Tesla releases upgraded 2012 Roadster

CALIFORNIAN electric vehicle producer Tesla Motors has announced the release of an upgraded Roadster that will only be available in Australia, Asia and Europe.

Now available Down Under, the 2012 Roadster comes with a range of upgraded standard features and options.

It is now priced from $191,888 plus on-road costs – more than $30,000 less than the $222,995 drive-away price the car was launched with here in March 2011 – following “favourable recent currency adjustments”.

The improved electric sportscar brings a new infotainment system including satellite-navigation, premium seats, Xenon headlights, revised air-conditioning for better hot-weather performance, enhanced windscreen seals to reduce cabin noise and a rear snow cover and upgraded motor and inverter for better performance in snow and ice.

Three exclusive ‘encore’ exterior paint colours are available – Cosmic Black, Galactic Gray and Magma Orange – each with complementary interior colours.



Two new optional Mobile Connectors are now offered – a J1772, which enables charging from a number of emerging charge stations around Australia, and the Tesla IEC Type 2 (Mennekes) connector, which enables charging from Type 2 stations and outlets.

“The Tesla Roadster is the first and only (car) of its kind: an electric sportscar with exhilarating performance, zero emissions and gorgeous look,” said Tesla vice-president of communications Ricardo Reyes.

“This latest version embodies Tesla’s commitment to constant improvement. These Roadsters are our best ever.”Tesla has now sold more than 2100 examples of its Lotus Elise-based Roadster in at least 31 countries – including Australia, where it has found more than a dozen homes from Sydney to Perth and Tasmania – notching up more than 29 million cumulative kilometres.

Production of the company’s second model, the Model S – which Tesla says is the world’s first luxury sedan to be built from the ground up as an electric vehicle – begins in mid-2012, with first Australian delivers to take place from mid-2013.

More than 50 Australian early-adopters are among the 5000 people worldwide who have already laid down deposits for Tesla’s all-electric Model S four-door, which is expected to cost significantly less than the Roadster from around $120,000.

In October, Tesla Motors revealed it will launch a high-performance version of the Model S, boasting 0-60mph (96km/h) acceleration of 4.5 seconds, making it quicker than a BMW M5.

Tesla Roadsterpricing (before on-roads):
Roadster	$191,888