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2010 Tesla Roadster Sport photos

On its second model year, Tesla gives its Roadster a Sport version, and redesigns the interior, making an update that would have taken other automakers three years to complete.

Wayne Cunningham
Wayne Cunningham reviews cars and writes about automotive technology for CNET's Roadshow. Prior to the automotive beat, he covered spyware, Web building technologies, and computer hardware. He began covering technology and the Web in 1994 as an editor of The Net magazine.
Wayne Cunningham
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1 of 22 Josh Miller/CNET
Tesla is experiencing success building its electric sports car. The company is profitable, and is at full production. Demand for the Tesla Roadster is still high, with a three- to four-month back order list.
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2 of 22 Josh Miller/CNET
The Tesla Roadster Sport uses a chassis from Lotus clad in carbon fiber. Other companies supply the motor, battery, and gearbox.
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3 of 22 Josh Miller/CNET
After one year ramping up production, Tesla has updated the Roadster. The 2010 model includes a Sport version, and there are cosmetic and ergonomic changes throughout.
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4 of 22 Josh Miller/CNET
One change is the addition of clear coat carbon fiber in various spots around the car.
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5 of 22 Josh Miller/CNET
Under the hood you will find cooling gear for the cabin and battery.
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6 of 22 Josh Miller/CNET
Where the standard Tesla Roadster gets to 60 mph in 3.9 seconds, the new Roadster Sport does it in 3.7 seconds. Tesla achieves this performance by using a more tightly wound stator in the motor.
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7 of 22 Josh Miller/CNET
Yokohama tires and Brembo brakes suggest the Tesla Roadster Sport is track-worthy, but we weren't impressed with the cornering.
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8 of 22 Josh Miller/CNET
Given its Lotus chassis, the Roadster Sport delivers a surprisingly comfortable ride. The company also added sound deadening material into the body.
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9 of 22 Josh Miller/CNET
The car's socket includes a light ring that turns on when you open the hatch. Unplugged, the light is white. When plugged in and charging, the light is yellow, then green when the battery is charged.
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10 of 22 Josh Miller/CNET
The Roadster Sport's electric motor is far more efficient than a gasoline engine in converting energy to drive the car. And electricity is much cheaper than gasoline per mile.
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11 of 22 Josh Miller/CNET
Storage space in the Roadster Sport is minimal, with just this rear tub and a glove box in the cabin.
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12 of 22 Josh Miller/CNET
The power control module sits next to the big battery pack. Tesla made it smaller for the 2010 model year.
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13 of 22 Josh Miller/CNET
Getting into the cabin is easier than in a similar Lotus car, as Tesla has lowered the door sill on the Roadster Sport. But we suspect those lower sills affect the rigidity of the vehicle, which could hurt its cornering ability.
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14 of 22 Josh Miller/CNET
The cabin in the Roadster Sport is tight--this is more sports car than luxury vehicle.
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15 of 22 Josh Miller/CNET
The MOMO steering wheel doesn't include any audio control buttons. There is also no power-steering module, so turning the wheels requires a little effort.
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16 of 22 Josh Miller/CNET
The tachometer and speedometer share the same needle, as the two figures are directly related in this single-speed car.
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17 of 22 Josh Miller/CNET
For the 2010 model, Tesla replaced the small shifter it had used previously with these buttons.
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18 of 22 Josh Miller/CNET
The head unit in the car, a JVC KD-NXD505, is very capable, providing navigation, stereo functions, and Bluetooth phone integration.
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19 of 22 Josh Miller/CNET
Tesla fit speakers where it could around the cabin, but space is severely limited.
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20 of 22 Josh Miller/CNET
The touch screen got moved from the left side to the center for 2010. It lets you set the drive mode, and monitor energy usage.
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21 of 22 Josh Miller/CNET
Various energy graphs are available on the touch screen. This one show energy usage over time.
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22 of 22 Josh Miller/CNET
This simple screen shows battery charge level and remaining range. It is probably the most useful screen for everyday driving.

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