Top Gear Hammerhead Eagle i-Thrust car - official press release

BBC Top Gear's Hammerhead Eagle i-Thrust was presented to the world in last night's television show, and to co-incide with the car's launch its makers issued a press release.

Judging by its length, the team spent longer writing the release than they did building the car, and it's printed below in all its hilarious detail.

For a slightly less biased view, you can download Autocar's road test, watch our test on video and see hi-res pictures here

Release:

THE HAMMERHEAD EAGLE i-THRUST - A NEW DAWN FOR ELECTRIC CARS

INTRODUCTIONThe Hammerhead Eagle i-Thrust represents the start of an exciting future for the electric car, born from a desire to shake off the compromises of existing electric vehicles and to deliver a superior car for less than the price of its key rival, the G Wiz.

The Eagle i-Thrust is brand a new design, created and built entirely in the UK, and boasts an extraordinary combination of unique styling, sports car handling and an innovative propulsion system that harnesses a familiar battery-based electric powertrain in league with the dependable power of a diesel generator to provide maximum range and efficiency.

The Hammerhead Eagle i-Thrust promises to shake off the dynamic compromises of existing electric vehicles, boasting a well-proven chassis from one of Britain’s leading sports car makers in league with direct, unassisted steering and – thanks to the aft location of the batteries – a rearward weight bias that will be familiar to any keen driver who has ever sampled the legendary Porsche 911.

STYLINGThe Eagle i-Thrust’s distinctive looks were created entirely in-house at Hammerhead’s Technology Centre in Oxfordshire, drawing inspiration from a wide range of influences outside of the car world, including sharks, fighter jets, leaves and the actor Peter Bowles.

However, the styling is not driven purely by aesthetics. It is also dictated by the innovative and simple way in which the shell is put together, giving substantial benefits in build efficiency and facilitating easy repairs in the event of damage.

The bodyshell itself is made from aluminium, chosen not only for its low weight but also for its crash characteristics and quality appearance, both of which are clearly superior to the glassfibre or plastic typically employed to form the bodies of the Eagle’s key electric car rivals.

POWERTRAINThe Hammerhead Eagle i-Thrust uses a dependable Wales & Edwards 96 volt electric motor allied to a well proven 12 volt batteries. However, in an innovative move typical of this ingenious vehicle, these batteries are kept topped up by a smooth and adequately powerful diesel generator promising greatly enhanced range and usability.