[4] In addition, challenges similar in nature to the ones presented in the original show are replicated in Top Gear.

Then the presenter and the studio audience watch the guest's fastest lap on the Top Gear test track.

The pilot featured Iron Man director Jon Favreau as the Star in a Reasonably Priced Car, a race between Littlefield's 2005 Ford Mustang and Jenkinson's 2005 Dodge Charger R/T, and a review of the Lexus RX 400h.

After the pilot proved to be unsuccessful, the Discovery Channel later began airing a slightly "Americanized" version of the British Top Gear show with presenters Jeremy Clarkson, Richard Hammond, and James May.

Regular features like "The News" and "Star in a Reasonably Priced Car" were not shown on the Discovery Channel version.

[8] According to NBC reality chief Craig Plestis, many automakers had shown interest in America's version of Top Gear.

[9] On June 16, 2008, NBC and the BBC officially announced an American version of Top Gear, to be hosted by Adam Carolla, Tanner Foust and Eric Stromer.

[10][11] The studio segments for the pilot were taped on July 26, 2008 to generally favorable reviews citing close following of the UK version's format.

[17] In February 2009, Jeremy Clarkson stated that the American version had been "canned", claiming that focus groups "... just don't understand a single word we're on about.

"[18] On August 6, 2010, the first Top Gear trailer was published on the web, giving fans a preview on what to expect on the upcoming episodes to be broadcast on the History Channel.

Commenting on the second season renewal, UK host Jeremy Clarkson noted, "Top Gear is our baby so you can understand why Hammond, May and I were anxious about passing it on to the presenters of the US show.

We needn’t have worried because Top Gear is clearly in safe hands, even if they do insist on speaking in those stupid accents.

Watching an episode from series 1 with Richard and James, we found ourselves in a genuinely heated debate about which of the presenters’ cars was best.

"[20] In a Facebook post on June 26, 2016, Wood stated his belief that the episode set to air the same week would be the last for the series on History.

in Australia on November 26, 2011 whilst season two onward aired on BBC Knowledge, a channel on Australian Pay TV service Foxtel.

"[35] Mike Hale of the New York Times had mixed reactions to the show, going from how History's version almost slavishly follows the formula the BBC version uses ("that any subject or concept can appeal to a wide audience if you find the right balance of competition and destruction (the childlike smashing of large objects) with humor, sentiment and pretty locations.")

but towards the third episode, viewers should "have the snack tray full and an hour free," and praising the show despite its initial roughness.