2008 TESLA ROADSTER | 5YJRE11B081000394

Body Styles

The Tesla Roadster was offered exclusively as a compact two-door targa convertible. Its proportions were tight and purposeful, defined by short overhangs, a wide stance, and a low, driver-focused cabin. The removable roof panel could be stored in the trunk, while the carbon fiber monocoque shell kept weight to a minimum. With just over 1,200 kg in curb weight and a minimalist interior layout, the Roadster maintained a classic sports car silhouette with futuristic underpinnings.

Model Name Meaning (Manufacturer)

The name “Roadster” was chosen by Tesla to evoke the traditional image of an open-top, lightweight, high-performance sports car. It intentionally connected the new-age electric drivetrain with old-school driving joy, forming a symbolic bridge between past and future performance icons.

Model Name Meaning (Languages)

The term “roadster” originates from early 20th-century English, referring to a sporty two-seater convertible made for spirited driving. It suggests freedom, speed, and mechanical purity—values Tesla strategically redefined through electricity and software.

Body & Interior Colors and Rims

Tesla offered the Roadster in a curated palette of vibrant and metallic finishes including Radiant Red, Brilliant Yellow, Very Orange, and Electric Blue, as well as more understated colors like Jet Black and Glacier White. The carbon fiber accents around the diffuser, door sills, and side intakes gave each car a motorsport edge.

Interior themes were minimal but elegant, with leather or microfiber sport seats, exposed weave carbon panels, and contrast stitching. Limited edition models introduced upgraded textures, metallic bezels, and Roadster-branded embroidery. The compact cabin layout placed every control within arm’s reach, with a central touchscreen and analog gauges above a curved dashboard cowl.

The Roadster featured forged aluminum wheels in turbine or split-spoke designs, ranging from 16" front to 17" rear, staggered for performance balance. Finishes included silver, gunmetal, and gloss black.

Top Expensive Options

• High Performance Charger (HPC): $3,000
• Premium Infotainment Package: $2,800
• Clear Carbon Fiber Accents: $9,000
• Custom Paint-to-Sample Finish: $5,000
• Soft Top Color Options (Black/Beige/Red): $1,500
• Upgraded Audio System with Subwoofer: $2,000
• GPS Navigation with Touchscreen: $2,400
• Lightweight Forged Wheels: $4,500
• Sport Suspension Package: $3,200
• Track Package with Yokohama AD07 Tires: $2,900

vs Competitors

At the time of its launch, the Tesla Roadster faced virtually no direct competition in the EV segment, and only a few rivals in terms of performance and price. Compared to the Lotus Elise—its structural cousin—the Roadster felt heavier but far quicker in a straight line, especially at low speeds. Porsche Boxsters or Audi TTs offered more interior refinement and legacy luxury, but none could rival the Tesla’s technological impact or zero-emission drivetrain.

Even among supercars, the Roadster’s ability to deliver peak torque instantly changed the rules. Brands like Ferrari and Lamborghini still relied on revs and gears, while the Roadster surged ahead in silence. It wasn’t as refined as traditional GTs, but it wasn’t meant to be—it was built to disrupt.

Fun Fact

Only 2,450 Tesla Roadsters were ever produced, making it one of the rarest electric sports cars in the world. One unit—equipped with a mannequin named "Starman"—was famously launched into space aboard a SpaceX Falcon Heavy rocket in 2018, making it the first production car to orbit the sun. It still travels through space today, turning the Tesla Roadster into a literal interplanetary icon.