Format

The intended format was initially for individual television films , using location shooting without studio segments, but after the title revealed it was announced that there would be studio segments shot in large tents at various locations. ^[16] [17] Amazon CEO Jeff Bezos described the deal as being “very, very, very expensive”. ^[18] W. Chump & Sons is the production company for the program, and Amazon.com is distributing the show.

Studio recordings started on 17 July 2016 in Johannesburg , South Africa. ^[19] Recordings in the United States took place on 25 September 2016 in Southern California , with further recordings taking place in Nashville on 21 November 2016. ^[20] [21] Studio recordings in the United Kingdom took place in Whitby on 13 October 2016 , ^[22] with further recordings taking place at Loch Ness in December 2016. Further studio recordings took place in Rotterdam on 22 October 2016 and Lapland on 3 November 2016. ^{[23] [24] [25]} Stuttgart ( Ludwigsburg ) was also a filming location. ^[26] In November 2016, it was announced that the final studio filming location would be Dubai in December 2016. ^[27]

Features

Test track

The show has a dedicated test track called “Eboladrome”, at the RAF Wroughton . Clarkson states in the first episode that the name is due to its shape resembling the structure of the Ebola virus .

It is designed to “trip cars up”, according to Clarkson. Section names include “Is not Straight”, “Your Name Here”, “Old Lady’s House”, “Substation” and “Field of Sheep”. In the first episode, the track was said to have been modified following the discovery of an unexploded Second World War bomb .

Cars are tested by NASCAR driver Mike Skinner , Known As “The American”. According to the presenters, the hiring of Skinner was a contractual obligation by Amazon.com, and that Skinner considered all American, front-engine and V-8 powered as “communist”. While doing lap, Skinner makes sarcastic remarks about the car and the presenters.

Prior to the first episode the Lap board had been pre-populated with ten times from a selection of cars, and the laps themselves were not shown, just the timings. BMW M2 Recording a time of 1: 26.2 seconds. The first car to be shown was driven by Skinner, with an on-screen lap time. The track est used for general filming and testing by The Grand Tour , meaning That Other vehicles-such as a Ferrari 488 used in episode one-May APPEAR on the track, goal arent Either timed.

Lap board

Because	Time	Condition	Episode
Aston Martin Vulcan	1: 15.5	2
McLaren 650S	1: 17.9	Not shown
Audi R8 V10 More	1: 19.2	Not shown
Porsche 911 GT3 RS	1: 20.4	Not shown
Nissan GT-R	1: 21.2	Not shown
Porsche 911 C2S	1: 21.4	Not shown
BMW M4 GTS	1: 22.4	4
Porsche 718 Boxster S	1: 23.4	Not shown
BMW M5	1: 24.2	Not shown
BMW M3	1: 24.3	Not shown
Honda NSX	1: 26.0	Wet	9
BMW M2	1: 26.2	1
Alfa Romeo Giulia Quadrifoglio	1: 27.1	Wet	10
Honda Civic Type R	1: 28.2	Not shown
Ford Focus RS	1: 28.4	6
Lexus GS-F	1: 29.6	Damp	12
Ford Mustang GT	1: 29.6	6
Ford Fiesta ST200	1: 32.8	Not shown
Fiat Abarth 124 Spider	1: 33.7	Wet	11

Conversation Street

The trio discuss car news. During the conversation, Hammond tends to overshare his opinions with sexual or homosexual innuendos. “Hammond or May introduces the next segment; oftentimes, he Attempts to talk about Alfa Romeo . The video introduction to the segment shows the men, in silhouette.

Running gags

The series includes several running gags. During the opening titles of each episode, a camera drone is destroyed. From episode three on, one of the presenters’ names is always misspelled during the opening. In “Celebrity Brain Crash”, celebrity guests are humorously “killed” in an accident while making their way to the tent. After each “death”, May asks “Does that mean they’re not coming on then?” To which Hammond deadpans “No James, they’re not” while bluntly outlining how “dead” the celebrity is. The BBC’s efforts to stop the Grand Tour from interviewing celebrity guests, ^[28] have been the focus of the Top Gear’s “Star in a Reasonably Priced Car”

Episodes

No.	title	Tent Rental	Cars tested	Special guests	Original air date
1	” The Holy Trinity “	Lucerne Valley , California, United States [20]	McLaren P1 , Porsche 918 , LaFerrari , BMW M2	Hothouse Flowers , Chris Goodwin , Jérôme d’Ambrosio , Armie Hammer , Jeremy Renner , Carol Vorderman	18 November 2016 [n 2]
Clarkson, Hammond, and May launch their new program with a film showing Clarkson leaving the BBC Headquarters, and leaving London to fly to Los Angeles where he meets Hammond and May. As the Hothouse Flowers play ” I Can See Clearly Now ” the trio drive Ford Mustangs [n 1] through the California Desert to Rabbit Dry Lake , accompanied by a Breitling Jet Team . Following a sequence where they greet the audience and viewers, and introduce the tent, the first feature shows the three presenters testing three hybrid hypercars ; With Clarkson in the McLaren P1 , Hammond in the Porsche 918 and May in the Ferrari LaFerrari at the Algarve International Circuitin Portugal. Later, Clarkson introduces the new test track, the “Eboladrome” with laps by a Ferrari 488 and then tests a BMW M2 . Jeremy Renner, Armie Hammer and Carol Vorderman are all humorously “killed” before being able to take part in the show. Returning to Portugal, Jérôme d’Ambrosio performs timed laps in the hypercars. The Porsche 918 and LaFerrari will be the first to be released on the Porsche 918 and LaFerrari. With laps by a Ferrari 488 and then tests a BMW M2 . Jeremy Renner, Armie Hammer and Carol Vorderman are all humorously “killed” before being able to take part in the show. Returning to Portugal, Jérôme d’Ambrosio performs timed laps in the hypercars. The Porsche 918 and LaFerrari will be the first to be released on the Porsche 918 and LaFerrari. With laps by a Ferrari 488 and then tests a BMW M2 . Jeremy Renner, Armie Hammer and Carol Vorderman are all humorously “killed” before being able to take part in the show. Returning to Portugal, Jérôme d’Ambrosio performs timed laps in the hypercars. The Porsche 918 and LaFerrari will be the first to be released on the Porsche 918 and LaFerrari.
2	“Operation Desert Stumble”	Johannesburg , South Africa [19] [32]	Aston Martin Vulcan , Audi S8 Plus	Johan Ackermann	25 November 2016 [n 4]
The temple is at the Cradle of Humankind nature reserve overlooking Johannesburg. The presenters discuss President of South Africa Jacob Zuma , the Nkandla compound firepower controversy and carjacking . Clarkson tests the Aston Martin Vulcan at the Eboladrome. Producer Andy Wilman Sent to the King Abdullah II Special Operations Training Center (KASOTC) outside Amman , Jordan for a SAS -style military training exercise . Car-builder Johan Ackermann shows his self-built replica of a Sauber Mercedes C9 . May visits Soweto to take share in South African motorsport of ” Spinning ” where cars generate smoke by performing donuts set to rap music up to the tires blowout . A person Introduced as actress Charlize Theron [No. 3] is pounced on by a lion and “killed”. Finally the presenters return to KASOTC in Jordan to review an Audi S8 Plus while rescuing a VIP and transporting them to the “British Embassy”. Charlize Theron [n 3] is a pioneer in the field. Finally the presenters return to KASOTC in Jordan to review an Audi S8 Plus while rescuing a VIP and transporting them to the “British Embassy”. Charlize Theron [n 3] is a pioneer in the field. Finally the presenters return to KASOTC in Jordan to review an Audi S8 Plus while rescuing a VIP and transporting them to the “British Embassy”.
3	“Opera, Arts and Donuts”	Whitby , England, United Kingdom [22] [32]	Rolls-Royce Dawn , Aston Martin DB11 , Dodge Challenger SRT Hellcat	Simon Pegg	2 December 2016
The Whitby Harbor in North Yorkshire . The presenters go ” Grand Touring ” in Italy with May in the Rolls-Royce Dawn , Clarkson in the Aston Martin DB11 and Hammond in the Dodge Challenger SRT Hellcat . Clarkson and May’s tour begins at the Palio di Siena horse race, before viewing The Birth of Venus painting at Uffizi Gallery in Florence. Clarkson and Hammond race each other the Mugello Circuit . In the tent the presenters discuss Whitby jet . Returning to Italy, Hammond visits the Lamborghini Museum whilst Clarkson and May watch Carmen staged at the Verona Arena , in the Piazza Bra . The tour continues through the Piazza dei Signori, Vicenza and ends up in the Venetian Lagoon . Simon Pegg “falls to his death” from Whitby Swing Bridge . Clarkson presents his take on automated vehicles. Fulfilling their bet from episode one, Hammond and May destroy Clarkson’s house at Diddly Squat Farm in Chadlington , Oxfordshire. [N 5] [33] The tour continues through the Piazza dei Signori, Vicenza and ends up in the Venetian Lagoon . Simon Pegg “falls to his death” from Whitby Swing Bridge . Clarkson presents his take on automated vehicles. Fulfilling their bet from episode one, Hammond and May destroy Clarkson’s house at Diddly Squat Farm in Chadlington , Oxfordshire. [N 5] [33] The tour continues through the Piazza dei Signori, Vicenza and ends up in the Venetian Lagoon . Simon Pegg “falls to his death” from Whitby Swing Bridge . Clarkson presents his take on automated vehicles. Fulfilling their bet from episode one, Hammond and May destroy Clarkson’s house at Diddly Squat Farm in Chadlington , Oxfordshire. [N 5] [33] S house at Diddly Squat Farm in Chadlington , Oxfordshire. [N 5] [33] S house at Diddly Squat Farm in Chadlington , Oxfordshire. [N 5] [33]
4	“Enviro-Mental”	Whitby, England, United Kingdom [22] [32]	Porsche 911 GT3 RS , BMW M4 GTS	Jimmy Carr	9 December 2016
Clarkson reviews the Porsche 911 GT3 RS and compares it to the BMW M4 GTS at the Eboladrome; Ms GTS for GC for the overall winning performance, he declares it the winner simply because Hammond owns a GT3 RS. The presenters travel to South Wales and set out to make The Most environmentally friendly because bodies using the platform of a Land Rover Discovery . They take an 11 mile road trip to a dirt track, where they race against three normal cars. The hotel is located in the heart of the city of Hammond, within walking distance of many of the city’s attractions. Jimmy Carr is the guest of Celebrity Brain Crash, But it’s a great place to stay. To fill in the time, the presenters Introduce year Audi TT Mk1 Quattro with Hammond hidden behind the rear bumper to show a new technology used by smuggling illegal immigrants, as well as using Hammond as an improvised sensor parking.
5	“Moroccan Roll”	Rotterdam , Netherlands [23]	Mazda MX-5 , Zenos E10S , Alfa Romeo 4C Spider	Golden Earring	16 December 2016
The Port of Rotterdam . To settle an argument over the best sports car, the presenters go to Marrakech , Morocco with Hammond in a Mazda MX-5 , in a May Zenos E10S and Clarkson in an Alfa Romeo 4C Spider . During the road trip Clarkson suddenly pulled over to the leg cramp while driving the 4C. Later, he challenges Hammond and May to weigh their own cars to prove that the 4C is lighter, using an improvised scale and animal carcasses as counterweight. Hammond is about to remove the MX-5 from it, and the creams are ordered to leave the premises due to their animal carcasses. Clarkson and the film crew leave Hammond and May to focus on the 4C. The presenters stop at Atlas Corporation Studios in Ouarzazate to perform timed laps with their cars. Hammond wins, crashing into an Egyptian statue prop. Also in the episode, Hammond and May play an explosive game of Battleships using “ships” and several G-Wizes as “missiles”. Dutch band Golden Earring perform live outside the tent, but are electrocuted on stage. To fill in the time, Clarkson uses a V-8 engine to inflate a blow-up doll . Hammond and May play an explosive game of Battleships using G-Wizes as missiles. Dutch band Golden Earring perform live outside the tent, but are electrocuted on stage. To fill in the time, Clarkson uses a V-8 engine to inflate a blow-up doll . Hammond and May play an explosive game of Battleships using G-Wizes as missiles. Dutch band Golden Earring perform live outside the tent, but are electrocuted on stage. To fill in the time, Clarkson uses a V-8 engine to inflate a blow-up doll .
6	“Happy Finnish Christmas”	Saariselkä , Lapland, Finland [25] [34]	Ford Mustang GT , Ford Focus RS	Bob Geldof	23 December 2016
The Saariselkä. At the Port of London , Hammond welcomes the new right-hand drive Ford Mustang GT and gives it a tour of London and Stonehenge before Clarkson arrives and proceeds to argue that Mustang has no place in Britain and that the Focus RS is a better option. This escalates to a chase between two cars up to Cheddar Gorge . The Mustang beats the Focus in a drag race, but is slower around the Eboladrome. In “Conversation Street,” Clarkson and May, ” Flake or a Double Decker .” Kimi Räikkönen [n. 3] “The Celebrity Brain Crash”, but collapses from drinking too much vodka and is left to die in the arctic temperatures. To fill in the time, the presenters introduce their “Santaland Grotto”, where they talk about their Christmas gift ideas, mostly consisting of everyday items emblazoned with car-manufacturer logos. May introduces Bob Geldof via tablet on a Double telerobot . He then talks about the historic 24 Hours of Le Mans rivalry between Ford and Ferrari , which gives birth to the Ford GT40 and the Ferrari P3 . The presenters introduce their “Santaland Grotto”, where they talk about their Christmas gift ideas, mostly consisting of everyday items emblazoned with car-manufacturer logos. May introduces Bob Geldof via tablet on a Double telerobot . He then talks about the historic 24 Hours of Le Mans rivalry between Ford and Ferrari , which gives birth to the Ford GT40 and the Ferrari P3 . The presenters introduce their “Santaland Grotto”, where they talk about their Christmas gift ideas, mostly consisting of everyday items emblazoned with car-manufacturer logos. May introduces Bob Geldof via tablet on a Double telerobot . He then talks about the historic 24 Hours of Le Mans rivalry between Ford and Ferrari , which gives birth to the Ford GT40and the Ferrari P3 .
7	“The Beach (Buggy) Boys – Part 1”	Namibia (no hearing) [34]	None	None	30 December 2016
Andy Wilman, who is a buggy and a poor car. Their challenge is to drive one thousand miles (1,600 km) along Namibia’s Skeleton Coast in three buggies, each built to their own specifications from the Volkswagen Beetle . After 36 hours of going nowhere, the presenters camp by the shipwreck of the Eduard Bohlen before venturing to the Namib Desert . The trio climb and descends several terrain before finally reaching a road. Clarkson’s buggy breaks down and is abandoned by Hammond and May,
8	“The Beach (Buggy) Boys – Part 2”	Namibia (no tent) [34]	None	None	31 December 2016
Clarkson finally arrive in Windhoek to meet up with Hammond and May and prepare for the second leg of their journey to the Namibia- Angola border. The rough road takes its toll on Clarkson and May’s buggies until May suggest they continue off-road, which ends up being worse terrain and they end up in softer sand before returning to the road. After the trio sets camp, May attempts to sabotage Clarkson’s buggy when he accidentally sets fire to the front end of his own car. With a third of a mile away from the border, the presenters create a cable car to cross through a crocodile infested river. Clarkson and May cross successfully, Hammond goal is stuck within 200 meters from the goal. Because of this, Clarkson concludes that their failure has come from Wilman right.
9	“Berks to the Future”	Ludwigsburg , Stuttgart, Germany [26] [35] [36]	Honda NSX	Diego Costa , Thibaut Courtois , Gary Cahill , Eden Hazard , Oscar , Willian [37]	6 January 2017
The tent is dans le courtyard of Ludwigsburg Palace near Stuttgart , Germany Where Clarkson praises as the “cradle of the automobile.” May review the new Honda NSX at the Eboladrome. The Mercedes-Benz SL and christens it “The Mitsubishi of the 1978 MGB Roadster with the chassis of a Land Rover Discovery to make a” proper ” sport utility vehicle , but when the MG body falls off, he replaces it with a 1980s Excellent”. He then gives Hammond and May a ride in it to the Cobham Training Center of Chelsea Football Club before having it displayed at the Cots of Kensington, where it fetches £ 4, 000 (it cost £ 14,000 to make). A human figure introduced as German singer Nena [n 3] is carried away from the courtyard by 99 red balloons . The presenters develop alternative means to recharge mobile phone batteries. May then demonstrates how much power a gym generates to recharge to G-Wiz . Hammond tries his hand on post-apocalyptic “Bug Out” vans, made out of a Volkswagen Transporter T25 ; Ford Transit Mk.3 and an Alvis Stalwart but it is not long before Clarkson and May destroy his creations using a rocket-propelled grenade , Scimitar and Challenger 2 tanks, and a 4.
10	“Dumb Fight at the OK Coral”	Nashville, Tennessee , United States [20]	Alfa Romeo Giulia Quadrifoglio	Brian Johnson	13 January 2017
The Nashville Tower in the Cumberland River . Clarkson drives the Alfa Romeo Giulia Quadrifoglio in Wales and at the Eboladrome. The presenters then travel to Barbados to solve the problem of dying coral reefs by dumping five car body shells into the ocean, but they lose four of the cars, a boat, and a raft due to their numerous mishaps. Eventually, they pull a Land Rover into the ocean before Clarkson ditches his partners to chase a trimaran . They reach the reef site and sink the Land Rover.
11	“Italian Lessons”	Loch Ness , Scotland, United Kingdom	Fiat Abarth 124 Spider	Chris Hoy	20 January 2017
The Loch Ness. Hammond test drives the new Fiat Abarth 124 Spider at the Eboladrome. To Prove That a second-hand Maserati priced under £ 8,000 is a better buy than a used Ford Focus , the presenters travel to Circuit de Croix-en-Ternois in France for a series of tests with Clarkson’s Biturbo S Coupe , Hammond’s 430 Saloon , And May’s Zagato Spyder . Because of its ability to make the most of the challenge, he bought an automatic variant. The presenters Then embark on a road trip through Northern France before racing back to England via the Port of Le Havre , with the loser selling His Maserati. Clarkson’s Biturbo dies, But he continued the race with it on a tow truck. He Reaches the ferry port, Discovers That His goal Biturbo fell off the tow truck while chasing Hammond. May launches his Spyder to a boat and crashes in spectacular fashion. The presenters conclude that buying a second-hand Maserati will result in a 66% chance of it working. For “Celebrity Brain Crash” Chris Hoy rows Toward the tent, His purpose boat hits an underwater mine. To fill in the time, Clarkson uses a Bulgarian man to Demonstrate a new hands-free system for Any car and a Thai woman have an inexpensive massaging back seat. The presenters conclude that buying a second-hand Maserati will result in a 66% chance of it working. For “Celebrity Brain Crash,” Chris Hoy rows towards the tent, but his boat hits an underwater mine. To fill in the time, Clarkson uses a Bulgarian man to demonstrate a new hands-free system for any car and a woman as an inexpensive massaging back seat. The presenters conclude that buying a second-hand Maserati will result in a 66% chance of it working. For “Celebrity Brain Crash,” Chris Hoy rows towards the tent, but his boat hits an underwater mine. To fill in the time, Clarkson uses a Bulgarian man to demonstrate a new hands-free system for any car and a woman as an inexpensive massaging back seat.
12	“[Censored] to [censored]”	Loch Ness, Scotland, United Kingdom	Lexus GS-F , Bentley Bentayga , Range Rover , Jaguar F-Pace	Tim Burton	27 January 2017
The tent remains at the west end of Loch Ness Because Hammond and May are Convinced que le Loch Ness Monster is deep in the water. Clarkson test drives the Lexus GS-F at the Eboladrome, driving past many animal-like figures. The presenters travel to Wank, Germany , Where May in a Bentley Bentayga Clarkson in a Range Rover , and Hammond in a Jaguar F-Pace plan road trip on the Romantic Road via Kissing, Bavaria , Then Petting, Bavaria , to Fucking, Austria . After passing Landsberg Prison and staying overnight in Fucking, Clarkson and Hammond suggest that they should skip Wedding (Berlin) and head for the Nürburgring instead. A mistake in the voice of the Nissan , after which the trio finds a quarry to perform timed laps in. Clarkson cheats by climbing a hill and crossing the water to beat Hammond and May’s times by two minutes. Tim Burton sticks Loch Ness in a mini-submarine, which implodes before reaching the tent. During the final announcements a mysterious object is seen rising from the loch in the background. S navigation system leads to the Nuremberg Norisring , after which the trio finds a quarry to perform timed laps in. Clarkson cheats by climbing a hill and crossing the water to beat Hammond and May’s times by two minutes. Tim Burton sticks Loch Ness in a mini-submarine, which implodes before reaching the tent. During the final announcements a mysterious object is seen rising from the loch in the background. S navigation system leads to the Nuremberg Norisring , after which the trio finds a quarry to perform timed laps in. Clarkson cheats by climbing a hill and crossing the water to beat Hammond and May’s times by two minutes. Tim Burton sticks Loch Ness in a mini-submarine, which implodes before reaching the tent. During the final announcements a mysterious object is seen rising from the loch in the background.
13	“Past v Future”	Dubai , United Arab Emirates [38]	Volkswagen Golf GTI , BMW i3	Roger Daltrey , Wilko Johnson , Daniel Ricciardo , Steve Biagioni , Bartek Ostałowski Conor Shanahan	3 February 2017
The tent is in Dubai. Clarkson compares his Volkswagen Golf GTI to May’s BMW i3 with a drag race to London and Dartmoor to expect a Roger Daltrey and Wilko Johnson concert. Clarkson and Hammond make May hang out with “winches” who drive their 4x4s deep into mud. For “Celebrity Brain Crash”, F1 Racer Daniel Ricciardo drives a hovercraft to the tent, but crashes before being sucked into the hovercraft’s fan. Hammond defeats the Bugattiin a drag race with the Porsche 918 Spyder, but quickly loses to a 1900 horsepower Nissan Patrol . Later, Michelin ‘s proving grounds in France to learn how to drift. Bartek Ostałowski and 13-year-old Conor Shanahan at Rockingham Motor Speedway . Clarkson and Hammond make the drift cars.

Notes

Production

The size of segments in the program are a result of Needing to Ensure differentiation from the team’s previous work is Top Gear for the BBC. ^[28] [39] The show is presented from a pair of large tents on a Grand Tour around the world. ^[39] The presenters sit around a trestle table , with the studio hearing seated in front of them. ^[39] The “Conversation Street” segment allows discussion of current events at the time of filming. ^[39] Lap times are shown on an electronic scoreboard. ^[39] A recurring test driver used for laptops is a named NASCAR character, portraying a stereotypical redneck accent and viewpoints, and prone to tangential speech . ^[39] [40] Any celebrity guests booked for the “Celebrity Brain Crash” segment are shown being “killed off” before they can be interviewed by the presenters. ^[28] Before they can be interviewed by the presenters. ^[28] Before they can be interviewed by the presenters. ^[28]

Naming

The show’s title was announced as The Grand Tour on 11 May 2016. ^[42] The show’s logo was unveiled by Clarkson on Twitter on 28 June 2016. ^[42]

There Was speculation que le show called Expired Could Be Gear Knobs after-a trademark enforcement Was Made For That name by an associated company, ^[43] aim Clarkson in October 2015 Stated That Would not this be the title. ^[44] [45] He explained in April 2016 that the word “Gear” could not be used for legal reasons. ^[46]

A short trailer was released on April 8, 2016 portraying Clarkson, Hammond and May brainstorming for a new name, before ending with the hashtag # TheStillVeryMuchUntitledClarksonHammondMayAmazonPrimeShowComingAutumn2016 . ^[47]

Another short trailer was posted by Clarkson on Facebook, yet again portraying the trio attempting to conjure up a suitable name. But this time, they end up getting distracted and completely forgetting the task at hand. Shortly afterwards, the trailer was released on the Amazon Video UK YouTube channel. ^[48]

Filming

United Broadcast Facilities (UBF) in The Netherlands won the contract for the outside broadcasting tent segments. ^[4] Fourteen microphones are used for recording the audience reaction laugh track within the tent. ^[4] The mobile studio audio setup uses Lawo mixing desks connected via MADI for live sound mixing , recording and talkback intercoms. ^[4]

In July 2016, the Grand Tour was an offshore powerboat racing powerboat C-237 belonging to Sunus Racing was stopped in the San Marco basin and impounded by police near to San Zaccaria, Venice , And not afterwards. ^[49] [50]

Promotion

Following the public naming of the show, Amazon offert new customers a £ 20 discount for Their First year on Amazon Prime During 14-16 May 2016. ^[51] A trailer Announcing the release dates of the show as 18 November 2016 Was posted on the Show’s YouTube channel on 15 September 2016. ^[52] A second, full-length trailer, was released on 6 October 2016. ^[53] Trailers have used the music ” Come with Me Now ” by Kongos . ^[54]

As part of their marketing campaign, Amazon placed crashed Toyota Prius cars at Hackescher Markt in Berlin, in front of London’s King’s Cross Railway Station , and on the Hollywood Walk of Fame outside the Dolby Theater in Los Angeles. ^[55]

Sponsorship

In mid-2016 DHL began sponsoring the transport costs of the tent and mobile studio. ^[56] [57] In June 2016, in connection with the sponsorship deal, the presenters had uploaded videos of themselves attempting to assemble DHL-branded shipping boxes. ^[58] The first episode stated that “promotional consideration” had been given by the Breitling Jet Team , DHL and Samsung . ^[59] Eight of the Breitling Jet aircraft took part in the opening sequence flyovers. ^[60] For the Tactical . ^[61] A DHL Boeing 757 was featured in the opening sequence of episode 5,

Reception

As of November 2016 the show received positive reviews from HAS critics, with The Guardian Saying “Jeremy Clarkson and co leave the BBC In Their dust”. ^[62] Daily Express TV reporter, Neela Debnath commented that the first episode “resembled a Hollywood blockbuster” and added that “[ The Grand Tour is] basically Top Gear on steroids.” ^[63] However, BBC Arts Editor, Will Gompertz said of the opening that “there is no irony. It feels uncomfortably hubristic” but once the presenters were in the “Normal service has been resumed” and that ” ^[65] TheWrap Reported year estimate by Symphony Advanced Media que la opening weekend viewer count for The Grand Tour Was three times the size of the opening weekend of The Man in the High Castle . ^[66] [65] TheWrap Reported year estimate by Symphony Advanced Media que la opening weekend viewer count for The Grand Tour Was three times the size of the opening weekend of The Man in the High Castle . ^[66]

Episode 2 was somewhat less favored by fans and critics. The Telegraph wrote about the Jordan segment: “[…] a tedious action movie segment that they have been in danger of losing the run of the Amazon and have had a downsides product.” ^[67] Radio Times said that “many of the viewers were disgruntled to say the least, branding the show as dull and not funny.” ^[68]

Richard Hammond was criticized by Stonewall , Peter Tatchell , and Olly Alexander , amongst others, for a commentary. ^[69] [70] It was later revealed that it was an in-joke for the Finnish TV commercial that aired in Finland. ^[71]

The Grand Tour received a nomination in the Original OTT Streamed category at the 2017 Television and Radio Industries Club Awards. ^[72]

In April 2017 Brad Anderson of CarScoops stated that he prefers Top Gear versus The Grand Tour . According to Anderson, Top Gear had “become even better”, whereas the “Grand Tour” seemed more scripted, less natural and at stages, forced … attention is often skewed away from the cars as the presenters, namely Clarkson, seemed to chase controversy and headlines “. Anderson continued that in-studio segments became repetitive quickly, particularly “Celebrity Brain Crash”, also noting that all three The Mike Skinner offers no worthwhile commentary. ^[73]