Teslas lawsuit relates to a 2008 episode of top gear, in which the crew tested and raced a roadster, finding a variety of problems and shortcomings. Top gear sued by tesla motors over rigged electric car. Yeah, it didnt end so well for the tesla after clarkson started off praising the little. Top gear doubles down on tesla vs porsche race, claims. In typical top gear fashion, the electric broke down. Clarkson and others are then shown pushing the roadster into the top gear hangar and recharging it. Though the leastviewed episode by a considerable margin was the finale, the vietnam special, it is rated far higher than any other episode of. Elon musk and jeremy clarkson are definitely not the best of friends, but the. The criticism has ranged from minor viewer complaints to serious complaints where broadcasting watchdogs such as ofcom have been involved. After tesla dropped the car off, ceo elon musk claimed that one of his employees who was along for the delivery noticed a script for the episode. In it, the tesla team claimed that the top gear episode in question contained lies and.
Ive got several series of top gear on box set at home, jeremy. Developed and designed with help from lotus cars, who supplied the basic chassis development technology. Tesla fails again in suing top gear for mocking teslas. The bbc admits the silver tesla roadster driven by jeremy clarkson on this past weekends episode of top gear didnt run out of electricity and didnt need to be pushed back to the garage. Elon musk and jeremy clarkson are definitely not the best of friends, but the grand tour host is finally warming up to the idea of electrical cars. Richard looks back over 50 years of british touring car racing, and singer.
Moorebick questioned whether top gear s influence among petrolheads was as great as tesla claimed. From what i do know, however, the s is a vast improvement over the roadster. Top gears james may on the argentina number plate controversy duration. I dont know a whole lot about the roadster, and i never saw the top gear roadster episode, so my intent is not to drag up an old debate as to whether or not top gear was fair to tesla. Bbc bbc two programmes top gear, series 12, episode 7 new series and clarkson will be driving. Step inside teslas brand new model 3 and journey with us as we take it for a long drive. Tesla filed suit against top gear for its misrepresentation of the roadster. The tesla roadster is a battery electric vehicle bev sports car, based on the lotus elise chassis, that was produced by the electric car firm tesla motors now tesla, inc. Remember when top gear and tesla clashed over the roadster.
From episode 1 of series 28, its motocross, done a little differently. Remember the episode from a few years back where the crew tried to flog the tesla roadster. We head to thunderhill raceway in northern california to apply some top gear. Tesla model 3 performance vs bmw m3, electric vs petrol. Inside was a segment about the tesla breaking down, but that was only the tip of the iceberg. It basically showed that musk is not taking any criticism. Elon musk exposes corrupt top gear and jeremy clarkson. Background on tuesday march 29 tesla sued the bbc television programme top gear for libel and malicious falsehood. Tesla motors inc issued a writ at the high court over an episode featuring the ultimate test for an electric car a drag race between its roadster and a petrolpowered lotus elise. Now if you were a fan of the clarkson run you know the tesla roadster episode where clarkson roasted the at the time, young electric car company, leading elon musk to sue clarkson and the bbc.
Back in the day, bbcs top gear took a tesla roadster out on its test track. Gear because of an episode that involved a tesla roadster, which the top gear crew mocked, at one point claiming it. During the episode, the shows host jeremy clarkson remarked, this car really was shaping up to be something wonderful. Chris harris takes on the might of the tesla model s. He begins by praising many aspects of the roadster its speed. Bbcs top gear didnt defame tesla vehicle hollywood. Tesla motors ceo elon musk reportedly dropped an fbomb on the blokes at top gear and says the popular bbc motoring programs test of two roadsters was completely phony. Tesla motors sued the bbc in march, arguing jeremy clarkson and his top gear cohorts defamed the company by claiming the roadster. Heres the real story behind jeremy clarksons legal battle with. On tuesday march 29 tesla sued the bbc television programme top gear for libel and malicious falsehood. The kinetik 07 is a bulgarian take on the tesla roadster. Telsa motors is suing top gear, claiming the popular british television program sullied its good name and electric vehicles by staging an unfavorable test of the tesla roadster. It all started following a 2008 airing of a top gear episode on the. In 2008, the bbc show top gear presented a road test of the tesla roadster.
Tesla fails again in suing top gear for mocking teslas range. A drag race with a porsche 911r and the full road test of teslas model s. Discussion in news started by malcolm, dec 7, 2008. The 54yearold, who has presented the motoring show since 1988, has been involved in a number of. Its the supersaloon fight weve all been waiting for. The star of the bbcs top gear is suspended by the corporation after a fracas with a producer. If you recall the segment, the overall view of the roadster wasnt very flattering, with numerous breakdowns and a false claim on the supposed road range, leading to a lawsuit in 2011.
The roadster was the first highway legal serial production allelectric car to use lithiumion battery cells and the first production allelectric car to travel more than 320 kilometres. Top gears saga involving a drag race between the tesla model s performance and the porsche taycan turbo s continues to unravel, as ceo elon musk expressed his. Top gear claimed that the tesla roadster ran out of power while driving after just 55 miles much less than the 200 miles quoted by tesla, albeit it was being driven hard. If youre a top gear fan then you know what happened last time clarkson got into a tesla. Personally i think it was a very bad move by tesla. After two series of decline, viewing figures rose back up to near alltime high figures, with 7. The car is notable for being an arbiter of controversy in the history of top gear, with a scathing road test by host jeremy clarkson leading the production team and tesla motors founder, elon musk, to become embroiled in a legal battle which lasted for years. During the segment, top gear alleged that the roadster had run out of batteries and.
What was the outcome of teslas lawsuit against top gear. The tesla roadster was an allelectric sports car produced by the electric car firm tesla motors and was the first car produced by the company, remaining in production for over four years. Tesla reluctantly took legal action after its repeated attempts to contact the bbc, over the course of months. We suppose it would be enlightening to post on the antics put on. Top gear claimed that the tesla roadster ran out of power while driving after just 55 miles much less than the 200 miles quoted by tesla, albeit it was being driven hard, a claim that musk said. Teslas rate of improvement, from the original, fastbutflawed roadster of 2008 to the p85d, is jawdropping. But top gears jeremy clarkson dampens our spirits when he takes the electric rocket out for a spin, pitting it against the similar. I think the traditional bombshell at the end of this episode and indeed, this series could be the stigs lap time in the tesla. Tesla sues bbc for libel claiming top gear rigged tests. The british motoringthemed television programme top gear was often the focus of criticism. By clicking below you agree to receive news, promotions and offers by email from top gear and bbc studios. Electric sports car maker tesla motors is sueing the bbcs top gear tv programme for allegedly faking a scene showing the companys roadster.
871 446 115 1339 1449 687 1124 836 751 908 1488 135 160 1283 887 606 754 1110 1072 869 108 1506 252 1421 82 134 177 308 595 1339 806 86 818 1097 1004