Category: Top Gear

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Top Gear

Top Gear – Series 11, Episode 6

The final episode of Series 11 already! Yes, I’m afraid that’s it for a few more months. The show kicked off with James May testing a couple of Japanese oddities from well known manufacturer Mitsuoka. Hmm, fair enough. Richard Hammond took us down “Hardcore Street” behind the wheel of the Gumpert Apollo S. A car which proves to be as effective as it is, well, ugly. How effective? You’ll need to check the video above to find out. Jay Kay made his long awaited reappearance on the show to see if he could knock off Simon Cowell’s lap time in the Star in a Reasonably Priced Car segment. He did. Predictably, by 0.1 second. All looked a bit of a setup, so much so that the producers must have asked Jay Kay to see if he could act a bigger wanker than Cowell as well. Which is a shame, as Jay Kay was pretty good value when he first appeared on Top Gear all those years ago. He has a bloody nice car collection, so we’ll forgive him!

Top Gear v DMotor

The show closed out with classic shoot out between the Top Gear crew against Germany’s DMotor crew, featuring Sabine Schmitz and Tim Schrick. The usual “don’t mention the war” banter followed and, of course, Top Gear won the day. Although, one suspects when the film airs on DMotor that there may be a different result, haha. It was all pretty good fun really with the highlight being Jeremy and Sabine lapping the Zolder circuit in a couple of MINI Cooper Ss and Tim Schrick and The Stig duelling in a race going Porsche and an Aston Martin DBRS9.

Top Gear should be back in October with 8 episodes to close out the year. Fifth Gear will return to UK screens on 11 August.

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Nissan Top Gear

Top Gear – Series 11, Episode 5

Jeremy Clarkson couldn’t get enough of the Nissan GT-R so he kicked off Series 11, Episode 5 by showing us all why the beefy R35 is proving to be a pain in the neck for the big German bahnstormers (see above). Clarkson and James May then proved what pillocks they are by bringing London traffic to a standstill in their very own classic motors—James in a 1972 Rolls Royce (of course) Corniche and Jeremy in a 1970 Mercedes-Benz 600 Grosser. Quite entertaining chaps. A couple of rich blokes fanged around the track in the Lacetti, and one of them, in particular, was right on the money. Richard Hammond joined Jeremy in closing the show with a traditional fox hunt. In a Daihatsu Terios. For mine, this was a great, take it back to its roots, Top Gear episode. A shame then, that next week’s episode will be the last for Series 11.

Still, Top Gear Australia can’t be too far away. And, if nothing else, that will generate plenty of discussion.

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Top Gear

Top Gear – Series 11, Episode 4

This week’s episode of Top Gear saw Jeremy Clarkson make a bold claim. He reckons the Alfa Romeo 8C is “the best looking car ever made”. I disagree. Sure, the side profile is stunning, but I just can’t see much to like about that front end. It’s all a bit of a mish mash. Enjoy the YouTube clip above and judge for yourself. A couple of pretty tidy newsreaders from the BBC were this week’s Stars in a Reasonably Priced Car. Fiona Bruce fared quite well, but Kate Silverton’s time, in such shocking weather, was actually damn impressive. Of course, the main feature of this episode was the first big Top Gear race since the Veyron first appeared in Series 7. This time the crew was off to Japan and it was Jeremy in the Nürburgring taming Nissan GT-R taking on Richard and James aboard a 200mph bullet train. Exectuve Producer Andy Wilman claimed in his blog that the Veyron race was “too big and overblown” and that the GT-R provided an opportunity to bring the big races back to our screens. Well, I’m disagreeing with another TG heavy as I reckon the Veyron film was one of their best. The cinematography was superb. The GT-R film is very enjoyable, of course, but, for mine, not one of their best. Still can’t wait for Episode 5!

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Top Gear

Top Gear – Series 11, Episode 3

In this week’s episode of Top Gear the lads set out on a £1000 Alfa Romeo Challenge. Jeremy buys a 75, May gets himself a four-cylinder GTV and the Hamster rolls up in a 2-litre Spider. Well, not literally rolls up, at first, anyway. BAFTA winner James Corden joins Rob Brydon on the couch for a fang in the Lacetti. If you’re a die hard TG fan then you’ve probably already seen the Alfa Challenge, and if you haven’t you will before week’s end. So, featured in this week’s wrap is the opening clip from the show, Jeremy Clarkson testing the six and three quarter litre Bentley Brooklands. Can you call such a car brutal and savage? Given that sixteen cows were used to fit out the car’s interior I guess you can, and that’s even before the tyre bursting performance!

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News Top Gear

Top Gear Polar G’n’T causes unnecessary PMT

Top Gear Polar episode - Clarkson with Gin & Tonic

In a sign of further proof, if it were needed, that a professional wowser’s idea of entertainment is watching their own fingernails grow Jeremy Clarkson and James May have come under fire from the BBC’s independent watchdog over a light hearted gag from their Top Gear Polar Special. To illustrate their point that they could be pioneer explorers without breaking into a sweat—in this case attempting to be the first people to drive to the magnetic north pole—they made an otherwise innocent gag about drinking a Gin and Tonic while conquering one of the world’s few remaining frontiers. Nobody is denying the dangers of drinking and driving, however, the Top Gear duo were neither endangering the lives of others nor causing any genuine unnecessary risk to themselves. In actual fact, no footage of them actually drinking from their glasses went to air. Nor did they break any laws. It was a slice of humour intended to entertain, no more, no less. One day—I hope—we will live in a world where common sense and fun can co-exist. What do you think the chances are?

Source: ABC Online (Thanks to Andrew for the tip.)

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Mercedes-Benz Top Gear

Top Gear – Series 11, Episode 2

Episode 2 of Top Gear’s Series 11 aired in the UK last night and the show closed with this great clip of Jeremy Clarkson behind the wheel of a Mercedes-Benz AMG CLK Black Edition. The episode began with a comparison between the new Subaru Impreza STi and the latest Mitsubishi Lancer Evo X. Richard Hammond took the twin turbo V10 572bhp Audi RS6 to the French alps. A couple of dudes from Spooks were pitted against each other in the Chevy Lacetti. And the Top Gear Stuntman tried to recreate a James Bond movie stunt.

All standard Top Gear fare, but this in no way demeans the lads’ efforts. As Jeremy said in closing his AMG film, this episode embodies the show’s raison d’etre, presenting “the absolute joy of driving a great car, on a great road”. See you next week!

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Top Gear

Top Gear – Be a star in a reasonably priced car

Top Gear - Be a star in a reasonably priced car

Ever wondered how fast you could go around the Top Gear test track in their reasonably priced car? Why don’t you check out their website and have a go! The current record is 1:44.4—it’s safe to say I won’t be troubling that record any time soon, but I’d be keen to hear how you get on…

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Top Gear

Top Gear – Series 11, Episode 1

Joy to the world—Top Gear is back! With talk of new Australian and US versions in production, I guess there is now a need to specify just which Top Gear is being referred to. Of course, it is the original UK line up of Jeremy Clarkson, Richard Hammond and James May. The lads are presenting Series 11 and the first episode aired in the UK last Sunday. Above is the first part of two clips of their £1000 Police car challenge, the second part is down below.

Other highlights from the show included Jeremy’s review of the new-ish Ferrari F430 Scuderia, a Toyota Prius v BMW M3 fuel challenge and an all out supercar economy challenge. A new crew member—Top Gear Stunt man—was also introduced. It looks like we are in for another great series from the entire Top Gear team. Stay tuned for more next week.

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Top Gear

Top Gear – Series 11 premieres this Sunday

Just in case you had forgotten, the latest series of the original Top Gear—Series 11—airs in the UK this Sunday 22 June. Stay tuned for highlights and more updates. In the meantime, enjoy this teaser.

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Bugatti Top Gear

Top Gear’s Jeremy Clarkson 186mph claims

Jeremy Clarkson has got himself into more hot water for admitting to driving 186mph (300km/h) on a public road in Britain. In news sure to attract unwanted attention for Australian producers of the impending Top Gear spin off, the revelation has come to light in a recent article in the Daily Mail. This has obviously created outrage from a variety of groups:

Mary Williams, chief executive of Brake, said: ‘Jeremy Clarkson is extremely offensive and irresponsible. His comments are very upsetting to loved ones who have suffered a bereavement through a road crash because of a speeding driver. He is the most appalling role model for our next generation of drivers. The BBC should sack him – he is totally out of control.’

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Top Gear

Top Gear – Series 11 teasers

TopGear logoRecent reports about the new episodes of Top Gear have fans even more excited about the series return on 22 June. From the Top Gear blog, Andy Wilman, the show’s Executive Producer, says “most exciting for me is that we’ve finally come up with another big race – you know, car versus something or other … this one is back to basics, more hardcore, mega car, mega opponent, with a solid premise. And a clue for the geeks: we did it in Japan.” My tip is it will feature the Mazda Furai, or a Nissan GT-R. Or both, perhaps!

Giving further clues as to what we can expect Wilman states, “we go to war, literally, with a German version of Top Gear (which incidentally means Sabine is back) and there’s a very exciting shootout with the RS6 against the most suicidal of skiers”

One thing that Wilman doesn’t state, however, is the Veyron feature filmed in Abu Dhabi, capital of the United Arab Emirates. This has been revealed on the Releaselog website, which has a few spy shots of the the Stig captured during the shoot.

All in all, it is shaping up to be a great series, or at least, the fans hope it will be. So far there has been nothing to indicate anyone will be disappointed. Keep reading AUSmotive for more updates, or check in to the FinalGear forums for more leads.

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Top Gear

Top Gear – Series 11 expected to air on 22 June

TopGear logoInternet speculation suggests that Series 11 of Top Gear will go to air on UK televisions on 22 June. Keep an eye out for more updates as they come to hand. In the meantime, to help you get by during the TG off-season see below for one of my favourite Top Gear challenges. The £1500 Porsche Challenge from Series 5.

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