Tesla Whitestar electric sedan to debut this year
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With its long-awaited Roadster now heading into production, Tesla is lifting its gaze to the horizon, which may not be all that distant. In a recent interview with CNET, Tesla co-founder Elon Musk revealed that the company will have the design for the anticipated Whitestar electric sedan finalized within this year's second quarter, and have a functional prototype ready before the end of the year.
Musk also confirmed that the electric sedan, whose name could very well change (probably to something that sounds less like a Ford minivan) before it hits the market, will be priced in the $50-60k range, and be produced – likely in Albuquerque, New Mexico – in annual runs of 10,000-20,000 units.
Gallery: First Drive: Tesla Roadster
[Source: CNET via AutoblogGreen]
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
Samurai Jack 2:56PM (2/17/2008)
It might sound like the name of a Ford minivan but clearly they lifted it from "Babylon 5".
Keeping the name would be a boneheaded move though. ;-)
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BassClef 3:54PM (2/17/2008)
Wow. Never did i think I'd see a Babylon-5 reference on Autoblog. You are to be either commended or beaten, I can't decide which.
psarhjinian 4:55PM (2/17/2008)
It could also be a reference to the shipping company that owned and operated, among other ships, the Titanic.
Of course, that would be deeply stupid marketing, so I'll bet on the B5 reference.
Michael Ishigaki 3:23PM (2/17/2008)
I can't wait. Electric is the way of the future. Though thousands of arguments could be made at this moment against electric vehicles, Tesla is the company that is getting things moving. Arguing about impracticality is useless and distracting from the overall goal. The move to electric cars will take a while and will involve improvements in solar technology, etc. However, we have to start somewhere. Tesla is the company that sees everything in the eyes of investment. They're ahead of the game; I am highly respectful of that company. (Especially since it's such a small company.)
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elprogramer 4:41PM (2/17/2008)
Here, I'll sell you a computer case and mail you the parts individually later.
Progress!
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British_Rover 5:21PM (2/17/2008)
Babylon 5 was a great show and I think they should keep the whitestar name.
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jake 7:20PM (2/17/2008)
@elprogramer
Wrong analogy as the roadsters with the temp transmissions are fully functional and just as durable as the final ones, sacrificing some of the performace. Nice try though.
On topic, the Whitestar was always a codename just like Darkstar was for the roadster. Wonder what the name will be though. It'll be interesting with the Fisker hybrid slated to come out and the Volt too since we know there will be a PHEV version of the whitestar.
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brian hague 10:47PM (2/17/2008)
actually, the roadster's codename was darkstar...
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Raymond 8:24PM (12/11/2008)
I like the name "Tesla" It honors the man that practically invented the 20th century, this car will be the end of the "oil wars". I don't think there has to be a carmaker "Bailout" . We need a clean slate, Let them go away. Bottom line.
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eric 10:47AM (12/24/2008)
the car looks great. if anyone at tesla is reading this page...i redesigned a prius platform on paper, that id like to see put to use on the tesla models. i can promise an all electric car, with unlimited range that never needs to be "re-charged" or "plugged in". my design would make the car about 40lbs heavier, but would otherwise not change the apperance of the car at all. lets talk, i love to have this design put to use in future tesla models.
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