Object of desire: the Tesla Roadster

Production of this electric car began in March this year, but according to Fortune magazine, only seven have so far rolled off the production line.

The idea was to make the Roadster as glamorous as it was green. ‘We believe driving is exhilarating,’ says Tesla’s official website, and in keeping with this philosophy, the car has a top speed of 125 mph and accelerates from 0 to 60 in four seconds.

The car works quite differently to its predecessors: the motor has just one moving part and there are only two gears. It has taken years to develop and there have been numerous setbacks – the man behind the car, Martin Eberhard, parted ways with venture capital-backed Tesla last year.

The Roadster costs more than $100,000 (£50,000), with a $5,000 deposit necessary to join the waiting list, or $60,000 if you want a fixed delivery timeframe.