Tesla has just celebrated the delivery of their 250th Lotus sorced Roadsterto Dr. Rob Wilder, an academic and entrepreneur from Encinitas, California.
Dr Wilder created the first Wall Street index for energy efficiency and zero-carbon solutions. He chose the colour orange for his car to symbolise the car’s connection with the sun – the source of power for recharging it will come from the solar panels fitted to his home. He claims never to have spent more than $13,000 on a car before, so purchase of the Tesla was a big leap for him.
“I took a big gulp and sent my cheque in,” said Dr Wilder. “ Although this car may not seem like a bargain, I can say now it’s great value. This is exactly the type of car I would design for myself.
Tesla hits another milestone this week when the wraps are taken off the Model S prototype sedan on 26 March at Tesla’s design studio inside the SpaceX rocket factory in Hawthorne, California. Model S is expected to sell for $57,400 when production gets underway in 2011, but tax credits of $7,500 will bring that conveniently down to $49,900.
Tesla at Goodwood's 2009 pre-season Media Day
Meanwhile, here in the UK Tesla are due to open their new London showroom in Knightsbridge shortly. They brought a Roadster along to Goodwood’s pre-season Media Day on 19 March, where “the only car here without an exhaust pipe” silently whooshed up the hill very impressively. It will be part of the Supercar collection to take to the Goodwood hill during the Festival of Speed to be held on 3-5 July.
