As most established sports car-makers tinker with hybrid prototypes, one relative newcomer has produced the world's first zero-emission, electric-powered sports car with a range of almost 400 kilometres - a distance that will rack up an electricity bill of just HK$50.
Launched in 2008, while other carmakers were struggling for survival, California-based Tesla Motors, founded by PayPal creator Elon Musk, has sold more than 1,300 of the roadsters in 30 countries. The car is a stunning ride that blends exhilarating performance with real-world usability.
The Tesla Roadster looks very much the part of a two-seater track car with its slippery lines, fared-in headlights and nose-down, squat stance. The neat, driver-focused cabin is a no-nonsense affair with bucket seats, sports dials and a tiny steering wheel - with only a touch-screen central console hinting at its contemporary technology.
The low-slung soft-top has a carbon-fibre body mounted on a monocoque chassis made from resin-bonded and riveted aluminium to add rigidity and strength to its lightweight (1,235kg) package, while the under-floor mid-mounted power unit - comprising 6,831 lithium-ion cells similar to ones you'll find in your laptop - helps to maintain a balanced weight distribution.
The Hong Kong-spec car comes with improved sound-reduction materials in the doors and new wheel-arch liners to suppress pavement noise, while an upgraded power control unit has been developed for 'spirited driving' in hotter climates. And 'spirited' is the word.
From the off, acceleration is instantaneous and the Tesla sets a blistering pace. It overtakes two cars in the blink of an eye up the Old Peak Road - one of Hong Kong's steepest tarmac inclines.
