Limousines were once associated with elegant arrivals and well-dressed clientele; now they usually carry sloppy-drunk teenagers and winners of radio contests. The hosts of Top Gear USA want to make limousines special again and think they can do better than the ubiquitous stretch Lincoln or lumbering Hummer. To prove the quality of their limousines, Adam, Tanner and Rut will ferry celebrities to the 63rd Primetime Emmy Awards.

Tanner’s concern is singular: His limo must be able to do a burnout. His choice of a 1987 Corvette, made 35 feet long, means two things: despite appearances, Tanner must be old enough to be entering his midlife crisis, and that given the ‘Vette’s front engine, rear-wheel drive layout, he might be responsible for the longest performance driveshaft in history.

Rutledge, combining his love of underpowered, oil-burning Volkswagens and “creative” solutions, arrives with a Hydra-like beast with Rabbit cabs on both ends and a party deck in the middle. Being able to drive from either end could help him out in tight situations… or immensely complicate his life.

Adam, perhaps drawing on his Italian-American heritage, creates a limo fit for the pope himself, barring the bulletproof glass and tax-free status. His starting point is a 1969 Lincoln MK III, an admittedly safe choice. Considering the surgeon, the end result is alarmingly well-reasoned and crafted.

To test the agility of their creations, the boys drive one-quarter mile, whip around and race back. Simple, right? To test the occupant comfort of their limos, the hosts strap into the celebrity seats and are handed martini fixings. Mixing drinks would be easy if a certain white-suited chauffeur weren’t handed the keys.

If the hosts are to deliver their celebrities to the Emmys on time, they’ll have to negotiate Hollywood’s one-way streets and tight parking scenarios, so maneuverability is key. Rut, Adam and Tanner face an obstacle course that includes a parking test, parked car slalom, paparazzi to avoid/target and a tennis ball serving machine with remarkable aim.

When the big day arrives, Adam is assigned Oscar-winning comic legend Cloris Leachman, winner of more Emmys than any other performer. Tanner ferries a loud man who eagerly shares just what he thinks of the limo, Tanner, and his driving. Rutledge gets a beautiful and well-manicured lass – perfect, if only he weren’t driving perhaps the least elegant vehicle ever conceived.

Later in the show, actor Steven Moyer, of the Emmy-winning series True Blood, sits down for a chat with Rutledge. Despite an Adam-like propensity for destroying vehicles in real life and on his show, he attempts to channel this aggression into a physics-bending lap.

Tune in, American fans of the American Top Gear – it’s on History this Tuesday at 9/8c. You can catch up on episodes you’ve missed on the History Channel Top Gear site and get breaking news on the Top Gear US Facebook Page. Let us know what you think.

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TGUSA is trying stretch limo.
i wonder were they got that idea from.
no idenity of it own, just a TGUK ripoff.

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“no idenity of it own, just a TGUK ripoff.”

Boy what a good point. Those jerks, ripping ideas off from themselves.

The most galling thing though is that the original Top Gear went away when they started making TGUSA… oh, what? What’s that? It didn’t go away? Well you’re just an idiot complaining about nonsense then I guess.

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Isn’t it too bad that the American hosts have having more fun than the tired, worn out drunk British presenters?

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Disappointed to see that they’re even copying the ‘driving from two ends of the limo’ idea as well. I don’t suppose the steering wheel will fall off half-way through?

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Why do not you put in the program a GTA Spano or a IAD Mosler MT900 GTR XX Twin Turbo Land Shark?

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Why do not you put in the program a GTA Spano or IAD Mosler MT900 GTR XX Twin Turbo Land Shark?

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te idea is still a ripoff.
tanner admited it himself.
that he wanted to do this challenge more than the others.

Shame they did not keep, the paintball guns as i would
love to shot a paintball gun at Clarkson.
the bit were they turn the waterhose on Jezza, was worth paying
the licence fee to the BBC.

need to get a second car, find the fastest tame racing driver
in Amercia is.
tanner want that, as i think he liked to beat some Nascar and
indycar drivers.
I like that he got an ego. and wanted to beat the other racing drivers.

As for drunk TGUK Presenters, i don’t think so, the rallycross piece
they did show their life in the old dog yet.
too cocky too soon, just look at TG Australia, was way to cocky and got
cancelled during it four season.
come back after a Decade and start mouthing off, you Ripoff loving
lack of originally Talentless TGUK wanabee.

Remember always remember, you bought a licence from
the British Broadcasting Corporation. because the Amercian
television programmersare morons. who did not think that a
car programme would work.
and now you lecture us, the country that invented Top Gear.
as my Mother would said, that a long wail off a short bridge
Amercian copycat wanabee.

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I got to say the American version is hard to watch. the hosts are stiff and lacking in so many areas. Speed channels ‘Car Show’ with Adam Carrola is so much better.

When will we see the new VET?

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shut up

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TGUSA won’t test car, due to sponors pressure.
the muscle car piece, was sponored by the 2013
Ford Mustang.
do not want to upset, those who paid the bills.

Jeremy Clarkson has had a go, at BBC for changing
Top Gear UK programme schudle, over being place
by the Snooker coverage.
as Top Gear get better rating than the snooker.
That the Top Gear, we want no to sponors pressure.

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Fred Mertz,

SPEED’s “The Car Show” is long dead. Just like “I Love Lucy.” Adam Carolla killed it.

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I’m starting to like TGUSA, the first season was a bit unpolished but now there are more chemistry between the hosts. At least in the movies. The episode where they drove minivans over the rockys was awesome. Keep up the good work and more of that high quality mini-movies!

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Jesus, is this argument still going on? If you don’t like TGUSA, don’t watch it. Intelligent folk, who can see it for what it is (another chance to watch something similar to the UK one but with American cars and different personalities) seem to realise this. More see cars and silly car challenges on the telly, what is so wrong with that?

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Tanner Foust to try out and F1 car
And then compared it to an Indycar,
nascar and British touring car.
X1 this is an indepent, Respected tame
racing driver seeing in his opinion which is best.

As you know Tanner spent time in england.
and has credible from fans on both sides, of
the pond to make that judgement.

I think he be impreseed enough by the idea,
that he want to have a go in all four cars.
like to hear his opinion on these vechile,
as he improved over the last two years.

would be a good challenge for Amercia
favourite tame racing driver Tanner Foust.
to me he look like, the boy next door.

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I am from America and even I have to agree being a TGUK fan myself it does seem like a giant rip off i dont give them much more time.

It would be nice if the bbc insted of alowing the US to copy them they should just release the current TGUK seasons up faster in the US it would be so much better.

Its getting old trying to find full episodes online and then losing the sights to copy right and the next time a new seasons up its time to find a new site casue the last ones gone.

I think im saying it for all US TGUK fans Give us our show on time please!

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I tried to watch TGUSA once. The muscle car challenge to be specific, but the second they showed up in a camaro that was not the ZL1, and a mustang that was not the gt500 i realized they had no idea what they were doing and do not deserve to have Top Gear in their shows name

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Tanner Foust in an interview said, this is one
of the TGUK Challenges he most wanted to do.
it being voted bY TGUK FANS, as one of the ten
best challenges Jezza and co performed.

It brave to do this challenge, in paticular as the
firat one is so loved by fans around the world.
When James and Richard, are allowed to shot
paintball guns at Clarkson.
they must have thought, that christmas had come early.

Full praise to the TGUK producers, for allowing the
water cannon to continue. and give Clarkson such
a soaking.
that was TGUKat it best.
the most Hated man in tv, Clarkson get what he deserved.

For the record, i do not mind Clarkson.
despite the kicking, he has given the
people of Northern Ireland.
must worse than the abuse, he give to Amercia
over the years.

TGUSA needed a Clarkson, someone to hate
on the show.
just to give an edge.

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I must admit that I too am disappointed to see so many ideas copied from the original show. But you can’t blame the Americans too much. In case you didn’t know, Top Gear US is produced by the BBC.

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Gee, I wonder where I’ve seen this before.

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TGUSA is too safe and has been, or at least seems, dumbed down for an american audience. I can’t imagine rutledge wood calling for any one to be “murdered in front of their family” and he never will because that might be bad for business. Americans are entertained by people stapling stuff to their foreheads or someone called Snooki getting drunk and acting like a whore.Its unfortunate but this show is not going to work in America. I give it 2 more seasons maximum. For the record I am an American and TGUK is one of the few shows I watch, and rewatch, on weekly basis.

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So, the brits did this, SO WHAT! That doesn’t mean this episode won’t be great!

Each season these guys get better! Last week’s episode was the funniest I’ve ever seen, and this one sounds really good too, even though it sounds familiar. This season is the best so far! They do better and better each season, and ya’ know what? The ratings are really good each week, so they don’t need you haters anyway.

TG USA is here to stay, so just deal with it already!

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Pates, x1and us gal.
I only have ago for two reason.
Your right about my poetry style comment.
my last bosscalled my incident reports at
work, brillant to read and should be a writer
instead of a security officer.
did not take the job seriously.
just took the money.

My main beef is, i want to see the American car
i grow up road tested.
I might have been from Belfast, but i had a picture
of a Corvette and a Harley Davidson on the wall.

if pain me, no to see these car tested more.
second point.
I know the BBC sold you a brand.
that cool, but it hurt to see you do
what Jezza and co did.
that all.

I watch TGUSA, because i love Top gear.
i have all the TGUKespiode, DVD and stig
coffee mug.
also watch TG AUSTRALIA, TG KOERA, TG RUSSIA,
TG CHINA and hopefully TG GERMANY.

It hard not to have a go, as i do not
alway agree with Jeremy Clarkson view point.
it hurt to accept anyone else doing it.

Jezza might be the devil, according to hamster
but he is still the man.
who created the Top Gear brand.
BBCis broke, needed the money.

I only wanted to see more Amercian cars
as a child i loved the Corvette.
And the Harley Davidson.
that my beef with TGUSA.
more cars, less challenges please.

Tomorrow night, new series of Wheeler Dealers
is back.
Edd china, the Mechanic in the show.
made a Bond car, for Top Gear for 300 quid.
also made the double decker cars, from the
germany challenge.

Edd China also holdsa world record.
Made a sofa into a vechile, MOT and made it road legal
took it till 89 miles per hour.

You be glad to know, that Wheeler Dealers
can be seen in america.
on the Velocity channel.
it something Amercia should buy.

buy a car, for a budget, fix it up
and sell it on.
show people how to fix cars.
and they will appreciate Top Gear more.

As they can see, what we can do with an
ordinary car.
l Believe along with Fifth Gear, this has been
a great decade for both Gearheadsand Petrolheads.
long may it continue.

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I agree w/ the “less challenges and more cars” and “more american cars” but every week is turning into some cheap car challenge with no reviews at all. I blame the producers not the host for that. I believe the host are getting a lot better with just 2/3 season

Yea I watch W/D whenever it is on and that I havent seen. In fact, I saw an episode of the silver WRX w/ the black stripe.

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Wow,,, Steve12, you’re wasting your time working as a security guard at the mall (or wherever it is you work). Nor should you listen to that “boss” who suggested a career in writing because he enjoyed your distinctive reports – no doubt they were written in crayon. No, you should abbandon all such thoughts and aspire to become a television show producer! It’s CLEARLY obvious that you have a talent for “creative” thinking. Just save up the money you make as a security guard – but maing “report writer” wages – and start your own Top Gear! It will be awesome! I mean. Come on. What does anyone at Top Gear or BBC know about making Top Gear? Your background and experience in security guard crayon reporting obviously makes you more qualified! You’ve already proven this with your analytical comments on the shortcomings of TGUS. Please, stop trolling and go realize your destiny. Make your own Top Gear – one that doesn’t resemble or “rip off” any of the others. I’ll watch it!

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