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While we've been hearing about the Tesla WhiteStar sedan for a long, long time, the idea of combining a Tesla Roadster with a BMW 5 Series is too good to pass on. With the kind of backing that Tesla has and the sheer amount of hype surrounding their first product, the Roadster (above), we're expecting great things if and when the WhiteStar sedan finally makes an appearance. Later this spring is the when unveiling should take place.

On to Number 2.

You know how it goes, when there's smoke... Tesla Motors is reportedly suing Fisker Automotive for stealing inside design ideas. As rumors indicated earlier this week, Henrik Fisker apparently was hired by Tesla to style their upcoming Whitestar sedan. The styling was not to Tesla's liking, either by accident or on purpose - likely depending on who you ask -- so Fisker's designs were rejected. At that time, Tesla claims that Fisker and some associates took what they learned from Tesla and started their own project, which was unveiled recently, ironically enough, as the Karma sedan.

We should point out that it's too early to know where the truth lies when it comes to this story. Tesla is suing for the money it paid Fisker for design work along with unknown damages. There's been no response as of yet from Fisker. We'll surely be keeping you up-to-date when we find out more.

[Source: The New York Times]

Even though Tesla founder Martin Eberhard is no longer with the company, he and his ex-team have come to a similar realization: electric cars with range extenders (aka hybrids, really) are a good idea. Martin realized this with the Volt; Tesla's new CEO, Ze'ev Drori, has told C-NET that his company's upcoming WhiteStar sedan will be a gas-electric hybrid.

Drori said that, "It is more than research. We intend to have it as part of the offering. The Whitestar can be all-electric or it can be an REV." That's pretty straightforward.

So, why is the electric car posterboy looking at hybrids (presumably a plug-in) with a smelly gas engine attached? Range, said Tesla chairman Elon Musk. While the WhiteStar EV will be able to go 150-200 miles on a charge, the REV will go further (natch) and cost slightly less. This is good because Tesla knows there is a good possibility that the $30,000-$40,0000 Volt will go 400 or so miles between charges/fill-ups. While not as expensive as the Roadster - the WhiteStar will still sell for luxury prices ($50,000-$70,000, depending on options) - getting REV technology refined on the WhiteStar will make Tesla further-down-the-road "economy" sedan have a range that can compete with the Volt and whatever other options are available at that time. Whenever that is...

UPDATE: Guess I should make this clearer, and Darryl pointed out below, that Telsa has been publicly discussing the REV option for almost two months. This is just the most concrete confirmation of those plans we've heard yet.

[Source: Michael Kanellos / C-NET, h/t to Don A.]

Tesla Motors is working on a assembly plant for its upcoming WhiteStar sedan in Albuquerque, New Mexico. The Albuquerque Tribune is now reporting that the plans for that plant are getting larger. The Tribune's Erik Siemers writes that Tesla representatives, including vice president of sales Darryl Siry, were in town yesterday to discuss expanding the plans. Siry said, "We're looking at a potentially larger program. The program has been much more clearly defined, and we're further along in defining what the car is. That has ramifications for our supply chain and logistics." Since the WhiteStar itself is not yet designed, the specifics of the plant have not yet been set, but apparently it's more than previously thought.

Another hint that New Mexico might suit Tesla just fine came from State Economic Development Secretary Fred Mondragon, who said, "We are in discussions with them about the possibility of more than just an assembly plant." Hmmm.

Related:

• Albuquerque paper wary about Tesla's Whitestar plant promises
• Tesla officially declares Albuquerque to be WhiteStar, USA

[Source: Albuquerque Tribune]