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Final Tesla Roadster ever built listed for more than $2 million

The last “original” Tesla Roadster to be built has come onto the market in Switzerland for more than AU$2 million.


The 2012 car's Lotus-designed chassis is fitted with a 185kW electric motor that propels it from 0 to 100kmh in a claimed 4.0 seconds.

 

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When new, a battery range of 393km was estimated.

The listed car is finished in “sparkling white” and has a white and black interior trim, full carbon package, carbon diffusor, and VIN 2500 badging (recognising that it was the 2500th and last Roadster built).

Dozens of Tesla employees also signed the car's battery pack on completion, and a scribble in the bottom left-hand corner strongly resembles the signature of company CEO Elon Musk.

 

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According to the listing the car has been “stored on tyre pillows on marble floor” and was never registered.

It has just 200km on the odometer.

The vehicle is listed for €1,390,000 (approximately AU$2,082,220) which, if sold, would make it the world's most expensive electric car.

 

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In Australia the 2012 Roadster was initially sold from $191,888 plus on-road costs – slightly less than a Porsche 911 at the time.

Only one version of the car is currently listed for sale in Australia.

Located in Blackheath, NSW, the red MY2011 car is listed at $144,000.

 

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The seller, Simon Crawford-Ash, told Drive the Roadster represented a "pivotal moment" in automotive history.

"The rawness of it is what makes it so special. It is raw, unpolished and incredible to drive," he said.

"It is inspiring to touch and see how much had to be redesigned from an ordinary car. It is exposed and raw, and it feels very much like the prototype of future cars."

In 2017 Tesla announced plans for a new Roadster (pictured below), this time with a fixed roof, and claimed it would be capable of accelerating from 0 to 100kmh in 1.9 seconds – faster than any production car available today.

After initially stating the car would be available by 2020, Tesla now says the Roadster will be launched in 2022.

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William Davis

William Davis has written for Drive since July 2020, covering news and current affairs in the automotive industry. He has maintained a primary focus on industry trends, autonomous technology, electric vehicle regulations, and local environmental policy. As the newest addition to the Drive team, William was brought onboard for his attention to detail, writing skills, and strong work ethic. Despite writing for a diverse range of outlets – including the Australian Financial Review, Robb Report, and Property Observer – since completing his media degree at Macquarie University, William has always had a passion for cars.

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