Tag: Series 12

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Top Gear Top Gear Australia

Top Gear Series 17 starting on 12 June (or not)

Top Gear cast

First filed: 18 May

According to the latest issue of the Dutch edition of Top Gear magazine Season 17 is due to air on BBC2 from Sunday 12 June (see below).

Meanwhile, Top Gear Australia has recently been recording its studio pieces for the next series which will be due to air on Channel 9 later this year.

[Source: Final Gear]

UPDATE 19 May: It looks like the Dutch Top Gear mag went a bit early by naming a start date for the next season. A wrap on the knuckles for someone, we suspect. So, Top Gear Series 17 will start in June and most likely on a Sunday, too. You have a one in four chance of being right; name your date below!

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Top Gear

Even more on Top Gear in Vietnam

Top Gear 12x08 - Vietnam Special

The Top Gear Vietnam Special was eagerly awaited by AUSmotive HQ, especially after our world exclusive announcing the recording of the episode, in October 2008. Now, Australian viewers can see the 75 minute episode, in full, on SBS tomorrow night from 7:30pm.

In addition to our earlier “More on Top Gear in Vietnam” post are these six wallpaper sized images from the filming. Simply click on each pic to load the 2000x1320px super image. There’s some good images, including a few from the stunning Ha Long Bay.

The good lads at Explore Indochina also have some behind the scenes images on their website. These guys were used as consultants during the episode with some of the bike modifications carried out under their supervision. If you’re ever considering a road trip, with a difference, then this is the company for you.

For a brief overview of the episode click HERE *spoilers* or simply book a spot on your couch for 7:30 tomorrow night.

(Thanks to Andrew for the all the tips.)

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Top Gear

Top Gear – Series 12 now on Australian TV screens

Top Gear - Series 12, Episode 1

A quick reminder to AUSmotive readers that SBS is now showing Series 12 of Top Gear. Episode 1 is airing on your screens as this article is being written. You may recall that Jeremy created quite a bit of controversy with a few of his gags in their £5000 Lorry Challenge.

Overall, the eight episode series offers the usual high standard of Top Gear viewing. A few of the later episodes were a bit off key, but still solid entertainment. Hats off to SBS for getting the latest series to screen in relatively quick time. So, for the next seven weeks, keep your telly set to SBS on Monday nights at 7:30pm.

Update: Well, I guess it’s nice that SBS have got this series to air in double quick time, but it’s a shame that more than just the news segment has been edited to squeeze in a few ads. Apart from the odd bits missing from the feature stories, the news segments were some of the more entertaining pieces in this series.

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Top Gear

Top Gear – Series 12, Episode 8 (Vietnam Special)

Top Gear - Series 12, Episode 8 (Vietnam Special)

The last episode of Series 12 was the highly anticipated Vietnam Special. News of Top Gear filming in Vietnam was revealed exclusively right here on AUSmotive back in early October. At 75 minutes, this episode is the longest Top Gear special to date.

The challenge set to the Top Gear trio was to get from the south of Vietnam to the north in just eight days. They had 15 million Vietnamese dong each to fund their purchase of suitable transport. Turns out all those millions don’t go very far, and the lads were left with no choice but to go for motorcycle power, despite Jeremy’s protestations. The usual hijinx followed, with the added comedy value of seeing Clarkson struggle on two wheels.

As an overall episode, though, it didn’t reach the highs of the USA or African specials, for example. That said, the Vietnam Special was a thoroughly enjoyable journey to watch, with the usual standards of Top Gear cinematography doing a great job of capturing Vietnam’s inspiring scenery.

A few captures from the episode are shown below. Australian readers beware—the pics below may be considered spoilers if you want to wait until this episode airs on SBS in a couple of months time. I just want to know what happened to the Red Stig?

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News Top Gear

Top Gear confirms date for Vietnam Special

Top Gear in Vietnam - Series 12, Episode 8

Revealed exclusively on AUSmotive back in October, Top Gear have filmed an hour long a 75 minute special in Vietnam. A few teasers from this episode were given in week 1 of the current series, it looks good! At the end of last night’s episode, Jeremy Clarkson confirmed AUSmotive’s speculative airing date for the Vietnam Special of Sunday 28 December was correct. Should be a cracker of an episode and we’ll know for sure in just under two weeks!

For all the latest discussion on this episode before it goes to air, keep an eye on FinalGear.com

Update 27 December: This episode will be a 75 minute special, as confirmed in THIS POST by Andy Wilman. Even more about this ep from TopGear.com can be read HERE.

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Top Gear

Top Gear – Series 12, Episode 7

Honda FCX Clarity - Hydrogen powered car

Bit of a meat and three veg episode of Top Gear this week. Richard opened the show with a piece on the British Touring Car Championship which is celebrating its 50th year in 2008. The lads then went through the news, which was rather entertaining again.

There was reference to a Morris Marina that James and Jeremy torched last week. The team also showed a range of Christmas gift ideas, including a remote control car that can drive up walls. They showed a clip of the car in action, and can someone please confirm what the nice lady said she did with her pennies? Humour also ensued when the Top Gear Awards were announced. The Caterham R500 got the top gong, and I have to say, it looks like a cracking car. Raw, uncompromising and brutal in its simplicity. Just like a track focused car should be.

Jeremy tested a Tesla Roadster. This is an electric powered car, based on a Lotus Elise, and can reach 100km/h in under 4 seconds. It’s good, but is it the future? Not really. It was James’ review of the Honda FCX Clarity that showed the way of the future. James, pictured above chewing the fat with Jay Leno, explained the Clarity’s strength lies in its hydrogen power. I think he was right, this is the car of the future, because it is like the car of today.

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Top Gear

Top Gear – Series 12, Episode 6

Top Gear - Series 12, Episode 6

It is often said many car fans live their dreams through the exploits of the Top Gear crew. Well, maybe it’s not said that often. Nevertheless, it is true. I think. Aside from that, Jeremy Clarkson lived one of my dreams in the most recent episode of Top Gear. Driving through a shopping mall. Ever since seeing the Blues Brothers this has been a dream of mine. It would just be so much fun. And I do concur with Jeremy, a new Ford Fiesta would be a much better car for the task than a big oafy Corvette.

Elsewhere in the show Hammond drove a Caterham R500 Superlight and a Veritas RS III around the Top Gear test track. In doing so, he proved that some things are best kept simple. Even though the Veritas isn’t exactly an over complicated beast, it’s no Caterham. The light weight British meccano set with gilt-edged pedigree may not look so great, but it is devastatingly effective around a track.

Jeremy and James tried to find a good communist car. They thought they found one in the Lada Niva, but sanity prevailed.

Speaking of which, I wonder if it will prevail with Boris Johnson? The Mayor of London was the guest and he proved that a political satirist can actually make it into office. I’ve no idea about his politics, or his effectiveness, but he’s mad as a cut snake and, clearly, doesn’t take himself too seriously. I like that.

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Top Gear

Top Gear – Series 12, Episode 5

Top Gear - Series 12, Episode 5

Brutal mingers, Milli Vanilli exhaust tips and RM Williams boots. These were just some of the things featured on this week’s episode.

Jeremy opened the show by pitting the BMW M3 Sedan against the Lexus IS-F (with Milli Vanilli exhaust tips). The upshot? Lexus done good, but not as good as BMW.

The Porsche Panamera (the brutal minger) copped a bit of a ribbing during the news segment, while Richard (in his RM Williams boots) and Jeremy gave the Cool Wall some new life.

There was a bus race to test which would be the best buses for London’s public transport. I have to say, watching a double decker bus corner on two-wheels was almost as cool as seeing a bendy bus powerslide.

Kevin McCloud, from Grand Designs, was the guest. Described as an “eco-mentalist”, he has a dark secret and some raw driving talent. Nice work!

The feature clip closed out the show and saw Richard driving a 1968 Ferrari Daytona from Portofino, Italy to St Triopez, France. James tagged along in a fancy boat.

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Bugatti Pagani Top Gear

Top Gear – Series 12, Episode 4

Top Gear - Series 12, Episode 4

I love Top Gear, even if that pink and purple striped top of James May’s needs to be retired. This week was another very fine episode.

James May tested the Pagani Zonda F Roadster on the Top Gear test track. His premiere appearance in such a test, and it was grand television indeed. The big news, though, was seeing the Bugatti Veyron setting  a time for the Power Lap board. Despite annihilating the Zonda in a straight out drag, and despite lighting up the inside front wheel on the last corner (see below)…

Avid viewers will remember Harry Enfield‘s debut guest appearance (Series 1, Episode 1) where he set a 2 minute plus lap time. He returned this week to put that right.

There was a challenge, too, and the lads had to drive from Basel to Blackpool on one tank of fuel. Once at Blackpool the winner of the challenge would get to turn on the Blackpool Christmas lights. Jeremy Clarkson made it, amazingly, in a Jaguar V6 diesel.  James May was not so fortunate, with his Subaru Legacy diesel going the distance, but he was too slow and missed the illumination ceremony. That leaves Hammond, who won the race, behind the wheel of a 3-cylinder Volkswagen Polo BlueMotion.

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Top Gear

Top Gear – Series 12, Episode 3

Top Gear - Series 12, Episode 3

A bit of a meat and veg episode of Top Gear this week. Not particularly outstanding, but thoroughly enjoyable all the same. The James May/Mika Hakkinen segment was the highlight for me. Getting an insight into Finnish driving culture was quite interesting—some tips for Australian authorities there, no doubt. Top Gear is often described as a dream job and James May has now had personal tuition from Sir Jackie Stewart and Mika Hakkinen. Nice work, if you can get it.

Richard introduced us to Toyota’s i-REAL. A funky wheelchair-like contraption. Not sure if it will take over the world like Toyota reckon, but we’ll see.

The news segments in Series 12 have really picked up and, even if scripted more than it may look, they are running along very smoothly with great interaction and humour between the cast. Mark Wahlberg was the guest, a bit cheeky, and very aggressive on the track.

Then, the challenge, a homemade Evo. The guys had to take an unknown donor car and try to make it as quick as an Evo X around the test track (1:28.2). The car? A Renault Avantime. A curious thing. Odd, it has to be said, but with a 3.0 V6 maybe it had the legs?

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Top Gear

Top Gear – Series 12, Episode 2

Top Gear- Series 12, Episode 2

This week the lads drove from San Francisco to the Bonneville Salt Flats so they could drive very,very fast. Jeremy Clarkson was in a Corvette ZR1 and topped 176mph (283km/h). James May, aka Captain Slow, in a Cadillac CTS-V was anything but, reaching 163mph (262km/h). Richard Hammond, behind the wheel of a Dodge Challenger, managed a respectable 150mph (241km/h). All the while managing to show that Americans have made three cracking cars. More amazingly, they actually go around corners very competently as well. Okay, maybe the Challenger doesn’t, but the ZR1 and the CTS-V most certainly do.

Also featured was the Fiat 500 Abarth SS. Looks like a funky little pocket rocket. Jeremy gave it a good thrashing around the track and reckons it comes up trumps.

Will Young was the Star in a Reasonably Priced Car. He won UK Pop Idol a while back and has managed to maintain his celebrity since. A rare feat indeed. Not knowing much about him before tonight’s show he’s a lieable enough chap and seems to be abel to steer a car quite well, so he’s alright by me.

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News Top Gear

More on Top Gear in Vietnam

Top Gear in Vietnam - Series 12

Now that Series 12 has started, a few questions about the Top Gear Vietnam special have been answered. According to FinalGear.com the theme of the challenge will be ‘Can you travel the length of Vietnam on 13 million Vietnamese Dong?’ By taking a closer look at the images in the opening teaser sequence shown at the start of Episode 1 we can deduce the following…

Firstly, we know the Vietnam episode will appear in the current series. Secondly, as revealed exclusively on AUSmotive, the challenge will involve motorbikes, including an all red ‘Communist Stig’! Also made known in AUSmotive’s exclusive report was one of the stops during the challenge would be at Halong Bay. Now I can show a new exclusive image of one of the motorbikes undergoing a water craft transformation, the results of which were shown in use with Jeremy in the preview footage (see extra images after the jump).

Top Gear in Vietnam - Series 12

The only thing not confirmed is the date this episode will go to air. While I don’t have any concrete information my educated guesses suggest a few possible dates. My hunch is the Vietnam special will air on 28 December—as a season finale—however, if it is to be shown earlier in the series, pencil in either 16 or 23 November as possible dates. With the great start to the series in the first episode, it looks like the lads are in great form and the Vietnam film is sure to be a high point in the series.

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