December 18, 2007
And Autopia’s 2007 Car of the Year is…
Tesla_stock_2 The Tesla Roadster. Yes, it’s got a price tag approaching six figures. Yes, the first run is sold out. And yes, the it’s been in the pipeline for more than two years, so strictly speaking it isn’t really “new.” But this was the year the Tesla finally hit the road – the company is letting journalists test drive it this month – so we’re including it.
The Tesla is our pick for two reasons. First, it’s easily the coolest alternative fuel vehicle ever made, one that proves electric cars can be every bit as breathtaking as the finest fossil-fuel guzzling super cars. Granted, the TZero and Venturi Fetish are in the same vein, but they haven’t had the impact – or the hype – of the Tesla.
But more importantly, the Tesla best represents the direction the auto industry must go. Too many automakers have churned out the same old cars year after year, growing fat and lazy on the profit margins offered by SUVs and pickup trucks. That won’t work anymore, and they know it. It’s time for new thinking and new ideas. It’s time for innovation. The Tesla has those things in spades, and there’s a reason Silicon Valley is emerging as a leader in electric vehicle technology.
And so because of what it is and because of what it represents, the Tesla Roadster is the Autopia car of the year.