Report: Matt LeBlanc threatens to quit Top Gear unless Chris Evans is ousted

By Imad Khan June 27, 2016

new top gear matt leblanc chris evans removed — Top Gear/YouTube

It seems that Matt LeBlanc and Chris Evans aren’t the best of “friends” on Top Gear.

According to The Sun, LeBlanc is threatening to quit Top Gear if Evans is allowed to stay on for season 24.

LeBlanc has become increasingly frustrated with Evans’ rude behavior toward the team and has issued an ultimatum to BBC officials, according to The Sun. The BBC has already agreed to pay LeBlanc for two seasons, meaning that they must choose between the two co-hosts. “The big question now is who goes and who stays” a show source told The Sun. “The team does not gel at all, and the atmosphere between the presenters is decidedly frosty. It’s very much a picture of him — Chris — and them.”

While the new Top Gear has been off to a shaky start, both Chris Harris and Rory Reid, hosts of Top Gear: Extra Gear, have received lots of praise. According to the report: “[Evans] also seems to be jealous of the attention and praise which has been heaped on Chris Harris and Rory Reid in particular since the show began. You would have thought that with his experience, he would help out those new to studio recording. But he doesn’t encourage them in any way. He just isn’t interested. He doesn’t even hang out with the others backstage and firmly keeps his distance from all of them at the aerodrome.”

The Sun has been a bit salacious with its reporting of past Top Gear incidents. One report claimed Evans yelled profanities at the audience, which was never substantiated.

Top Gear isn’t just the most popular motoring show, it’s the most popular show in the world, period. In 2015, it had an estimated global audience of 350 million viewers. Former presenter Jeremy Clarkson was quickly fired after a “fracas” with a producer. A new cast was assembled, but they lacked the same chemistry that many viewers had become accustomed to over the years. Ratings for the new Top Gear have been slipping, hitting a record low, although the latest episode saw a slight bump.

The current state of Top Gear is uncertain, but for fans who have missed the original trio, Amazon’s The Grand Tour should premiere sometime later this year.

Topics

Former Digital Trends Contributor

Imad has been a gamer all his life. He started blogging about games in college and quickly started moving up to various…

Cars

Mercedes-Benz EQG: range, price, release date, and more

Concept image of the larger electric G-Wagon

The G-Class is going electric. We already knew that Mercedes-Benz was working on an electric, small-size G-Wagon, but it looks like the company is also working on a larger G-Class SUV, in the form of the EQG. In fact, Mercedes has gone as far as to show off a concept version of the off-roader.

While there's much we don't know about what will become the production model of the EQG, Mercedes has also shared a lot about it. Curious about whether the Mercedes-Benz EQG could be the EV for you? Here's everything we know so far.
Design
Fear not -- the EQG will retain many of the design aspects of the G-Class that you already know and love but with a modern face-lift. The EQG will keep the boxy design that gives the G-Class a classic look but with some additional modern styling, at least if the concept version is anything to go by.

Cars

Rivian R2 vs. Kia EV9: battle of affordable electric SUVs

Kia EV9 GT-Line Three Quarters

The long-awaited Rivian R2 has finally been announced, and it's an excellent option for those who want an electric SUV that doesn't completely break the bank. Sure, the R2 isn't cheap -- but it's a whole lot cheaper than most other EVs out there, especially when it comes to SUVs. But Rivian isn't the only company trying to tackle the problem of the budget electric SUV. The Kia EV9 is finally available, and it too offers a modern design and a range of helpful features.

Given the fact that the Rivian R2 and Kia EV9 are two electric SUVs in a similar price range, you might be wondering which is better for your needs. That's why we put the Rivian R2 and the Kia EV9 head-to-head.
Design
Both the Rivian R2 and the Kia EV9 are actual SUVs -- not crossovers pretending to be SUVs, like plenty of other EVs out there. The two vehicles offer big, boxy designs and plenty of interior space, making them excellent options for families or those who need that extra storage.

Cars

Rivian R2 vs R1S: How will Rivian’s cheaper SUV compare?

The front three-quarter view of a 2022 Rivian against a rocky backdrop.

Rivian has finally unveiled the R2, its long-awaited attempt at a more affordable electric SUV. The new vehicle may not be available just yet, but fans of Rivian's design aesthetics and feature set are already looking forward to being able to order the new car. The R2 is targeted at being a more affordable take on the electric SUV and will sit alongside the flagship-tier R1S.

Let's get this out of the way right now: The R1S is most likely going to be a better vehicle than the R2. Rivian isn't replacing the R1S with the R2 — it's releasing the R2 as a more affordable alternative, and there will be some compromises when buying the R2 over the R1S.