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Paul

NBC has pedal to the metal with "Top Gear" remake By Nellie Andreeva
>Tue Jan 15, 4:47 AM ET
>
>LOS ANGELES (Hollywood Reporter) - The popular BBC car show "Top Gear" is
>revving up a U.S. edition.
>
>NBC has ordered a pilot for "Gear," which will be announced at the North
>American International Auto Show in Detroit (January 19-27). Casting is
>under way for hosts. As with the BBC version, it will offer a mix of cars,
>humor and celebrities.
>
>The pilot will be filmed at a secret location around Los Angeles equipped
>with a race track and hangar where the show will be filmed in front of a
>audience.
>
>NBC reality chief Craig Plestis said the network already is getting numerous
>inquiries from car companies that had heard rumblings about a U.S. remake.
>
>"This is a favorite of all automobile companies as it shows their cars in
>such a great light," he said.
>
>"Top Gear," which airs on BBC 2, originally launched in 1977 but has gained
>wider popularity since its relaunch in 2002.
>
>Among "Gear's" popular segments that will be replicated in the U.S. are
>races where the hosts have to reach a destination using different modes of
>transportation, road tests, challenges like converting and refurbishing
>existing cars into anything from a stretch limo to an amphibian and
>celebrities racing a midsize car. ("American Idol's" Simon Cowell holds the
>record for fastest lap time with a Chevrolet Lacetti.)
>
>The U.K. show is hosted by Jeremy Clarkson, Richard Hammond and James May
>and also features the Stig, a masked test driver. The U.S. version also will
>feature a quartet of presenters, including a secret test driver.
>
>The BBC originally mulled doing an American version with the original
>British hosts, but the idea fell through in the summer, mostly over
>Clarkson's unwillingness to spend extended periods of time away from his
>family as well as the show's growing ratings success in Britain.
>
>In September 2006, Hammond was seriously injured while taping a test run
>with a jet-propelled drag-racing car. The episode featuring footage of the
>crash opened the show's highest-rated season to date, with the season finale
>drawing BBC 2's biggest ratings in a decade.
>
>Australian multicultural broadcaster SBS recently bought the rights to
>produce a local version of "Top Gear."
>
>In addition to the show, the British "Gear" franchise includes a popular
>companion car-themed Web site as well as Top Gear magazine.
>
>Reuters/Hollywood Reporter
>
_________________
White 87 924S "Ghost"
Silver 98 986 3.6l 320 HP "Frank N Stein"
White 01 986 "Christine"
Polar Silver 02 996TT. "Turbo"
Owned and repaired 924s since 1977
Porsche: It's not driving, it's therapy.

Chrenan · Joined: 15 Jan 2003 Posts: 3903 Location: Canada

Ooooooh, exciting! I'm sure the US version will demo such amazing products as the new Chevy Malibu, or maybe they'll toast great outgoing models like the PT Cruiser. Half the fun of Top Gear is that they very honestly call out the crap that the big three in the US produce. Given the number of Ford, Chevy and Chrysler commercials on NBC I don't have any high hopes.
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1987 951 - M193 Version for Japan

Khal · Posted: Thu Jan 17, 2008 2:30 pm Post subject:

Yep, ad's for applications to be a presenter on the Oz version were playing while I was there for the last couple of weeks. No doubt it'll be a very pale imitation of the original. The very thought of a U.S. version makes me queasy... I might have to buy a cheap T.V. so I can put my boot through it when it comes on air

On the upside, a Barrett Jackson auction is on at the moment... I'm addicted to those bloody things! Fascinating

EDIT: They just auctioned off an '89 928 GT, mint but with a couple of minor mod's, 66k orig. miles... one of the commentators says, "Bear in mind they're outrageously expensive to run and maintain!"

All agreed it was a good buy at US$22,000, though...

Oh, and a mint '57 Beetle just sold for US$11,500... I reckon that bloke stole it!
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'80 924 Turbo

Chrenan · Joined: 15 Jan 2003 Posts: 3903 Location: Canada

Me and Khal were watching at the exact same time! I thought that GT for 20K was a great deal, colour wasn't great, but still. Did you notice if it was a 5 speed?
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1987 951 - M193 Version for Japan

Khal · Posted: Thu Jan 17, 2008 3:20 pm Post subject:

Yup, was a 5-speed, IIRC.

EDIT: Web site confirms, it was a 5-speed. And a '94 928 GTS sold for US$27,000. Most expensive Porsche so far is a customised '04 911 C4S for US$53,000. But there's a couple of Spyder replicas coming up and also a few Speedster replicas. A replica '74 935, too. And a '77 930 but it's been modified, apparently.

This original '66 Shelby GT350 Hertz rental car will probably fetch some dollars...
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'80 924 Turbo

Mike924 · Joined: 12 Aug 2004 Posts: 2601 Location: IoW UK

pocketscience · Posted: Thu Jan 17, 2008 7:36 pm Post subject:

I already can see the tumble-weeds rolling as the local versions try to capture and imitate the spark between Clarkson, Hampster and May... it's gonna end in tears...

G.
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Whoever said you can't buy happiness forgot about Porsche!
81 924 N/A, GTS lights, Saratoga, interior, headers, Integral cam, EFI (sold)
95 993
69 911

moone924 · Joined: 05 Feb 2003 Posts: 869 Location: Douglas Wyoming

I'm sure they'll make it 'MTV' cool with ricers, low riders, monster trucks, 24" wheels and their owners///
There will be like 10 hosts to cover every theme and lifestyle.

Just like the 924, US versions of European things SUCK!
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Ryan Moone

Always shopping for a nice s2 931 to baby.
New philosophy : one car project at a time.

Rasta Monsta · Joined: 12 Jul 2006 Posts: 11733 Location: PacNW

Khal · Posted: Fri Jan 18, 2008 3:54 am Post subject:

morghen · Joined: 21 Jan 2005 Posts: 9102 Location: Romania

i wonder what the real clarkson will say after the copy-cats fail miserably.

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https://www.the924.com

Paul · Posted: Fri Jan 18, 2008 9:34 am Post subject:

I think we need to send the US TG team to Britian to get even for the last time they were over here. (Buy a car in FL drive to New Orleans....)
_________________
White 87 924S "Ghost"
Silver 98 986 3.6l 320 HP "Frank N Stein"
White 01 986 "Christine"
Polar Silver 02 996TT. "Turbo"
Owned and repaired 924s since 1977
Porsche: It's not driving, it's therapy.

Khal · Posted: Fri Jan 18, 2008 4:05 pm Post subject:

Paul · Posted: Sat Jan 19, 2008 4:08 pm Post subject:

No American guy will argue against anything they said about the Mustang, we know and love it for what it is. A simple, go fast, straight ahead car.

The sound of the motor at full throttle is a sweet sound. No one ever forgets the first time they got pushed back in the seats by a howling V8!
_________________
White 87 924S "Ghost"
Silver 98 986 3.6l 320 HP "Frank N Stein"
White 01 986 "Christine"
Polar Silver 02 996TT. "Turbo"
Owned and repaired 924s since 1977
Porsche: It's not driving, it's therapy.

Vince Ponz · Joined: 02 Nov 2002 Posts: 3581 Location: Florida

WE will probably muck it up as we do with a lot of things. The BBC show is fun to watch. A good trio.
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"Never let them see you sweat"
77.5 924 modified track car
79 931 Euro stock
88 924S SE
87 911 Targa stock