First 100 Tesla Roadster electric cars sell out in 3 weeks

17 August 2006 0:19 GMT / By Stuart Miles

Well if you were hoping to get your hands on one of the first batch of new Tesla electric sports car launched at the British Motor Show last month, it's already too late.

Tesla, who makes the car, says it has already booked deposits for its first 100 cars.

The $100,000 deposits guarantee that the buyers will get the cars, which will come out next year.

"All 100 are gone", he said.

Each customer made a $100,000 deposit to join the Signature One Hundred Club and reserve their “Signature One Hundred” special edition Tesla Roadster. The “Signature One Hundred” edition includes a commemorative plaque in the cockpit personalized for the customer and signed by the company’s principals, a special Signature One Hundred trim package and all available options, including a state-of-the-art navigation system and a hard top.

According to Tesla, The Signature One Hundred Club has attracted a diverse group of members including performance sports car devotees, alternative energy advocates, technology enthusiasts, “Clean Tech” supporters, environmentalists and members of the financial community.

Some of the initial members include Oscar winner George Clooney and Dennis Haysbert (of “24” fame).

The new motor is the first performance electric car manufactured by Tesla Motors and promises high-performance with zero emissions.

The electric-powered Tesla Roadster boasts a top speed of more than 130mph and a range of 250 miles on a single charge. The company behind the car say its extended range is due to its state-of-the-art lithium-ion Energy Storage System.

The Tesla Roadster is capable of accelerating from 0-60 mph in about 4 seconds beating the new Jaguar XKR announced last month.

The body design of the Tesla Roadster, which included a collaborative effort by the company's employees, has been headed by Barney Hatt, Principal Designer at the Lotus Design Studio in England. The result is a sleek, stylish sports car that takes a lot of its cues from the Lotus Elise.

The Tesla Roadster comes complete with its Electric Vehicle Service Equipment (EVSE), a home-based charging system. An optional mobile charging kit, for re-charging while away from the EVSE, also features this automatic disconnect system. Charging the Tesla Roadster takes approximately 3.5 hours.

Deliveries of the Tesla Roadster are expected to begin mid-2007.