Actually, that Tesla WhiteStar might cost you $70,000...

Up until now, we've had the price breakdown of Tesla Motors' products as follows:

2007-2008 Roadster - $92,000-$100,000
2010 WhiteStar - $50,000
2013 (?) ~~sedan~~ compact - $30,00

Obviously, with the WhiteStar and the later ~~sedan~~ compact not ready until a few years down the road, things are likely to change. And change they have. CNet is reporting that the base price for the standard WhiteStar will remain "close" to $50,000, but the premium model will run ya between $65,000 and $70,000. And for the extra twenty grand, you get a faster 0-60 time ( ~~by only by .7 seconds. Yes, that's point-seven~~ Tesla has let us know ~~it's going to be more than .7 seconds~~ the performance specs are not yet finalized, but that the higher-end version will be able to accelerate quicker and have a higher range. David Vespremi, Tesla's Director of Public Relations, tells us that, "the difference between the two is analogous to a base 5 series and M5 - so the implication that we misled anyone by increasing the
price is not accurate. From inception, WhiteStar has always been planned - and talked about - as a platform on which we would have both a base model and a higher-spec variant (at a corresponding higher price)." I hope by using his own words I can stop making mistakes) and other upgrades. We'll know more the closer we get to the 2010ish WhiteStar release date.

Click through to CNet to see how a $65,000 car fits in the American auto market.

UPDATE: Sorry for the errors there, folks. Trying to write too quickly today.
UPDATE 2: Added more clarifications, because I can't seem to get things right today.

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