Autoblog

Are you the Top Gear USA test track?

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

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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Autoblog Podcast #190 - Chrysler profit, Top Gear USA and small Buicks

Dan Roth — Tue, 10 Aug 2010 17:15:00 EST

Filed under: Podcasts, Etc., Government/Legal, Safety, Buick, Chevrolet, Chrysler, Ford, GM, Honda, Lexus, Lincoln, Earnings/Financials

Click above for the Autoblog Podcast in iTunes, RSS or listen now!

Chris, Sam and Dan come back for Episode #190 of the Autoblog Podcast, and this time around we talk about Chrysler's profit announcement, the Top Gear USA trailer, Honda's latest recall, the Buick Verano. We also touch on a Ferrari-based Lancia Stratos tribute and GM's prospects for selling Chevrolet Volts. We kick the ball around on a single question before calling it a night right at the hour mark. Thanks for listening, see you next week!

Autoblog Podcast #190 - Chrysler profit, Top Gear USA and small Buicks

In the Autoblog Garage:

Ford F450 Super Duty
Lexus RX450h
Lincoln MKT

News:

Hosts:
Dan Roth, Sam Abuelsamid, Chris Shunk

Runtime: 67:26

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Autoblog Podcast #190 - Chrysler profit, Top Gear USA and small Buicks originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 10 Aug 2010 17:15:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Adam Carolla explains why he's not doing Top Gear USA

Jeremy Korzeniewski — Tue, 25 May 2010 14:01:00 EST

Filed under: Etc., Celebrities

Ah yes,Top Gear USA. We had nearly given up hope for the American version of the hit British television series until friend-of-Autoblog Adam Carolla let slip details of the series' subsequent resuscitation on The History Channel during a taping of one of his CarCast episodes. At the time, it was thought that Carolla would be the only one of the original three cast members from the pilot to make the reborn series. As it turns out, that was not the case. What gives?

Apparently, Carolla has a pilot sitcom that he's currently taping for NBC, and the Peacock wouldn't let the funny man away long enough to join History's Top Gear USA. Sad for all, as reports from those who attended the taping of the NBC pilot almost universally praised Carolla's performance on the show.

Perhaps the most disappointed of all is Carolla himself, who openly dishes on the May 17 edition of his CarCast that he hopes his NBC sitcom is canceled so he can rejoin Top Gear. Click here to listen to the entire episode, but know that there's some foul language.

[Source: AdamCarolla.com via MotoBullet.com]

Adam Carolla explains why he's not doing Top Gear USA originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 25 May 2010 14:01:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Adam Carolla CarCast tips off Top Gear USA might yet live on History Channel

Jeremy Korzeniewski — Mon, 15 Feb 2010 11:27:00 EST

Filed under: Etc., Celebrities

Big news comes by way of Adam Carolla's CarCast today as it now appears that Top Gear USA is back on track. Instead of appearing on NBC, though, the show will apparently move to The History Channel. Exciting news indeed, especially for Carolla, who is apparently the only one of the three original cast members who was informed of the decision - what that means for the other two hosts remains to be seen.

We don't have any details on when Top Gear USA will finally hit the airwaves, but we'll be keeping an ear to the ground and an itchy trigger finger on our DVRs as soon as we know anything more. Want to hear the news straight from the source? Click here to listen to Adam Carolla's CarCast.

We highly recommend that you enjoy the entire episode - after all, what could possibly be better than a road trip to obtain a freshly restored Lamborghini Miura? - but the Top Gear talk starts at 12:30 if that's all you car about. Beware of some NSFW language. Hat tip to Jason!

[Source: Adam Carolla's CarCast]

Adam Carolla CarCast tips off Top Gear USA might yet live on History Channel originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 15 Feb 2010 11:27:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Top Gear USA casting audience members for pilot

Damon Lavrinc — Mon, 21 Jul 2008 17:32:00 EST

Filed under: Celebrities

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.

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Popular Mechanics lands interview with Adam Carolla, details on Top Gear U.S.

Damon Lavrinc — Tue, 24 Jun 2008 17:28:00 EST

Filed under: Etc., Celebrities

The debut of the U.S. version of Top Gear is supposedly only three months away and Popular Mechanics had a chance to sit down with Adam Carolla, the import's new front man, to discuss the show, his co-hosts and what buns are in the oven when the series debuts this September.

Make the jump to read all the details.

Continue reading Popular Mechanics lands interview with Adam Carolla, details on Top Gear U.S.

Popular Mechanics lands interview with Adam Carolla, details on Top Gear U.S. originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 24 Jun 2008 17:28:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Top Gear producer talks about foreign editions

Dan Roth — Fri, 06 Jun 2008 13:59:00 EST

Filed under: Trends, Etc., Lifestyle

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.

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More info on NBC's plans for Top Gear USA

John Neff — Fri, 16 May 2008 15:32:00 EST

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.

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Leno fears Top Gear USA may suck

John Neff — Mon, 31 Mar 2008 10:58:00 EST

Filed under: Europe, Celebrities

NBC has officially purchased the rights to produce an American version of Top Gear, and seeing as it has one of this country's biggest gear heads on its payroll, it's a no-brainer that they would at least ask Jay Leno to host. In his most recent editorial for The Sunday Times, Leno recounts being asked by a corporate suit with practically no clue about of the hit British show to host the American version. It goes something like this. "Well, the network has bought the TV show... um... High Gear? Top Gear? Top Gear! Top Gear, yes. We know you like to build cars." Sigh...

Thankfully Leno turned down the offer, not because he's unworthy, but rather because he knows he couldn't do the show justice and because the idea of an American Top Gear is doomed from the start. Being part of the BBC, the original version is not reliant on advertising to stay on the air, so talking smack about a particular automaker and its wares is no biggie. As Leno notes, things work differently at NBC and any episode in which a sponsor gets lambasted would immediately be followed by what The Tonight Show host calls, "the meeting". And then, bye bye sponsors and bye bye show.

Rumors of comic Adam Carolla hosting the show have us optimistic, because he's a bonafide gear head and if anyone could keep it real about cars on camera, he could. Plus, his last name is phonetically identical to Toyota's little econo-sedan, which would be great fodder for ridicule by the other hosts, whoever they might be. The fact is, however, the task of doing justice to this great export from Great Britain is near impossible, and Jay knows it. Thanks for the tip, everybody!

[Source: Times Online]

Leno fears Top Gear USA may suck originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 31 Mar 2008 10:58:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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