UK Top Gear testing CTS-V, Challenger and ZR-1 in Reno
by Damon Lavrinc on Sep 19th 2008 at 1:03PM 
Click above for a gallery of the Top Gear crew in the U.S.
The blokes from the real Top Gear are back in the States to test what us 'Mericans do best – big V8s, rear-wheel-drive and powerslides. Clarkson, Hammond and May flew into San Francisco on Wednesday and then made a B-line for Reno before heading south, reportedly to test the out a trio of American muscle at the Bonneville Salt Flats.
If you're just as obsessed as us, you don't have to look at the photos in the gallery to know who snatched the keys to a Corvette ZR1, Dodge Challenger and Cadillac CTS-V. But we'll spoil the (lack of) surprise for you anyway. Clarkson grabbed the 'Vette, Hammond is getting his retro kicks in the Challenger and May – the consummate stately sedan man – is piloting the CTS-V. Top Gear is rumored to be back on the air towards the end of October, and we're hoping this segment kicks off the next season. Thanks for the tip, Ben!
Gallery: Top Gear UK testing in the U.S.
[Source: FinalGear Forum | Photos: Servius]
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 4)
Tommy 1:08PM (9/19/2008)
I wonder if these guys get recognized by the public in the US....propably not...
But I can't wait for the next season!!!
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meshies 3:52PM (9/19/2008)
Yea I was thinking the same thing. I wish I was in Reno when they were around and I saw them. I woulda shouted out "yo Clarkson!" and something in slang about our settings and their cars whilst shaking my dreds. I def woulda been talked about on the show.
MONTE 1:11PM (9/19/2008)
Hell if I knew they were coming through Reno I would have waived at them on my drive to work.
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ben 1:12PM (9/19/2008)
"Top Gear is rumored to be back on the air towards the end of October"
Thank god.
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Ben 2:49PM (9/19/2008)
It's not "rumored"...it's scheduled.
There's a difference. ;)
BTW, you're welcome, Autoblog. ;)
No Welfare for GM 1:12PM (9/19/2008)
I have Zero worries about ZR-1, it will pass with flying colors. What i want to see is Camaro vs. Chalenger vs. New Mustang.
Top Gear has taken shots at the Mustang, and they (Jeremy) said that he doesn't expect much from re badged Holden (Camaro). But this is something i am looking forward to, 3 Big American muscle cars.
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Frylock350 1:41PM (9/19/2008)
Shows how out of touch he is. The Camaro is far from a rebadged Holden, I'm willing to bet very few parts are interchangeable between the Commodore and Camaro.
No Welfare for GM 1:48PM (9/19/2008)
Fryco, well we are talking about Jeremy here. This is the same guys who goes on internet and find................
James 1:59PM (9/19/2008)
Correct me if I'm wrong, but isn't the new Camaro built off the G8 platform?
Brian 2:23PM (9/19/2008)
yea, which is a rebadged Holden
steve clark 2:29PM (9/19/2008)
You're right *and* wrong. It IS based on the G8 platfrom, which is a Holden platform.
Rboyett 2:27PM (9/19/2008)
Clarkson never called the Camaro a "rebadged" holden. He said it was a Vauxhaul VXR underneath, which is a Holden. That is platform engineering that he is referring to and not a rebadge.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_X1bJjIF8Mg
He said about GM and the Camaro, " We need so sophistication here, we'll call the Australians." I thought that line was pretty funny...
@James. It is built off the Zeta platform which is used by the G8 and several other cars.
oZ 1:14PM (9/20/2008)
Yeah, he also said the Chrysler 300C is a Mercedes E-Class, too.
Good luck finding many interchangeable parts. I could give you a list of the Mercedes parts they used, but it'd be nearly impossible to find anything that looked like an E-Class underneath.
Zach G. 1:13PM (9/19/2008)
Please, please, please like the Vette and the CTS-V.
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spanky 1:16PM (9/19/2008)
God I hope he isnt driving an automatic Challenger. I dont know them to well, are there external differences between an 08 and an 09?
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Brian 1:15PM (9/19/2008)
I hope they do a laps around their test track. I would love to see those lap times.
Probably won't happen though. Clarkson won't admit that any American car can be good.
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No Welfare for GM 1:25PM (9/19/2008)
He liked the Viper, and previous Mustangs
No Welfare for GM 1:26PM (9/19/2008)
Sorry, not Mustangs, Previous Corvettes.
Franz 1:40PM (9/19/2008)
They're horribly biased, but generally they do say a car is good if it is good. Jeremy loved the Viper and Z06 'Vette, Hammons loves Mustangs... and Clarkson actually bought a Ford GT, so there goes your theory out the window.
Can't wait till Top Gear is back.
Frylock350 1:44PM (9/19/2008)
Clarkson liked the previous CTS-V (being amazed that it was able to outrun an S4), the Z06, the Viper, and the Holden/Vauxhaull Monaro. His only real complaints with the Z06 were the on-road ride and such, which the ZR1 addresses.
I think Hammond will like the SRT8, he's a big fan of old Chargers.