Skip to main content

Matt LeBlanc isn’t just doing a Friends reunion, he’s also … hosting Top Gear?

Top Gear hosts Matt LeBlanc, Chris Evans, The Stig
Image used with permission by copyright holder
Despite reports of some issues behind the scenes, the BBC is still working to launch a new version of Top Gear this May. The network announced radio host and Ferrari enthusiast Chris Evans as the main presenter last year, but now there’s an even more high profile name attached to the rejiggered car show.

Matt LeBlanc will join Evans, “tame racing driver” The Stig, and possibly additional presenters when the show relaunches, Top Gear announced on its website. While he’s best known for playing Joey Tribbiani on Friends, LeBlanc is also a consummate car guy who has appeared on Top Gear before. In those previous appearances, LeBlanc showed that he’s not exactly a slouch behind the wheel.

Recommended Videos

He set the fastest-ever lap for the show’s “Star in a Reasonably Priced Car segment,” in which celebrity guests lapped the Top Gear track in small economy cars. LeBlanc’s 1:42.1 lap in a Kia Cee’d was never beaten, so when a new version of the Cee’d appeared, then-host Jeremy Clarkson flew him back to compare the two cars back to back. LeBlanc is also hosting a clip show of Top Gear races that will tide fans over until the Evans-led series premieres, and his show Episodes previously aired on BBC Two, the same channel as Top Gear.

Casting LeBlanc definitely changes things up. The previous trio of Top Gear hosts were all automotive journalists who just happened to be good at being on television, but for this version, the BBC is leaning toward entertainers, who just happen to be car fans. That makes sense, as the show didn’t attain its popularity just by focusing on the cars.

And there may be a few automotive celebrities in the mix as well. Top Gear says there will be more news on “additional cast members” shortly, and there have already been reports that Nürburging expert Sabine Schmitz and British automotive journalist Chris Harris will appear on the show. Former Formula One driver David Coulthard is also rumored to have some, unspecified role.

Meanwhile, the previous Top Gear contingent of Jeremy Clarkson, Richard Hammond, and James May continues to work on a new car show for Amazon. They’ve apparently already wrangled a Ferrari LaFerrari, McLaren P1, and Porsche 918 Spyder for one episode, so the Amazon show could give Top Gear a run for its money.

Stephen Edelstein
Stephen is a freelance automotive journalist covering all things cars. He likes anything with four wheels, from classic cars…
Scout Terra vs. Tesla Cybertruck: retro and futuristic, head to head
Scout Motors Terra driving front

Scout Motors is back. The classic brand has been reinvigorated under Volkswagen Group, and not only that, but it has already announced two new vehicles that it plans to launch in the next few years. Of the two, the Scout Terra is the electric truck, and it's built to offer a modern design with an excellent range and fast performance.

But how does the Scout Terra compare with another popular electric truck, the Tesla Cybertruck? While the Scout Terra is set to be much cheaper than the Cybertruck is now, it's entirely possible that by the time the Terra is released, it could have a higher price tag than expected, while Tesla lowers the price tag of the Cybertruck. Is one of these trucks objectively better? We put the two head-to-head to find out.
Design
The Scout Terra and the Tesla Cybertruck arguably couldn't be further apart in terms of design. Of course, variation is a good thing, at least as long as both options are solid under the hood too.

Read more
Hyundai 2025 Ioniq 5 is under $44,000, with more range and NACS port
hyundai ioniq 5 44000 nacs 64149 large631652025ioniq5xrt

Hyundai is on a roll. In October, the South Korean manufacturer posted its best U.S. sales ever, largely driven by sales of its popular Ioniq 5 electric SUV.

Now, all eyes are on the Ioniq 5’s 2025 model, which is set to become available at dealerships before year-end. As Digital Trends previously reported, the crossover model adds a more rugged-looking trim level called XRT and provides additional driving range as well as new charging options.

Read more
Mazda confirms a hybrid CX-5 and electric SUV are on the way
mazda hybrid cx 5 electric suv 2024 arata concept 4

Mazda might be making headway in the pursuit of bringing back an electric vehicle (EV) stateside.

Ever since it discontinued the MX-30 EV in the U.S. last year, the Japanese automaker has had zero EV offerings for potential U.S. customers.

Read more