No, it is not something out of James Bond, it is the Tesla electric car and it is here now, in Port Stephens.

It is also filling a growing demand world wide. In fact, the sedan model is now the best selling car in Norway, accounting for over 5.1 per cent of the auto market.

Priced at between $150,000 to $200,000 in Australia, it is probably still some way before sales reach the heights of those in Europe or the US, but Soldiers Point’s Paul McQuarrie has no doubt that the Tesla is the car of the future.

‘‘Since being introduced to our shores in June, there have been around 100 sold with another 100 on order from the manufacturer [in California],’’ Mr McQuarrie said.

‘‘The price over time will come down and new electric motor supercharges which are already in place in some service stations between Sydney and Melbourne will reduce the charging time from 24 hours to just 20 minutes.’’

Mr McQuarrie, an IT specialist who retired to Port Stephens three years ago, said the $170,000 all-wheel-drive vehicle he picked up in December was a surprise birthday gift from his Norwegian-born wife, Norunn.

‘‘The car is quite unique ... 10 years ahead of its time with features such as auto steering, collision avoidance, radar and sensor systems,’’ he said.

‘‘It can perform from the touch of a computer screen which is updated via the internet almost daily.

‘‘This model can go from 0 to 100 kmh in 4.4 seconds, but a more advanced model has been clocked at 2.8 seconds.’’

Mr McQuarrie said there was no need for regular services and the only replacements required were the car tyres, brake pads and windscreen wipers.

The Tesla is manufactured by PayPal inventor Elon Musk, a South African-born Canadian-American business magnate, engineer, inventor and investor.

His latest invention, the Powerwall home battery, collects electricity from solar panels for use at night.