It's been several years since the hit show Top Gear, currently in filming for its 12th season on BBC2, began catching on among gearhead-minded college students in the US. Featuring infamous host Jeremy Clarkson and co-presenters Richard Hammond and James May, the show has kept audiences entertained with outrageous stunts and challenges that have included driving cars to the North Pole and crossing the English Channel in home-built amphibious vehicles, among many others. By way of FinalGear.com, BBC America, and Discovery Channel, we in the United States have been able to keep up with the BBC’s Top Gear from across the pond.

 

Now, for those who feel they can never get enough of the show, there’s a new version - from down under. Featuring 3 new presenters selected from over 4000 applicants, Top Gear Australia’s first episode aired Sunday on SBS TV to a wide audience of about 933,000 viewers, breaking the network’s record for largest viewership for a locally produced program ever. Reviews so far have been mixed, but it’s been said that despite the show’s roots in the UK, it is important to judge the Aussie version based on its own merits rather than against the well polished British version. The premier featured a review of the latest Porsche 911 as well as an off road driving competition and a test to see how well a car can perform as a shark cage.

 

See clips of the show here or check out FinalGear.com to grab the entire episode.

 

And for those of you still hungry for more Top Gear, stay tuned to NBC this winter when our very own Top Gear USA arrives.

 

Source:

The Australian

SBS TV via Autoblog