Tesla Roadster news - Tesla goes live - 2008

The Tesla Roadster is on the charge. The first of the Elise-based electric cars has just rolled off Tesla's production line only two years after the first prototype was built.

The left-hand drive Roadster will cost $98,000 - about £48,000 - in the US, with this year's production run already sold out.

Despite significant interest among performance-hungry green Brits, Tesla doesn't look set to sell the plug-in sports car in the UK - which seems a bit mean given that the Roadster was developed by Lotus and is part-built in the Hethel factory.

Top Gear got an exclusive drive of the Roadster last year. To find out just what you're missing - sorry to rub it in - check out our feature. Reckon a cheeky backhander to the boys at Hethel would convince 'em to stick the steering wheel on the right?