Skip to main content

BBC’s all-new Top Gear finally gets a release date

When the BBC sacked its star Top Gear presenter back in March following a bust-up with one of the show’s producers, the future of the program — a significant global success and cash cow for the corporation — was uncertain.

The BBC quickly decided that the brand was too important to abandon, and announced British TV and radio presenter Chris Evans as the show’s new host. In an interview over the weekend, 49-year-old Evans finally revealed the launch date of the all-new Top Gear as May 29.

Recommended Videos

Evans, who’s also made a name for himself over the years as a TV producer, signed a three-year deal to front the show. He said filming of the 16-episode season has already started, though he declined to offer any details on the format of the new Top Gear. It is, however, expected to be markedly different to the Clarkson-Hammond-May version that proved so popular around the world with gearheads and casual viewers alike, before it was taken off air.

Evans had originally ruled himself out of joining the show, but after discussing an offer with friends and family, he finally decided to jump in the driving seat.

Announcing his decision over the summer, Evans said, “[Top Gear] is the biggest television show in the world, my favorite television show of all time — you know how much of a fan I am of the show.” He added “I love producing TV, you know the kind of TV I love to produce, and so I said yes.”

As for Top Gear‘s old guard, they took to the stage in London on Sunday night for their final live show after a run that took it to 32 cities in 19 countries, with around 2.2 million fans attending the gigs, according to the Guardian.

The trio have already started filming for a new car show for Amazon’s Prime streaming video service, which could land around the same time as Evans’ Top Gear offering; a tasty prospect for car fans who’ve been missing their favorite shows and presenters.

Amazon boss Jeff Bezos said the deal to get the boys on board was a “very, very, very expensive” one. He didn’t give a figure, though insiders told the Financial Times it cost the Seattle-based company $250 million for 36 episodes over three years.

Trevor Mogg
Contributing Editor
Not so many moons ago, Trevor moved from one tea-loving island nation that drives on the left (Britain) to another (Japan)…
You can now lease a Hyundai EV on Amazon—and snag that $7,500 tax credit
amazon autos hyundai evs lease ioniq 6 n line seoul mobility show 2025 mk08

Amazon has changed how we shop for just about everything—from books to furniture to groceries. Now, it’s transforming the way we lease cars. Through Amazon Autos, you can now lease a brand-new Hyundai entirely online—and even better, you’ll qualify for the full $7,500 federal tax credit if you choose an electric model like the Ioniq 5, Ioniq 6, or Kona EV.
Here’s why that matters: As of January 2025, Hyundai’s EVs no longer qualify for the tax credit if you buy them outright, due to strict federal rules about battery sourcing and final assembly. But when you lease, the vehicle is technically owned by the leasing company (Hyundai Capital), which allows it to be classified as a “commercial vehicle” under U.S. tax law—making it eligible for the credit. That savings is typically passed on to you in the form of lower lease payments.
With Amazon’s new setup, you can browse Hyundai’s EV inventory, secure financing, trade in your current vehicle, and schedule a pickup—all without leaving the Amazon ecosystem.
It’s available in 68 markets across the U.S., and pricing is fully transparent—no hidden fees or haggling. While Hyundai is so far the only automaker fully participating, more are expected to join over time.
Pioneered by the likes of Tesla, purchasing or leasing vehicles online has been a growing trend since the Covid pandemic.
A 2024 study by iVendi found that 74% of car buyers expect to use some form of online process for their next purchase. In fact, 75% said online buying met or exceeded expectations, with convenience and access to information cited as top reasons. The 2024 EY Mobility Consumer Index echoed this trend, reporting that 25% of consumers now plan to buy their next vehicle online—up from 18% in 2021. Even among those who still prefer to finalize the purchase at a dealership, 87% use online tools for research beforehand.
Meanwhile, Deloitte’s 2025 Global Automotive Consumer Study reveals that while 86% of U.S. consumers still want to test-drive a vehicle in person, digital tools are now a critical part of the buying journey.
Bottom line? Amazon is making it easier than ever to lease an EV and claim that tax credit—without the dealership hassle. If you're ready to plug in, it might be time to add to cart.

Read more
Gemini AI coming to cars as Android Automotive update suggests it’s due soon
The 6.8-inch Pioneer digital media receiver installed in a vehicle's dashboard.

Google appears to be getting ready to sends its Gemini AI into cars through an Android Automotive update.

This would make sense as Android Automotive already uses Google's Assistant to help with those much-needed in-car hands-free requests.

Read more
Watch from the passenger seat as the new Porsche 911 GT3 sets a record at the Nürburgring
911 GT3 with Weissach Package (Manual Transmission), Nürburgring Nordschleife 2025, Porsche AG

If you've ever wanted to race at top speeds around one of the most iconic racetracks in the world, then now is your chance. A new Porsche 911 GT3 just set a record for the fastest time around the Nürburgring in a road car with a manual transmission, knocking almost 10 seconds off the previous best time. And Porsche has released a video of the run filmed from the cockpit, so you can experience the thrills for yourself.

The record was set by legendary driver and Porsche brand ambassador Jörg Bergmeister at the wheel of a 911 GT3 with the Weissach package, setting a time of 6:56.294. That's 9.5 seconds ahead of the previous record set by the Dodge Viper ACR in 2017 -- though there's some math involved in these time calculations as the track was reconfigured in 2019.

Read more