Preview...

http://www.history.com/videos/most-f...ear-sneak-peek

Big fan of the real Top Gear. This looks like a poor effort.

And it should NOT be called Top Gear. Are they forgetting that the US already has a huge following for the UK original? How can we have two shows with the exact same title? 350 million people worldwide watch Top Gear and they don't think to alter the title to at least Top Gear US, or something?

That whole preview focused just on how surprised they are to be driving such cars. Lame. The hosts is what makes the show and so far, these guys don't seem to cut it.

I smell a failure.

 

I would like to think this show is targeted towards US folks who has never seen the UK top gear, to add more viewers to the overall BBC portfolio.

They are basically using the same format, hoping to grab unsuspecting audiences here, as opposed to using the same format to please the original US viewers.

 

You have to give it a chance and try and watch it without constantly referring back to the original in your mind.

 

The problem is, is that by giving it the same exact title, they are basically asking to be compared to the UK original.

It needed to be launched with a different title that way it could stand on its own.

 

You guys have to remember that even the first few season of the real Top Gear sucked. However, from what I've heard from people who went to the tapings of this Top Gear, it's actually pretty good.

 

Its going to suck!

If there is no wacky brits running the show, its not Top Gear.

 

It's the hosts that make the show, not the cars IMO. We'll just have to wait and see how the US version does.

 

admittedly, those hosts seemingly pale in comparison to the UK trio

otoh, it will be nice to see some vehicles that can actually be driven/purchased stateside, as well as not have to hear terms like 'bonnet' and 'naught' and 'brake hp'

 

I completely agree. Nobody cares about the cars they had in the Bolivia special for example (old 1980's 4x4's), but that episode was great, as all the others because of the personalities of the hosts.

I will give this a chance because I want it to work, but I am skeptical for sure.

 

Good point. All those weird British terms border on annoying. Plus, the mispronouncing of thousands of words.

 

One major handicap this show is going to have is America's low speed limits on public roads. For the UK show, they're known for being able to travel public roads at triple digit speeds. For the American version, being limited to closed tracks may be boring. Plus, Europe has many more vast high speed tracks (like VW's famous test track).

It will be nice to see a high concentration of cars that are actually sold in America. The original Top Gear is filled with cars Americans haven't even heard of.

Set your DVR's for tonight!

 

I completely agree with you. Has anyone here even watch Top Gear Australia?, I feels that the same thing would happen to the US version.

 

For the speed thing, they can go to one of the Dakota's where there technically is no speed limit. I just hope they dont review alot of mundane cars like camrys and accords, there's Motorweek for that.

 

T minus 50 minutes EST

 

13 minutes in meh...