Final Edition Tesla Roadster Marks the End of an Era

It’s the end of the line for the Tesla Roadster. Tesla, the innovative car maker that captured the world’s attention with the high-powered, super-sporty Roadster, is ending the Roadster’s production. The company is shifting focus to its new Model S sedan. The final vehicle in Tesla’s first-ever production model is already for sale.

Tesla, however, has taken the Roadster out in style. The company has produced a classy Final Edition run of Roadsters. The Final Edition is tricked in Atomic Red with dual black stripes on the hood and tail and shiny, dark-gray (“anthracite”) aluminum wheels.

For auto enthusiasts, the Final Edition offers one other special feature. Only 15 were built. They’ll be distributed in equal numbers to Asia, North America and Europe, Tesla’s three sales regions. Undoubtedly, at future Barrett-Jackson auctions, the Final Edition will provide sound return on investment.

North American Number Four was, until recently, on its way to Canada. Fortunately for Americans, importing vehicles to Canada is an expensive hassle. After realizing the scope of the hassle, the buyer backed out, and North America Number Four is available again in the US. It’s unlikely to burden on Tesla’s inventory sheet for long.

Tesla Roadster

The Tesla Roadster is the world’s first high performance electric car. It runs fast, but is very quiet. The Tesla doesn’t have a lot of moving parts. It is powered by four main systems. They are the Energy Storage System (ESS), the Power Electronics Module (PEM), an electric motor, and a sequential manual transmission. The Energy Storage System is located in the rear of the auto. That is where 6,831 lithium-ion rechargeable batteries are stored. They weigh approximately 1,000 pounds. The batteries fit into 11 sectors containing 621 batteries each. There is a separate computer processor that controls each sector. The Power Electronics Module converts DC power to AC power. The Power Electronic Module also controls voltage levels, the motor’s RPM and the regenerative braking system. The batteries can be recharged in two different ways. You can have an electrician install a recharging station in your garage, or buy a mobile kit that makes it possible to recharge the car at any outlet. There are many sensors to detect a myriad of problems, such as temperature, smoke, deceleration, and acceleration abnormalities. First introduced in 2006, and eventually delivered in 2008, the base price for the 2010 model was approximately $109,000.

Tesla Roadster Photo Gallery