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Catching Up to Speed, Thursday, Jan. 22, 2009

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On the navi screen this week: cost overruns at Tesla, tracking down ‘The Stig’ and some car shopping values courtesy of Kelley Blue Book.

Tesla admits huge losses
In an Edmunds.com story reported by ex-L.A. Times staff writer John O’Dell, Tesla admits that it miscalculated the cost to create its previously priced $92,000 roadsters, for which 400 customers have already put down $50,000 deposits. The difference is a whopping $48,000 per car. To recoup some costs, Tesla will add $6,000 to the original price and charge extra for what had been standard equipment, such as fancy wheels and a high-speed charging cord. Tesla claims that the price hike will make the company more profitable in the long run, as will obtaining the $350 million in federal loans it says is needed to finance its next car — a battery-electric sedan expected to retail at just under $60,000.

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‘The Stig’ seemingly revealed — and covered up
The management of the BBC’s popular car-culture TV show ‘Top Gear’ is mum, but the blogosphere this week was buzzing about the alleged unmasking of ‘The Stig’ — a stunt driver who performs feats of insanity while hidden behind a heavily tinted white helmet.

Ben Collins, noted race driver and ‘Quantum of Solace’ stunt double, reportedly ‘outed’ himself by commissioning an art work depicting his exploits as ‘The Stig.’ ‘Top Gear’ management hasn’t confirmed the reports, but it did come up with some silly explanations of its own, including that ‘The Stig’ is computer-generated.

Kelley Blue Book’s top five weekly deals
Need an extra push to get you into the showroom? Kelley Blue Book, the Irvine-based auto data tracker, has a new free service that could whet the appetite of bargain-hunters. Sign up online and the experts at kbb.com will send you a weekly e-mail listing what they consider to be the five best deals on new vehicles in your area. Here’s their first installment — what do you think?

2009 Dodge Challenger
Zero-percent financing

2009 Ford Escape
Starting sticker price: $20,825. Sale price: $18,700

2009 Acura TL
Lease for $399 per month, $2,499 due at signing

2008 Saturn Vue XR V6
Sticker price: $25,425. Sale price: $21,675

2009 Jaguar XF Luxury
60-month, 0% financing

—Joni Gray

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