[jason]

At first glance, the idea of Tesla suing "Top Gear" over a review of the Roadster that occurred three years ago seems pointless, especially throwing in the fact that "Top Gear," and host Jeremy Clarkson, have a huge international following. But it is precisely the size of that following, and the longevity of the "Top Gear" episode featuring the Tesla Roadster, that spurred the action.

Tesla filed suit against "Top Gear" for libel and malicious falsehood. In the "Top Gear" episode containing the review, Clarkson claimed that the Roadster, as tested on the track, had a range of only 55 miles. The show also portrayed both Roadster models supplied to the show as breaking down and running out of electricity, halting testing.

Using the cars' own data, Tesla says it can prove the battery levels never got below 20-percent charge while being used by "Top Gear." Tesla also points out that the EU regulatory body certified the range of the Roadster at 211 miles. One car apparently did have a fuse for the power brakes blow out, but mechanical braking still worked. Tesla says that "Top Gear" scripted the segment, complete with portrayals of dead batteries, before testing even began.

Read more: http://reviews.cnet.com/8301-13746_7...#ixzz1IBmetppw