#TeslaRoadster

The term “bricked” is often used with smartphones and other devices that can become completely unusable and are essentially, well… just a brick. To hear that terminology being used by an automaker is a little disconcerting, especially when that automaker sells cars that cost over $100,000.

Tesla is currently making headlines with the debut of the new Model X, but many are probably wondering when the next generation Roadster is coming. Well, apparently not anytime soon, according to Tesla Chairman and CEO Elon Musk.

The Tesla Model X is something of an enigma, but thanks to some tweets that went out last month it sounds like it will be faster than a Porsche Cayenne and roomier than an Audi Q7.

A new year is around the corner, and with every new year comes change. Numerous new models will be added to dealerships across the country, while for 2012 many other models will disappear.

Four years ago, Tesla launched their Roadster to the world, and 2,600 electric sports cars later, Tesla has announced the end of this generation’s production and it’ll go out with 15 Final Edition Roadsters.

There’s a new kid in Los Angeles, BYD. The Chinese battery and electric car manufacturer opened its California office today.

It is not common for a car company to take legal action against a publication or TV show based on their opinion of the product, but Tesla did just that after TopGear aired an episode in 2008, featuring the all-electric Tesla Roadster.

California told 85,000 hybrid drivers to move over, literally. Now everyone is feeling the sting.

Tesla is currently negotiating a deal with Toyota that could be worth an easy one billion dollars, according to CEO Elon Musk himself.

Last Sunday, the Mazda Raceway Laguna Seca hosted Refuel 2011, the third annual track day for electric cars and motorcycles. The event was open to anyone with an electric car, ranging from the Tesla Roadster to DIY conversion cars. This year’s event was the first time that fully electric production vehicles from mainstream car makers were present at the event.

Joe Nuxoll, Tesla employee and racing instructor achieved the fastest lap time in the production electric class and the Nissan Leaf wasn’t far behind.  The Leaf was two seconds behind the Tesla with a commendable time of 2:10.223.  Leaf owner Nadar Assemi took a video of the Leaf competing on the track. The Leaf surprisingly didn’t suffer from overheating issues like the Tesla and the DIY cars did.

“To my surprise almost every other EV out there (production or otherwise) had heat management issues after 2-5 laps. Tesla’s were hitting power cut by lap 4-5. Most of the other kit cars could do one or two laps due to heat or range issues.” Explained Assemi on a Nissan forum. “Conversely, the Leaf was pulling strong all day and the battery temp gauge didn’t move over 6 bars. Energy efficiency on the track was a stellar 1.2-1.3 m/kWh.”

Check out the video after the jump!

Production for the Roadster is ending soon, after 1,650 examples sold. The Roadster was always a proof-of-concept for Tesla’s existence, and now that they’ve moved on to bigger and better things, it’s time to let the little guy out to pasture.
The Model S sedan is Tesla’s next latest and greatest, and it is slated to begin sales in the middle of next year. It will be built in the old NUMMI plant once shared by Toyota and GM, in Fremont, California.
[Source: CNN Money]

Taking swapping to a whole new level, Martin Provost is out to prove that you can trade your way into a Tesla Roadster.

Determined to get his own electrified Tesla, Green tech geek Provost has taken the cue from famous Internet swapper Kyle MacDonald (that’s the Canadian blogger who traded up to a house from a single red paperclip over the course of a year through a series of online swaps). Provost has teamed up with Swapsity in his quest to go from a $30 camera to a $100,000 Tesla Roadster.

“It’s 100 percent electric, so any gadget geek out there, if you ask them, what’s your dream sports car, they’ll probably say the Tesla Roadster,” says Provost.

He started with a $30 camera and he’s now onto his seventh item, a 12-month enterprise online store package from Shopify! worth $3,000. Provost is making his way to the Roadster slow and steady, and we can’t wait to see what happens along the way. Do you think he can make it?

You can watch the video of Provost describing his journey after the jump.

[Source: Autoblog Green]

For the second year in a row, while competing against alternative-fuel cars and hybrids, an all-electric Tesla Roadster has won the Monte Carlo Alternative Energy Rally.

With most car manufacturers, the different trim levels often signify how well-equipped a vehicle is. But the new Tesla Model S electric car will use them in a different manner, with the three trims carrying different batteries, ranging from 160 to 300 miles.

Tesla Motors share price feel by roughly 15 percent Monday as company insiders rushed to dump their shares after the expiration of a 180 day limit on selling their stock holdings.