Japan’s Abe Feels Need for Speed With Tesla’s Musk on Test Drive

Tesla's Musk Takes Japan's Abe for Ride in Model S

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Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe climbed into a cherry-red Model S Tesla with Elon Musk at the wheel. The two drove slowly out of the parking lot at Tesla Motors Inc. before racing out of sight on a Palo Alto road.

“I don’t think he gets driven fast in a car very often,” Tesla Chief Executive Officer Musk told reporters after the spin on Thursday. “I did say: Is it OK if we go fast? He said: ‘Yes.’ It was like, OK, boom!” the 43-year-old billionaire said moments after Abe departed.