Like any good auto enthusiast, I watch the UK's hit TV program, Top Gear. I've watched it for years, way back when Tiff Needell and Jeremy Clarkson used to duke it out on the track and when the ever-loveable and not-so-energetic TG Dog was on the set. And now, with James May and Richard Hammond on board, I think it's possibly the best it's ever been with incredible cinematography and some of the best on-screen chemistry on any live show I've seen.
However, over the years the boys have gotten quite ballsy, or rather ballsier than usual. Clarkson is the loudest, most obnoxious, run-his-mouth-and-say-whatever-he-wants of the three; and I love it. He's not afraid to voice his opinion like so many journalists and reporters out there are. Top Gear has built itself such a pedestal in the BBC world that they are, invariably, untouchable. They are one of the top-grossing TV programs in the UK, and no one is about to silence them.
It's almost a weekly occurrence: the boys lambast a specific model of vehicle or stereotype a certain breed of driver or race of car buyer and they're met with letters of complaints which they always read out the following week on their show and (kind of) apologize for. Most of their lambasting is in good fun, and even their racial slurs can be seen as amusing - in the right light.
It seems, though, that the boys have crossed a line that's keeping them in the bad books this time. And with their 16th season wrapped up, they've got no air-time left for a rebuttal or apology.
Their last episode, which aired June 31st in the UK, featured James May and Jeremy Clarkson in two electric vehicles. They pre-empted the piece by saying there was no larking around in the clip - meaning they meant to keep it completely serious. I watched the entire thing, and while it was entertaining and, of course, humorous, I felt they were fair in their assessment of the two vehicles featured: the Nissan LEAF and the Peugeot iOn.
It seems I'm the only one who thinks so.
Almost 24 hours after the piece aired, Nissan was already at the TG host's throat (Clarkson in particular because he drove the LEAF) stating that they gave an unfair assessment of the car's abilities on the road. The LEAF died on the 60-mile trip the hosts had planned to the ocean, while the Peugeot kept enough of its charge.
They did not announce what range they had when the piece started, nor was the piece intended to be a range test (they stated that). They just wanted to see if they could enjoy a day by the ocean in their electric cars on a typical trip to such a location, treating the car as they would a normal, gas-powered vehicle.
Executive producer of Top Gear addressed Nissan's complaints on their website, stating the obvious and seemingly making amends, but the backlash hasn't stopped. And this isn't the first time the boys have gotten in trouble for an electric car - Tesla is still working out the details of a lawsuit against Top Gear regarding their Tesla Roadster test.
However, over the years the boys have gotten quite ballsy, or rather ballsier than usual. Clarkson is the loudest, most obnoxious, run-his-mouth-and-say-whatever-he-wants of the three; and I love it. He's not afraid to voice his opinion like so many journalists and reporters out there are. Top Gear has built itself such a pedestal in the BBC world that they are, invariably, untouchable. They are one of the top-grossing TV programs in the UK, and no one is about to silence them.
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| Photo: Top Gear |
It's almost a weekly occurrence: the boys lambast a specific model of vehicle or stereotype a certain breed of driver or race of car buyer and they're met with letters of complaints which they always read out the following week on their show and (kind of) apologize for. Most of their lambasting is in good fun, and even their racial slurs can be seen as amusing - in the right light.
It seems, though, that the boys have crossed a line that's keeping them in the bad books this time. And with their 16th season wrapped up, they've got no air-time left for a rebuttal or apology.
Their last episode, which aired June 31st in the UK, featured James May and Jeremy Clarkson in two electric vehicles. They pre-empted the piece by saying there was no larking around in the clip - meaning they meant to keep it completely serious. I watched the entire thing, and while it was entertaining and, of course, humorous, I felt they were fair in their assessment of the two vehicles featured: the Nissan LEAF and the Peugeot iOn.
It seems I'm the only one who thinks so.
Almost 24 hours after the piece aired, Nissan was already at the TG host's throat (Clarkson in particular because he drove the LEAF) stating that they gave an unfair assessment of the car's abilities on the road. The LEAF died on the 60-mile trip the hosts had planned to the ocean, while the Peugeot kept enough of its charge.
They did not announce what range they had when the piece started, nor was the piece intended to be a range test (they stated that). They just wanted to see if they could enjoy a day by the ocean in their electric cars on a typical trip to such a location, treating the car as they would a normal, gas-powered vehicle.
Executive producer of Top Gear addressed Nissan's complaints on their website, stating the obvious and seemingly making amends, but the backlash hasn't stopped. And this isn't the first time the boys have gotten in trouble for an electric car - Tesla is still working out the details of a lawsuit against Top Gear regarding their Tesla Roadster test.