For those unfamiliar with Top Gear, it is a UK car show produced by the BBC. A few years ago Discovery/TLC aired an edited version of the show for a few episodes. Supposedly the "anti-American" comments from the lead host that weren't allowed to be edited doomed the show (at least for Disc/TLC). Top Gear is still broadcast unedited on BBC America.

Regardless, the USA version will be on NBC in the fall and will have Adam Carolla, Tanner Foust and Eric Stromer. Eric of HGTV fame drives a TCH. This show is "franchised" from the UK Top Gear. So it will be interesting to see if the Anti-Prius, Anti-Hybrid and Anti-EV position of the UK hosts rub off on the US version.
http://www.autoblog.com/2008/06/16/t...sts-announced/

 

I doubt that they will allow the UK host to run or control the US franchise. The host has very little control over a show.