Top Gear cleared of libel charges in Tesla lawsuit

Tesla Roadster 2.5, 01.07.2010

Still faces counts of making false statements

Tesla's lawsuit against Top Gear isn't going well as a British court has ruled the popular television series did not commit libel.

As you may recall, Tesla sued the show because Jeremy Clarkson said the Roadster only managed to travel 55 miles (89 km) on the track. Tesla contested this statement because the car can travel 211 miles (340 km) in normal use. In the end, Justice Tugendhat concluded "... no reasonable person could understand that the performance on the [Top Gear] track is capable of a direct comparison with a public road."

Despite the victory, Top Gear still faces several counts of making false statements including accusations the brakes broke and the electric motor overheated.

Source: Guardian via Jalopnik

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DeleteThisAccount

There's a big gap between 89km and 340km. Driving B-Roads would put me closer to 89 than 340, with the former being proven true, according to the judge. I find it hard to believe the car can do anything close to 340.

October 19, 2011 1:01 pm

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2 replies

tazcubed

340 in a wind-aided, loaded-on-the-back-of-a-trailer range.

October 19, 2011 1:27 pm

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sideskraper

Range and vis a vis consumption figures rely entirely on the right foot. If you thrash a car around a track, it will use far more energy regardless of it's source (battery or petrol tank). Typical real world, everyday driving is completely different. Should you really be driving on B roads in a manner akin to driving on a closed private track? Most people, even those who drive for pleasure and "aggressively" won't be driving B roads like they would a private track. If only for the reason that it would be illegal.

October 19, 2011 4:57 pm

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nunyabub

You guys must have missed the show, it wasn't MPH (KPH) it was total miles traveled...cmon. It only managed to travel 55 miles (89 km)on a charge as opposed to the 211 mile (340 km) advertised claim for distance capabilities on a single charge.

October 19, 2011 4:15 pm

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dbehmoaras

No one said anything about MPH. You're the first person to bring it up.

October 19, 2011 4:21 pm

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nunyabub

You got me dbhemoaras I guess the confusion there was that all those replied in Km when the story was in miles in it's original content before translated for everyone to understand

October 19, 2011 4:35 pm

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Dolomight 74-86

I knew JEZZA would get away with it!

October 19, 2011 8:10 pm

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Ivo_205

Don't understand what all the commotion is about. If you put a petrol car on a track it will easily consume 3 to 4 times as much as on a normal road, looks like the same is true for electric cars.

October 19, 2011 11:31 pm

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golddaytona

i saw an accident where a tesla crashed into a local cab rear and the tesla front was completely wrecked and the cab was just like having a minor scratch..

October 19, 2011 11:38 pm

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DeleteThisAccount

For safety reasons the fronts of cars are designed to absorb as much of the damage on impact as possible, more so than the rear. It's called a 'crumple zone'.

October 20, 2011 12:59 am

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golddaytona

i knew someone would say this. the tesla was completely wrecked and its damage was unproportional to the rear end damage.. in short, my subjective feeling is that this stupid tesla looks even weaker than honda civic..

October 20, 2011 1:33 am

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AnaHelu?i?

your mama is weak

October 20, 2011 2:02 am

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andrewB

Hopefully top gear gets cleared of the things said about the car. I dont know why tesla is too worried when the car isnt made anymore and ceased production of the car now. One of the seasons a little while back, they ran all the top end supercars to see what one would last only with so much of a petrol tank. Can't remember who won but some of the higher engine sizes did empty their tank first. How you drive and conditions do count towards how far a car will travel before you need to fill up the tank or charge the car with any electric car now. Season 17 espiode 6 when jeremy and James had to recharge the two electric cars they had only after so long

October 20, 2011 6:00 am

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