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Watch Einride’s autonomous truck take on the ‘Top Gear’ track
Einride recently revealed its revamped autonomous delivery truck, which is more aerodynamic than the previous version. To give a glimpse of the Pod in action, the Einride team put the AV through its paces on the Top Gear track in Surrey, England. The video perhaps doesn’t have the glossy production that Top Gear fans are used to, but it provides a solid look at the Pod in motion. It also shows that on straights, the Pod can travel at over 80 km/h — that’s the typical speed limit for heavy goods vehicles in the European Union.
'Doctor Who' will be an HBO Max streaming exclusive in the US
Finding the shows you want to stream is about to get more complicated in the coming months as some big-name companies launch their own services to take on the likes of Hulu and Netflix. Among them is WarnerMedia, and when HBO Max arrives next spring, you may have to start using that platform if you're a Whovian eager for your Time Lord fix.
Amazon's 'Grand Tour' is the most pirated show ever (update)
Amazon's The Grand Tour, a reboot of the BBC's hit show Top Gear, has been an unmitigated success, with fans with its first episode alone garnering "millions" of views. It's also a hit with pirates who, instead of paying the annual $100 fee for Amazon Prime, have downloaded the first three episodes at unprecedented rates.
'Top Gear' host Chris Evans bails after poor comeback ratings
After a single season at the helm, Chris Evans is stepping down from Top Gear. The presenter, which took over from Jeremy Clarkson and his fellow partners in crime, James May and Richard Hammond, said on Twitter: "(I) gave it my best show but sometimes that's not enough. The team are beyond brilliant, I wish them all the best." The latest series of Top Gear, which wrapped up last night in the UK, has been battered by low audience figures and scathing reviews, both from critics and fans. Replicating the success of the Clarkson era was always going to be difficult, however, when so much of the show's appeal was attributed to the old presenters.
Is Netflix seriously going to revive 'Top Gear' as 'House of Cars?'
Ever since Jeremy Clarkson punched a producer in a row over steak, the future of Top Gear has been completely up in the air. The BBC appears to have distanced itself completely, leaving Clarkson and his co-presenters James May and Richard Hammond to speak to other broadcasters about creating a brand new motoring show. Over the past few weeks, it's been suggested that streaming giant Netflix is the favourite to pick up the trio, and today The Mirror has added more fuel to the fire after it reported that the new show already has a name: House of Cars.
Watch how Nissan's hybrid supercar fares on Top Gear's test track
Nissan's hybrid supercar might have had to bow out of its Le Mans run with transmission issues, but there are plenty of other famous racetracks that it can run around. The vehicle traveled over to Top Gear's test track at Dunsfold Aerodrome, where Ollie Marriage put it through its paces. The Top Gear Magazine editor was full of praise for the vehicle, complimenting the amount of torque the electric engine provides. He also confessed that in combined mode, with 700hp at his disposal, he managed to spin the car out on his first lap. We've got the video of the test lap tucked in after the break, as well as a view taken straight from the cockpit for your armchair racing needs.
Forza 5 lets you race The Stig's Digital Cousin in new Top Gear DLC
Some say he invented the Internet, and that his laugh produces glass-shattering soundwaves. All we know is he's not The Stig - but he is The Stig's Digital Cousin, and a challenge against him is coming to Forza Motorsport 5. A new Top Gear-themed DLC pack is racing toward the Xbox One-exclusive game, and it includes not only a challenge in which players get to face off against The Stig's Digital Cousin for prizes, but 10 new cars, including an Xbox One-themed 2013 Holden Commodore VF. You can see the full list of vehicles included in the Top Gear Car Pack after the break. Though each of the 10 cars included can be purchased a la carte, you'll need the pack if you want to take on Top Gear's famous masked man in the official challenge. It's available now for $9.99. Those who complete the challenge will receive an in-game credit reward, while those in the top 10 for the challenge will receive additional prizes. The number one driver against The Stig's Digital Cousin will win a special Stig Prize Pack from Top Gear. And don't worry, it won't take you long to get into the driver's seat and onto the asphalt. Dan Greenawalt, creative director at Forza series developer Turn 10 Studios, recently announced that cars bought as DLC - such as those included in the Top Gear Car Pack - no longer need to be purchased with in-game credits after their pack's installation. Instead, cars can be added to a player's garage immediately. Greenawalt wrote that this applies to both current and future DLC purchases. [Image: Microsoft Studios]
Google's reasonably priced Street View car tours Top Gear's test track
Like swerving bends and screaming "powerrr!" as much as you dislike electric vehicles? Imagine your delight, then, when you learn that Google and the BBC have teamed up to send one of the former's street view cars around Dunsfold Aerodrome -- more famously known as Top Gear's test track. As you zoom around the lap, you'll notice a Mercedes-Benz SLS AMG popping up by your side, ably driven by the show's tame racing driver. Some say he's a clone of Justin Bieber gone right, and that he prefers to think of Dunsfold Aerodrome as the place where they shot the Miami Airport sequence of Casino Royale. All we know is that he's called The Stig.
Forza 5's Top Gear content driven by The Stig's Digital Cousin
Top Gear's tame racing driver, The Stig, or rather his Digital Cousin, will feature as a CPU driver in Forza Motorsport 5, the BBC announced today. While details of Stig's involvement were slim, we do know that players will be able to race against it, and that it may even be beaten, unlike the real Stig. Hosts Jeremy Clarkson, Richard Hammond and James May are all in attendance as well (as we first learned during E3), though we know now that the three stooges will provide narration and commentary during the course of the game's career mode, which is segregated by "car genre." The announcement also confirms the return of Top Gear's Dunsfold Aerodome test track, which was showcased in Forza Motorsport 4.
BBC America going social with The Stig via branded 'Top Gear' Twitter video
Remember that whole Twitter-sanctioned "in-Tweet branded video" BBC America hinted at back in April? Well, we've got some more info -- and it's coming a few hours ahead of the partnership's debut. Tonight's BBC America premier of Top Gear will feature supplementary Twitter video synced to the show, including the "Stig Cam," which offers "a new perspective" from the masked and anonymous driver. Also on the docket is an "Action Replay," featuring a highlight from the evening's festivities and a "sneak peak" involving a hovercraft, as well as a dirt bike jumping off a building. All in a day's work. You can get in on the action tonight at 8:30 / 7:30 central.
All three Top Gear hosts involved in Forza Motorsport 5
Forza Motorsport 5 will, in some capacity, feature the hosts of BBC's spectacularly popular motoring show Top Gear, Turn 10 design lead Bill Giese said during a walkthrough of the game's modes during E3. Jeremy Clarkson, who lent his voice to Forza 4's Autovista mode, will be joined by co-hosts Richard Hammond and James May, though their exact role in the new game is still nebulous. "I can tell you all three hosts are involved, they're going to give us some awesome structure in how we present our career to players," Giese said. "We'll be announcing a little bit more about that this summer, but we're super excited to have all three hosts this time."
Xbox One official game box design unveiled
Microsoft repre-soldier Major Nelson confirmed the box designs for Xbox One games by showing off how copies of the newly announced Forza Motorsport 5 will look. Much like how the Wii U went bold with blue, the Xbox One design is gallant in green. The Forza 5 design also reveals the logo of BBC motorcar show Top Gear. Forza 4 featured Top Gear content, and so will Forza 5, apparently. You can check out the full box art by speeding on past the break.
Forza Horizon's Top Gear car pack DLC hits April 2
Six new cars will arrive in Tuesday's DLC pack for Forza Horizon, as selected by Top Gear Magazine and Turn 10 Studios. Players will get the opportunity to cruise in the 2011 Ford Transit SuperSportVan, the 1998 Mercedes-Benz AMG Mercedes CLK GTR, the 2012 Aston Martin Vanquish, a 2012 Bowler EXR S, a 2011 Alfa Romeo TZ3 Stradale Zagato and a 2002 BMW M3-GTR.The BMW M3-GTR is free for all Forza Horizon players, while the entire car pack can be bought for 400 MSP. Season Pass holders will be able to download the car pack for free. %Gallery-184404%
BBC Worldwide announces first four Blu-ray / DVDs with UltraViolet digital copies
Coming nearly on the anniversary of its US launch, the UltraViolet digital locker system is getting a boost in the UK from BBC Worldwide. The BBC's commercial wing is releasing four Blu-ray / DVD titles that are UltraViolet-enabled and is partnering with Warner-owned Flixster to allow users to redeem their copies. The digital versions are available via streaming and downloading for viewing on or offline, and the first four titles queued up consist of Doctor Who Series 7 Part One, Rollercoaster, a new Top Gear special and Attenborough: 60 Years in the Wild. UltraViolet was already live in the UK, and recently announced it's spreading to cover Canada, Ireland and Australia. We'll see how users like the signup process with its multiple logins, but a quick check of previous Blu-ray releases didn't show any iTunes or Windows Media digital copies at all so at least they'll appreciate the option.
BBC now allowing iPlayer downloads to tablets, phones
The Guardian reports that the BBC is now allowing free mobile iPlayer downloads, which means the latest episodes of series such as Doctor Who and Top Gear can be downloaded to tablets and mobile phones. Unlike other streaming services such as Netflix and Hulu, BBC iPlayer users will be able to download episodes for offline viewing. The downloading capability will be rolled out to the iOS version of iPlayer first and should happen today. The BBC said an Android update will follow. The episodes can be kept on the device for 30 days. If an episode is watched, it'll remain on the device for seven days. The download will be available to be watched abroad, so you can load up your iPad or iPhone with TV to watch while on holiday, even if you venture to another country.
Jetman soars over Rio, flies circles around historical landmarks (video)
Why would you want to leap out of a perfectly good aircraft? To fly a winged jetpack over the city of Rio de Janeiro, of course. It sounds nuts, but it's just a day in the life for Yves Rossy, the self proclaimed "Jetman" who flew over the Grand Canyon last year. Since soaring over the Rio Grande, Rossy has pitted his carbon-fiber wings against a rally car on Top Gear, taken to the skies over Abu Dhabi and, most recently, buzzed Brazil's famous Christ the Redeemer statue. Jetman rocketed past the monument on an 11 minute flight earlier this week, beginning his journey by dropping out of a helicopter over Lagoa Rodrigo de Freitas. Rossy pulled his Rocketeer trick and eventually parachuted to safety on Copacabana beach. Sound fun? Head past the break to see the man in action. Us? We'll keep our feet planted on terra firma, thanks.
English Court: Top Gear didn't libel Tesla
BBC's Top Gear (it's like The Engadget Show, but for cars) did not libel Tesla Motors when it reviewed the Tesla Roadster way back in 2008. Jeremy Clarkson's review showed the super-EV conking out after 55 miles of driving (a quarter of its expected range), suffering brake failures and an engine overheat that Elon Musk's company flatly denies ever happening. In the High Court, however, Mr Justice Tugendhat said that people could tell the difference between Clarkson's torturous, heavy-footed "powerrrrrrrrr" driving that goes on at Dunsfold Aerodrome, and the staid manner in which people drive on motorways. Tesla still maintains that the review has damaged its image, which is why it's also pursuing a claim for malicious falsehood, yet to be decided -- and on that bombshell, here's the original, legally non-libelous review for your enjoyment... goodnight!
TomTom Go Live Top Gear edition brings Clarkson onboard as navigator, Stig speechless
We'd assume a sizable share of fans may consider themselves God's gift to road navigation, but that hasn't stopped TomTom launching a special edition Top Gear flavor of its GPS device. Navigation is narrated by the voice of Top Gear, Jeremy Clarkson, directing clueless drivers "with the aid of 32 satellites... and me." The in-car navigation unit is priced at $269.95, including a one-year subscription to traffic updates and incident reports from TomTom. Alongside Clarkson's familiar tones are some extra Top Gear car icons and Stig mode, where the GPS will remain entirely silent. It'll also point out race tracks featured in the show, plus any nearby speed cameras. With its main man behind you, how could you possibly lose your way?
The Tattered Notebook: A 'Top Gear' look at mounts
Previously, I've been writing about the weighty topic of free-to-play vs. live subscription servers in EverQuest II. This week, I'd like to switch gears, both figuratively and literally, to talk about speed. I've recently become a fan of the show Top Gear, a British program(me) that is completely devoted to the love of cars. I don't know why -- I'm not really into cars, and my Volkswagon Passat Wagon hardly qualifies as a car with a soul. But I was watching a recent episode, the one in which Jeremy was driving an Aston Martin across country, and I thought about how far EQII's mount selection has grown. Gone are the days when your choices ranged from a horse with brown spots to a horse with white spots to the really impressive horse with brown and white spots. The only unique mounts back then were the Paladin and Shadow Knight "fun" mounts. Today, there are dozens of different types of mounts that run, leap, glide, and fly. And they're not all just marketplace quick hits; several are easily attained from simple quests or live events. In this week's Tattered Notebook, I'll look at a few of my favorite mounts with an ode to Top Gear.
Forza 4 demo live today for Xbox Gold Subs, 'free' peons on Friday
Ladies and gentlemen, start your engines! No, not you, free-level Xbox Live subscribers. You leave your engines firmly in the off position. We'll get to you in a second. Everyone else: Engine's on! The demo for Forza Motorsport 4 is now live for paid Gold subscribers, and can be grabbed from the Spotlight reel on the dashboard. If you need inspiration for the big race, we suggest checking out this debut UK trailer, which just happens to be narrated by Top Gear's Jeremy Clarkson. (Rad!) Okay, those formerly known as Silverlings: You'll get your chance to play the demo this Friday. We suggest you spend the next four days thinking about your pathetic lot in life, and how you can improve it.
