The diesel Golf/Jetta gets 30 City / 42 Highway / 34 Combined mpg. In what universe that "the same" as 51 city / 48 highway / 50 combined? Math says it's 32% worse mpg. And the Prius is rated amongst the most reliable cars in J.D. Power/TruDelta/Consumer Reports surveys. Diesel fanbois keep fantasizing that burning…

The only toxic batteries are lead-acid in conventional cars and NiCads that nobody uses any more. The other battery chemistries are landfill-safe, but get recycled because they have valuable metals in them.

Rocketman, meet buggy rollin' man Jean Yves Blondeau. What is it with nutty Frenchmen wearing transportation suits? Vive la différence! [www.youtube.com]

Since the initial delay getting the Roadster out (just like Fisker, or Coda, or any first car), what overpromise? Musk said it would go 240 miles, EPA sticker says 245; it runs 0-60 in 3.9 seconds as claimed. Tesla said it would use its second stock offering to build the Model X, it raised the money, and here we go.

The Advanced Technology Vehicles Manufacturing Loan Program is not a bailout (most of the DoE money so far has been loaned to Ford and Nissan.

(oops)

@Ray Wert,

If you're going to go aftermarket, go genetically different.

"Cars are an extension of ourselves, like DNA. And if you have the wrong DNA, you should be put out to pasture. When it comes to autos, auto modifications, or the kind of lifestyle advice that will make you a winner, come to Brucie's Executive Autos.

X2010 is old news, Adrian Newey developed the new and improved X2011! I don't know if there's any basis for the claims of improved airflow and a better extractor fan, or Red Bull just supplied better numbers to the GT5 physics engine. Someone has to build a running model for $7M or so.

Jalopnik doesn't report Tesla news. Factory starting up, record revenue (and losses!), successful second stock offering, Model S nearing production, details about the new battery+400 hp motor platform, are all conspicuously absent. Just Musk's foibles and failures and some of the bad news.

TSLA's market capitalization today is $2.75 billion dollars (down since they announced the two executives leaving). If you think it's heading for the rocks, you're free to make a fortune shorting the stock. But the Model S beta prototypes look great, Tesla has $$M in reservations and has sold out the expensive…

vaporware is the wrong term. Tesla made and sold over 1,900 Tesla Roadsters, and manufactures its own motor, motor controller, battery pack, and battery management system, which it also sells to Daimler and Toyota. We'll see what happens with the Model S, Musk e-mailed last week "There is no question in my mind that…

Here you go, Audi S2 coupé, 5-speed manual standard. Since it hasn't been equaled and still looks great, does it count as newish?

Ford sells the Focus EV, but it is a weak electric car: expensive and the battery eats up the trunk space. It's the car for someone who can't stand the Leaf's shape or the i-MiEV's size, but still really wants an electric car. Since Ford is putting a drivetrain from Magna in it, it's not behind the project at all.…

What reason do you have to think a Focus EV, Leaf, or Volt is less well-built than a regular car? Are you picturing a few bumps knocking the electrons loose? An all-electric car can be far more reliable than a gasoline burner, far fewer parts, no emissions, belts, oil pumps, etc., etc.

The Tesla departures sure seem like bad news, Rawlinson knows aluminum frames and has tons of auto industry experience. Best case the Model S has no remaining problems and plopping the Model X and then the new Roadster on top of the Model S battery-motor "skateboard" platform is easy. We'll see how Musk's claim to…

Google suggests the "I Can't Believe It's Not Female" educational DVD series, but don't go there...

You didn't show the opening where the ape-monster punched the hole in the building.

I refer you to this recent thread.