The Tesla Roadster, And Why Arnold Schwarzenegger Can't Own One

Tesla Motors is an automobile company that manufactures fully electric automobiles. Their first vehicle was the highly anticipated Tesla Roadster.

 Sporting good looks designed by Lotus, a range of approx. 200 miles, and a 0-60mph time of 4 seconds, this electric exotic changed the face of electric cars forever. The electric sports car was now a reality.
Tesla also is releasing their Model S, a cheaper (albeit slower - 0-60mph in about 6 seconds) and spacier vehicle for those who desire something a little different from the Roadster. Storage is in the back, under the hood and inside the cabin.

Both are great electric vehicles that represent the future of what electric motoring can (and hopefully will) be.

The Audi e-Tron: The Curious Case of Torqueage

For those of you who haven't been filled in, Audi just unveiled a fully-electric supercar called the e-Tron at Detroit's big ol' car show this month. Containing 4 electric motors (one for each wheel), a total of 313 horsepower and an almost unneccessary (yet amazing) 3,319lbs.-ft. of torque, this car is challenging conventional wisdom - and stereotypical views - about what an electric car can actually be.

 ...But there's a problem. Not with the car; the number cited by Audi - 3,319. Apparently Audi thought that quoting the torque from the wheels instead of from the output shaft of the motor (where the measurement is TYPICALLY taken) was a great way to sucker people in to seeing this e-Tron as one incredibly advanced vehicle.


Don't get me wrong; it definitely is - but the engine(s) do not have over 3,000lbs.-ft. of torque. Check Automobile Magazine's clarification here for more information.


Audi isn't the first to make an electric exotic; if you haven't heard of them, check out Tesla Motors. They have produced two electric vehicles - the Roadster and the Model S:

More on Tesla - and why Governor Ahnuld is desperately trying to return his Roadster - in the next post.