Autoblog

Former Stig signs on as Bond stunt driver

Zach Bowman — Thu, 10 May 2012 08:58:00 EST

Ben Collins is staying busy. The former Stig has once again returned to stunt driving, this time for the upcoming James Bond film Skyfall. According to The Mirror, Collins has been spotted filming in Istanbul, where he took the wheel to ram a Land Rover into an Audi during a crash scene.

The stunt vehicle used a special cage on the roof, where the stunt driver can manipulate the SUV with the actors inside. Collins has a long history of working with the Bond franchise. The TV personality turned stuntman worked on both "Quantum of Solace" and "Casino Royale," though he's also worked on other films as well.

In Collins' memoir, "The Man in the White Suit," the driver turned author describes how he juggled his time in the Army, on Top Gear, as a race driver and a stunt driver at the same time. As you may recall, the BBC attempted to prevent the memoir from being published at all, but lost the lawsuit in which it alleged revealing the Stig's identity would breach Collins' contract.

Former Stig signs on as Bond stunt driver originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 10 May 2012 08:58:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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What should Top Gear do to celebrate its next Facebook milestone... blow up a Veyron?

Chris Tutor — Sat, 10 Mar 2012 10:01:00 EST

Filed under: Videos, UK, Celebrities, Humor

The blokes at "Top Gear" love their Facebook friends so much, that when they got 10 million fans, Jeremy Clarkson recorded a short personal thank you. Well, as personal as Clarkson can get anyway. And the Stig showed his appreciation by exploding a caravan (video after the jump).

But the batty Brits are now challenged with celebrating their next Facebook milestone of achieving 15 million fans. They're hoping those very fans can help them with a stunt that tops caravan carnage. The "Top Gear" team is willing to do anything, no matter how crazy, to say thanks.

Suggestions so far include drifting 15 $1 million cars in sync, a trip from Scotland to London on lawnmowers, fabricate a V8-powered Robin, and a road trip across Germany in VW Beetles.

The AB team brainstormed a bit and came up with the idea of rewarding a fan (hopefully one of us) with a brand new Bugatti Veyron! But for only 24 hours. After which the "lucky" guy (or gal, of course) would be obligated to obliterate the supercar in a depressing display of overwhelming pyrotechnics.

So what would you do to mark the occasion of gaining 15 million Facebook fans? Share them with "Top Gear" here and with us in the comments.

Continue reading What should Top Gear do to celebrate its next Facebook milestone... blow up a Veyron?

What should Top Gear do to celebrate its next Facebook milestone... blow up a Veyron? originally appeared on Autoblog on Sat, 10 Mar 2012 10:01:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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BMW 1M, Fisker Karma and BAC Mono are Top Gear stars' Car of the Year winners

Jonathon Ramsey — Thu, 05 Jan 2012 08:31:00 EST

Filed under: Coupe, Hybrid, Sedan, Performance, BMW, Specialty, Fisker, Luxury

Top Gear magazine and Jeremy Clarkson have already let us in on their 2011 care of the year, the Land Rover Range Rover Evoque taking the cake from both of them (although Clarkson made the distinction that the best car of 2011 was the BMW 535d M-Sport Touring). A few more TG stars have clocked in to make their assessments, with Hammond choosing the BMW 1 Series M, May selecting the Fisker Karma, The Stig pointing to the BAC Mono, and mag writer Tom Ford laying money on the Morgan 3Wheeler.

Hammond found the 1 Series M perfectly "boisterous," May was smitten with the Karma's future-forward-vegan ethose, namely the fact that it has no animal products, and The Stig's stenographer wrote that the F3-racer-cum-street-legal-maniac BAC Mono is, well, just that. As for the Morgan 3Wheeler, after recounting all the ways it misses the mark as a car, Ford gives those very reasons for it being an awesome experience. You can have a look at each in our high-res gallery of photos and click the links to read all the details.

BMW 1M, Fisker Karma and BAC Mono are Top Gear stars' Car of the Year winners originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 05 Jan 2012 08:31:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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New Top Gear edition TomTom satnav features Stig Mode

Zach Bowman — Fri, 07 Oct 2011 11:17:00 EST

Filed under: Etc., Technology, Toys/Games, Celebrities

Top Gear fans who go orgasmic at the first note of Jeremy Clarkson's dulcet tones will be happy to hear that TomTom has released a new GPS soaked in the world's favorite car show. As previously rumored, the TomTom Go Live Top Gear Edition sat nav features driving directions narrated by Jezza, as well as plenty of petrol-laced points of interest. Those include test tracks as well as locations featured in the long-running show. There are also model-specific start-up and shut-down screens that feature the Top Gear logo. That's fun and all, but the really great part is that the company's Live service offers real-time speed camera alerts. Handy.

The GPS also features a Stig mode, though the company isn't saying what that is or what it does for drivers. Some say the device just sits there on the dash and glares disapprovingly. All we know is, the device is available here in the U.S. as well as a host of other countries. Hit the jump for the official press release.

Continue reading New Top Gear edition TomTom satnav features Stig Mode

New Top Gear edition TomTom satnav features Stig Mode originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 07 Oct 2011 11:17:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Jeremy Clarkson voicepack coming to TomTom navigation

Jonathon Ramsey — Tue, 06 Sep 2011 09:01:00 EST

Filed under: Etc., Technology, Celebrities

Way back when, animated characters were voiced by anonymous folks with great pipes. These days, you need A-list celebs to sell pixelated fish and other playthings. The disembodied and slightly stilted voices of navigation systems appear to be going the same way, and Top Gear host Jeremy Clarkson is the latest talent to contribute his voice to giving directions - ironic, considering he's made his disdain for GPS clear in the past.

According to the UK's Daily Mail, TomTom will unveil a device next month in which the famously ornery BBC star will advise you to execute handbrake turn - going all, well, Clarkson, when you miss your offramp. If he ever gets to be too much, apparently the unit will allow you to get directions from The Stig, which we expect will sound like not getting any voice directions at all.

Jeremy Clarkson voicepack coming to TomTom navigation originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 06 Sep 2011 09:01:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Richard Hammond, Stig test Lamborghini Aventador for Top Gear

Jeff Glucker — Wed, 03 Aug 2011 12:29:00 EST

Filed under: Coupe, Performance, Videos, Lamborghini, UK

Here's your official spoiler alert warning, as the following video is taken from a Top Gear episode that has yet to air on this side of the Atlantic.

Top Gear tests automobiles that are pure dream fuel for the average enthusiast. The Top Gear Test Track has pushed truly tenacious machines to the limit courtesy of both the trio of presenters and, of course, The Stig. Since Lamborghini has a new big bull, it was only a matter of time before the largest Lambo arrived on the set of the world's greatest motoring show.

Richard Hammond is up first, and his date with the Aventador goes rather swimmingly. After he gets a shot in the control seat, the Stig has the chance to run the Lamborghini around the track. How does the Aventador fare? Click past the jump to find out...and make it quick, because this video could be pulled from YouTube soon.

Continue reading Richard Hammond, Stig test Lamborghini Aventador for Top Gear

Richard Hammond, Stig test Lamborghini Aventador for Top Gear originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 03 Aug 2011 12:29:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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What is the No. 1 dream job of British men? Being a Top Gear host [w/poll]

Jeremy Korzeniewski — Fri, 15 Jul 2011 14:30:00 EST

Filed under: UK, Celebrities

That being a presenter on the hit TV BBC show Top Gear is the dream job of nearly a third of British men isn't surprising in the least. After all, what red-blooded male wouldn't relish the opportunity to drive the very latest (and often enough, the very fastest) automobiles every single day of their lives? And who wouldn't love to travel to the most distant and beautiful places on the planet while acting out a slew of ridiculous stunts all involving cars, trucks or motorcycles? And, naturally, who wouldn't want to be paid good money to do it?

If there's any surprise to the survey results of nearly 1,400 men, it's that a Top Gear gig didn't win by a wider margin - 29 percent of responders named it their top choice, while the next most popular dream gig was "Video games tester" with 25 percent, followed by "Professional sportsman" with 24 percent. Interestingly, Formula One driver only netted fifth place with 19 percent of the voting.

Yep, Top Gear presenter has a pretty nice ring to it. But here's the real question: Which Top Gear presenter would you want to be?

Consider that the UK show has a very defined set of hosts. There's the grizzly old veteran Jeremy Clarkson, who's more opinionated than anyone this side of a Tea Party organizer. He's joined by the too-smart-for-his-own-good James May (affectionately referred to as Captain Slow) and finally the cute, cuddly and very short Richard Hammond, who offers up plenty of comic relief that is all too often at his own expense. Oh, and let's not forget The Stig... the masked racing driver who never gets to show his face and is fired if he ever reveals his true identity.

So, we ask you, dear reader: Which Top Gear presenter would you most like to be?

View Poll

What is the No. 1 dream job of British men? Being a Top Gear host [w/poll] originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 15 Jul 2011 14:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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McLaren MP4-12C celebrates second-quickest Power Lap time on Top Gear

Noah Joseph — Mon, 11 Jul 2011 12:31:00 EST

Filed under: Coupe, Performance, Videos, MISC

McLaren MP4-12C on Top Gear - Click above to watch the video after the jump

Ford versus Chevrolet. Porsche 911 vs Nissan GT-R. Audi versus Peugeot. The car business is full of rivalries, but few are as competitive as Ferrari versus McLaren.

The two outfits have been at each other's throats for decades around the grand prix circuit. But as tight as the competition is between the two in Formula One, and as many comparisons as we've seen between the Ferrari F40 and the McLaren F1 of yore and lore, where it's really come to a head is with their latest production supercars: the 458 Italia and the MP4-12C.

With their 17th series now in full swing, the blokes over at the BBC's Top Gear put the two on their famous test track, and guess which came out ahead? Sorry to ruin the surprise, ladies and gents, but it's the McLaren, setting the second-fastest time in the program's history - beating out the likes of the Bugatti Veyron and Koenigsegg CCX and coming in just behind the superlight Ariel Atom V8 500. And with a 1:16.2 lap time, it thoroughly trounced the 458's 1:19.1 in the process.

It's surely a cause for celebration - in Woking, at least... less so in Maranello. Follow the jump to watch Jeremy Clarkson introduce the epic showdown in the grandest of style.

Continue reading McLaren MP4-12C celebrates second-quickest Power Lap time on Top Gear

McLaren MP4-12C celebrates second-quickest Power Lap time on Top Gear originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 11 Jul 2011 12:31:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Some say... the BBC may sue a UK paper over its Stig lookalike ad

Jeff Glucker — Wed, 15 Jun 2011 09:29:00 EST

Filed under: Etc., Government/Legal, UK, Celebrities

The BBC and Top Gear are none too pleased with London's free daily newspaper, Metro. Why the frosty feelings? The newspaper recently ran a large ad to promote a green-themed motoring event, and used a Stig-like character in the spot.

The driver, called Clive, is wearing a white racing suit with mutli-colored flowers, and is shown standing in a manner similar to Top Gear's tamed racing driver. The ad copy even goes on to tout ridiculous "facts" about Clive, in the same vein as the ones used by Jeremy Clarkson to describe their Stig.

BBC Worldwide is reportedly talking to lawyers about the proper course of action. The Guardian tried to reach Metro for comment, but the paper is clearly enjoying playing Stig and had nothing to say. Top-shelf copyright infringement or much ado about nothing? Have you say in the Comments.

Some say... the BBC may sue a UK paper over its Stig lookalike ad originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 15 Jun 2011 09:29:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Ben "The Stig" Collins names the five worst cars he's ever driven

Noah Joseph — Mon, 02 May 2011 14:31:00 EST

Filed under: Etc.

The five worst cars Ben Collins has ever driven - Click above for high-res image gallery

Over the course of his years donning the white suit and helmet for Top Gear, pro driver Ben Collins has had the chance to drive an enviably wide array of cars. Their track times all went up on the power lap board, but there are better ways of evaluating how a car handles under pressure - like asking the guy who drove them. That's what Australian car site Drive did, and got the former Stig to jot down some notes. They weren't in Morse Code, but while his list of the worst five cars he'd ever driven includes some obvious choices, a couple may surprise.

First up on Ben's hit list: the Alfa Romeo 8C Competizione. When we drove it, we found its dynamics were lightyears behind its looks, and His (deposed) Stiginess apparently agrees. At the end of Collins' list is another supercar - the TVR Sagaris - which he feels was horribly emblematic of the company that produced it, while pointing to the fact that Jeremy Clarkson loved it as evidence enough of its dubious distinction.

In between these two European supercars on Collins' list comes the Fiat Multipla, whose horrid styling was surpassed only by its dismal performance, and the Cadillac Escalade, which the Englishman found to be all show and no go - particularly off road. Finally, the previous-generation Dodge Charger drew the Stig's ire for its gross weight and lamentable slushbox. If for America's sake alone, we can only hope that, heavier still though it is, Collins might take a crack at the new model.

Gallery: Ben Collin's Five Worst Cars

Ben "The Stig" Collins names the five worst cars he's ever driven originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 02 May 2011 14:31:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Video: Stig does donuts in Mitsubishi Evo-based London taxi

Jeff Glucker — Mon, 04 Apr 2011 15:58:00 EST

Filed under: Etc., Videos, Mitsubishi

Stig goes round and round in a London Taxi - Click above to watch video after the jump

Top Gear Live is the traveling version of the world's greatest show about cars. Part of that extravaganza includes The Stig, and he likes to showcase his driving talents to the crowd. One thing that doesn't require much skill, however, is a burnout. Supply Stiggy with a proper car, let him loose, and the result will be ruined tires, smoke and many cheering fans. Is it that easy if the car being used is a London Taxi?

It is when beneath the glossy black people-mover body sits a Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution. The result is far better than the Cash Cab, and we think the Stig agrees. Click past the jump to watch two clips of the Evo taxi in action. Thanks to all for the tips.

[Source: YouTube via CarScoop]

Continue reading Video: Stig does donuts in Mitsubishi Evo-based London taxi

Video: Stig does donuts in Mitsubishi Evo-based London taxi originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 04 Apr 2011 15:58:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Speed Read: The Man in the White Suit by Ben Collins (The Stig)

Zach Bowman — Fri, 28 Jan 2011 14:59:00 EST

Filed under: Celebrities

It's been over four months since racer Ben Collins officially outed himself as the skill behind The Stig's otherworldly driving talent. And, despite the bellyaching of fans and critics all around the globe, both Top Gear and life itself have continued to trundle on as if nothing ever happened. Sure, Jeremy Clarkson, Richard Hammond and James May have been forced to visit a Stig farm to find a new tame racing driver, and yes, they've even taken to gunning down cardboard cutouts of their former compatriot, but by and large, Top Gear itself is no worse off for no longer having the white suit on board.

Readers are given the best explanation as to why Collins turned his back on Top Gear.

Despite controlling our news cycle for what felt like seven eternities, Collins has rather quietly picked up a gig with rival UK car show Fifth Gear, leaving plenty of us to wonder what could possibly cause someone to give up a life of driving the world's quickest cars in some of the most amazing scenery our planet has to offer. Fortunately, the former Stig worked up The Man in the White Suit ($26.95 on Amazon)- a quick memoir that includes everything from his stint as an army reservist to his trials on the world's various race circuits. There's even a good bit on the man's time on Top Gear as the silent wheelman we all know and love.

Now that the dust has settled around the whole Stiggate fiasco, we settled in to give The Man in the White Suit a full read. Tucked between stories of training Tom Cruise to beat the life out of a reasonably priced car and vaporizing a Koenigsegg while attempting to put the supercar around Dunsfold in the quickest time possible, readers are given the best explanation as to why Collins turned his back on Top Gear for good.

Continue reading...

Continue reading Speed Read: The Man in the White Suit by Ben Collins (The Stig)

Speed Read: The Man in the White Suit by Ben Collins (The Stig) originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 28 Jan 2011 14:59:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Top Gear UK opens new season with drive-by Stig shooting session

Zach Bowman — Wed, 22 Dec 2010 18:29:00 EST

Filed under: Celebrities

If we didn't know any better, we'd think there was still some bad blood between Ben Collins and the hosts of Top Gear. Jeremy Clarkson, James May and Richard Hammond all took a few pot shots at cardboard cutouts of the Stig during this week's episode while trying their respective hands at the art of drive-by shooting. According to The First Post, Captain Slow was the initial one to bust a few caps with a handgun from the passenger side of a Ferrari, followed by Hammond gunning from a Porsche. Not to be outdone, Clarkson took on his target with an automatic rifle from the window of a Mercedes-Benz.

Collins infamously riled both the producers and the hosts of Top Gear by publishing a memoir of his time as the Stig called The Man in the White Suit. With the mystery of the Stig's identity dissipated, Collins was canned from the show. He quickly found work with the rival gang over at Fifth Gear, but Top Gear has yet to replace its tame racing driver. Still, there is some word that the show has found a new driver and its only a matter of time before he shows his ~~face~~ helmet. Thanks for the tip, Gooner!

[Source: The First Post]

Top Gear UK opens new season with drive-by Stig shooting session originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 22 Dec 2010 18:29:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Top Gear picks the new Stig, looks like old Stig

Jeff Glucker — Fri, 05 Nov 2010 11:59:00 EST

Filed under: Etc., Videos, UK, Humor

Top Gear picks the new Stig - Click above to watch video after the jump

The process of Top Gear picking a new Stig has always been a mystery, that is until recently when we learned that Top Gear owns a farm in rural Britain where new Stigs are bred. Not all grow up to be tame racing drivers though, with some being too violent and others seeming to suffer from the dulling effects of too much inbreeding.

Top Gear has released this video of the Stig-picking process, and as you might expect, not all Stigs have the natural drive to become skilled wheelmen, but some do have other talents. One Stig shown in the video is a gifted painter and another wants to become a writer. A pink Stig is also shown whose only talents appear to be staring at other Stigs and skipping merrily.

The breeding program is focused on finding that one Stig that will go on to set blistering lap times on the Top Gear Test Track. The best are found, and from them, one is chosen. The video after the jump ends with a vision of the program's new Stig, clearly ready for action in his iconic white outfit. Hop the jump to see the Stig farm and meet the new member of the Top Gear crew. Thanks for the tips, everyone!

[Source: Top Gear]

Continue reading Top Gear picks the new Stig, looks like old Stig

Top Gear picks the new Stig, looks like old Stig originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 05 Nov 2010 11:59:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Top Gear visits the farm for next Stig

Jeremy Korzeniewski — Fri, 29 Oct 2010 18:30:00 EST

Filed under: Etc., Hirings/Firings/Layoffs, Celebrities, Humor

A Stig who's identity isn't a secret? Why, that just won't do, will it? As you might expect, then, Top Gear presenters Clarkson, Hammond and May are hot on the trail of a replacement Stig, and they've apparently found just the place: a farm. And not just any farm... a farm where Stigs are cultivated, no less.

Clarkson has reportedly found a perfect candidate who will be unveiled at the Top Gear Live event at Earl's Court in London next week. It's not known whether this new Stiggy will be the final model used for the next series of episodes, leaving only one real question left that still needs answering: What color will the next Stig be?

We vote pink. Sabine, anyone?

[Source: The Sun via Jalopnik]

Top Gear visits the farm for next Stig originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 29 Oct 2010 18:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Are you the Top Gear USA test track?

Noah Joseph — Tue, 26 Oct 2010 10:28:00 EST

Filed under: Spy Photos, Etc.

Spinning off shows from British television into American programs are all the rage these days. Just ask anyone who watches The Office, American Idol, The Shield or Life on Mars. But the one we're most excited about, of course, is the U.S. version of Top Gear. A long time coming, the pilot is set to air on the History Channel in about a month. And as the date approaches, details have been trickling in. The latest covers the test track that will be the show's playground.

Like its original British counterpart, the Top Gear test track has reportedly been converted from an old military air base: in this case the Marine Corp's former facility at El Toro in Orange County, California - the same location the NBC project was to use.

The track combines north/south and east/west runways from the former air field. Disused airport runways make great circuits, but there's one downside: no elevation changes, the likes of which make tracks like Spa and Laguna Seca the legends they are. The El Toro configuration ameliorates the situation, however, with a ten-foot drop and subsequent climb through an off-track loop on the right side of the map pictured above, giving it what most runway tracks - like Silverstone and the original Top Gear track in England - don't have.

[Source: Jalopnik]

Are you the Top Gear USA test track? originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 26 Oct 2010 10:28:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Video: Anchors away as 60 Minutes covers Top Gear

Noah Joseph — Mon, 25 Oct 2010 12:57:00 EST

Filed under: Videos, Celebrities

Click above to watch the video after the jump

Few television programs are as intimately familiar with the stop watch as the blokes over at Top Gear. But they're not alone. On this side of the Atlantic, the icon is the rightful property of the CBS News magazine show 60 Minutes. And as many celebrities and documentary segments as the Top Gear crew may have interviewed and screened, 60 Minutes has been doing it longer.

Still, the two programs are about as different as can be. You wouldn't expect to see 60 Minutes host Steve Kroft firing a camper van at a giant target any more than Jeremy Clarkson asking the next presidential candidate the hard-hitting questions. But as we previewed last week, Kroft headed to Top Gear's studios outside London to interview Clarkson, Hammond, May and producer Andy Wilman... and even tried to get a word or two out of the since-departed Stig.

Follow the jump to watch the results that aired this past weekend, plus some deleted scenes courtesy of 60 Minutes Overtime. (Thanks to everyone who sent in the tips!)

[Source: CBS News]

Continue reading Video: Anchors away as 60 Minutes covers Top Gear

Video: Anchors away as 60 Minutes covers Top Gear originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 25 Oct 2010 12:57:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Video: 60 Minutes interviewing the Stig on Sunday

Zach Bowman — Thu, 21 Oct 2010 19:01:00 EST

Filed under: Classics, Videos

The Stig on 60 Minutes - Click above to watch video after the jump

Good news if you haven't had your fill of Stigate just yet: the world's ex-famous tame racing driver will show up on this week's 60 Minutes. According to CBS, host Steve Croft spent some time across the pond in an attempt to get a little closer to both the man in white and Top Gear. Croft even strapped into a Chevrolet Camaro SS for a little one-on-one time with the Stig himself. Unfortunately, The Stig didn't turn out to be the quote machine the CBS producers had hoped.

Judging by the short trailer for the piece, it looks like Croft also spent some time with a few of the more talkative people involved in putting the show together, including Jeremy Clarkson, James May and Richard Hammond and executive producer Andy Wilman. The show airs this Sunday, October 24 at 7 p.m. EST. Hit the jump for a look at the teaser.

[Source: CBS]

Continue reading Video: 60 Minutes interviewing the Stig on Sunday

Video: 60 Minutes interviewing the Stig on Sunday originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 21 Oct 2010 19:01:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Top Gear USA could just become your second favorite automotive television show

Jeff Glucker — Tue, 19 Oct 2010 20:26:00 EST

Filed under: Etc., Videos

Top Gear USA runs with the bulls - Click above to watch video after the jump

On Monday, October 18th 2010, Michael Harley and I had the opportunity to attend a taping of an episode of the upcoming Top Gear USA series. As we all know by now, the show is a new version of the BBC original and as a huge fan of that show, my expectations were set to "neutral" for the American spin-off. Harley and I entered an old airplane hangar located on the former El Toro Marine Base in Irvine, California and were immediately impressed by what we saw.

Hit the jump for our impressions.

Continue reading Top Gear USA could just become your second favorite automotive television show

Top Gear USA could just become your second favorite automotive television show originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 19 Oct 2010 20:26:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Top Gear America's Reasonably Priced Car outed as Suzuki SX4

Jeremy Korzeniewski — Tue, 19 Oct 2010 14:58:00 EST

Filed under: Budget, Etc., Hatchback, Suzuki, Celebrities

Here in the good 'ole United States of America, we like things big... and small. Over in UK, they can have their reasonably priced cars, we don't need 'em. We're putting a Big Star in a Small Car instead.

Naturally, the premise is the same. Take one name-brand celebrity and place them behind the wheel of a run-of-the-mill car available to the masses here in America and send them around a makeshift race track. While the British version of Top Gear currently uses a Kia Cee'd for star-shuttling duty, America's TG spin-off will feature a Suzuki SX4.

For what it's worth, we had a couple of guys in the audience during the taping of the U.S. show's first episode and we had signed statements restricting us from publishing this information. Apparently, though, it's been leaked by either someone at Top Gear or by Suzuki.

In any case, we genuinely like Suzuki's little runabout. It's not particularly fast, but it's an able handler and it has the beans to pull itself around a track quickly enough. Plus, it's pretty reasonably priced... not that we care, of course. And, as you'd expect from any show that carries the name Top Gear, there will indeed be an American Stig. Current internet rumormongering suggests that F1-ace Rubens Barrichello is the American Stig, but that hasn't been, nor is it likely to be, officially confirmed.

In related news, some of the American stars that will be piloting the SX4 include Tim Allen, Buzz Aldrin, Ty Burrell, Tony Hawk, Bret Michaels, Dominic Monaghan, Kid Rock and Michelle Rodriguez. Suitably big stars?

[Source: Variety]

Top Gear America's Reasonably Priced Car outed as Suzuki SX4 originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 19 Oct 2010 14:58:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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