Digg founder steals Tesla's thunder

Pre-production shots of the Tesla Motors Model S were leaked on Twitter this afternoon by Digg co-founder Kevin Rose, just over an hour before the electric car was expected to be unveiled in a live ceremony some are considering "Cupertinic" in nature due to its previously secretive and highly controlled nature.

While the shots were posted on a Flickr page, they were very soon made private and un-viewable to the general public, but not before dozens of bloggers got their grubby mitts on them first. While the external photos are promotional in nature, the photo of the inside -- with a large touch screen in the unfinished center console -- is from an undetermined stage of development.

Since the car isn't expected to begin production until 2011, what is pictured inside could conceivably be the inside of the very car that will be on stage at the unveiling today.