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[VIDEO: <i>Top Gear</i> pits BMW X5 M against Audi Q7 TDI and Land Rover Range Rover Supercharged]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2009/12/23/video-top-gear-pits-bmw-x5-m-against-audi-q7-tdi-and-lan/http://www.autoblog.com/2009/12/23/video-top-gear-pits-bmw-x5-m-against-audi-q7-tdi-and-lan/http://www.autoblog.com/2009/12/23/video-top-gear-pits-bmw-x5-m-against-audi-q7-tdi-and-lan/#commentsFiled under: , , , , ,

Why the whole world loves Top Gear - click above to watch the video

If you're like us - and odds are very good you are - you have an evergreen problem. Namely, getting your significant other to feel one-tenth of the excitement about cars that you feel. Sure, you've tried explaining that while you almost drove off the freeway, it's okay because you were trying to catch up with a 1978 Chevrolet Corvette Indy Pace Car. Or that waking up at 5:30 am on a Saturday to stand around in a parking lot drinking coffee and gawking at old cars is a perfectly normal family activity. You've probably even suggested that she might be happier driving to work in a Citroën DS. Maybe that last part is just us. But maybe not.

Well friends, we have found the solution. The following ten minute clip of Jeremy Clarkson waxing extra poetic about three "mad" SUVs is practically guaranteed to delight even the most fervent, dyed-in-the-wool car hater. It's simply brilliant. Why? Because it's Jeremy at his very best. Yes, of course, he insults stewardesses, environmentalists and the mentally ill all the while powersliding around an abandoned air strip. But he does it all in his 100-percent totally lovable way that frankly we find impossible to resist. Even those spouses that think your big, fat V8, "sounds wasteful" are sure to become fast fans. How could anyone argue with "sliced dolphins?" Make the jump to watch the video.

[Source: Top Gear via YouTube]

Continue reading VIDEO: Top Gear pits BMW X5 M against Audi Q7 TDI and Land Rover Range Rover Supercharged

VIDEO: Top Gear pits BMW X5 M against Audi Q7 TDI and Land Rover Range Rover Supercharged originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 23 Dec 2009 12:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>AudiAudi Q7 V12 TDIAudiQ7V12TdiBMWBMW X5 MBmwX5MClarksonJeremy ClarksonJeremyClarksonJezzaLand RoverLandRoverQ7Range RoverRange Rover SuperchargedRangeRoverRangeRoverSuperchargedTop GearTopGearX5X5 MX5MWed, 23 Dec 2009 12:30:00 EST<![CDATA[VIDEO: <i>Top Gear</i> Season 14 returns this Sunday]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2009/11/10/video-top-gear-season-14-returns-this-sunday/http://www.autoblog.com/2009/11/10/video-top-gear-season-14-returns-this-sunday/http://www.autoblog.com/2009/11/10/video-top-gear-season-14-returns-this-sunday/#commentsFiled under: , , ,

Jeremy Clarkson returns for Top Gear Season 14 - Click above to watch video after the jump

Guess what boys and girls? Everyone's favorite car-related show is coming back for a fourteenth season! That's fantastic news for gearheads everywhere, especially considering that at the end of last season there was some speculation that Top Gear wouldn't be coming back at all. But of course, here they are.

What adventures will JC, May and and Hammond (and let's not forget Stiggie!) get up to this season? We're glad you asked. A few months ago we told y'all about how the boys got caught in Romania driving some very precious metal (Lamborghini LP560-4 Spyder, Ferrari California, Aston Martin DBS Volante) up in the Carpathian Mountains on a very special highway known as the Transfagarasan Road. And that's what we get at the very end of the preview trailer.

What other adventures do the boys get up to during the very short teaser trailer? Season 14 looks to be more of the same, thankfully. You got a delivery van race, some sort of cheapo challenge where's Jezza's car catches fire, a hot hatch speeding through a drainage pipe and a homemade tank/Hummer H1. We also tracked down a late night, second bottle of whiskey type screed from one of TG's producers, but we can't make heads or tails of it. Anyhow, make the jump to watch the trailer.

[Source: BBC 2]

Continue reading VIDEO: Top Gear Season 14 returns this Sunday

VIDEO: Top Gear Season 14 returns this Sunday originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 10 Nov 2009 13:58:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>James MayJamesMayJeremy ClarksonJeremyClarksonJezzaRichard HammondRichardHammondStigThe StigTheStigTop GearTop Gear 14Top Gear Season 14TopGearTopGear14TopGearSeason14Tue, 10 Nov 2009 13:58:00 EST<![CDATA[UK adventurer challenges Clarkson to cross Sahara in 1937 Austin 7 Ruby]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2009/10/29/uk-adventurer-challenges-clarkson-to-cross-sahara-in-1937-austin/http://www.autoblog.com/2009/10/29/uk-adventurer-challenges-clarkson-to-cross-sahara-in-1937-austin/http://www.autoblog.com/2009/10/29/uk-adventurer-challenges-clarkson-to-cross-sahara-in-1937-austin/#commentsFiled under: ,

Now we're talking! If there's one thing we're in favor of its pushing cars to their breaking point. See LeMons. But what about pushing cars past their breaking point? Like across Africa? That's exactly what British journalist and adventurer Brian Milton did in 1968 when he took a 1937 Austin 7 Ruby and drove it across the Sahara Desert to meet his fiancee.

Mr. Milton has written a book about his forty-one year old adventure entitled Alexa -- the Life and Death of an Austin 7 Ruby. And to our ears, it sounds wonderful:
"I motored 1,800 miles on rough track across the Sahara... I reached a Nigeria that was wracked by civil war... I survived. But alas, my Austin 7 did not. We crashed once and ran out of water twice in the Sahara. I drove 2,000 miles on three pistons and 900 miles without brakes, lights, shock absorbers or starting motor or handle."
Mr. Milton has sent a copy of Alexa to none other than Jeremy "Torques" Clarkson, asking the Top Gear star to go on and recreate his 1968 adventure. While some might argue that driving a Lancia Beta Coupe across the desert might get Jezza off the hook, we'd totally watch him and May and Hammond kill themselves in something as dodgy as an Austin 7. Interested in reading about Brian Milton's adventure? Alexa can be purchased right here.

[Source: East London Advertiser]

UK adventurer challenges Clarkson to cross Sahara in 1937 Austin 7 Ruby originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 29 Oct 2009 18:02:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>AfricaAustin 7Austin 7 RubyAustin7Austin7RubyBrian MiltonBrianMiltonJames MayJamesMayJeremy ClarksonJeremyClarksonJezzaRichard HaRichardHaSaharaTop GearTopGearThu, 29 Oct 2009 18:02:00 EST<![CDATA[BREAKING: <i>Top Gear</i> not dead [w/VIDEO]]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2009/08/04/breaking-i-top-gear-i-not-dead-w-video/http://www.autoblog.com/2009/08/04/breaking-i-top-gear-i-not-dead-w-video/http://www.autoblog.com/2009/08/04/breaking-i-top-gear-i-not-dead-w-video/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , ,


Jeremy Clarkson waxes euphoric about the Aston Martin V12 Vantage - Click above to watch the video

Internet rumors are a funny thing. Back during the last presidential campaign, 10% of voters polled thought Barack Obama was a Muslim... until his campaign staffers came out and denied he was a Muslim. Then 14% of us thought he was a Muslim. And you can see the same thing happening with another bout of "Top Gear is dead!" rumormongering. Seriously folks, the "TG is dead" gossip that accompanies the end of every single season is getting just as old as "Will Brett Favre come out of retirement?" Both have surpassed the point of story and are now borderline ritual. Actually, it's looking like this year, Favre's staying on the farm down in Mississippi. Which makes the Top Gear rumors even more annoying.

The last segment of the last episode of Season 13 showed an uncharacteristically toned down Clarkson waxing extra-poetic about the Aston Martin V12 Vantage and how he fears that because of environmental worries, the busted global economy and the particularly British "War On Speed," that the days of the supercar are finished. As a result, he seems a bit sad. So sad, in fact, that many around the globe (and especially those at their keyboards) started in with the inevitable, "Top Gear is dead" refrain. Well, that and James May might have been seen crossing a street not wearing any shoes. But guess what? Everyone's favorite car show is coming back for a 14th season.

According to both The Sun and some website called Top Gear, Jezza, Hammond and May are going no where. Says Clarkson, "I can assure everyone I'll be back in November doing Top Gear. We're filming the next series and already have several things in the can. I couldn't think of anything I'd want to do more." So you heard it here first - Top Gear Season 14 starts in November. Amazing what a bit of research can do, no?

Speaking of which - we unearthed Clarkson's actual review of the V12 Vantage. And much unlike the three sentences he said about the car for the now infamous segment, Jeremy didn't like Aston Martin very much at all. See, Jeremy thinks that the real top Aston is the DBS. But it costs $269,000. Now, the V12 Vantage goes for $209,000, but is the new car 99% of the DBS for $60,000 less? Says Jezza, "I was pondering this earlier on today while blasting down a sun-flickered Cotswold road in my wife's 4.7-liter V8 Vantage convertible. And then the obvious answer hit me: The car I'd buy is the one I was in." Indeed. For those interested parties, the notorious video is posted after the jump.


Gallery: Aston Martin V12 Vantage


[Sources: The Sun; Top Gear]

Continue reading BREAKING: Top Gear not dead [w/VIDEO]

BREAKING: Top Gear not dead [w/VIDEO] originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 04 Aug 2009 13:28:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>Aston MartinAston Martin DBSAston Martin V12 VantageAston Marting VantageAstonMartinAstonMartinDbsAstonMartingVantageAstonMartinV12VantageBBCBrett FavreBrettFavreJames MayJamesMayJeremy ClarksonJeremyClarksonJezzaRichard HammondRichardHammondTop GearTopGearV12 VantageV12VantageVantageTue, 04 Aug 2009 13:28:00 EST<![CDATA[No. 5 celebrity that U.K. men most want to have a date with: The <i>Top Gear</i> crew?]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2009/08/04/no-5-celebrity-that-uk-men-most-want-to-have-a-date-with-the/http://www.autoblog.com/2009/08/04/no-5-celebrity-that-uk-men-most-want-to-have-a-date-with-the/http://www.autoblog.com/2009/08/04/no-5-celebrity-that-uk-men-most-want-to-have-a-date-with-the/#commentsFiled under: , ,



No, really. At least according to Madbid.com, a British auction site (£1,000 cash for £8.06) that arranges celebrity auctions for charity. First, which celebrity topped the list? The sultry, three-kinds of sexy Megan Fox, of course. Second place was British singer/soccer wife Cheryl Cole, third place was Angelina Jolie and fourth place went to Katie Price, sort of a younger, trashier English version of Pamela Anderson with much larger breast implants.

But never mind any of that, the #5 celebrity that British men would most like to go on a date with? Jezza, Hamster and Captain Slow. That's right, the Top Gear gang. Hmmm. We know most Brit males have sexual predilections that would make us Yanks blush, but... a date with James May? Really? Here's an American top tip for our brothers in Old Blighty: instead of calling it a date, say "people you would most like to have a beer with."

This whole thing is reminiscent of a report from 2005 when 25% of UK men wanted Jeremy Clarkson in their passenger seat, compared to only 17% for Angelina Jolie. To paraphrase James May, "I've ridden with Jeremy - you're all daft."

[Source: News Lite]

No. 5 celebrity that U.K. men most want to have a date with: The Top Gear crew? originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 04 Aug 2009 10:56:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>Angelina JolieAngelinaJolieCaptain SlowCaptainSlowCheryl ColeCherylColeHamsterJames MaysJamesMaysJeremy ClarksonJeremyClarksonJezzaKatie PriceKatiePriceMegan FoxMeganFoxRichard HammondRichardHammondTop GearTopGearTue, 04 Aug 2009 10:56:00 EST<![CDATA[VIDEO: Hells Bells! AC/DC's Brian Johnson is seriously quick in the <i>Top Gear</i> Reasonably Priced Car]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2009/07/29/video-hells-bells-ac-dcs-brian-johnson-is-seriously-quick-in/http://www.autoblog.com/2009/07/29/video-hells-bells-ac-dcs-brian-johnson-is-seriously-quick-in/http://www.autoblog.com/2009/07/29/video-hells-bells-ac-dcs-brian-johnson-is-seriously-quick-in/#commentsFiled under: , ,


AC/DC - Click above to watch the videos after the jump

You gotta love Brian Johnson. Plucked from (relative) obscurity by AC/DC in 1980 to replace Bon Scott (R.I.P.), Johnson and the band then recorded Back in Black, the second most successful album in history, just behind Thriller by What's His Face. Johnson - who maybe stands five feet five inches tall - also hasn't changed his shirt, taken off his hat or had to learn a new song in nearly 25 years. What a life.

On this week's Star in a Reasonably Priced Car, Jezza puts Johnson through the usual paces before we quickly learn that Mr. Gets Knocked Out By American Thighs is a serious gearhead. How serious? He drives a 1920s Bentley 4.5-liter to get the newspaper. That's class. And once in Moscow he micturated on Sputnik. That's a different sort of class. Oh, and it turns out that Mr. Johnson is quite a talented driver. How talented? You're going to have to jump and find out.

[Source: YouTube via Road Runner Records]

Continue reading VIDEO: Hells Bells! AC/DC's Brian Johnson is seriously quick in the Top Gear Reasonably Priced Car

VIDEO: Hells Bells! AC/DC's Brian Johnson is seriously quick in the Top Gear Reasonably Priced Car originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 29 Jul 2009 19:29:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>ACDCBrian JohnsonBrianJohnsonJeremy ClarksonJeremyClarksonJezzaStar in a reasonably priced carStarInAReasonablyPricedCarTop GearTop Gear Jeremy ClarksonTopGearTopGearJeremyClarksonWed, 29 Jul 2009 19:29:00 EST<![CDATA[15,000 people want Clarkson as Prime Minister]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2007/08/14/15-000-people-want-clarkson-as-prime-minister/http://www.autoblog.com/2007/08/14/15-000-people-want-clarkson-as-prime-minister/http://www.autoblog.com/2007/08/14/15-000-people-want-clarkson-as-prime-minister/#commentsFiled under: , ,

Jeremy Clarkson has been a staunch critic against, well, almost everything. His weekly editorials at the Times (occasionally peppered with a car review) have given Jezza a mouthpiece to rant and rave against everything from environmental degradation to speed cameras, and he's secured an ardent fan-base while doing so. Some people even take him seriously, which has spawned a page at the Government's Petition website where close to 15,000 people have pledged that Clarkson should take the helm by becoming the Prime Minister.

We're a bit unsure as to how such a petition would influence the election of the next PM, but another petition has already been formed to battle the idea - it's only been signed by three people so far.

[Source: Visordown]

15,000 people want Clarkson as Prime Minister originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 14 Aug 2007 11:32:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>Jeremy ClarksonJeremyClarksonjezzapmprime ministerPrimeMinistertop gearTopGearTue, 14 Aug 2007 11:32:00 EST<![CDATA[Clarkson nixes U.S. Top Gear]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2007/07/24/clarkson-nixes-us-i-top-gear-i/http://www.autoblog.com/2007/07/24/clarkson-nixes-us-i-top-gear-i/http://www.autoblog.com/2007/07/24/clarkson-nixes-us-i-top-gear-i/#comments

The BBC was reportedly evaluating producing an American version of its hit show Top Gear with the existing British cast. The show's star lead host Jeremy Clarkson, however, apparently having seen enough of the U.S. after filming the show's road trip through the South, has nixed the idea.

The proposal would have involved Clarkson, together with his co-stars Richard Hammond, James May and The Stig, flying stateside for four months to embark upon a hectic filming schedule, a prospect which didn't tantalize Clarkson, to say the least. On top of other concerns, Jezza reportedly wouldn't want to leave his family behind for such a long period of time.

For their part, the BBC hasn't given up, and will undoubtedly look at other possibilities, with or without Clarkson. Stay tuned.

Thanks for the tip, Derek!

[Source: The Sun via PistonHeads]

Clarkson nixes U.S. Top Gear originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 24 Jul 2007 15:32:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>americaamericanclarksongearjeremyjezzastatestopunitedusTue, 24 Jul 2007 15:32:00 EST<![CDATA[Clarkson and crew attempt to cross English Channel. Emphasis on <i>attempt</i>]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2007/07/24/clarkson-and-crew-attempt-to-cross-english-channel-emphasis-on/http://www.autoblog.com/2007/07/24/clarkson-and-crew-attempt-to-cross-english-channel-emphasis-on/http://www.autoblog.com/2007/07/24/clarkson-and-crew-attempt-to-cross-english-channel-emphasis-on/#commentsFiled under:



The blokes at Top Gear are in the process of planning their summer return, and last week viewers abroad got a rare glimpse into how the sausage is made.

You might recall Clarkson, Hammond and May taking on the challenge of creating their own aquatic vehicles a few seasons back (if not, the video is posted after the jump), and the results were somewhat predictable, with Clarkson capsizing, Hamster taking on more water than the laws of physics would allow, and Captain Slow rolling into the docks triumphant in his Triumph Herald.

Well, the three motoring presenters decided to pull their aqua-whips out of retirement to cross the English Channel, and again, two of the three vehicles met their demise at the bottom of the sea. According to various reports, May's Herald and Hammond's VW van went under within the first few minutes, while Jezza was able to stay afloat long enough to stroke his ever-expanding ego.

The Daily Mail article has several photos of the event, and a few choice quotes from understandably peeved Coast Guard officers.

On a related side note, Hammond reportedly ditched his 911 Carrera in Cheltenham, Gloucestershire at 3 AM yesterday, after he was stuck in traffic caused by a flood for 12 hours. Our man wasn't going to miss his daughter's birthday party, so he decided to run the 16 miles back to his home, equipped with a waterproof jacket, some running shoes and an iPod. "There was no way I was going to miss it - I'm away from home enough as it is," said Hammond, after recounting his two-and-a-half hour-long jog. Kudos to Hamster for knowing what really matters.

[Sources: Autotrader.co.uk, Daily Mail]

Continue reading Clarkson and crew attempt to cross English Channel. Emphasis on attempt

Clarkson and crew attempt to cross English Channel. Emphasis on attempt originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 24 Jul 2007 11:04:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>aquaaquaticcaptain slowCaptainSlowhamsterjames mayJamesMayjeremy clarksonJeremyClarksonjezzanissanrichard hammondRichardHammondtop gearTopGeartriumph heraldTriumphHeraldvolkswagen vanVolkswagenVanvw vanVwVanTue, 24 Jul 2007 11:04:00 EST<![CDATA[Save Top Gear from its own success]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2007/04/15/save-top-gear-from-its-own-success/http://www.autoblog.com/2007/04/15/save-top-gear-from-its-own-success/http://www.autoblog.com/2007/04/15/save-top-gear-from-its-own-success/#commentsFiled under:

Clarkson's at it again, casting shadows of doubt on the future of Top Gear. The celebrity automotive journalist (perhaps the most well-known, period) claims that while the BBC program ranks among the most watched television shows on the air, and that its audience continues to climb "like an F-15 on combat power," Top Gear is facing serious problems which could jeopardize its future.

The first, according to Jezza, is that following Richard Hammond's miraculous recovery and return to the show, the production schedule got horribly delayed. Clarkson figures that it takes about half a year to produce a season, which puts them severely behind schedule for the next series. Even if the show were to return in October, which he figures is the earliest a new series could air, Clarkson cites disgruntled fans who lamented the lack of content in the hastily-produced and recently-concluded 9th season.

"The series that's just finished was full of us three cocking about, and almost completely devoid of anything you might fairly call a 'road test,'" surmised Clarkson in his recent column. "This has gone down very badly with the people in internet land." (Hey, is he talking about us?)

Clarkson fears that most television viewers don't want to see him and the gang driving Ferraris and Lamborghinis, but just want to be entertained, and that if and when the show does return for a tenth season, it stands the danger of being watered-down. But it's the extraordinary track tests and tire-munching road trips that made the show as popular as it is. Top Gear, it seems, needs to be rescued from its own success.

Cheerio for the tip, Kim.

[Source: Top Gear]

Save Top Gear from its own success originally appeared on Autoblog on Sun, 15 Apr 2007 16:02:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>1010thbbcclarksonfuturegearjeremyjezzanineseasonseriestententhtopSun, 15 Apr 2007 16:02:00 EST<![CDATA[Enter the (British) rumormill: Clarkson leaving Top Gear?]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2007/03/13/enter-the-british-rumormill-clarkson-leaving-top-gear/http://www.autoblog.com/2007/03/13/enter-the-british-rumormill-clarkson-leaving-top-gear/http://www.autoblog.com/2007/03/13/enter-the-british-rumormill-clarkson-leaving-top-gear/#commentsFiled under: ,



Our new friend from Down Under, KP, dropped us a link to a post in the online edition of Wheels magazine, which asserts that Clarkson may not return to Top Gear for the next season. The report stems from an article in The Times, where Jezza hinted to his departure from the show by saying that, "After last week's Top Gear, the continuity announcer said the show would be back in the summer. Can I just say, here and now, it won't be."

Whether or not this was an overture to Clarkson's imminent departure or possibly his contention that the show's production schedule wouldn't allow a summer return is open to debate. Regardless, a BBC spokesman said that a "summer special" is set to be released and that Top Gear will make a comeback sometime in the fall.

On an aside: if you had the chance to watch the last episode of Top Gear, with its highly controversial dyno test of the GT500 and the practically self parodying limo skit, it's apparent that the show has made a sharp departure from its original purpose. While some maintain that this has added to the shows popularity, others have expressed their displeasure, saying that the only great automotive show has fallen dangerously off course.

Your thoughts, as always, are welcomed in comments.

[Sources: Wheelsmag.com.au, TimesOnline.co.uk]

Enter the (British) rumormill: Clarkson leaving Top Gear? originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 13 Mar 2007 03:23:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>clarksonjeremy clarksonJeremyClarksonjezzarichard hammondRichardHammondstigtop gearTopGearTue, 13 Mar 2007 03:23:00 EST