Governor Schwarzenegger is ready to terminate his eco-friendly Tesla Lotus roadster, but why?

California Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger touring Tesla factory: is he wishing he bought a Ferrari inspired and more comfortable Maserati product rather than a Lotus auto body when he purchased his own eco-friendly runabout vehicle to promote green technology firms making their new professional home(s) and purchasing real estate in CA?

Here's the green exotic car problem: In my opinion, the hottest car on the green exotics market right now that is the most fun to drive is the newly converted Lotus Elise being retro-manufactured by the inspired and inspiring car company Tesla. However, the car body itself presents some serious ergonomic and spacial challenges to many individuals who would otherwise love to drive a hot little exotic. Like California Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger -- who is proud to support Tesla manufacturing in the celebrity-rich state, but a man who may have bought something too little (when it could have been a better fiscal decision to wait for the right model fit for his frame to be made).

Bigger is better (on occasion).

The Lotus Elise body that Tesla has chosen to work for their roadster model is one of the funnest cars I have ever driven (in it's original car maker's version). It's a convertible [wonderful], corners like a beast [a tiny and lightning fast little monster], and is a great roadster model [if you only have two very small passengers-- because it only has two... shall we say compact (for lack of a better term) sport seats]. Shifting gears is also a joy [but only if your legs are not too long and your knees don't hit the dash when you sit]. If you are looking part of a young, trim couple looking for a perfect third car with occasionally on the weekend -- or if you are a slim single with nothing serious ever to carry (ever) -- the Lotus is a great sports car quasi-exotic model for you to choose. However, if you are getting a bit older and are not as flexible as you used to be in your youth, are a bigger person or taller man, or have any sort of pain in the knees or back joints from mishaps or young athletic adventures, no matter how much you like to look and thought of driving this vehicle you'll (probably) hate living with it. Have to take the car out shopping on errands to the super market? Forget it. Need to get yourself and your luggage to the airport for a quick flight out of town on a spur of the moment get-away weekend? Start making those calls now because unless you travel light, as in bringing with only a bikini or bathing suit in addition to what you are wearing, you won't have enough trunk space -- someone else is going to have to take you there if you expect to make it. Bottom line, if you buy a car that does not suit your lifestyle or cater to your personal comfort features you are used to having, you be left wishing the car would be swapped for a new trade, crushed accidentally when you are out and away from it, or stolen [and yes, fate will tempt you to leave the keys in it].

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Here's my proposed green exotic car model and maker solution:

I'd love to see TESLA join us with an the Italian auto maker MASERATI and take the new Granturismo 2010 convertible body they are about to have come out on the production lines. If they recreate it with green technology, I think they'll find themselves on the cutting edge of manufacturing a produce all exotic car and luxury automobile buyers could see themselves owning and would actually appreciate. The Tesla LOTUS body is heavenly for someone with a smaller frame like mine to drive (as space is limited and getting in and out is so hard); however, taller passengers and larger people like celebrity athletes can't fit in or drive it comfortably. It's also not useful for anyone with a family due to practicality: if you have no back seat and can't bring groceries home for more than solo one meal, you can't use the car for cost effective and smartly planned commuting (you know, the type of day where you make one trip out and one trip home, stopping to run all your errands geographically in a looping line without having to go back and forth along the way).

Here's a quick fact check set of trivia that most people don't know: I can comfortably fit a 6'5" + 300lb professional football player or taller and lighter basketball player into the 2008 and 2009 Granturismo model and they have enough room behind the wheel. I've even had someone drive who wears a size 16.5 shoe without fearing that they won't be able to reach the pedals safely (due to crowding) and will wreck it. If you are a seriously super-sized person you know... you will struggle to fit in a Lambo; a Ferrari is a more practical choice in an exotic car; the more pocketbook friendly option and incredibly comfortable car that suits you most is a Maserati Granturismo luxury exotic Italian auto (which comes in new in the $130-140k price range from the factory new).

Asking for a convertible is more than just being celebrity friendly trendy.

If Tesla created a GT body that ran on a green friendly power source and let the natural wind cool the passengers when the top was down, stars like Arnold Schwarzenegger could comfortably drive eco-friendly luxury cars everywhere in sunny California and beyond. [It's an unfortunate rumor that he wants to get rid of his Tesla Lotus that is probably true. My only advice to Mr. Terminator is to pass the car along to his wife lovely Maria Schriver for a few years and then auction the car off in 2016 at the Barrett Jackson Auto Auction as a historical automobile that is celebrity signed and warranted -- and to give the money to an eco-project non-profit in his beloved state of California. Yet another plus: the car is small enough that I promise it won't cost too much to store it.]

Arnold and Maria could ride every day and be both happy and comfortable every day if they were in a hybrid or electric version of the Maserati Granturismo convertible. Moreover, they would always arrive wherever they went getting the green light for acting politically correct while always arriving in style to any valet--while personally looking ready for any red carpet.

If Tesla also made a Granturismo hard top coupe version for climates with less friendly weather, I could recommend the car easily to all our friends and clients. As the body style has ample trunk room and shuttles 4 carpool passengers, its an easy sell to anyone with a lifestyle that's busy and includes family, friends, actual living, travel for business, or chauffeuring kids. Shopping in New York City possibilities and ample safe[r] break in free parking opportunities in places like Philadelphia, Baltimore, and Washington DC would open right up. Rain, wind, and snow for three of the four seasons? No problem. Even fleeing from Miami Beach hurricanes would be fast and easy. Just my personal wish list from an eco-friendly sales and marketing perspective... and trust me when I say a 2010 Maserati Granturismo S or Granturismo convertible remade into a green exotic car by Tesla is already on my Christmas wish list from Santa Claus.

Kae Davis, Exotic Car Examiner

For more eco-car news and info: 

1. Is Schwarzenegger trying to return his Tesla Roadster?
2. Reviews: 2009 Maserati Granturismo S History Tour
3. Governator to help announce new Tesla sedan

For less green technology and more supercar sports news about after market Maserati technology from Novitec and the latest in exotic touring cars with limited production the Maserati GranTurismo MC, read below:

Though the Governator might be finished playing with his toy green exotic car the Tesla Roadster Lotus, he's likely saying, "I'll be back... to buy their new sedan and any future SUV termination size version."

If you are interested in a bit of non-green news related to exotic automobiles, the Luxist reports, "If you bought a machine as close to perfection as a Maserati, would you try to improve upon it? We're not sure we would, but if we did, we'd be turning to Novitec. The German tuning house has a long history in modifying Ferraris, and since Maserati is Ferrari's sister company and borrows its engines from them, the Novitec's know-how is a natural fit. In this case, they've taken the GranTurismo S, in all its 435-horsepower glory, and given it even more power and exclusivity thanks to a supercharger and other modifications that bring the total power output up to an even more outstanding 600. Novitec Tridente, as their new Maserati division is called, also fitted 20-inch modular wheels up front and 21-inch rims in the back, which together with the carbon fiber aerodynamics kit gives the GranTurismo an even more menacing look." Read more about the Novitec Maserati produces 600 hp here.

MASERATI PRESS RELEASE: Official debut of the new Maserati GranTurismo MC

Le Castellet (F), 6 April 2009 - The new Maserati GranTurismo MC will be officially unveiled during the FIA GT "Media Days" at the Paul Ricard circuit. The new model is an offshoot of the Maserati GranTurismo MC Concept introduced last September in Monza and based on the Maserati GranTurismo S road version, with electro-actuated gearbox system.

On 17 and 18 March the car participated in the "Balance of performance", two days of practices organized by SRO at the Paul Ricard circuit in order to analyze and balance the performance of the models that will be racing in the GT4 European Cup.

A Maserati GranTurismo MC entered by a private team is to participate in some GT4 European Cup events during the second half of this season.

A limited series of the Maserati GranTurismo MC produced for gentlemen drivers who wish to race in the 2010 GT4 European Cup and the national series, will be on sale as of October 2009. The indicative price is 135,000 Euro + VAT. The cars will be sold directly through Maserati Corse.

In 2010 Maserati intends to once again organize a European single-make cup race. The cars participating in this Cup shall naturally present specifications that will set them apart from the GT4-version Maserati GranTurismo MCs.

Maserati chose to create a model with GT4 features because GT4 is the category with the closest links to production models. There is a niche of GranTurismo road car owners who love racing and want to be able to test their mettle on a track driving a racing version of the same model they own.

The Maserati GranTurismo MC is the result of a development work carried out during many test sessions that started in the Summer of 2008.

Various drivers have taken turns developing the Maserati GranTurismo MC Concept from which the Maserati GranTurismo MC stemmed. With their strong professional and racing background, each and every one of them contributed to the creation of the final version.

The predominant part of the fine-tuning work was conducted by Andrea Bertolini, official Maserati tester as well as incumbent FIA GT Champion at the wheel of the MC12.

Bertolini worked together with Thomas Cremonini, Maserati series production tester, and Vitaphone Racing Team teammate Michael Bartels, also 2008 FIA GT champion.

During the most recent tests, the Maserati GranTurismo MC with GT4 specs was also tested by former F.1 driver Ivan Capelli.

With the creation of the Maserati GranTurismo MC, the tradition of the Trident logo car manufacturer who remains loyal to its origins - those of a company founded in 1914 to tune and subsequently build racecars - lives on.

The Maserati list of wins is abundant and it includes a two consecutive wins at the famous Indianapolis 500 in 1939 and in 1940, with Wilbur Shaw at the wheel of the 8CTF "Boyle Special". This year is the 70th anniversary of that first success.

Juan Manuel Fangio won two F1 world titles in 1954 and in 1957 at the wheel of a Maserati 250F.
In the 1950s and 1960s cars with the Trident logo won a good many Endurance races, while the last victory in a Formula 1 GP was clinched by Pedro Rodriguez on a Cooper-Maserati in 1967.

In 2004 Maserati Corse started racing again internationally in the FIA GT Championship featuring the MC12; it achieved three victories at the prestigious Spa 24 Hours (2005, 2006, and 2008 Vitaphone Racing Team) and no less than ten absolute titles:

- Three FIA GT Drivers Championships in 2006 (Michael Bartels/Andrea Bertolini), in 2007 (Thomas Biagi) and in 2008 (Michael Bartels/Andrea Bertolini)
- Four FIA GT Teams Championships in 2005, 2006, 2007 and 2008 (Vitaphone Racing Team)
- Two FIA GT Manufacturers Cups in 2005 and 2007
- One Citation Cup for gentlemen drivers in 2007 (Ben Aucott).

Race have always been the most demanding test-bench for all cars. Traditionally, reliability and performance are checked on track. It is in races that new technologies and materials are tested. And it is on the circuit that Maserati has decided to raise the much praised-sporty verve of its Maserati GranTurismo S to even higher levels to create the Maserati GranTurismo MC.

GRANTURISMO MC - TECH. SPEC.

DIMENSIONS AND WEIGHT

Width: 1914,0 mm
Lenght: 4935,3 mm
Height: 1300,0 mm
Overhang front: 930,5 mm
Overhang rear: 1064,1 mm
Wheelbase: 2940,7 mm
Front track: 1618,4 mm
Rear Track: 1580,7 mm
Weight: < 1400 Kg
Weight distribution: 51,3 front / 48,7 rear

ENGINE AND TRANSMISSION

Engine: V8
Displacement: 4,691 cc
Maximum power: ND
Maximum torque: ND
Weight/power ratio: <4.6 Kg/KW (<3.4 Kg/HP
Ignition: Bosch - digital system
Air intake: Double cone racing type filter
Exhaust system: Racing type with removable catalyzers
Lubrication: Wet sump
Gearbox: Rear, longitudinal gearbox, with transaxle scheme.
6 gears + reverse, syncromesh.
Electrohydraulic activation, with paddles shift

CHASSIS AND BODYWORK

Bodywork: Carbon fiber
Windows: Windscreen, rear and side windows in Lexan.
Chassis: Steel with welded integral rollcage structure, FIA approved.
Interior: Backward-set driving position, with racing seat, dashboard and console in carbon fiber throughout.
6-points seat-belt compatible with HANS protection system.
Electrical system: Specific, with data acquisition system integrated in the dashboard.
Fuel tank: 120 L, with carbon safety structure, FIA approved.

Brakes:
Racing system without ABS, with steel discs:
Front disc: 380 mm
Rear disc: 326 mm
Front caliper: 6 pistons
Rear caliper: 4 pistons

Wheels:
Front: 11''x18''
Rear: 11''x18''

Tyres:
Front: 305/645/18
Rear: 305/680/18

Shock absorbers: Carbon fiber

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