To suggest that Jeremy Clarkson and the Top Gear programme have a flair for the dramatic would rank as one of the understatements of the year – even if it is only January 1. However, a recent review of the Tesla Roadster has led to some serious questions about the show’s methods.
A recent edition of the BBC series featured Mr Clarkson hurtling around the show’s test track in the Roadster only for it to seemingly grind to a halt after a mere 55 miles – much less than the advertised 200 mile battery range.
According to Tesla Motors however, the car did not run out of juice. Instead, the battery charge of the two cars Tesla sent to Top Gear never actually fell below 20 per cent.
Days later a spokeswoman for Top Gear issued a statement claiming that the car was “videotaped being pushed to show what would happen if the Roadster had run out of charge.” The programme stands by its findings according to the BBC.
According to Mr Clarkson the show never said the car had run out of power but they calculated it would have run out after 53 miles “but they can’t argue with that because that is a fact.”
In response, a Tesla spokeswoman said that the EPA certified range of the Tesla Roadster was 240 miles but if constantly pushed from 0-60 and running at the top speed of 120mph, then, like any petroleum car, it will have a lower range – although she also said she did not understand how the show calculated 55 (or 53) miles.
Despite this contention, the show was largely positive about the Tesla Roadster and even compared it favourably with the Lotus Elise.
