Move Over, Porsche, Lamborghini, Ferrari!

If you were told a sleek sports car is hitting the road that can go from zero-to-sixty mph in 3.9 seconds, that might catch your attention. If you were told it's totally electric, you might be shocked.

Not only does the brand new Roadster from Tesla Motors look good, it's totally green. It has a watermelon-sized electric motor -- not a engine -- and that motor produces no emissions as it kicks out 250 horsepower. It's also totally silent.

Tesla veep Darryl Siry showed off a Roadster on The Early Show plaza Thursday. With a price tag of about $100,000 and only 600 being made for 2008 model year, don't expect to see many of them on the road, but every one from this year has already been bought in advance.

The car can travel 220 miles on a single charge of its lithium-ion battery pack. You have to plug it in for three-and-a-half hours to get a full charge. The Roadster gets the equivalent of 135 mpg. Tesla plans to make 1,800 Roadsters for the 2009 model year, of which 500 have already been reserved.

Ferrari recalls 612 Scaglietti with F1 transmission

If you are lucky enough to be driving a Ferrari 612 Scaglietti, you probably have the company's automated manual F1 gearbox helping you swap the cogs. With its faster-than-Schumacher shifts, the F1 tranny can make just about anyone feel like a pro. Unfortunately, it can also leave you stranded if heat build-up triggers the clutch sensor. Thus, Ferrari has instituted an official recall of all 612 Scagliettis that could be affected by this finnicky F1 gearbox. Altogether, 366 of the vehicles are being recalled to replace this sensor as well as a related cable holder and magnet that might cause difficult shifting or even complete inoperation. Only model year 2005-2007 612s are affected. If you have one of these in your garage, then you will probably be hearing from your dealer shortly. You can check out the official recall notice from the NHTSA after the jump.

Another Ferrari spontaneously combusts

Ferraris are best known for their looks, performance, and exclusivity, but lately, it seems one could add flammability to that list of attributes. The latest case of Ferrari flambé involves a beautiful black 599 GTB Fiorano, which self-ignited at a stop light while being driven by someone who wasn't even the car's owner. Martin Bullen, who works at supercar garage Romans International in Banstead, UK, was at the wheel when he heard a strange sound followed by a brilliant display of smoke and fire. The £250,000 exotic was a total loss, and the 28-year-veteran of the high-end garage had to inform his boss of the Ferrari's fate.

Luckily for Bullen, his employer is a forgiving and understanding man. Garage owner Paul Jaconelli said he wouldn't hold the destroyed 599 against his employee, and that the vehicle was still covered under warranty. That's good news for Bullen, but Ferrari owners the world over must be wondering if their expensive toys will be the next to join the ranks of the carbequed. This isn't exactly what they bargained for when they decided to get a hot car. Head to The Sun for more pics of the latest Fire-ari. Thanks for the tip, Chris!

Officially Official: New Ferrari California exposed!

Just days after Ferrari launched the teaser site for its new GT, the first full images and details of the Ferrari California have been revealed. Even though the countdown timer on the teaser site still indicates there's a week to go before the next info reveal, the countdown itself is little more than a formality.

Like other modern Ferraris, this one is fabricated from aluminum to keep mass under control. The 460 hp 4.3L V8 is the first from Maranello to use direct injection while following the racing tradition of using a flat-plane crankshaft. This car of firsts also debuts the production application of a dual clutch gearbox from Ferrari. The 7-speed unit is mounted in a rear transaxle configuration and should provide smoother shifting and even better performance than the existing hydraulically-actuated units that Ferrari currently uses. Acceleration to 60 mph should come in under 4.0 seconds.

The California is also Ferrari's first retractable hardtop convertible. From the shape of the hood scoop and headlights to the sweep of the rear fenders and vents behind the front wheels this car obviously draws on the heritage of the original 1960s 250 GT California. At the same time, it's blended with modern Ferrari design elements drawn from the current F430 and 599. We're looking forward to seeing much more of this car over the months leading up to the Paris Motor Show! Thanks to Mobius and Ovidiu for the tip!