Autoblog http://www.autoblog.com Autoblog http://www.blogsmithmedia.com/www.autoblog.com/media/feedlogo.gif Autoblog http://www.autoblog.com en-us Copyright 2009 Weblogs, Inc. The contents of this feed are available for non-commercial use only. Blogsmith http://www.blogsmith.com/<![CDATA[Shooting Fake: Porsche Cayman Shooting Brake a <i>Top Gear</i> hoax [w/VIDEO]]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2009/08/13/shooting-fake-porsche-cayman-shooting-brake-a-i-top-gear-i-h/http://www.autoblog.com/2009/08/13/shooting-fake-porsche-cayman-shooting-brake-a-i-top-gear-i-h/http://www.autoblog.com/2009/08/13/shooting-fake-porsche-cayman-shooting-brake-a-i-top-gear-i-h/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , ,

Porsche Cayman Shooting Brake hoax - Click above to watch video after the jump

Punked, we've been punked! And that's OK. In the high powered, fast paced deeply sexy world of car blogging, mistakes are going to be made. And every once in a while a group of mayhem minded jokers can easily gum up the gears of the machine by providing an elaborate prank as grist for mill. Such is the case with a certain Porsche Cayman Shooting Brake, cooked up by the former editor of TopGear.com, Jared Holstein as a parting gift.

The New York Times is reporting that while Holstein thought up the viral plan, the execution was left up to summer interns. One intern, a digital design student named Matt DuVall, carried out the design using Maya, a high powered 3d rendering program used to make movies like Ice Age. Under Holstein's direction, DuVull used as many Porsche design themes as possible, including lots of cues from the Panamera, Porsche development wheels, a Porsche mule lookalike bumper and even the same license plate used on Porsche mules. Then they rendered the "car" in HD, added it to a clip of an alley in Brooklyn, degraded it's quality and added Italian music to make it seem as if some kids captured the shooting brake mule on their phone somewhere in Europe. So, so sneaky. If you haven't seen it yet, we've included the original video after the jump.

Then came our part. Another intern, John Masters (who is getting his masters in media studies) began sending links to car sites. Sites like Autoblog! Masters then created what looked like a screen shot from the highly anticipated (and blogged about) Forza Motorsport 3 and dropped it into a Czech Forza Forum and wrote in Czech to "add a layer of deception and plausibility." Sneaky, sneaky. We of course, ate it up. More than once. In our defense, we did punctuate every headline with a question mark. Still, joke's on us, and the rest of the automotive press. They totally got us.

Why'd they do it? Says Holstein, "Eh, there wasn't any cruel intention... we manifested an automotive Liger because... it was fun to do. That said, if Porsche actually built it, I'd start stripping at bachelorette parties (again) to afford one." He's right, a Cayman Shooting Brake would be incredibly sweet. One more thing. If you pause the video at the 9 second mark, you can see part of a little white Stig helmet poking out from the rear hatch. We're so spitting in Jared's food next auto show. OG video after the jump.

[Source: NYT | Image: Matthew DuVall]

Continue reading Shooting Fake: Porsche Cayman Shooting Brake a Top Gear hoax [w/VIDEO]

Shooting Fake: Porsche Cayman Shooting Brake a Top Gear hoax [w/VIDEO] originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 13 Aug 2009 12:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>caymanForzaForza Motorsport 3ForzaMotorsport3Jared HolsteinJaredHolsteinPorache Cayman Shooting BrakePoracheCaymanShootingBrakePorschePorsche CaymanPorscheCaymanShooting BrakeShootingBrakeTop GearTop Gear USATopGearTopGearUsaThu, 13 Aug 2009 12:30:00 EST<![CDATA[<i>Top Gear</i> coming to America in HD?!]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2009/07/22/i-top-gear-i-coming-to-america-in-hd/http://www.autoblog.com/2009/07/22/i-top-gear-i-coming-to-america-in-hd/http://www.autoblog.com/2009/07/22/i-top-gear-i-coming-to-america-in-hd/#commentsFiled under:



Pinch us. Could it be that our dreams - which, incidentally, we proudly share with Sandra Bullock - of watching Top Gear in High Definition may soon come true? It certainly seems like a real possibility now that BBC America officially launched its HD programming on Monday, July 20 at 6am. Since it can't be seen yet on any cable or satellite service, we're guessing it's still in beta testing.

So far, the British Broadcasting Corporation has chosen to air a brace of science-fiction shows like Torchwood, which apparently was a smart move as it's got people buzzing about the channel's launch on Twitter. Fortunately, it sounds like plenty more is on the way. Says BBC publicity Veep Amy Mulcair:
Everyone's very keen to see [the channel] and we're very keen for them to see it. And we're glad to say there are a number of deals that will be announced imminently.
Naturally, we're hoping those deals bring us Jeremy Clarkson, Richard Hammond and James May in stunning HD beamed right into our living rooms. Now, would it be too much to ask for a schedule that brings us new episodes simultaneously with their British debuts?

[Source: Multichannel]

Top Gear coming to America in HD?! originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 22 Jul 2009 14:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>bbcbbc americabbc america hdbbc america high definitionbbc hdBbcAmericaBbcAmericaHdBbcAmericaHighDefinitionBbcHdtop geartop gear americatop gear hdtop gear usaTopGearTopGearAmericaTopGearHdTopGearUsaWed, 22 Jul 2009 14:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Clarkson: Top Gear USA 'canned,' viewers 'just don't get it.']]>http://www.autoblog.com/2009/02/06/clarkson-top-gear-usa-canned-viewers-just-dont-get-it/http://www.autoblog.com/2009/02/06/clarkson-top-gear-usa-canned-viewers-just-dont-get-it/http://www.autoblog.com/2009/02/06/clarkson-top-gear-usa-canned-viewers-just-dont-get-it/#commentsFiled under:


Click above to watch the video after the jump

We're already aware that NBC essentially passed on producing Top Gear USA, but up until now, the reason behind the decision hasn't been clear. During an interview in Australia for Top Gear Live, Jeremy Clarkson was asked about the U.S. version of the program and said, in no uncertain terms, "That's been canned." Clarkson went on to say that when the program was focus-grouped, the viewers, "... just don't understand a single word we're on about. They just don't get it really."

The interview (video posted after the break) covers several other details about the show, the Stig and the typical Clarksonian blatherings you'd expect. But at this point, it's abundantly clear that Top Gear USA is dead, despite thousands of Stateside fans that do, in fact, "get it."

[Source: CarsGuide]

Continue reading Clarkson: Top Gear USA 'canned,' viewers 'just don't get it.'

Clarkson: Top Gear USA 'canned,' viewers 'just don't get it.' originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 06 Feb 2009 10:28:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>jeremy clarksonJeremyClarksontop geartop gear usatop gear usa cancelledTopGearTopGearUsaTopGearUsaCancelledFri, 06 Feb 2009 10:28:00 EST<![CDATA[VIDEO: Adam Corolla mans the pumps on <i>The Man Show</i>]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2009/01/27/video-adam-corolla-mans-the-pumps-on-i-the-man-show-i/http://www.autoblog.com/2009/01/27/video-adam-corolla-mans-the-pumps-on-i-the-man-show-i/http://www.autoblog.com/2009/01/27/video-adam-corolla-mans-the-pumps-on-i-the-man-show-i/#commentsFiled under:


Click above to watch video

Some of you were surprised that when the producers of Top Gear started shooting a version of the popular British car series for NBC, they chose Adam Corolla as lead host instead of a myriad number of other qualified automotive journalists from among the Autoblog staff. But that's just because those few hadn't seen The Man Show.

For four years Corolla hosted The Man Show on Comedy Central together with Jimmy Kimmel, now the host of his own network late-night talk show on ABC. To give you an idea of what kind of antics Corolla might be up to on the American version of Top Gear, turn up the volume and check out the video after the jump where Corolla spends the day as a candid-camera gas station attendant. After NBC canceled its deal to distribute Top Gear USA, this might be the most Corolla car antics we get for a while until another a cable network picks it up.

[Source: YouTube via Autoblog.nl]

Continue reading VIDEO: Adam Corolla mans the pumps on The Man Show

VIDEO: Adam Corolla mans the pumps on The Man Show originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 27 Jan 2009 18:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>adam corollaadam corolla videoAdamCorollaAdamCorollaVideocorollaman showManShownbc top gearNbcTopGearthe man showTheManShowtop geartop gear usaTopGearTopGearUsavideoTue, 27 Jan 2009 18:30:00 EST<![CDATA[Top Gear launches website for former subjects in the U.S.]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2008/10/20/top-gear-launches-website-for-former-subjects-in-the-u-s/http://www.autoblog.com/2008/10/20/top-gear-launches-website-for-former-subjects-in-the-u-s/http://www.autoblog.com/2008/10/20/top-gear-launches-website-for-former-subjects-in-the-u-s/#commentsFiled under: ,



Top Gear's grand plan to help Britain rebuild its empire has taken another baby step today with the launch of the combined U.S./Canadian portal of TopGear.com. The curious thing is that this new Yank-ified version of TopGear.com has absolutely nothing to do with the upcoming Top Gear USA show on NBC. Rather, it's just a U.S. version of the Brit-based website that promotes the original show with airings on BBC America here in the States, as well as the dead-tree edition available on newsstands. Instead of info on where Adam Corolla and his new crew stand, you get a smorgasbord of greatest hits clips from the original show, as well as some new content that's specific to the U.S./Canadian site. Case in point is a feature on demolition derbies produced in the U.S. with a teaser vid done up Top Gear-style (i.e. fast cuts with vignetting around the edges). We'd rather peruse archived clips of the original show, like this 11-minute video of Jezza's review of the original Cadillac CTS-V. We already know he likes the new one, but are waiting patiently for it to be properly flogged on the show this coming season.

[Source: TopGear.com/us via FinalGear.com]

Top Gear launches website for former subjects in the U.S. originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 20 Oct 2008 11:29:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>jeremy clarksonJeremyClarksontop geartop gear us websitetop gear usaTopGearTopGearUsaTopGearUsWebsiteMon, 20 Oct 2008 11:29:00 EST<![CDATA[Tanner Foust captures second straight Formula Drift championship]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2008/10/13/tanner-foust-captures-second-straight-formula-drift-championship/http://www.autoblog.com/2008/10/13/tanner-foust-captures-second-straight-formula-drift-championship/http://www.autoblog.com/2008/10/13/tanner-foust-captures-second-straight-formula-drift-championship/#commentsFiled under:


Click above for high-res gallery of the Formula Drift Series at Irwindale

Our never-ending interest in the upcoming U.S. Top Gear has us usually thinking of Tanner Foust as a television host, so we often forget that he has another day job sliding a Nissan 350Z around racetracks in the Formula Drift series. Tanner came into the final round this weekend at Irwindale Speedway at the top of the points race, and he needed to stay ahead of Sam Hubinette in his Dodge Viper and Rhys Millen in his Pontiac Solstice to capture his second straight championship. He did just that, finishing in second place behind Vaughn Gitten Jr., who captured his first win in the series in his Falken Tire Ford Mustang. The top 16 drivers from the event also qualified for the upcoming Red Bull Drifting World Championship next month in Long Beach. We braved the flying chunks of rubber (no, really - there's a reason Formula Drift has more tire sponsors than any other motorsports series) to bring you a gallery of high resolution photographs from the event, which can be seen in the gallery below. Full details of the event can also be found in the press release after the jump.

Gallery: 2008 Formula Drift at Irwindale Speedway


All photos Copyright (C)2008 Drew Phillips / Weblogs, Inc.

Continue reading Tanner Foust captures second straight Formula Drift championship

Tanner Foust captures second straight Formula Drift championship originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 13 Oct 2008 10:57:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>2008 Formula Drift Irwindale Speedway2008FormulaDriftIrwindaleSpeedwaydriftingFormula DriftFormula Drift Final FightFormula Drift Irwindale SpeedwayFormulaDriftFormulaDriftFinalFightFormulaDriftIrwindaleSpeedwayTanner FoustTannerFousttop geartop gear usaTopGearTopGearUsaMon, 13 Oct 2008 10:57:00 EST<![CDATA[Don't hassle the Hoff in his Reasonably Priced Car]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2008/07/29/dont-hassle-the-hoff-in-his-reasonably-priced-car/http://www.autoblog.com/2008/07/29/dont-hassle-the-hoff-in-his-reasonably-priced-car/http://www.autoblog.com/2008/07/29/dont-hassle-the-hoff-in-his-reasonably-priced-car/#commentsFiled under:

Just two days after taping the pilot episode of Top Gear USA, Adam Carolla took the proactive approach of revealing who the first Star in a Reasonably Priced Car is before the blogosphere could get those in attendance who signed NDAs to spill the beans. On his radio show Monday morning, Carolla got a caller to cough up the name, and it's none other than auto icon and generally icky dude David Hasselfhoff. Reports from people who attended the taping say that the Hoff was actually a great live guest and even had autographed photos of himself to pass out to the crowd who had been standing in place for seven hours. We haven't heard how Hasselhoff did running a Kia Rio around Top Gear USA's test track, but being the first will ensure his time gets placed atop the leader board.

Who else would you like to see be a Star in a Reasonably Priced Car on Top Gear USA? We can think of a whole red carpet's worth of B- and C-list celebrities, and yes, that includes Kathy Griffin. Click the source link below to make your way to an audio clip of Adam Carolla's radio show on Monday morning.

[Source: Final Gear, Photo by Kevin Winter/Getty]

Don't hassle the Hoff in his Reasonably Priced Car originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 29 Jul 2008 11:28:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>adam carollaAdamCarollabreakingdavid hasselhoffDavidHasselhofftop geartop gear usaTopGearTopGearUsaTue, 29 Jul 2008 11:28:00 EST<![CDATA[Top Gear pilot: That's a wrap!]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2008/07/27/top-gear-pilot-thats-a-wrap/http://www.autoblog.com/2008/07/27/top-gear-pilot-thats-a-wrap/http://www.autoblog.com/2008/07/27/top-gear-pilot-thats-a-wrap/#commentsFiled under: , ,



Filming for the NBC pilot for Top Gear has wrapped. Speculation about the show's format and hosting choices has left Top Gear fans hoping for at least a decent representation of the popular British show. Some of those prayers may be answered , as NBC brought in a number of BBC folks, along with the original Top Gear producer, the assist in the pilot's taping. The show follows the BBC version's format, right down to the set details. Also, as noted earlier, the "star in a reasonably priced car" segment gets carried over. However, the driver might come as a bit of a surprise (a really awesome surprise, at that). The signature top-notch video production viewers expect is there, though it must be said that the geography of the United States offers a richer variety of visual possibilities than you might be accustomed to seeing on Jeremy & Co.'s show.

One key to the BBC Top Gear's is the camraderie between the presenters. As such, it's probably a little unfair to compare the Top Gear of today, 11 seasons in, to a crew just coming together for the first time. Still, Carolla, Foust and Stromer are off to a good start. Their interactions during taped segments were wildly entertaining, enough to distract the show's own crew members from their tasks. Each host fits into his own role, but not the exact molds laid out by Jezza, Hamster and Captain Slow. Carolla's razor-sharp wit is on full display. Causing at least one member of the audience to say, "That is the most funny Adam Carolla has ever been." Foust is also not made out to be anything more than a total car geek -- his true personality. His enthusiasm may be too technical for general consumption on its own, but it's perfectly complimented by Carolla's blunt comedy. Stromer doesn't fare nearly as well. Before the live audience, he comes across as if he were presenting a sales pitch to a room full of prospective timeshare buyers. Hopefully, he'll adapt his field mannerisms, which are far more easygoing, into his studio presence in the future. That is, if the show has a future on American television.

Top Gear pilot: That's a wrap! originally appeared on Autoblog on Sun, 27 Jul 2008 09:48:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>Adam CorollaAdamCorollaEric StromerEricStromerNBCTanner FoustTannerFoustTop GearTop Gear USATopGearTopGearUsaSun, 27 Jul 2008 09:48:00 EST<![CDATA[Top Gear USA casting audience members for pilot]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2008/07/21/top-gear-usa-casting-audience-members-for-pilot/http://www.autoblog.com/2008/07/21/top-gear-usa-casting-audience-members-for-pilot/http://www.autoblog.com/2008/07/21/top-gear-usa-casting-audience-members-for-pilot/#commentsFiled under:



While Top Gear obsessives in the UK have to wait 21 years for a chance to share the hanger with Clarkson, Hammond and May, those of us in the U.S. have an opportunity to get in on the ground floor of the imported version of everyone's favorite motoring show. One of the scribes at Autofiends came across the application page for audience members to attend the taping of Top Gear USA's pilot episode, and if you're in the Los Angeles area and free this Saturday, July 26th, you can sign up here.

Adam Carolla is in the host seat, accompanied by rally racer and drifter extraordinaire, Tanner Foust, and -- God help us -- "TV construction guru Eric Stromer." According to the site, "Top Gear will feature irreverent humor and camaraderie, epic races, outrageous stunts and challenges, unique celebrity guest participation and eccentric methods of testing cars." Sounds like the proven formula is on its way.

[Source: OCATV via Autofiends]

Top Gear USA casting audience members for pilot originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 21 Jul 2008 17:32:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>top geartop gear ustop gear usaTopGearTopGearUsTopGearUsaMon, 21 Jul 2008 17:32:00 EST<![CDATA[Tanner Foust sheds light on <i>Top Gear USA</i> in blog interview]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2008/07/01/tanner-foust-sheds-light-on-i-top-gear-usa-i-in-blog-intervie/http://www.autoblog.com/2008/07/01/tanner-foust-sheds-light-on-i-top-gear-usa-i-in-blog-intervie/http://www.autoblog.com/2008/07/01/tanner-foust-sheds-light-on-i-top-gear-usa-i-in-blog-intervie/#comments

With all our mouths salivating over the upcoming NBC version of the hit BBC program Top Gear, the guys over at Autofiends got a chance to sit down with Tanner Foust. As we revealed a couple of weeks ago, in addition to being a drifting and rallying champion, Tanner will be one of the three hosts - alongside Adam Carolla and Eric Stromer - who will be anchoring the Americanized show.

The interview makes for an interesting read, and in the process Foust casts a bit more light on what we can expect from the show. For example, while the BBC's publicly-funded format allows for full-hour shows, the NBC program will run closer to 42 minutes with commercials breaking up the shorter segments. The show's test track - en route to which Foust got lost with Jeremy Clarkson in a Callaway Corvette - is based in Orange County, California. And to the best of his understanding, Foust and his co-hosts will be free to speak their minds about the vehicles they'll be reviewing, which he promises will run the spectrum from budget automobiles to supercars, alongside "epic" challenges in true "American style where bigger is better". We'll be looking forward to seeing for ourselves. Follow the link to read the full interview.

[Source: Autofiends.com]

Tanner Foust sheds light on Top Gear USA in blog interview originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 01 Jul 2008 09:33:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>gearnbc gearNbcGeartanner foustTannerFousttop gear nbctop gear usaTopGearNbcTopGearUsausa top gear bbcUsaTopGearBbcTue, 01 Jul 2008 09:33:00 EST<![CDATA[Top Gear USA free to criticize cars at will]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2008/06/23/top-gear-usa-free-to-criticize-cars-at-will/http://www.autoblog.com/2008/06/23/top-gear-usa-free-to-criticize-cars-at-will/http://www.autoblog.com/2008/06/23/top-gear-usa-free-to-criticize-cars-at-will/#comments

When I was a kid there was this terrible car show on television that was sponsored by a certain automaker that shall remain nameless. Every week - that is, every week I could bear to watch it, at least - the hosts would review a car from that company, and guess what? They always liked it! And that's what makes Top Gear such a hit. Because the BBC is publicly-funded, they don't have advertisements. (Notice that downloaded episodes of Top Gear run an actual full hour, instead of the usual "hour-long" shows that run 45 minutes.) Without advertisers, Clarkson and company are free to say what they want about whatever car they're reviewing, and so journalistic integrity remains intact, even as they catapult caravans and play soccer (sorry, "football") with hatchbacks.

With NBC "gearing" up for its own version of the hit car show, reportedly to be called simply "Gear", the fear was that, as the show would be dependent on commercial advertisements, the recently-announced team of co-hosts would be reigned in by the bean-counters regarding what they could and could not say about the cars they'd be reviewing. Thankfully, on a recent episode of his radio talk-show, Adam Carolla revealed that no such limitations would be imposed by NBC on the show's editorial autonomy. You know, this may just work out yet. Thanks for the tip, T Bray!

[Source: FinalGear.com]

Top Gear USA free to criticize cars at will originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 23 Jun 2008 13:26:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>gearnbc gearnbc top gearNbcGearNbcTopGeartop geartop gear usaTopGearTopGearUsaMon, 23 Jun 2008 13:26:00 EST<![CDATA[Top Gear USA hosts announced!]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2008/06/16/top-gear-usa-hosts-announced/http://www.autoblog.com/2008/06/16/top-gear-usa-hosts-announced/http://www.autoblog.com/2008/06/16/top-gear-usa-hosts-announced/#commentsFiled under:



Top Gear has just officially announced who will be hosting the U.S. version of the popular car show born in the UK and now officially scheduled to appear on NBC sometime this fall, and the winners are... (drum roll, please): Adam Carolla, Tanner Foust and Eric Stromer. Everyone knows Adam Carolla, of course, having watched him hit the big time hosting The Man Show with Jimmy Kimmel. He now hosts his own nationally-syndicated radio show called "The Adam Carolla Show". Tanner Foust brings some actual professional driving cred to the show with a resume that includes stunt driving in "The Bourne Ultimatum," "The Fast and the Furious: Tokyo Drift" and "The Dukes of Hazard". He's also a winning rally driver, has medaled in the 2007 X-Games and hosted "Supercars Exposed" on the SPEED Channel. Eric Stomer was the last to be cast and when you see him, you'll probably say "I know that guy." He's hosted an HGTV show called "Over Your Head", was a former soap-opera actor and spent a lot of time in construction (and on construction-related TV shows). Guess we'll pick him to win the amphibious vehicle challenges. We surmise that producers may have picked Stromer because he's a hunk of man meat, but also because he can bring in a big female audience from his time spent on HGTV.

The press release after the jump also reveals what each host drives, and as you would imagine, Carolla (who will now be referred to as Jezza Jr.) sports a garage full of Lamborghinis, Maseratis, two Ferraris and an Audi S4. Foust makes do with a simple, tricked out BMW M3. Stromer... a Camry Hybrid. Something tells us Stromer better come equipped with a thick skin. So what do you think? Does Top Gear USA now appear better suited for success or does the show have Bucket of Fail written all over it?

[Source: NBC, Top Gear]

Continue reading Top Gear USA hosts announced!

Top Gear USA hosts announced! originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 16 Jun 2008 12:01:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>adam carollaAdamCarollabreakingeric stromerEricStromertanner foustTannerFousttop geartop gear usatop gear usa hostsTopGearTopGearUsaTopGearUsaHostsMon, 16 Jun 2008 12:01:00 EST<![CDATA[Top Gear producer talks about foreign editions]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2008/06/06/top-gear-producer-talks-about-foreign-editions/http://www.autoblog.com/2008/06/06/top-gear-producer-talks-about-foreign-editions/http://www.autoblog.com/2008/06/06/top-gear-producer-talks-about-foreign-editions/#commentsFiled under: , ,



Top Gear Executive Producer Andy Wilman is aware of the acrimony that surrounds the apparently not-dead-yet U.S. edition of the show, and makes a case on the Top Gear blog for both the Yankee and Australian spinoffs that are marching their way towards prime time audiences soon. Wilman points out that Top Gear's success is not formulaic like other shows that have been churned in different locations all over the world. May, Clarkson, Hammond and the Stig aren't generic slots on the show that can be easily filled. Plugging people into positions like "here's the guy who used to play in Journey, sitting next to the pop star, who's seated next to the jaded British record executive who's clearly having his time wasted while making enough to purchase a Veyron," won't hold water.

Not only can the hosts not be duplicated in a Dick Sargent/Dick York fashion, the shows themselves have to be aware of each other and find ways to fit around what the other is doing. So, the uphill battle facing the localized versions of Top Gear is finding the proper personalities (the Australians already have) who will genuinely fit together and have chemistry, while also getting those people to do and say things that are compelling without just repeating the schtick of the original in a different location.

Wilman acknowledges that those who know about the original Top Gear in North America are fanatics who won't stand for a watered down retooling. Just because there may someday be a homegrown version of TG doesn't mean they'll stop watching the original. One thing that's skirted by Wilman's post is the writing. It's been said many times that the unvarnished opinion that flies on the original won't work on an advertising-dependent network like NBC in the U.S. If the presenters aren't given good material or allowed to riff with leeway, the U.S. Top Gear is dead in the water regardless of the personalities on camera.

[Source: Top Gear]

Top Gear producer talks about foreign editions originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 06 Jun 2008 13:59:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>american top gearAmericanTopGeartop geartop gear producertop gear u.s.top gear ustop gear usaTopGearTopGearProducerTopGearU.s.TopGearUsTopGearUsaus top gearUsTopGearFri, 06 Jun 2008 13:59:00 EST<![CDATA[Google Earth spots Top Gear USA test track?]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2008/05/19/google-earth-spots-top-gear-usa-test-track/http://www.autoblog.com/2008/05/19/google-earth-spots-top-gear-usa-test-track/http://www.autoblog.com/2008/05/19/google-earth-spots-top-gear-usa-test-track/#commentsFiled under:



Not quite. While we've gotten word from credible sources that El Toro has, in fact, been chosen as the location for the supposed filming of the U.S. version of Top Gear, the test track above ain't it. To begin with, the SCCA and a handful of other track-day organizations have been using the runways at El Toro for years, not to mention that Motor Trend performed it's infamous 3.2-second 0-60 sprint in the Nissan GT-R at the decommissioned Marine Corps aviation base.

Aside from those facts, just look at the layout. Compared to the course that Lotus engineers setup for the Stig, this makeshift circuit looks positively pedestrian. A few chicanes and some long sweepers does not a test track make, so until we see the Hammerhead and Follow Through, we're chalking up these rubber marks to weekend hoonage.

[Source: Final Gear via Jalopnik]

Google Earth spots Top Gear USA test track? originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 19 May 2008 18:34:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>geartest trackTestTracktop geartop gear usatop gear usa test trackTopGearTopGearUsaTopGearUsaTestTrackMon, 19 May 2008 18:34:00 EST<![CDATA[More info on NBC's plans for Top Gear USA]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2008/05/16/more-info-on-nbcs-plans-for-top-gear-usa/http://www.autoblog.com/2008/05/16/more-info-on-nbcs-plans-for-top-gear-usa/http://www.autoblog.com/2008/05/16/more-info-on-nbcs-plans-for-top-gear-usa/#comments
We reported yesterday that both NBC's Fall 2008 and Summer 2009 lineups will not include the U.S. version of Top Gear, but that doesn't mean the peacock network isn't keeping the show as a feather in its multicolor plume. There's a section on NBC's website for primetime shows being developed for the 2008-2009 season, and one page is devoted to Top Gear USA. We found its description intriguing. The show is described as three friends performing outrageous challenges and stunts through the "crazy transformations" they make to their cars. Sure, that's one aspect of the show that Clarkson, Mays and Hammond built, but what about the new car reviews that are hilarious, real and informative, as well as featuring the best cinematography on television anywhere in the world? Also, we find it funny that the U.S. cast of hosts, whoever they may be, are described as being "friends". The British hosts are of course BFF, having done the show together for years now, but we doubt the American hosts will have the same rapport right out of the gate. Regardless, if a U.S. version of Top Gear does happen, it won't air anytime soon. Thanks for the tip, Joe!

UPDATE: Here's a great roundup of all the Top Gear USA news to date from Alex Roy.

[Source: NBC]

More info on NBC's plans for Top Gear USA originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 16 May 2008 15:32:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>nbc top gearNbcTopGeartop geartop gear u.s.top gear ustop gear usaTopGearTopGearU.s.TopGearUsTopGearUsaFri, 16 May 2008 15:32:00 EST<![CDATA[LA Times' Dan Neil bumped from NBC <i>Gear</i>]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2008/04/10/la-times-dan-neil-bumped-from-nbc-i-gear-i/http://www.autoblog.com/2008/04/10/la-times-dan-neil-bumped-from-nbc-i-gear-i/http://www.autoblog.com/2008/04/10/la-times-dan-neil-bumped-from-nbc-i-gear-i/#commentsFiled under: ,

NBC is inching closer to finalizing the cast for the American version of the hit BBC series Top Gear, but it looks more and more like Jay Leno, Jerry Seinfeld and Tim Allen won't be part of the program. Reportedly to be called just "Gear", the show is anticipated to include four presenters instead of the BBC's three - although one could be assuming the role of The Stig as the show's test driver. Adam Carolla announced on his radio show that he'd be taking part in the program. Formula D driftmaster Tanner Faust is also tipped to be on the show (possibly in the aforementioned test driver role). However Dan Neil, the Pulitzer Prize-winning automotive journalist for the Los Angeles Times, revealed that despite having a signed contract with NBC, he would not be part of the line-up. Neil was suitably disappointed, but attributed the change of heart to a lack of on-air personality on his part, although last year he was part of the 10-episode WIRED Science show on PBS.

In a more discouraging sign, meanwhile, indications are that the scathing rhetoric that makes the BBC show such a hit will be severely curtailed by NBC, who fear a backlash from sponsors. According to Carolla, the program was set to begin filming at the El Toro Marine Air Base in California on March 20.

[Source: The Truth About Cars]

LA Times' Dan Neil bumped from NBC Gear originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 10 Apr 2008 14:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>adam carolla gearAdamCarollaGeardan neil gearDanNeilGeargear nbcGearNbctop gear nbctop gear usaTopGearNbcTopGearUsaThu, 10 Apr 2008 14:30:00 EST