Alex Robbins comments: 'This is much better though. Which is a pity, as there's so much to say about these two old off-roaders!'īringing back the Reliants and driving them through mud raised a smile, however. Doing top speed runs in a Series One Landie and a Willys Jeep is a bit like waterproof testing a variety of different sandwich fillings. It's fun for one episode - but will this be the theme of the whole series? It could get tired.Īlso, there's more to British culture than tug-of-war and rain - we eat chip sandwiches too.Īlex Robbins isn't impressed by the car choices: 'Hmm. It’s certainly more visually spectacular, but I’m disappointed that we’ve lost the wry juxtaposition of big-name stars in an utterly ordinary car, and I can’t decide whether the rallycross course works.įorcing Matt LeBlanc to experience British Summertime - standing on a freezing, rainy beach in a cagoule - while he and Evans test a British car against an American car was yet another example of the cliche they're ramming down our throats. Certainly, seeing LeBlanc in shades in his Rialto made me laugh embarrassingly loudly.Īrguably least successful was the new ‘Reasonably Priced Car’ – or, not quite so reasonably priced any more, as the studio guests now drive a beefed-up Mini John Cooper Works.

Very “old Top Gear”, of course, but if it ain’t broke, don’t fix it, I guess.

Next up, though, Top Gear had the two presenters in Reliant Rialtos on a road trip to Blackpool. “This is going to be big,” Evans seemed to want to say. Straight out of the blocks, we had Evans at the helm of the Dodge Viper ACR and Sabine Schmitz in a Corvette Z06 – both loud, fast and unashamedly so.

And there couldn’t be a stronger statement of intent than the first cars to feature on this, Chris Evans’s new vision of the show. Here it is, then – the new era of Top Gear. Telegraph Cars Consumer Editor gives his verdict

The first episode was branded 'boring' and 'badly presented' by fans on Twitter. Is it worth giving the show another chance? It seemed people weren't that into the new show - but it did perhaps show some interesting potential for the future. The new show has begun- and everyone is very excited to see what the revamped Top Gear will be like.

Bbc 2016 f1 season review