Top Gear-Elise v's Tesla

[Aedo]

Originally Posted by ads_green

heh - pendant

[Monsi]

0-60 does not determine the outcome of a drag race, not only that but I'm a tad bit skeptical of their claims... I would have liked to see it up against an S240 or an elise SC

[ads_green]

If the power output of the motor is to be believed based on the graphs and the weight is about 1200 kg's then I could believe it would be able to accelerate damn fast off the line.

276lb/ft torque from 0 to 4.5k rpm with no gear changes. All the elises with that kind of peak torque (audi 1.8T and s/c hondas) comfortably get under 4 seconds.

It would be obviously alot closer with a elise S/C but I still think the tesla would win in a careful straight line. However over a 1/4 mile... might be closer.

[shay2nak]

still not bad for all the extra weight it's carrying.

[LotusStig22]

Originally Posted by chapster5

****SPOILER****













Tesla Wins

****************

1) Saw this episode few months back lol.
2) Whoever posted that online streaming episode link, THANK YOU SO MUCH
3) Yeah C5, the Tesla won, however, wasn't there something about how it's much heavier (well, obviously...), how the Elise passed it on the hammerhead, and how the Tesla is completely unpractical? The batteries are good for 55 miles or something.

In my mind, the elise is a much better car, and if you actually put in a supercharger for 240-ish hp, the Elise would have a much better chance.

Just my 2cents.

[LotusStig22]

Originally Posted by Aedo

Correction: it is not a Rover powered Elise (no such thing as a 135hp Rover Elise). They tested it against the base model "Elise S" which has a 134hp Toyota 1ZZ-FE.

That said it was a drag race and with a claimed 0-60 time of 3.9s no Elise will touch it in a straight line.

Last time I checked, wasn't the elise not intended to be raced in a straight line (Something about handling I think Mr. Steve, idk) (jk)
I'm sure the 211 would be a much better competitor for straight line.

[VisualEchos]

Originally Posted by Demonized

They tested it against an S2 with the 135hp rover engine, and skinny front tires/wheels.

Like to see it going against something closer to it's price range, Exige S260.

Exactly, dollar for dollar.

[charliex]

thats the base torque limited tesla too, so a quick turn of a dial and it'd probably walk away from a 260 as well.

[VisualEchos]

Originally Posted by charliex

thats the base torque limited tesla too, so a quick turn of a dial and it'd probably walk away from a 260 as well.

I disagree. The Tesla may win the drag race, but that's it. The Tesla carries 12.7 lbs per lb-ft of torque, whereas the Exige S 260 carries only 11.61 lbs per lb-ft of torque. That's a significant difference.

2008 Tesla Roadster - First Drive - Motor Trend

[charliex]

yes as i said the 'base' tesla, but as i said it has an artifical limiter in it that you can just turn a dial and it'll produce a considerable amount more torque.

this is all straight line drag race talk, not a situation where power doesn't matter.

[VisualEchos]

I understand, my misunderstanding.

[Westrock]

Originally Posted by charliex

thats the base torque limited tesla too, so a quick turn of a dial and it'd probably walk away from a 260 as well.

There is probably a joke about a transmission somewhere around here.

[BRTHTAKR]

It's not so much how much torque, as how fast it comes on. As a Dentist, I can tell you that an electric motor achieves (and maintains) full torque almost instantly. It's either on or it's not.
Coming out of corners this would have to contribute significantly to time.
The Tesla in the Topgear episode (and it's always in top gear, single speed) had tires designed for low rolling resistance, not grip. The recharge times on Topgear were for a lower voltage recharge I think.
This is all early development. It is just a matter of time until electrics show up on track and change things for good. Lighter batteries with more range, faster recharges, reliable transmissions and we're in a new league.
The Japanese have made a car with separate motors for each wheel that is astonishingly fast. Can't remember the name.

[Westrock]

Originally Posted by BRTHTAKR

As a Dentist, I can tell you that an electric motor achieves (and maintains) full torque almost instantly.

What secrets lurk in the shadows of dentist....the plot takes a daring twist, and this time even M. Knight Shamylan is clenching his seat a little harder.

[TheViper]

Actually, I thought it was a "Touring Tesla", ask Tim, he would know

Originally Posted by charliex

yes as i said the 'base' tesla, but as i said it has an artifical limiter in it that you can just turn a dial and it'll produce a considerable amount more torque.

this is all straight line drag race talk, not a situation where power doesn't matter.

[SweetDaddyD]

Originally Posted by BRTHTAKR

The Tesla in the Topgear episode (and it's always in top gear, single speed) had tires designed for low rolling resistance, not grip.

Yokohama AD07's. The same tires on the Lotus.

[Christophe111]

Honestly, this makes me very happy to have a Lotus Elise.
the Tesla looks very sexy for an electrical car, but still as not as the Elise/Exige and the price is IMHO not worth it.

[BUELL XB12R]

To me the Tesla looked like it handled like a tank. It ran wide on almost every turn.

[BRTHTAKR]

No question the stock Elise is a better track and all around car today, even more so the more developed variants.
My point is that it is possible to even have a discussion comparing one of the best handling cars out there with a fledgling electric.
We are all defensive for our beloved little cars, but this sorta like streaming video: it's the future. I still have an LP turntable and all that, but the writing is on the wall. Our descendants will have some very fun choices in cars, and that's great news.

[rob13572468]

The tesla roadster could theoretically be *very* fast around the track if the engineers made some changes in the way the motor controllers are programmed. The big advantage of the electric motor is of course the instant torque and if that can be applied quickly as the car passes thru the apex then it can apply as moch acceleration as the tires can handle (frictionwise).

That being said, the biggest issue is still the atrocious body roll and flex that the roadster exhibits as a result of having the heavy battery pack.. I dont think it is so much a placement issue as the fact that being a pure EV makes the roadster too heavy for its size; The elise/exige is really the ideal example of what you get when you have a sufficiently lightweight small vehicle. If the tesla could be brought down to that weight I think it would be absolutely unbeatable around the track. The only problem is that you would end up having to use something like a gasoline-electric hybrid powertrain to get the weight down (e.g. small battery pack+ 300cc gasoline engine connected to a generator providing the power). such a system would weigh in at maybe 300 pounds as opposed to the 900 pounds that the current battery pack weighs. and additionally the components can be spread out to keep the weight distribution and center of gravity ideal.