Top Gear electric car test

Jeremy Clarkson, Richard Hammond and James May did their best to create a new environmentally friendly electric car on the Top Gear television programme. Their efforts were not altogether successful as Autocar's road testers found out when they put the car to the test.

The testers noted that they liked the Top Gear trio's Hammerhead Eagle i-Thrust for its innovative seating layout and low cost. However, they pointed out the car's treacherous handling, poor performance and dire build quality.

Based on the chassis of a TVR Chimaera, the Hammerhead Eagle i-Thrust was made with Clarkson sorting the bodywork, Hammond the chassis and May creating the electric drive system. After some re-working, the car was delivered to Autocar's testers, who gave the car the lowest possible one-star rating.

In their summing up, the testers noted "it's hard - no it's impossible - to regard the i-Thrust as a success". They also remarked that "its styling is unlikely to win fans among those of us blessed with the gift of sight". The test applauded the Top Gear's three presenters for making an effort, but finished by saying "whether this car will help save the world or not, the answer is probably not".

See the car in action on BBC iPlayer

Alisdair Suttie