Filed under: Coupes, Sports/GTs, Nissan
Top Gear's fourth episode to pit Nissan GT-R against Japanese bullet train
We first got wind of another epic Top Gear race back in May when Jeremy Clarkson announced that this season would feature a race against a Japanese bullet train. At the time, it wasn't announced what vehicle would be in the race, but we were convinced it would be the Nissan GT-R. We guessed correctly. Today in Andy Wilman's blog, the TG producer gave a preview of the fourth episode and confirmed that the GT-R would be facing off against the bullet train this Sunday. Wilman also reveals that the races are shot in real time, and that the winner is not predetermined. The race will take up a full half hour of the show, though we wouldn't mind if it took up even more.
Gallery: First Drive: 2009 Nissan GT-R
[Source: Top Gear via FinalGear.com]
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 3)
homunculus 3:01PM (7/11/2008)
Gee, I wonder if the car will win?
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Red 3:04PM (7/11/2008)
All the more reason Top Gear America is completely unnecessary.
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BlackCanary 3:37PM (7/11/2008)
why because they are racing a car and a train? How does that equate to another version not being neeeded? Are you sugesting this is the ultimate in automotive stunts thus none shall ever come after?
Red 5:34PM (7/11/2008)
No. What I'm suggesting is given the recent exploits of NBC, it's extremely doubtful they'll do anything nearly as creative without coming off ridiculous and "try-too-hard-to-impress-ish". There's a certain cheese about some of the tests on Top Gear that just can't be replicated without feeling fake. Part of that is because of the dynamic between the three "characters" on the show.
That was my point.
muddyh2o 5:12PM (7/11/2008)
if i had said that, i would be saying it because this proves how complete and perfect the show already is. why ruin it by attempting to recreate it in a country that takes a less interesting approach to its love for automobiles.
the original top gear is enough. no man needs anything more.
richmajor86 2:37AM (7/12/2008)
Really cant wait for this episode. And why is TopGear US not needed, surely more TopGear the better?
Rocketboy 12:37PM (7/12/2008)
"why ruin it by attempting to recreate it in a country that takes a less interesting approach to its love for automobiles"
Wow, that's a very unique statement in its complete wrongness.
It's so wrong, I don't know where to begin, so let's just say that on the 2 points that you made: um, what?
tankd0g 3:05PM (7/11/2008)
I hope it's actually in Japan and not a Japanese built train somewhere else. JC trying to ask a Japanese person for directions would be reason enough to watch.
However, if this race is shot in real time, it will be the first. All those fly by shots don't set themselves up and AFAIK Top Gear doesn't have 50 production units spaced out along the route.
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rypt 3:39PM (7/11/2008)
Reading the news source helps you know.
They shoot as much as they can in real time, the result is real time meaning that they do the race, whoever wins, wins. Then they go back and get the missing shots to make it "look" good.
tankd0g 3:40PM (7/11/2008)
That's not shooting it all in real time then is it?
why not the LS2LS7? 4:03PM (7/11/2008)
Sat NAVs exist in Japan.
tankd0g 4:22PM (7/11/2008)
Satnavs in Japan speak Japanese. Hilarity ensues.
tankd0g 10:33PM (7/13/2008)
I called it!!!
DCragtop 3:05PM (7/11/2008)
but what are the trains 'Ring laptime??? If it's not under 7:26...I see no real point in this adventure. I say just put the GT-R on the train track and let Darwin test it's limits.
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BigMcLargeHuge 4:39PM (7/11/2008)
If natural selection were based on how intelligent a person's comments were, you'd have been culled from the herd for that one.
Fanboyism disproves Darwinism.
icu812ru469 3:05PM (7/11/2008)
Oh, Bullet Train.. I thought it said GT-R versus bullsh*t train..
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Bert 3:08PM (7/11/2008)
Can someone say "Oh, cock!" in Japan?
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Seoultrain 3:09PM (7/11/2008)
Umm, how about a spoiler alert, guys?
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Mel. R 4:44PM (7/11/2008)
Why do you need a spoiler alert? It's not as though Autoblog has already seen the episode and they spilled the beans as to who won. This is no different than if you actually lived in the UK and saw a commercial for the coming episode.
phez 3:15PM (7/11/2008)
thanks for the spoiler alert >:|
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