BBC - Autos - Tesla's 'Ludicrous' Model S is a 2.8-second monster Same over at TopGear.com: 'Ludicrous' new Tesla Model S P85D does 0-60mph in 2.8 secs | Top Gear Glowing stuff!
Those may be the nicest things the BBC has ever said about Tesla, and EVs in general. Usually they're writing articles or doing TV shows about how bad EVs are, how Teslas run out of power and need to be towed, etc.
The difference is the biased (we want hydrogen cars / hate electric cars) reporting of the BBC TV show TopGear (Clarkson, Hammond, May). That program was rightfully sued by Tesla (but somehow lost). I don't know how rubbish their lawyer was - but their is something called the BBC Trust and they have a code of conduct about presenting facts incorrectly. This I presume was never cited. Instead the BBC could argue as TopGear was an entertainment show they could do what they want / say what they want. It is NO coincidence that the Tesla Model S was NEVER ever again mentioned on Top Gear... not even in a bad way. Yes, even after the inane mode went viral with 3m youtube viewings in 3 days! What's worse than being panned... being ignored! No wonder the UK has only sold a little over 500 Model S's and about 100 Roadster's. The BBC Top Gear website however must be completely seperate - they have done very positive reviews of electric cars. The tone is different. Far more factual. Far less silly. I'm British - I like Top Gear - but feel also that a disservice is done by not having a factual car program any more... one remotely aligned with what 99.9% of people can afford and drive.
The Top Gear magazine and website are editorially separate from the TV show. I can't imagine Clarkson getting hold of a Model S whilst Elon is still alive
That is exactly what happened. The British courts basically concluded that Top Gear is entertainment/comedy and no one would believe that what they do is factual. Therefore no damage was done. The Hamster (Richard Hammond) wrote an article about the Model S recently where he praised the car. Top Gear's Richard Hammond reviews model S That's about as good as you're going to get. I am waiting on a Model S review by Fifth Gear. They did a few things with the Roadster (all positive) but nothing whatsoever on the Model S. Fifth Gear also had the ex-Stig do a review of the Leaf and he loved it. So they don't seem biased against electrics.
I still remember this incident, where BBC made a multi-day trip to "prove" how inconvenient electric cars are, then TMC member Dave Peilow proved them wrong in a single day. Full article at: http://www.greencarreports.com/news/1053572_tesla-fan-drives-epic-electric-car-trip-to-prove-bbc-wrong
Although I'm no great fan of Jeremy Clarkson, I would like to see him one last time on TV in a Tesla in ludicrous mode, mouth agape, jowls blubbering, speechless.
Clarkson must have been in a Model S by now, James May owns a BMW I3 so we know he has an interest in electrics, even if his review of the Honda FCX Clarity is one of the most foolish car reviews ever also since Tesla ended up having to go to court because of Clarkson and his lies, I bet Clarkson takes an interest in what Tesla are up to, the years ahead are going to suck for Clarkson and people like him
It is important to note that the picture shows spinning wheels on a Model S, a very rare occurrence given the car's superb traction control. I have never felt one ounce of slippage, nor do I want to. I suppose the "ad" above is for effect (and I think I have seen the "drifting" of a MS in a video). But I dearly love my traction control and no (or close to no) slippage of tires. (Unlike what I felt in the neighbor's Z51 Corvette when he floored it; the lack of tires slipping was just another thing I liked more about Tesla when comparing the two cars).
This seems to be a rear wheel drive car. With the old software it was possible to turn off traction control and spin the wheels. It was a lot of fun doing with only smoke and squeeling tires and no racing engine noise. That all disappeared in firmware 6.0 I believe. For better or for worse.........