85 Mach" " I started flying when Sex was safe and Hang Gliding was dangerous " BUY My Europa ! http://www.lotustalk.com/forums/f94/...pa-sale-43829/ Last edited by kestrel74 : 05-07-2008 at 02:17 AM.

05-06-2008, 12:47 PM	#10 (permalink)
fpitas User, Registered Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: Leesburg, VA Posts: 1,827	Shouldn't this thread be in the Tesla sub-forum? __________________ Francis 2006 Chrome Orange Elise: LSD/TC, Nitron SAs with 425/650 springs, BWR 7/8" Front Bar, Eliseparts bumpsteer kit, VF Stage 2, 2bular Header + Sport Cat + 8x24 GT3 Muffler, ECU Tune by Jermaine, Smaay's fuel rail, ACT XT clutch, Saikou Michi dual catch can, Moroso pan, Manly's mount inserts & FF Engine Damper 2000 Black Integra Type R: - 213,000 miles...running again!

05-06-2008, 11:29 AM	#2 (permalink)
Butters Registered User Join Date: Mar 2006 Posts: 55	But it's not really an Elise skeleton. It's been highly modified from the original. I don't think people realize the sort of engineering challenges that went into making this car. Do some poking around in their blogs. Lots of good insight from key engineers to be had.

05-06-2008, 11:34 AM	#4 (permalink)
mp3moose Complete Lotus Junkie Join Date: May 2004 Location: Washington DC Posts: 692	Welcome to several years ago.

05-06-2008, 01:21 PM	#15 (permalink)
Mattnshilp Registered User Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: Basking Ridge, NJ Posts: 65	seriously though... Seriously though, I have an enormous amount of respect for the design and what they have accomplished. A true performance car running on DC only is pretty damn amazing! And I agree that I would love to try out that torque from the get go as opposed to cranking the rev's. Without these type of vehicles, we will never progress. But for now, I think I would stick to a regular Elise. I mean, it's no fun without the music of the engine. -Matt

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