Tesla sues Top Gear over range claims

Popular British television show Top Gear has been sued by electricc-car maker Tesla Motors Inc. over an episode that Tesla says is libelous.

Tesla says the show faked a scene showing the electric-powered Tesla Roadster running out of power. The test is part of an episode that was first broadcast more than two years ago, in December 2008, but that has been rerun.

In the episode, host Jeremy Clarkson says the show staff believed the Tesla Roadster would run out of power after just 55 miles, well short of the 200-mile range claimed by Tesla. The show also showed a Tesla Roadster being pushed into a hangar.

In its lawsuit, Tesla says the scene is faked and that the Roadster was not out of power. It also says it was defamed by the 55-mile range statement because it implies that Tesla misled customers.

The British Broadcasting Corp. says Top Gear has an international audience of 350 million viewers. It acknowledged being notified of the lawsuit and said it would fight Tesla's claims.

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