I’m not usually a huge fan of vanity plates. And I’m even less a fan of using the completely done-to-death “LOL” anywhere outside of binary-based communications. But when the two otherwise detestable elements team up to hock a big one right over the brow of oil tycoons, I’m all about it. Here we see the rear end of a bright Tesla Roadster using sarcasm to replace the emissions that you would usually see spewing out the backside. Nicely done.

The RAV4 EV is back! And with a few years worth of electric drivetrain evolution, it promises to be better than ever. Toyota and Tesla announced today that the first vehicle the two have partnered on is an electric-powered RAV4 crossover. Tesla has already delivered one prototype to Toyota and is working on a fleet of additional prototypes for evaluation. The new EV is expected to debut in the United States in 2012.

The original RAV4 EV was one of those ahead-of-its-time electrics from back in the 1990s. It was on the market from 1997 to 2003 and sold around 1,500 units. Toyota has admitted that the EV didn’t perform that well in terms of sales, but it did play an important role in the development of future technologies. [via NY Times]

Not long before Toyota and Tesla announced their partnership in May, reports indicated that Tesla was working on a crossover model for a 2013 launch. It’s not that surpising, therefore, that the first joint ventures to come out of the Tesla/Toyota working relationship will be crossover models. Following a statement that it will produce two prototypes for Toyota this year, Tesla will reportedly be equipping the RAV 4 and Lexus RX with full electric powertrains. The prototypes are expected to be delivered to Toyota this summer. [via Carscoop]

The initial public stock offering went swimmingly for Tesla yesterday, bringing in a higher stock price than expected and resulting in $226 million for the California electric car maker. Tesla sold 13.3 million shares at $17 each–higher than the $14 to $16 that Tesla originally expected. After the sales, the company was valued at $1.33 billion.

Now that Tesla has some extra bills in its pocket, it will move to debut its Model S sedan. The IPO money will be put toward acquisitions and factories.

Tesla’s stock begins trading on NASDAQ today under the symbol TSLA. [via WCF]

If you thought the steam behind Tesla was going to thin out after the Roadster and Model S, it appears you’d be wrong. At least at the moment. Elon Musk recently revealed some future plans that include an entire family of vehicles built on the Model S platform. It seems Tesla is intent on slowly diluting its line and making it less and less sexy. The company’s plans call for a minivan and crossover that share the architecture and powertrain of the Model S. Thankfully, there’s also a nice looking convertible, which appears larger than the Roadster but equally attractive.

Continue Reading

As expected, Toyota and Tesla announced a partnership yesterday that will be focused on developing future electric vehicle-building infrastructure and vehicles. Here’s the scant details we were able to glean from the back-patting quote-a-thon that was the story.

Toyota will invest $50 million in Toyota. Tesla has acquired Toyota’s recently closed NUMMI plant in Fremont, CA, and will open up production on its Model S sedan at the plant in 2012. The move could create as many as 1,000 jobs in the San Francisco area.

Continue Reading

Well here’s a partnership we could have seen coming. Tesla and Toyota have been respective leaders in electric cars and hybrids, and Tesla has mentioned its intention of working with other automakers in addition to building its own vehicles. Plus, they’re both T’s and who doesn’t love a good pair of T’s?

It’s hard to take anything the Governator says too seriously, but he’s the source of the San Francisco Gate’s article citing the new partnership, which will result in California-built electric cars. It’s supposed to be announced later this afternoon, so we’ll surely have more details then. Until then, you’ll have to daydream about what the T-T partnership will offer. [via SF Gate]

IED/Tesla EYE Concept

The world has largely liked what it’s seen from Tesla. So far, that’s been the all-electric Roadster and Model S sedan. Tesla will slowly broaden its offerings with new models introduced between 2013 and 2014. Autoweek reports that an electric crossover will be among the first of those new models in 2013.

Continue Reading

After making a trip across Switzerland from Geneva to Basel, the TAG Heuer Tesla Roadster is officially on a voyage around the world. The car set out last Thursday on a 12,000-mile around the world, which includes three stops in the U.S. The trip is being hailed as the first trip around the world for a zero-emissions car. Actor Leonardo DiCaprio announced the trip at Baselworld last week, where the TAG Heuer concept watch that fits into the center console was revealed for the first time.

Americans can catch the car in LA on July 29-30, Miami on August 19 and in New York on September 2-5. The voyage can also be followed on Twitter. [via Inside Line]

Continue Reading