Autoblog

Video: Top Gear caught filming in NY with SLS AMG, 458 Italia and 911 GT3 RS

Jeff Glucker — Mon, 27 Sep 2010 12:30:00 EST

Filed under: Coupe, Performance, Videos, Mercedes-Benz, Porsche, Ferrari, Celebrities

Top Gear filming in New York City - Click above to watch the video after the jump

The Top Gear trio was recently spotted filming in New York City. We already knew they were filming here in the States, as well as the cars they were driving. This time, someone has recorded footage as Jeremy Clarkson, James May and Richard Hammond maneuver the Mercedes-Benz SLS AMG, Ferrari 458 Italia and Porsche 911 GT3 RS out onto the streets of the Big Apple.

The clip is rather mundane overall, however, the last minute will leave you squirming in horror. The city's streets aren't in great shape and the BBC Boys have to get their supercars from a section of road awaiting paving to a raised surface. If you love high-end exotics, you may want to look away, but don't. It's particularly terrifying to watch the low-lipped Porsche attempting to pull up. No wonder they gave 100-pound Hammond the keys to that one. Check out the footage after the jump. A tip o' the hat to Tim L!

[Source: YouTube]

Continue reading Video: Top Gear caught filming in NY with SLS AMG, 458 Italia and 911 GT3 RS

Video: Top Gear caught filming in NY with SLS AMG, 458 Italia and 911 GT3 RS originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 27 Sep 2010 12:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Some say that Top Gear will viciously kill off The Stig

Zach Bowman — Fri, 03 Sep 2010 13:45:00 EST

Filed under: Etc., UK, Celebrities

When murmurings began hitting the web that the man who plays The Stig was itching to publish his memoirs, we knew it was only a matter of time before the character met his end on the BBC's Top Gear. According to The Sun, James May has hinted that White Stig will be dealt with in the same manner as his predecessor, Black Stig. As you may recall, Black Stig infamously tried to outperform a Harrier jet from behind the wheel of the Top Gear Jaguar, only to overshoot his mark and wind up at the bottom of the sea.

According to May, White Stig may not be so fortunate. In his interview with The Sun, May said that he and his co-hosts may actually drive to The Stig's house, beat him silly and reclaim his suit of racing armor. We're thinking that the show's writers will likely come up with something a little more grandiose when it comes to sending the disgraced character out to pasture, but you never know. Will the show pit White Stig against the Royal Navy like his predecessor... or will he face some crueler fate? We'll find out soon enough. Thanks for the tip, Gooner!

[Source: The Sun]

Some say that Top Gear will viciously kill off The Stig originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 03 Sep 2010 13:45:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Video: Tom Cruise and Cameron Diaz channel their inner Stig on Top Gear

Chris Shunk — Mon, 26 Jul 2010 12:30:00 EST

Filed under: Motorsports, Videos, Kia, UK, Celebrities

Tom Cruise and Cameron Diaz on Top Gear - Click above to watch the video after the jump

Tom Cruise and Cameron Diaz have been all over the world pushing their not-so-blockbuster movie Knight and Day, and while moviegoers haven't exactly filled local theaters, enthusiasts should most definitely witness the Hollywood A-listers on the latest episode of Top Gear. The two stars appeared on our favorite BBC show to compete against other celebrities in "Star in a Reasonably Priced Car," and their performance far outshines their recent box office receipts.

Hit the jump to watch as the two push hard around the Top Gear track in a KIA Cee'd. We won't ruin the results for you, but we will reveal that Diaz shows that she can swear like a trucker while looking good with a helmet on, and Cruise proves beyond a shadow of a doubt that he is a very competitive guy. Seriously, the man literally finishes the race on two wheels, nearly giving Clarkson a heart attack in the process. Who got the better part of their co-star? You'll have to watch to find out.

[Source: Top Gear via YouTube]

Continue reading Video: Tom Cruise and Cameron Diaz channel their inner Stig on Top Gear

Video: Tom Cruise and Cameron Diaz channel their inner Stig on Top Gear originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 26 Jul 2010 12:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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James May earns honorary doctorate from his alma mater

Zach Bowman — Fri, 23 Jul 2010 08:57:00 EST

Filed under: Etc., UK, Celebrities

That's Doctor Captain Slow, to you. James May, one of the three amigos of Top Gear fame, has been awarded an honorary doctorate from Lancaster University. May graduated from the institution in 1985 with a degree in music, though according to the BBC, he hasn't been back to the school in nearly 10 years. May now carries an honorary Doctor of Letters diploma from his alma mater and says that he was flattered to receive the accolade.

May isn't the only Top Gear presenter with an honorary degree under his belt. Oxford Brooks University awarded Jeremy Clarkson with an honorary engineering doctorate in 2005. As far as we know, Richard Hammond has earned no such honor from any institution to date. Something tells us that there's bound to be quite a bit of ribbing over this fact on the Top Gear set.

[Source: BBC I Image: Top Gear]

James May earns honorary doctorate from his alma mater originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 23 Jul 2010 08:57:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Some say the BBC is launching an investigation... all we know is, he's not The Stig

Zach Bowman — Thu, 22 Jul 2010 09:56:00 EST

Filed under: Etc., Celebrities, Humor

It would seem that someone is going through the trouble of staging an elaborate ruse by pretending to be none other than The Stig - at least, according to the BBC. An article in the North-West Evening Mail says that one Martin Perzylo recently spotted a suspiciously mute, white-suited individual blasting down the M55 in a Porsche. Perzylo followed the figure for about 30 minutes until the pretender to the test-driving throne pulled off and into a service station, followed by a convoy of Land Rovers wearing Top Gear logos. Despite an array of bodyguards on hand to make sure the imposter Stig kept his (her? its?) helmet on, Perzylo was brave enough to ask for a photo, and the individual obliged.

The BBC is none too happy about the incident, claiming that whoever was wearing the white racing suit and helmet was not The Stig. Really? We can't imagine too many folk with the means to wrangle up a Porsche, a convoy of Land Rovers and matching security would spend their time rolling around the British countryside pretending to be a TV celebrity. But then again, this sort of thing has happened at least once before. Either way, the broadcasting company says that it has launched an inquiry into the incident. You can hop over to the North-West Evening Mail to see the photo for yourself.

[Source: North-West Evening Mail]

Some say the BBC is launching an investigation... all we know is, he's not The Stig originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 22 Jul 2010 09:56:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Video: Top Gear pits Chevy Camaro against... Mercedes-Benz E63 AMG?!

Sam Abuelsamid — Mon, 12 Jul 2010 12:32:00 EST

Filed under: Coupe, Sedan, Performance, Videos, Chevrolet, Mercedes-Benz

Top Gear pits the Chevrolet Camaro vs. Mercedes-Benz E63 AMG - click above to watch the video

Conducting utterly inappropriate comparison tests is completely par for the course at Top Gear. After all, these were the guys that pitted a Ford Fiesta against a Chevrolet Corvette and a Jaguar XK120 against a Vincent Black Shadow and a train. In this week's latest episode Richard Hammond samples the new Chevrolet Camaro SS with its lovely 6.2-liter small-block V8 and then pulls out a slightly different kind of 6.2-liter V8 powered car.

Frankly, we doubt many (if any!) people are actually cross-shopping the Mercedes-Benz E63 AMG against the Camaro SS, but it sure is entertaining to watch the big German power-sliding around the air-strip test track at the hands of The Stig. With any luck, this episode will be the last time that we get to hear the Stig lapping to the less-than-dulcet tones of the vuvuzela. See how the Camaro fares against the E63 by watching the video after the jump.

Gallery: Review: 2010 Chevrolet Camaro SS

Gallery: Review: 2010 Mercedes-Benz E63 AMG

Gallery photos copyright (C)2010 Weblogs, Inc.

[Source: Top Gear via YouTube]

Continue reading Video: Top Gear pits Chevy Camaro against... Mercedes-Benz E63 AMG?!

Video: Top Gear pits Chevy Camaro against... Mercedes-Benz E63 AMG?! originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 12 Jul 2010 12:32:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Gentlemen, Start Your Torrents: Top Gear Series 15 Sunday

Jonathon Ramsey — Mon, 21 Jun 2010 09:28:00 EST

Filed under: Etc., UK, Celebrities

It was said that the Top Gear crew (and Fifth Gear, too) would be back in June, and it looks like they're going to limbo just under the line.

Your reintroduction to the three guys who hang out in the hangar will involve Jeremy exploring the demise of three-wheeled cars behind the wheel of a Reliant Robin, James May tackling that Icelandic volcano, Richard Hammond doing something "dignified" with a Chevrolet Lacetti and the Stig burning ethanol in a Bentley Continental Supersports. The fun gets going on Sunday, June 27, but feel free to cue the cheesy music now...

[Source: BBC]

Gentlemen, Start Your Torrents: Top Gear Series 15 Sunday originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 21 Jun 2010 09:28:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Video: British parents go nuts while passing Top Gear project cars

Zach Bowman — Wed, 12 May 2010 19:57:00 EST

Filed under: Videos, UK, Celebrities, Humor

Top Gear UK Spotted - Click above to watch video after the jump

America has suddenly been smitten with a rare strand of celebrity spotting. With our very own Top Gear headed our way, internet sleuths from all over the country have been outing Tanner Foust, Adam Ferrara and Rutledge Wood as they film new segments for the show. So far, we've seen the crew put the Dodge Viper up against an attack helicopter and flog a few cars along Mulholland.

But this is nothing new for our cousins across the pond. The O.G. Top Gear crew has been gallivanting around the streets and highways of England in plain sight for years. That doesn't mean it's any less special when Clarkson, Hammond and May are spotted in the wild, though.

Someone recently nabbed a quick video of the dynamic trio cruising along in their homebrewed caravans, and judging from the commentary, you'd think it was the second coming of the lords of internal combustion. Hilarity ensues. Hit the jump to see the quick video for yourself. Trust us, you do want to see this. Thanks for the tip, Kevin!

[Source: Car Driven]

Continue reading Video: British parents go nuts while passing Top Gear project cars

Video: British parents go nuts while passing Top Gear project cars originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 12 May 2010 19:57:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Top Gear takes blame for Icelandic volcano eruption

Jeremy Korzeniewski — Fri, 16 Apr 2010 15:32:00 EST

Filed under: Etc., Europe, UK, Celebrities, Humor

Top Gear at Iceland's Eyjafallajökull volcano - Click above for high-res image gallery

It seems so obvious in retrospect, doesn't it? Consider the facts. Exhibit A: Top Gear has demonstrated a penchant for visiting the faraway reaches of Iceland for some of their memorable television stunts and was seen filming in the cold just last week in one of their beloved Toyota trucks. Exhibit B: The boys at Top Gear - and especially ringleader Jeremy Clarkson - don't exactly have a stellar reputation for respecting the planet. Exhibit C: A large volcanic eruption is taking place in Iceland as we speak.

We're not the only ones suspicious. Says media commentator Annalisa Kneejerk:

It has been scientifically proven that Top Gear is responsible for almost every evil in the modern world, so the eruption of a furious tectonic force barely a week after Richard Clarkson's 'visit' can hardly be viewed as mere coincidence... We have it on good authority that Jeremy Hammond [sic] drove one of his favourite Ferrari gas-guzzlers at 100mph, straight into the main magma chamber, which could quite easily have caused this geological catastrophe. Thankfully I've never watched the show.

Coincidence? We think not. After all, it's already been scientifically proven.

Gallery: Top Gear at Iceland’s Eyjafallajökull volcano

[Source: Top Gear]

Top Gear takes blame for Icelandic volcano eruption originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 16 Apr 2010 15:32:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Report: Top Gear seen filming segment on erupting Icelandic volcano

Jonathon Ramsey — Thu, 08 Apr 2010 15:58:00 EST

Filed under: Etc., Europe, Safety, Celebrities

It probably could have been foreseen that an erupting volcano in Iceland would be an irresistible lure for Top Gear. The smell of lava in the gave James May, Jeremy Clarkson, and Richard Hammond the urge to outfit a vehicle and drive from Reykjavik to the top of the caldera. Specifically, rather, it gave them the urge to get a vehicle outfitted by Arctic Trucks to make the attempt.

The Google oneline translating team has left us a bit in the dark on this one, but aside from installing a cold water system to keep the tires cool, it doesn't appear much else was done to the truck. Any of you Icelanders out there, feel free to fill us in. And for the rest of you - and us! - at least we have one segment to look forward to in the coming season. Hat tip to Baldur!

Gallery: Arctic Trucks tours of Iceland

[Source: MBL.is (translated) | Image: Daniel Örn - CC 2.0]

Report: Top Gear seen filming segment on erupting Icelandic volcano originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 08 Apr 2010 15:58:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Top Gear crew dinged for being scruffiest blokes on the telly?

Dan Roth — Sat, 30 Jan 2010 18:37:00 EST

Filed under: Etc., UK, Celebrities

Reports like this make us glad the Autoblog Podcast is audio-only. A new survey of British television viewers finds that the UK wants more smartly-dressed personalities and pundits. 1,000 people were asked their thoughts about fashion on the telly, and two-thirds of the Top Gear crew received the dubious honor of being called the scruffiest presenters on televsion. James May and Jeremy Clarkson apparently need to head to Carnaby Street and ditch the open collars and jeans.

Richard Hammond didn't get away unscathed, either. He was voted the fifth worst dressed. Most of the people polled want their presenters to wear ties, and nearly half think jeans should be out, too. The personalities deemed the best-dressed were Sir Trevor McDonald, a long-serving veteran, and the wise and dapper Bruce Forsyth. Taking this report to heart, we'll be speaking with our tailors directly.

[Source: Telegraph.co.uk | Image: TopGear.com]

Top Gear crew dinged for being scruffiest blokes on the telly? originally appeared on Autoblog on Sat, 30 Jan 2010 18:37:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Report: BBC planning Top Gear video game

Jonny Lieberman — Mon, 25 Jan 2010 15:58:00 EST

Filed under: Etc.

The BBC is planning to turn some of its most popular shows into video games, and along with Doctor Who and a kiddie show called The Night Garden, the Beeb is considering a console version of our favorite motoring show, Top Gear. There's not a lot (or any) information on how the Top Gear game will work, but we do know that the BBC is most interested in creating the games for the Nintendo DS and Nintendo Wii. However, the BBC is also interested in a Facebook game as well as an iPhone version.

Since we don't know anything, let's speculate. How would a Top Gear video game work? Naturally, there'd be a driving component where you take various cars around Top Gear's famed test track. Even better than that, you could take various cars around the track as different Top Gear presenters, including the Stig. Perhaps you could recreate some of the classic battles, like when Jeremy Clarkson and the Audi R8 took on Richard Hammond in the Porsche 911 (available after the jump).

Obviously, we could go on for some time here. So we'll just say that we hope there's a Mortal Kombat style level where the boys get to rip each others' spines out, and leave the rest of the speculating to you, our dear readers.

[Source: Electric Pig]

Continue reading Report: BBC planning Top Gear video game

Report: BBC planning Top Gear video game originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 25 Jan 2010 15:58:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Top Gear returning to BBC America this month

Noah Joseph — Tue, 12 Jan 2010 09:59:00 EST

Filed under: Etc., Celebrities

Getting the latest episodes of Top Gear on the revolutionary side of the Atlantic has always been a bit of a misadventure. Some episodes were aired on the Discovery Channel. BBC America ran a few as well. And of course there was the ill-fated NBC project to Americanize the program, much as they did in Australia, which never panned out. But with all these ups and downs, the internet has been the only reliable way of watching the show enjoyed by car nuts world wide.

Now reports indicate, however, that the show will be returning (hopefully on a permanent basis) to BBC America. FinalGear, the online clearing house of all things related to British car shows, reports that Series 13 - the show's previous season - will begin airing on Monday, January 25 at 8 pm. Once 13 has run out, the Beeb's Yankee channel will immediately commence showing the 14th season that's currently on the air back in the Isles. That ought to start on March 15. And to sweeten the deal, each episode will be made available on iTunes for $2 apiece 24 hours after they've been shown on BBC America. So whether your cable box or your iTunes is your chosen purveyor of visual entertainment, you've got your options laid out for you.

[Source: FinalGear]

Top Gear returning to BBC America this month originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 12 Jan 2010 09:59:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Top Gear brings the firepower, named UK's favorite show of the decade

Chris Paukert — Mon, 28 Dec 2009 11:00:00 EST

Filed under: Etc., UK, Celebrities

As fellow car fanatics, it's often hard for us Statesiders to get a clear picture as to how big of a phenomenon Top Gear really is over in the UK. After all, we hardly have a proper frame of reference - the only car shows that really draw significant audience shares in America are the 500s (your choice of Daytona or Indianapolis), and everything else is comparatively minor - from failed series attempts like NBC's Night Rider redux to the Speed network and stalwarts like MotorWeek.So... just how big are Jeremy Clarkson, James May and Richard Hammond in Blighty? The Great Britains have just been named heads of the biggest show of the decade.

According to the Daily Mail, a new survey conducted by YouGov (commissioned for a Channel4 tv special), The Greatest TV Show of the Noughties, the forty-something boys and their fabulous toys topped all comers from all genres. The BBC program beat out such programs as the UK's homegrown version of The Apprentice, Doctor Who, The Office, The Simpsons, and Britain's Got Talent.

[Source: Daily Mail | Image: Shaun Curry/AFP/Getty]

Top Gear brings the firepower, named UK's favorite show of the decade originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 28 Dec 2009 11:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Top Gear crew responds to gay audience kerfuffle by bringing on the Village People. Sort of.

Jeremy Korzeniewski — Thu, 10 Dec 2009 18:02:00 EST

Filed under: UK, Celebrities, Humor

What to Jeremy Clarkson, Richard Hammond and James May all have in common with the Village People? Well, nothing really, except for the fact that all of them were present and accounted for at last Sunday's taping of Top Gear in Britain. Sort of... actually, it was four men that the BBC crew hired to dress up like the stereotypically gay musical group of "Y.M.C.A." and "Macho Man" fame.

So, the next logical question: Why? To prove that Top Gear isn't homophobic, obviously. Just last week, word hit the Interwebs that a gay couple had been denied tickets to the super-popular British show due to a rule that TG's cast be made up equally of men and women. The BBC claims it doesn't deny gay people from its audience as long as the 50/50 rule is adhered to.

Never one to back down from controversy, Jeremy Clarkson reportedly said during the taping, "The truth is, we welcome homosexual couples. We particularly like the lesbian sort... I saw a film about lesbians on the Internet once. It looked very interesting." This is sure to smooth over any tensions between the gay community and Top Gear, dontcha think?

[Source: Mirror.co.uk]

Top Gear crew responds to gay audience kerfuffle by bringing on the Village People. Sort of. originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 10 Dec 2009 18:02:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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REPORT: BBC says Top Gear doesn't ban gay couples from show audience

Jeremy Korzeniewski — Sun, 06 Dec 2009 14:09:00 EST

Filed under: Etc., UK, Celebrities

Is the BBC discriminating against gay couples? As is often the case, that depends on whom you ask. How so? It seems that Top Gear, the Beeb's ridiculously popular car show, has created a rule stipulating that its audience be made up of 50 percent males and 50 percent females, and at least one gay couple was allegedly denied tickets "unless [they] took a couple of female friends."

A BBC spokesperson has responded to the kerfuffle saying, "We do not - absolutely do not - discriminate against same sex couples... the whole implication that Top Gear is in any way homophobic is completely wrong." Ben Summerskill, chief executive of gay rights charity Stonewall, doesn't quite seem to agree: "It's very odd, but what do you expect from pigs that grunt? Regrettably, with Jeremy Clarkson involved, it's not surprising. The show itself is full of stereotyping of both men and women - but it's funded by gay and lesbian license fee cash as well as everyone else's."

The BBC adds that it doesn't even handle the actual ticketing for the show. A company called Applause Store issues the tickets in quantities of two. Says the spokesperson, "We don't ask people to apply as a couple, we ask them to apply as people."

[Source: AOL TV UK]
Note: AOL owns both AOL TV and Autoblog, but the two share no editorial affiliation.

REPORT: BBC says Top Gear doesn't ban gay couples from show audience originally appeared on Autoblog on Sun, 06 Dec 2009 14:09:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Next in line to get irked by Jeremy Clarkson? The Romanian government [w/VIDEO]

Jonny Lieberman — Tue, 24 Nov 2009 19:30:00 EST

Filed under: Etc., Celebrities

Top Gear in Romania - click above to watch video

Another day, another country that hates Jeremy Clarkson's guts. Or at least, another country that is seeking an apology from the Top Gear host for his no doubt rude, but no doubter funny comments about said country. In this case, it's the former Iron Curtain nation of Romania. Seems that during the series' season 14 opener, Jezza had some less than flattering observations about the country that shot former "Conductor" Nicolae Ceauşescu and his wife before they could even be tied up and blindfolded.

Clarkson's offending remarks? He referred to Romania as "Borat country." He also donned the silly-looking pork pie hat above and stated, "I'm wearing this hat so the gypsies think I am one. I'm told they can be violent if they don't like the look of you." He also called Romanian water "Communist water" and mentioned that Romanians like to express their sense of humor with guns. Pretty innocuous stuff if you ask us. Especially compared to cracks Clarkson's made about other non-British places. Like Germany, America and Malaysia. Regardless, the Romanian government is apparently expecting an apology. We think they'd have a better chance at satisfaction by issuing a Whamber Alert. In any case, you can see the offending footage in its entirety by clicking through to the jump.

[Sources: Telegraph; YouTube]

Continue reading Next in line to get irked by Jeremy Clarkson? The Romanian government [w/VIDEO]

Next in line to get irked by Jeremy Clarkson? The Romanian government [w/VIDEO] originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 24 Nov 2009 19:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Top Gear: A little history about everybody's favorite TV show

Jonny Lieberman — Thu, 12 Nov 2009 14:01:00 EST

Filed under: Etc., Celebrities

What if the Stig was known as the Gimp? It's doubtful Top Gear's mysterious racing driver - or the show itself - would have proved as enormously popular. Would you walk around in a shirt proclaiming, "I Am The Gimp?" Doubtful, but if Jeremy Clarkson and the show's producer Andy Wilman had had their way, that's what we'd be calling old Stiggy. Luckily, cooler angrier heads prevailed. Though it should be noted that the Stig was, in fact, based on the Gimp from Pulp Fiction, an "anonymous masked driver who never spoke."

You can read about all that and more in a very interesting article by the Guardian's Patrick Barkham. And it's not all about the motor-mouthed Clarkson and foul-mouthed (trust us) Wilman, Richard Hammond and James May get their proper due, too. For instance, May claims that he never would have done the show had he known how successful it would be, a point Hammond quickly dismisses. We don't want to spoil it too much more, but if you're a fan of the biggest TV show in the world (350 million viewers, constantly illegally downloaded), you're going to want to have a read. Tip of Stig's blanco racing helmet to Jon!

[Source: Guardian]

Top Gear: A little history about everybody's favorite TV show originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 12 Nov 2009 14:01:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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VIDEO: Top Gear Season 14 returns this Sunday

Jonny Lieberman — Tue, 10 Nov 2009 13:58:00 EST

Filed under: Europe, Videos, Celebrities, Humor

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.

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Top Gear faces mounting criticism over costly new stunts. Again.

Jonathon Ramsey — Tue, 13 Oct 2009 12:35:00 EST

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

Top Gear fans greet each new season with more eager glee. Top Gear critics have taken to welcoming each new run with more criticism. According to the Belfast Telegraph, the latest "How dare they!" comes from a Minister of Parliament (MP) and Friends of the Earth, who want to run TG up the flagpole for "extravagant costs" and 'wanton destruction" -- those two things coincidentally being two of the things that fans love most.

The show went to Belfast, Ireland to film a few segments that included lofting a car to the top of a gigantic crane, launching a Renault Twingo into the sea, as well as a bit of garden variety drag racing. The MP, Gregory Campbell, is aghast at the apparent cost of such stunts, and even more aghast at the fact that the BBC won't reveal exactly how much the stunts cost. The supposed tally is £200,000 ($315,150 U.S.) for Belfast segments that might make up 10 minutes of the show.

Joining Campbell in outrage is Declan Allison from Friends of the Earth, who said: "The wanton destruction of tens of thousands of pounds worth of machinery impresses no-one. It's a wasteful extravagance and, in the middle of a global recession, in very poor taste."

So there. The complaints will probably have as much effect on the show as previous complaints, which is to say, pffffft. We're far more interested in finding out what Clarkson meant when he said that show heads want "black Muslim lesbian" presenters.

[Source: Belfast Telegraph]

Top Gear faces mounting criticism over costly new stunts. Again. originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 13 Oct 2009 12:35:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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