The luxury electric carmaker on Sunday lifted the curtain on the Tesla Roadster Sport at the North American International Auto Show in Detroit. Tesla said it has begun taking orders for the $128,500 sportscar, which will be available in late June.
The Roadster Sport has a bit more zip off the line than the original rocket-like Roadster, Tesla's first electric car favored by tech tycoons and Hollywood types.
The Sport accelerates from zero to 60 miles per hour in 3.7 seconds, leaving the original $109,000 Roadster (zero to 60 in 3.9 seconds) a few steps behind.
The Roadster Sport is notable for another reason than performance: the powertrain in the car will be the same used in the Model S, a four-door electric luxury sedan Tesla intends to start making in 2011.
Also at the auto show, Tesla Motors rival Fisker Automotive is expected to unveil the production version of the Fisker Karma, a plug-in hybrid luxury sedan expected to be available by the end of this year.
Fisker Automotive on Monday is also planning on show off a new concept car, reportedly called the Sunset.
