Bad news for treehugging gearheads this morning. Tesla had originally planned on opening a new facility in San Jose to build the Model S electric sports sedan, but the financing fell through. (Welcome to America, Tesla) So as it stands now, the company is going to redirect a $450 million government loan that was originally going to help build the facility into the general budget which will help with the Roadster development.

During a demonstration run of a Tesla Roadster in Southern France, the driver (who was demoing it for the passenger) attempted to take a wet corner a bit too fast and ended up going off the road, smashing the front left and rear right quarters of the car. The passenger was thrown clear, luckily not through the windshield, but miraculously neither party was seriously injured.
What is it about this car that causes people to drive irresponsibly? One Tesla rear-ended a truck and this guy rammed another car at a stoplight. People don’t crash Porsches at this rate, do they? There are only fifty of these things and three are out of commission! At least it hasn’t been the car’s fault and no one’s been hurt.

When it was announced less than two years ago, many thought the Tesla Roadster was a hoax, or at best a vaporware concept that wouldn’t go anywhere. Thankfully, those skeptics have been proven wrong, with the Tesla in full production and the first lot sold out already.
But what is it about the Tesla that makes it so unusual? Not only is it fully electric, making it one of the most green cars you can drive, it’s also incredibly well made. Reviews from those who’ve driven it are almost universally positive.
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