Tesla: Little electric roadster that could

SAN CARLOS, Calif. -- A little roadster that goes into regular production in two weeks is already electrifying the auto industry.

It's not about promises that the Tesla will deliver pin-you-back-in-your-seat acceleration -- 0 to 60 miles per hour in a Ferrari-like 3.9 seconds -- or its sexy appearance.

Tesla's groundbreaking distinction is under its carbon-fiber skin. The $98,000 Tesla is the first production high-performance electric car. It is powered entirely by electricity, a plug-in that will never use a drop of gasoline. And it's billed as being able to go 221 miles in mixed city/highway driving on a full battery charge.

The sports car from San Carlos-based Tesla Motors has European sex appeal with power to match that defies the image of electric vehicles as poky carts for golf courses or senior villages.

Tesla is being ...