Description
They got the location right. Surrounded by new Amazon.com towers and biotech centers in South Lake Union, the Tesla Motors dealership offers a premium, high-tech product that goes 0–60 in under four seconds. (A Prius does the same in about 10.) The Roadster model, based on a low-slung Lotus chassis, starts at $110,000, comparable to a nice new Porsche or used Ferrari. But the appeal is all eco: You get the bragging rights of driving a silent, electric, zero-emission vehicle-that also happens to have a top speed of 125 mph. (Drive it that fast, however, and your maximum driving range will shrink; normally you can go 240 miles on one overnight recharge at a 220-volt garage outlet.) The car says you like to live on the bleeding edge of the tech world, like the company's risk-embracing founder, Elon Musk, who made his money co-creating PayPal. Tesla, a California startup, seemingly just secured its future with a $178 million IPO. But if it fails, that'll make your car that much more an exclusive niche item.
