China to Get its Very Own State-Run Top Gear TV Show

China is widely considered to be the world’s largest car market, so it only makes sense that it would be the next nation to get a home grown version of Top Gear. After all, aside from Top Gear UK there’s also Top Gear Australia, Top Gear U.S.A. and Top Gear Russia.

The big fear at the moment is that Top Gear’s trademark brand of risqué humour and hilarious stunts won’t make it past the nominally strict Chinese censors, resulting in a show that’s less funny and lacking it’s UK cousin’s critical edge.

Cao Yunjin, a local comedian and one of Top Gear China’s (Zui Gao Dang’s) three hosts agrees:

“The boys go crazy in the show, like pushing a Maserati over the top of a three-storey building and smashing it. It may be too much violence for a fun programme in China.”

He does, however, promise that the show will stay true to its UK roots:

“Top Gear has been successful because the way the UK hosts present it is entertaining. We will do localised fun stuff.”

The pilot episode will feature a competition between a donkey and a Cadillac to see which is better suited to millstone work (that is, turning a wheel to grind wheat or grain). Zui Gao Dang will air later this year on China’s state-owned China Central Television.

By Tristan Hankins

Source: Telegraph

China to Get its Very Own State-Run Top Gear TV Show

China is widely considered to be the world’s largest car market, so it only makes sense that it would be the next nation to get a home grown version of Top Gear. After all, aside from Top Gear UK there’s also Top Gear Australia, Top Gear U.S.A. and Top Gear Russia. The big fear at the moment is that Top Gear’s trademark brand of risqué humour and hilarious stunts won’t make it past the nominally

Read All About it: Lancia's Geneva Motor Show Debuts in Detail

*The above photo is a Carscoop illustration

We've been hearing a lot of rumors and speculations for the past few months about Lancia's future product portfolio as well as which of these new models could make their world premiere at the Geneva International Motor Show on March 1. Carscoop has now learned final details of Lancia's plans for the Swiss Salon and can confirm that, aside from the 2012 Ypsilon we've already told you about, the Italian automaker will slip the covers off six more production and concept cars.

Without further ado, these are the Lancia models that will make their first public appearance in Geneva next month: the new Thema flagship sedan based on the Chrysler 300; the Grand Voyager minivan based on the Chrysler Town & Country / Dodge Grand Voyager; the Flavia sedan and convertible concepts based on the respective versions of the Chrysler 200; and finally, the subtly revised 2012MY Delta with a new grille plus trim and engine updates.

Some additional information we found out is that the new rear-wheel drive Thema will reach European showrooms this fall with a choice of two engines including Chrysler's V6 Pentastar and a 3.0-liter V6 turbo diesel in two states of tune, while the Flavia concept sedan and cabriolet models may be available in production form as early as the beginning of 2012.

As you can see, Fiat and Chrysler Group CEO Sergio Marchionne's plans to create a single brand lineup with certain market differentiations for Lancia and Chrysler are going full speed ahead, but only time will tell if these efforts -at least in this first implementation- prove to be successful, especially with European consumers.

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Read All About it: Lancia's Geneva Motor Show Debuts in Detail

*The above photo is a Carscoop illustrationWe've been hearing a lot of rumors and speculations for the past few months about Lancia's future product portfolio as well as which of these new models could make their world premiere at the Geneva International Motor Show on March 1. Carscoop has now learned final details of Lancia's plans for the Swiss Salon and can confirm that, aside from the 2012

Saab to Show a New Hatchback Concept as well as Updates on 9-3 Range at the Geneva Salon

For Saab, 2011 will be a crucial year, one that could make or break the company’s success. In a statement made in January, Chairman Victor Mullen said he's confident that the automaker will be able to pick up momentum and achieve the projected sales volume of 80,000 units. But for that the Swedes need new models and it seems that they’ll deliver.

According to a press invitation sent out today, aside from the already confirmed and teased 2011 9-5 Sportcombi, Saab's Geneva Motor Show stand will host the premiere of a brand new concept model and either facelifted or special edition versions of the 9-3 range.

As previously reported, Saab wants to revive the 1950s 92 model, so it’s possible that the concept car will announce just that. Furthermore, a report on the Saabs United website claims that the design study will also showcase the brand’s new design language under Saab Design Chief Jason Castriota.

The enthusiast site also asserts that the updates to the 9-3 could be a special edition version of the cabriolet called “9-3 Independence Edition” to commemorate one year from the day Spyker bought Saab from General Motors (February 23, 2010), and a Griffin-badged variant of the sedan model.

By Csaba Daradics

Source: Saabsunited & Saab via Autoblog

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