That silver one in the picture is the roadster, being delivered now or soon and completely sold out. With regards to performance vs gas, it outperforms, 0-60 in 4.0 or similar, will outrun a lambo or ferrari at twice the cost but it completely sold out to celebs and the same ilk that buy ferrari’s. They only made it to get street credibility and to prove that a car that gets over 100 mpg equivalent cost (that was when gas was $2.50) can perform and not be what they call a “punishment car” and what I call a “birth control car.” Their white star was supposed to be similar to a 5 series bmw and go for 50k but their real invention was the battery and powerplant technology, how to take those high end remote control sports cars and make them big. They will likely never become an auto giant but go with a microsoft or intel business model and just make and license the power and battery for major auto makers. They don’t make much more than that on their cars now, having lotus build the frame and body for the roadster. It’s a silicon valley startup so that’s my guess where things will end up and the Daimler talks is the first evidence that they are leaning that way.

I know you’d prefer a prius but there are many people out there who see their car as more than just a mode of transportation, the prius rules at the pump but fails everywhere else. Plus it’s 50 mpg isn’t enough, tesla technology would take the prius beyond 100 mpg equivalent and it’s my guess that it will be incorporated into it. Or if someone else gets their first, it will put the prius out of business if you can get a mercedes c class to get 100 mpg for 40k, game over.