Jeremy Clarkson has sparked quite the row among electric car enthusiasts for his comments during the latest special of The Grand Tour.
Titled One for the Road, the feature-length special marked the final time Clarkson, Richard Hammond and James May would work together after a 22-year working relationship.
The trio headed to Zimbabwe for the final trip, with Clarkson behind the wheel of a 1982 Lancia Montecarlo while Hammond opted for a 1974 Ford Capri 3-litre and May decided he’d drive a 1974 Triumph Stag.
Of course, the African road trip was far from plain sailing with all three men enduring problems with their vehicles, from overheating engines to faulty shock absorbers.
But nevertheless, all three vehicles made it to the end of the special as Hammond, May and Clarkson crossed the Botswana border to wrap up filming at Kubu Island – the same location of their first Top Gear special 17 years ago.
One of the biggest talking points from the special, however, came during the last few miles of their journey as Clarkson decided to share with Amazon viewers one of the many reasons he and his co-stars had decided to call time on the show.
Jeremy Clarkson, Richard Hammond and James May headed to Zimbabwe for their final Grand Tour
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Hearing the noise emerging from the Lancia’s engine, Clarkson spoke to the camera hoisted in his car: “Still popping and banging nicely from the back. Can you hear that? I love that sound.”
After Clarkson mimicked the rumbling sound, he continued: “And all you lot growing up today with your electric cars, you’re never gonna hear it.
“There are lots of reasons why we’re jacking this show in but for me, one of the main ones is I’m simply not interested in electric cars.
“They are just white goods, they’re washing machines, they’re microwave ovens. You can’t review those, you can’t enjoy them.
Jeremy Clarkson and James May in One for the Road
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“They are just s**t,” he concluded his blistering review of EVs.
Clarkson’s no stranger to airing his less-than-positive views on electric vehicles but this instance appears to have irked several EV enthusiasts who’ve accused the Grand Tour host of spreading mistruths on a global scale.
Taking to X, formerly Twitter, one person raged at the former Top Gear star: “As always the blustery old windbag is wrong. And that’s what we love about him. Like yer old grandad going on about the old days. Bless him. Meanwhile, eVs are awesome to drive.
“Quicker (much) than classic cars, instant torque, really nice and engaging and super reliable. All whilst not poisoning Jeremy’s grandchildren. Shame he doesn’t care, but that’s our Jezza.”
And motoring journalist and YouTuber Jonny Smith echoed this as he fumed: “B******s. Utter, utter, blickered bulls*** that feed those who presume that EVs are threatening their right to drive classic cars with interesting engines. It isn’t. They are not exclusive.
“One actually feeds the other (because who’d daily drive a sodding ’70s Lancia). And I bet the majority of those who agree drive a dull, 10yr old diesel family car.
“Comments like this need to be put in the same basket as ‘women can’t park’ and ‘being a vegetarian is a bit gay’. You’re a legend and inspiration @JeremyClarkson but let’s not propagate manure.”
Clarkson hasn’t publicly addressed the EV backlash but several of his fans leapt to his defence on social media.
“Jeremy Clarkson is right about electric cars,” one fan simply put before a second added: “#TGTOneForTheRoad Jeremy Clarkson on electric cars. ‘They are just white goods … You can’t review those. You can’t enjoy them. They are just s***.’
“Absolutely. I’ll keep driving my nice fast petrol guzzler thanks.” (sic)
Source Agencies
