“In fact, one of the engineers drove it up here from the SF Bay Area last night.”

Errr, they drove up to Bellevue Washington from San Jose in one night in the Tesla? That’s over 800 miles. Tesla’s max stated range is around 244 miles on a charge, and 3.5 hours to recharge, using the at-home high power connector unit and a 70 amp 220 volt circuit. A standard 3 prong outlet could take as long as 32 hours for a full recharge.

The video states it drove part way, and then was trailered the rest of the way.

Suck it, big oil!

It does smoke the tires, the traction control is designed to prevent you from doing that. If I recall on an earlier writing they were talking about turning that off to demonstrate the power and traction difference.

Gotta love the naysayers though, heels dug in falling down the slope to $10/gallon… Fossil driven cars are on the way out, its a supply problem not to mention the inefficiency.

one word comes to mind. GORGEOUS!

I just want the technology (engine, charging system, etc.) not that interior though, put into my 1965 bug. Re-use comes before recycle, so I would rather buy a Tesla kit to put in my classic ride.

Looks like a shoe. They should have kept original Lotus exterior.

This car is recharged from a powerpoint so for most of us that would mean it’s source of power is coal.

I have a Lotus Elise, until you’ve driven one you can’t begin to understand the joy they bring. The handling is incredible. OK so this car is heavier, but where Lotus are involved they’re unlikely to settle for second best. Lotus hand make their cars, I’ve seen these cars being hand made at the UK factory in Hethel. Members of staff build them with a passion, it’s not just a job to them. One day I hope to have a go in a Tesla, it must be a very odd feeling going 0-60 with only road noise to listen to!

Interior is very cheap. =\

It’s really a great first effort; Lotus is an excellent platform for electric drive. The range is impressive, but I doubt if the battery pack will hold up without frequent catistrophic failures. I just hope that won’t sink the company.