Comments on: Tesla sues BBC and Top Gear for Roadster test claiming it was rigged

By: Topped Out

Topped Out — Mon, 04 Apr 2011 00:48:00 +0000

I just saw that episode on Netflix streaming and they were not trying to be funny when they claimed it ran out of power after 55 miles. They were being serious. I was impressed that it blew-off the gas version Lotus Elise which is much lighter and it went around their test track as fast as a Porsche GT2. Very impressive but you would never guess they were kidding when they cliamed it died after just 55 miles.

By: Topped Out

Topped Out — Mon, 04 Apr 2011 00:48:00 +0000

By: Topped Out

Topped Out — Mon, 04 Apr 2011 00:48:00 +0000

By: Rebman21

Rebman21 — Fri, 01 Apr 2011 10:04:00 +0000

Then maybe you need to cease using any product you buy since more than likely electric motors in one way or another built the product. BTW, electric motors out number gas engines by at lease 1000 to 1. In industrial settings, especially, they are dominate. Diesel and gas engines only serve their purpose for portability or when emergency back up is needed in case of power outage..

By: Bill

Bill — Wed, 30 Mar 2011 17:47:00 +0000

Is Tesla really not aware that Top Gear is an entertainment program? It is NOT a objective car review program. Surely nobody could mistake this, could they?

By: Anonymous

Anonymous — Wed, 30 Mar 2011 16:21:00 +0000

The silly old habit of Americans suing everyone. Even if the scene was faked can someone please explain why the car overheated or was that fake to. Tesla should be grateful they even drove the stupid car and gave it some nice comments afterwards. It’s free advertisement be it good or bad. They could have easily just shown the car on the news section, trashed it and left it at that. The only thing stopping people from buying a tesla (apart from the stupid price) will be them suing top gear, especially here in the UK where tax payers will have to pay for lawyers.

By: Anonymous

Anonymous — Wed, 30 Mar 2011 16:12:00 +0000

could you explain the overheating then, or was that fake as well

By: Anonymous

Anonymous — Wed, 30 Mar 2011 16:12:00 +0000

could you explain the overheating then, or was that fake as well

By: Robert Ward

Robert Ward — Wed, 30 Mar 2011 15:35:00 +0000

Taking someone’s work and falsely trashing it for ratings/sales doesn’t particularly seem funny to me. In either direction. I can’t say which one’s right, but one of those parties needs to pony up with a major public apology

By: javiee

javiee — Wed, 30 Mar 2011 14:21:00 +0000

lmao they are funny as shit. I never driven a Tesla, but I don’t trust electric engines.

By: KISS

KISS — Wed, 30 Mar 2011 14:01:00 +0000

So does the car go 55 miles or 200? If it does in fact go 200 miles then yes defamation. I love the show because they show there personal opinions but they sometimes lack self control.

By: Anonymous

Anonymous — Wed, 30 Mar 2011 13:41:00 +0000

I don’t know if Top Gear faked the Tesla episode, but I do know that Tesla Motors has a history of attacking reviews of their cars they don’t like. A while back, Car & Driver printed a column about how one of their editors took their Tesla test car on a trip. The trip’s one-way length was supposedly less than Tesla’s claimed range, except the car ran out of power way short of the destination. The rest of the article documented the driver’s efforts to make it to his destination in time for a planned event. I think he missed it. Tesla made a series of claims, arguing in one letter that the editor was driving the car incorrectly. I think they’re pretty sensitive about the car’s range perception.

By: Ktschroeder

Ktschroeder — Wed, 30 Mar 2011 12:53:00 +0000

I love Top Gear UK and the US version is fun too. I did think that was crazy when the Tesla died on the show, then they brought out a 2nd Tesla Roadster and it died too. Good for Tesla, they are trying to make a new type of car with new technology and Top Gear is lying trying to get laughs. They care more about big engines and loud pipes then facts.

By: Ktschroeder

Ktschroeder — Wed, 30 Mar 2011 12:53:00 +0000

By: Shane McGlaun

Shane McGlaun — Wed, 30 Mar 2011 10:51:00 +0000

I thought that was Richard in the background, fair enough.

By: Anonymous

Anonymous — Wed, 30 Mar 2011 10:48:00 +0000

No surprises here. The Top Gear boys (and they really are immature boys) aren’t the most truthful, clever or honest guys around.
Tesla might enjoy this anyway: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=w0i0RXMvzMs

By: Patrick Rowe

Patrick Rowe — Wed, 30 Mar 2011 10:35:00 +0000

“The show then offered footage of the show’s trio of hosts pushing the car around.” No it didn’t it was Jeremy and two mechanics not Richard or James

By: Shane McGlaun

Shane McGlaun — Wed, 30 Mar 2011 10:31:00 +0000

GM didn’t have much of a sense of humor when Dateline rigged its truck with explosives either. I don’t blame Tesla here, if the test was rigged and teh car had power.

By: john

john — Wed, 30 Mar 2011 10:25:00 +0000

I think it’s a fair complaint. If it didn’t run out of power, I don’t see why they would need to display “What if” situations. Might as well destroy the lotus elise in a fireball and say thats what could happen if it caught fire. I do watch the show and find it funny but if they’re willing to make up stuff, I can’t take what they say about cars truthfully.

By: Greg Marshall

Greg Marshall — Wed, 30 Mar 2011 10:21:00 +0000

Tesla need to get a sense of humor!

By: Greg Marshall

Greg Marshall — Wed, 30 Mar 2011 10:21:00 +0000

Tesla need to get a sense of humor!