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Tesla Sues Top Gear on Roadster Episode

Not sure how many of you remember this, considering the fact that it all went down over two years ago, but apparently Tesla still holds a grudge against the three famous Top Gear hosts and the show they run.

Back in 2008, Clarkson took a Tesla Roadster and subjected it to all kinds of non-conventional tests, in the purest Top Gear style we all love and hate. The conclusion was that the model was so bad that “"in the real world, it doesn’t seem to work."

Following what Tesla says were months of trying to convince BBC that the tests were flawed and the conclusions inadequate, Tesla took matters into the lawyers hands' and apparently filed a lawsuit against the network.

"The programme's lies are repeatedly and consistently re-broadcast to hundreds of millions of viewers on BBC channels and web sites, on other TV channels via syndication; the show is available on the Internet, and is for sale on DVD around the world,"
Ricardo Reyes, Tesla vice president of communications was quoted as saying by TGDaily.

"Today, we continue to field questions and explain the serious misconceptions created by the show."


Apparently, Tesla holds against Clarkson several statements that might have damaged the electric car's image. The most infamous of all was the episode when the Roadster allegedly ran out on power and had to be pushed out of a hangar.

Aside for that, Clarkson said the battery on the car is good for 88 km, or 54 miles (official figure is 340 km, or 211 miles) and that the second Tesla tested by the crew experienced brake problems.

Now, Tesla is asking BBC to stop re-running the episode. The one you can see again below (sorry, Tesla, you know we like you).


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About the author: Daniel Patrascu
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Daniel loves writing (or so he claims), and he uses this skill to offer readers a "behind the scenes" look at the automotive industry. He also enjoys talking about space exploration and robots, because in his view the only way forward for humanity is away from this planet, in metal bodies.
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