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Tesla has announced the arrival of a right-hand drive model of its 'green' supercar. As a result of this update, the Roadster gains better noise-reduction technology and an upgraded sound system. As ever, it is not liable to pay London's congestion charge or pay for parking in certain London boroughs.
As well as saving customers money, the Roadster avails of the 'Writing Down Allowance' for companies buying the car. This tax exemption means that firms can deduct the price of the car from their taxable profits. According to Tesla, the Roadster is the only sports car ever to have benefited from such a tax incentive in the UK.
The Roadster is famed for being the car that can, purportedly, travel 200 miles on a single charge and yet accelerate as a fast as a modern-day, petrol-powered supercar. With none of the regular automotive components to change (spark plugs, pistons, clutches and the like) Tesla enthuses that it can service and offer a 'diagnostic inspection' once a year, from the comfort of the owner's home or office.
Cristiano Carlutti, Tesla's Vice President for European Sales and Operations said: "The right-hand drive model is our response to growing demand from high-performance car buyers in the UK who are also interested in their impact on the environment". Mr Carlutti also went on to mention Tesla's intention to further its 'retail footprint' on the Continent; the Roadster will be replaced next year by a saloon car that may have a more realistic chance of realising the North American company's ambition.
Prices for the right-hand drive Roadster start at £86,590. Tesla says that the Roadster costs 1.5p per mile in comparison to 32p per mile for one of its petrol-powered contemporaries. As well as this saving, the Roadster is exempt from the imminent Showroom Tax of up to £950.
We'll be taking the right-hand drive version of the Roadster for a spin in London soon, but in the mean time, check out our First Drive of the Tesla Roadster.
Kieran Fitzpatrick - 5 Feb 2010
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