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High Court Rules In Favor of Top Gear Over Tesla Remarks

Posted by timothy on from the we-all-win-when-top-gear-wins dept.

esocid writes "In 2008, BBC's 'Top Gear' aired an episode featuring the Tesla Roadster. One of the show's car reviewers, Jeremy Clarkson, gave a less-than-flattering analysis of the vehicle, sparking a legal case with the automaker that doesn't seem to be working out in Tesla's favor. Now, it looks as though Tesla is losing this battle after a full-day hearing yesterday at the high court in London. 'In my judgment, the words complained of are wholly incapable of conveying any meaning at all to the effect that the claimant [Tesla] misled anyone,' said [Mr. Justice] Tugendhat. 'This is because there is a contrast between the style of driving and the nature of the track as compared with the conditions on a public road [...] are so great that no reasonable person could understand that the performance on the [Top Gear] track is capable of a direct comparison with a public road.' The hearing now continues on Tesla's claim that 'Top Gear' made five other false accusations about the Roadster. Tugendhat has postponed judgment on Tesla's malicious falsehood claim, and is expected to deliver a verdict in the coming weeks."

6 of 328 comments (clear)

  1. Re:Tesla by ackthpt · · Score: 5, Interesting

    Don't seem to realise that Top Gear is a comedy show.

    Top Gear allows us nobody/poor sods the vicarious thrill of watching a sports car race a fighter jet. I for one praise them for it.

    --

    A feeling of having made the same mistake before: Deja Foobar
  2. A bit thin-skinned... by TWX · · Score: 4, Interesting

    I don't know if Tesla submitted the vehicle to Top Gear themselves or if Top Gear sought one from an intermediary, but anyone building an automobile must expect that television shows that review automobiles will probably review theirs, in their own way, and will probably state exactly how they feel about it. Top Gear in particular won't hold anything back if they don't like a vehicle, and are known for being biased, usually in a humorous, way, but still biased.

    If Tesla wants positive reviews, they need to build a car that gets those reviews from testers. For the most part Top Gear uses the types of tracks that are available to companies that build cars, so if they want to excel at a specific type of track they have the option to engineer with that in mind.

    If not, there's always Motor Week...

    --
    Do not look into laser with remaining eye.
    1. Re:A bit thin-skinned... by fiannaFailMan · · Score: 3, Interesting

      I actually disagree with a lot of what Clarkson says, but I still enjoy listening to him, particularly when he's gushing over an Aston Martin or the latest "Jaaaag". My only gripe is that when he's coming up with blatant mistruths or reading from dubious "trains cause more pollution per passenger mile than cars" research, I wish James May would act like his hippie character and call him on it. The banter between the characters is supposed to be a means of conveying technical information in an entertaining manner, I wish they would use it when it comes to the positive side of alternative power sources.

      --
      Drill baby drill - on Mars
    2. Re:A bit thin-skinned... by subreality · · Score: 3, Interesting

      There's no problem obtaining and transporting hydrogen. You make it at the fueling station from water and electricity - the exact inverse reaction that occurs in a fuel cell. Of course, that electricity comes from the grid, the same as it would if you were generating the hydrogen at a central station.

      With either batteries or hydrogen, the grid is capable of supporting 90% of our transportation needs, right now, no upgrades required, even in California. The trick is that we have to do the bulk charging / electrolysis off-peak. Why is that a deal-killer?

  3. Re:Somebody who is... by ackthpt · · Score: 3, Interesting

    ... high up in the food-chain at Telsa Motors should read this wikipedia entry: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Streisand_effect

    Indeed. They are in great danger of making Jeremy an authority on the weaknesses of their product.

    Anyone remember how poorly Chevrolet handled a minor handling problem with the Corvair and virtually made Ralph Nader?

    *knock* *knock* Hi, History here, I'm repeating!! Hello?!? Anyone home?

    --

    A feeling of having made the same mistake before: Deja Foobar
  4. Re:Follow Koenigsegg by subreality · · Score: 4, Interesting

    The Koenigsegg had a design flaw, so they fixed it and resubmitted it.

    The Tesla performed without problems, but they made it look like the battery died unexpectedly. What's Tesla supposed to do? Put a bigger battery in and resubmit it so the show can complain that the extra weight makes it harder to push back to the garage?