Orange Tesla Roadster spotted in Cali
Click above for more shots of this orange Tesla Roadster
Thanks to a tipster named Eric, we have some pictures of an orange Tesla Roadster which was spotted in the parking lot of a place called the 99 Ranch in Richmond, California. Considering that just a handful of Roadsters have actually been delivered to customers so far, we're thinking that this is almost certainly the same Validation Prototype that was seen being driven by Elon Musk in the Fox News clip we posted here. We are unsure who was driving this particular car, but whenever a Tesla is spotted out and about, at least until they become more common sights on our nation's roadways, expect somebody to recognize what it is and snap off a few pics. After all, you never know who may be behind the wheel. The spotter seems to think that the interior of the car is a bit spartan and too plasticy, though this is likely a preproduction car, so take that with a grain of salt. Thanks for the tip, Eric!
Gallery: Orange Tesla Roadster
[Source: Nipple Dial]
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
Doug 7:53PM (7/11/2008)
Ok, this is really stretching for Tesla news. That's VP13 and has been spotted many times before.
The Tesla production update is better news:
http://www.teslamotorsclub.com/tesla-roadster/1342-update-production.html
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Tim 8:05PM (7/11/2008)
I think I may have seen this car on my way home from work a couple days ago, it was turning left off of Mulholland Hwy onto Las Virgenes. [ map: http://tinyurl.com/5ujx8k ] I should have pulled a U and chased it down to be sure, but I was low on gas, and I'm too poor to be wasting it chasing sports cars in my POS wagon. :-p
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Doug 8:25PM (7/11/2008)
This car is here in Nor Cal. Maybe you saw a different car.
mrbell321 8:06PM (7/11/2008)
"The spotter seems to think that the interior of the car is a bit spartan and too plasticy"
Welcome to a lightweight sportscar?
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Mike I 2:09AM (7/14/2008)
I know... Does he want it to be leather wrapped and detailed with stainless steel?
Ummm... Hello... It's called the Tesla ROADSTER.
HDElite 8:33PM (7/11/2008)
Saw a red Roadster myself while vacationing in NYC, by the Ed Sullivan Theater.
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SteveCT 10:36PM (7/11/2008)
Doug that's great news! Tesla's gotten its act together, and it's about time. Hopefully they will become an automotive giant in the 21st century.
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CaliforniaNative 12:14PM (7/12/2008)
Cali? Where's that, somewhere in South America?
Sigh... who started this "Cali" thing? I'd like to send him back to Florida or wherever he came from.
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Mike I 2:10AM (7/14/2008)
LOL
Are you a California loyalist?
I agree, though. It gets annoying.
Chris M 5:38PM (7/12/2008)
It has a company license plate, note the "DL" which stands for "Dealer License". No doubt, it is one of the Validation Prototypes.
99 Ranch is a grocery store chain that specializes in oriental imports, so I doubt this was an official company appearance. I guess one of the perks of working at Tesla Motors is opportunities to drive the Validation Prototypes!
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Mike I 2:06AM (7/14/2008)
There's no way.
And in Richmond? Richmond is not a safe city.
Mike I 2:04AM (7/14/2008)
LOL
99 Ranch is a well-known ghetto Chinese market around the bay area that smells awful and sells super cheap imported products.
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