Top Gear Australia – Series 1, Episode 3

Much better episode this week. Comfortably the show’s best to date. Warren Brown, the glue holding the hosts together, posted an entertaining piece on the BMW X6. Steve Pizzati was confused by the Mercedes-Benz CLK AMG 63 Black Series—is it a GT, a track day special, or just something grey in between? On these two films, in particular, the production values were high, if following the proven Top Gear UK formula of shifting focus and interesting angles. Regardless of that, they were very well made pieces. Although, there is still room for improvement in filming The Stig’s track work.

Not so sure there should always be a “this week’s challenge”, but the $500 paddock basher effort was great Monday night’s viewing. If anything, the segment was a little light on, and one or two more tests for the lads could have easily been carried.

Over the three episodes the weakest segments have been the “Celebrity in a Bog Standard Car”. Sure, these are celebs we’re supposed to be interested in, but they need to stop performing to the crowd, relax a little, and enjoy a quiet chat with Charlie—both would benefit from that. Julia Zemiro, from SBS’s RockWiz program, was not so bad overall, but her constant playing up to the audience was just a bit try hard. She needn’t be like that, she has good on camera charisma—like the hosts’ early efforts, the stars just need to be a bit more natural.

A couple more pics and SBS’s press release after the jump.

TOP GEAR AUSTRALIA

Episode Three, Monday 13 October at 7:30pm

Charlie Cox, Warren Brown and Steve Pizzati decide to try their own hand at DIY and visit a local junkyard to turn someone else’s trash into their own four-wheeled treasure in Top Gear Australia on Monday 13 October at 7:30pm.

Whose car is the best? Fastest? Coolest? Strongest? Well there’s only one way to settle this – a Top Gear Australia challenge. The lads and their precious motoring masterpieces assemble at Oran Park for a race showdown. By the end of the day – a star will be born, and egos bruised.

Then the world’s first Sports Activity Coupé, the revolutionary BMW X6 Coupé 4WD, is put through its paces. Is it a visionary triumph or an impressive blunder? Warren takes a drive to find out.

And Steve Pizzati reviews the F1-inspired Mercedes CLK 63 AMG Black Series coupe.

SBS’s own delightfully hilarious hostess, Julia Zemiro (RocKwiz), is the “Celebrity in a Bog Standard Car”.

“What could be more fun or more Australian than paddock bashing,” said Head of Production, Peter Abbott.

“Charlie, Warren or Steve threw themselves, and their cars, into this challenge with extraordinary gusto – all in the name of Top Gear Australia of course!”

Top Gear Australia Mondays at 7:30pm on SBS.