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Clarkson fires back over Top Gear/Tesla controversy

Jeremy Korzeniewski — Thu, 25 Dec 2008 21:58:00 EST

Click above to watch Top Gear's review of the Tesla Roadster after the jump

Extending the controversy between Tesla Motors and Top Gear even further, Jeremy Clarkson has offered his own opinion regarding the issues of the Roadster's battery capacity and brake failure while being run 'round the Top Gear test track. Remember that the BBC already admitted that neither of its test cars actually ran out of juice, suggesting that the scene was filmed to show what would happen if it actually had. Clarkson's comments don't quite jive with that assessment, though, as he says, "We never said once that the car had run out of power. The car had to be pushed into the warehouse because you are not allowed to drive cars into a building. We calculated that it would have run out of power after 53 miles but they can't argue with that because that is a fact."

One area on which we agree with Clarkson is that it doesn't matter why the Roadster's brakes failed. Clarkson says, "Nobody gives a flying **** how the brakes failed. Whether it was a blown fuse or not, they were still not working." On the other hand, whether the now infamous scene of the electric car being pushed into a garage was to show what would happen in the event of a drained battery or because Clarkson wasn't allowed to drive it into the building (seriously, when did that ever stop them?), that image is now indelibly etched into the minds of Top Gear fans, for better or for worse. Thanks for the tip, Doug!

[Source: Telegraph]

Clarkson fires back over Top Gear/Tesla controversy originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 25 Dec 2008 21:58:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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BBC responds to Tesla's Top Gear complaints

Jeremy Korzeniewski — Mon, 22 Dec 2008 20:29:00 EST

Filed under: Hybrid, Green

Click the image above to watch Top Gear's review of the Tesla Roadster after the jump

We've been following the roller-coaster ride that Top Gear's recent test of the Tesla Roadster has turned into with interest. Since Clarkson's video review first aired, reactions to the way the Tesla was presented have been mixed, and much of the debate has centered on one particular scene where the Top Gear crew can be seen pushing one of their Tesla test-cars into the garage after apparently running out of juice... except that it never happened. The BBC has released a statement admitting that Clarkson's tester still had power left and the scene was filmed to show what would happen if the battery had actually been depleted. Regardless, "Top Gear stands by the findings in this film and is content that it offers a fair representation of the Tesla's performance on the day it was tested."

So far, we've heard no word on whether offering "a fair representation" includes future reviews of petrol-powered cars that include scenes of each one being pushed into the garage after not running out of gas. Thanks for the tip, Doug!

[Source: Register Hardware]

Continue reading BBC responds to Tesla's Top Gear complaints

BBC responds to Tesla's Top Gear complaints originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 22 Dec 2008 20:29:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Tesla responds to Top Gear's test of Roadster

Jeremy Korzeniewski — Fri, 19 Dec 2008 10:59:00 EST

Filed under: Hybrid, Green

Click the image above to watch Top Gear's review of the Tesla Roadster after the jump

Tesla Motors is crying foul on a few of the claims made by Jeremy Clarkson in his recent review of the electric Roadster. You might recall that Clarkson ran out of juice while flinging the slinky Lotus-derived Tesla around the Top Gear test track. This was the main point driven home by the TG crew as to why electric vehicles are not yet ready for prime-time. Not so fast, says Rachel Konrad, Senior Communications Manager at Tesla Motors. Clarkson's Roadster still had 20% battery capacity left when it was pushed into a nearby hanger. Why the deception? We can't imagine Clarkson ever calling an end to his tail-out fun just because the ~~gas~~ power gauge reads a quarter-tank.

Another salient point from the TG review centered around a brake failure. Again, according to Konrad, the problem was actually a blown fuse, and although Clarkson makes it seem in his video review as if he was without a Roadster to continue driving while repairs were being made, that was simply not the case -- the other car was all charged up and ready to go. Lastly, Clarkson harps on the Tesla's 16-hour recharge time. It does indeed take that long to recharge from a standard outlet, but that's like filling your gas tank with an eye dropper. If absolutely necessary, it'll work, but there are much better solutions available. Tesla offers chargers that can replenish its Roadster in as little as 3.5-hours.

Later in the same episode, James May tested the Honda FCX Clarity and gave it a glowing review. There are indeed issues with EVs that will need to be addressed before we're ready for the widespread replacement of our fossil fueled cars, and the same can be said of those fueled by hydrogen. At this pivotal moment in automotive history, we wonder if a more balanced view of all the available options wouldn't be more appropriate. To watch the video review in full, click past to the break.

[Source: AutoblogGreen]

Continue reading Tesla responds to Top Gear's test of Roadster

Tesla responds to Top Gear's test of Roadster originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 19 Dec 2008 10:59:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Tesla Roadster to appear on Top Gear?

Jeremy Korzeniewski — Fri, 22 Aug 2008 12:29:00 EST

Filed under: Performance, Green, UK, Celebrities

Top Gear's Jeremy Clarkson has had nothing but bad luck when it comes to testing electric cars. Maybe the problem is that he's never gotten his hands on the right one. Reports are coming in from across the pond that the popular television series has recently procured a Tesla Roadster for Mr. Clarkson to wedge his rather large and surly self into. We have a feeling that Jeremy will like this car -- its performance, after all, rivals that of many gas-powered cars we consider super. Plus, it has British roots, and anybody who has ever watched the show knows that this fact earns brownie points from the three-man crew.

When will the test take place? That's a good question. Our compatriots over at AutoblogGreen have contacted Daryl Siry, head PR man at the Silicon Valley EV company, who told us that no specific date has been set. He did assure us, however, that a test will definitely take place. When it does, we sure hope that it goes better than the last electric vehicle test. Seriously, it could hardly go worse.

Gallery: First Drive: Tesla Roadster

[Source: The Independent via AutoblogGreen]

Tesla Roadster to appear on Top Gear? originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 22 Aug 2008 12:29:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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