alarm:clock

News & Updates - Thursday, June 29, 2006

Silicon Valley's Tesla Vs. Detroit's Smart Car

We now know that auto mogul Roger Pensky will shepard the gas-sipping Smart Car for Daimler Chrysler with a launch planned for the 2008 model year. The 8.2 foot long car gets 56 MPG. This vehicle targets middle- class America with a >$15,000 price tag. In Canada the brand was expected to sell 1,500 units in its first year but ended up doing more than 4,000 in sales so we will have to see if America thinks like Canada.

Smart Car

Tesla Motors meanwhile is due to unveil its high-end, electricity-powered vehicle in one month's time. This car targets the super rich who want high performance but don't want to look like environmental villains. This car will easily surpass six figures. Tesla is a Silicon Valley darling founded by dot.com millionaires who live in Woodside. It has raised $40M with the Google founders and a PayPal founder ponying up. The company's aim to to build a new-age Ferrari. The Tesla Roadster will go zero to 60 in 4 seconds, will hit 130 MPH and will go 250 miles per charge.