In 2014, Tesla announced the Roadster 3.0 upgrade package, a retrofit option for Roadsters combining the original vehicle with improvements learned from Tesla’s work on the Model S. These improvements came in three key areas: higher battery capacity (80 kWh), a lower drag coefficient, and reductions in rolling resistance.
Overall range of the Roadster after the upgrade was an astonishing 340 miles per charge (though Tesla itself was able to stretch the drive to almost 380 miles in ideal conditions during a publicized San Francisco to Los Angeles run). Many first generation Roadster owners reserved and received their upgrades before the option was quietly removed from Tesla’s website. Roadsters that received the 3.0 upgrade were labeled with an additional R80 tag on the back bumper of the vehicle.
The iconic Roadsters now in the 3.0 configuration were found in a variety of supercar colors that included Lightning Green, Atomic Red, Very Orange, Electric Blue, Brilliant Yellow Metallic, Arctic White, Fusion Red, Glacier Blue Metallic, Jet Black, Racing Green, Sterling Silver, Radiant Red, Thunder Gray, and Twilight Blue Metallic. Depending on the original manufacturing run of the vehicle, 17” front and 16” back Wheels could be either Silver or Black, Cast or Forged, and upgraded Roadster 2.5 Sport vehicles were available with a directional Wheel design.
The snug, somewhat cramped interior of the Roadster in all production runs was available with a few different color and upgrade packages. Interior color schemes of Saddle, Orange, Red, Beige, Black, Yellow, Cream, and Dark or Light Gray were complemented by luxury leather seating material. Carbon Fiber and Executive Leather packages customized the look further, with sporty carbon fiber elements and French stitched leather accenting, respectively.
The 3.0 (R80) upgrade did not include hardware for Autopilot, and no first generation Roadster was equipped with Tesla’s famed driver’s assistance software. Tech included on the first-gen Roadster included screens with an estimated and ideal driving range gauge, charging mode selections, and constant battery temperature monitoring.
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