One-Off Roadster Shows Us What Tesla’s Performance Division Could Have Been

Before the Cybertruck hit the scene, and before the conventional Model 3 and Model Y dominated the sales charts, Tesla’s sole offering was the original Roadster. Built between 2008 and 2012, a mere 2,450 units were made, but the example you see here is the rarest of them all. Meet the Roadster RR, the hardcore performance variant that, sadly, never saw the light of day. Just one was made, and it still exists.

Compared to the standard Roadster, the RR (as it was known) receives several performance-minded upgrades. Tarox high-performance brakes provide the Roadster RR with superior stopping power, while custom Bilstein Sport shocks make the sports car even more fun to drive in the bends. Other revisions include a Continental-developed ABS flash tune, a differential from Holinger Engineering, custom camber plates, and an 80 kWh battery – much bigger than the original 53 kWh pack.

Must Be A Joy To Drive

Given that the Roadster shares its basic chassis with the Lotus Elise, the electric sports car has always been good to drive, thanks in no small part to its relatively light 2,877-lb curb weight. The abovementioned improvements make the car grippier and more responsive, and the larger battery is said to offer up to 340 miles between charges – better than many modern EVs can manage.

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The revisions aren’t limited to the mechanical components. The Roadster RR stands out from the crowd with exposed carbon fiber bodywork, staggered 16-/17-inch wheels at the front and rear, and “R80” and “Roadster Sport” badges affixed to the rear fascia. While it was initially known as the RR, Tesla reportedly renamed the performance division E-Sport in 2013. However, this was never approved by Tesla and has been largely forgotten.

Why Didn’t Tesla Put It Into Production?

Inside, the RR enjoys refinements not offered on the standard Roadster. This includes a leather-wrapped dashboard and sporty bucket seats with Alcantara inserts. Other luxuries include heated seating, cruise control, air conditioning, and an Alpine head unit. So why did Tesla decide to shelve the Roadster RR? Well, you can place the blame on the Model S.

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According to Kennan Rolsen, Managing Editor of Cars & Bids, Tesla focused on newer models instead: “Management decided they didn’t want to spend extra resources developing the Roadster. They instead wanted to focus on the existing lineup of cars.” Happily, this one exists, giving us an idea of what Tesla had planned. And if you’re interested in owning this unique piece of Tesla history, you’ll be pleased to know it’s up for grabs via auction on Cars & Bids. With four days left to go, we expect the $80,000 bid to increase in the coming days – especially when considering what people are willing to pay for regular Roadsters.

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Cars & Bids