Even The Beatles didn’t enjoy as much longevity as this trio. Jeremy Clarkson, Richard Hammond and James May have spent twenty-two years redefining Top Gear before bringing their unique interpretation of automotive television chaos to a halt. Amazon Prime Video will broadcast the last The Grand Tour episode featuring this trifecta from Friday night.
Their final adventure, aptly named ‘One For The Road’, pits them and three vintage vehicles; a Lancia Monte Carlo, a Triumph Stag, and a Ford Capri (the quintessential ’70s coupe, not the latest electric variant) against the terrains of Zimbabwe.
As expected, the closing episode radiates a nostalgic aura, yet the threesome insists they made large strides to dodge any mawkish sentimentality. Still, the decision to overlay the closing scenes with Dire Straits’s Brothers in Arms song might have counteracted this intention. Regardless of any personal opinion on Clarkson, Hammond and May’s unique demonstration of vehicular machismo, it seems fitting to grant them a farewell performance after being the cornerstone of mainstream car enthusiasm for over two decades.
Does this mean a decrease in such enthusiasm? Amazon doesn’t reckon so since it’s decided The Grand Tour will proceed with three new hosts yet to be revealed. Nonetheless, the closure feels undeniable, particularly from Clarkson’s perspective who admits besides age being a factor and posing challenges in undertaking adventurous journeys with unpredictable old automobiles, he finds no allure in generating enthusiasm for electric cars, terming them as “uninteresting domestic appliances”.
An opinion from which his co-hosts differ. “I fundamentally oppose that view,” one of them declares, adding that “for years, we petrolheads have huddled over our passion’s subject, predicting doom.”
As individuals contemplate the future, many envisage it being populated with autonomous vehicles, however, this leads to an awareness that a love for cars may exist more widely than previously assumed. To illustrate this reality, consider my youngest daughter who has no expressed passion for automobiles but associates her vehicle with a sense of freedom. This newfound embrace of car enthusiasm reflects a trend that will see individuals, who previously never considered themselves car connoisseurs, recognise their hidden affection for automobiles.
So, what does this mean for the electric car revolution? Would it mute the vibrant enthusiasm of car aficionados? Rather, I foresee the automotive industry entering its most fascinating epoch since its inception. As the shift towards low-emission vehicles advances, it encourages us to reassess the symbolic weight cars carry.
Our generation marked cars as personal trophies, sentimental relics that almost functioned as an extension of our identity. Younger generations, however, look closer, asking themselves about what a car represents and the opportunities it offers. To my mind, this introspective reassessment of automobile purpose is beneficial, creating a fresh perspective on car enthusiasm. This new form of passion will differ substantially from what we are familiar with, but it won’t fade away, as the topic isn’t going anywhere soon. I anticipate those who will shed light on this topic and I eagerly await the unpredictable turns this discussion might take via various platforms such as television, YouTube, and vlogs—this is going to be an exciting ride.
Hammond believes that the future holds just as much thrill as the past, stating, “These machines are the most significant we’ve ever constructed. They’ve facilitated so many developments more than any other entity we’ve created. They’re not going anywhere. Our fascination with them will persist and it’s a thrilling epoch for them, as we must shift towards decarbonisation, but the future will compound elements of pure electric vehicles, hybrid models, hydrogen combustion automobiles, hydrogen fuel cell vehicles, and synthetic fuels for conventional engine cars, to keep about 1.6 billion of them operative on the roads. It’s going to be an amazing conglomeration of elements, because it’s focused around the most crucial machine we’ve crafted. It isn’t going to alter. It won’t disappear any time soon.”
We can only hope, however, there’s indeed a sense of ending associated with ‘One For The Road’. This presents the hosts with a chance to operate classic vehicles they’ve long coveted but never possessed. Clarkson often paused to appreciate the disgrace of a Lancia Monte Carlo visible in a car showroom when commuting to work. May had always been drawn to the magnificent Triumph Stag, but hesitated to operate one due to its fame for volatile unreliability. Hammond had, for ages, yearned for the original Capri.
Throughout their journey across Zimbabwe, they emphasise an argument initially presented 17 years ago during ‘Top Gear’ when they navigated through Botswana in an old Lancia, Opel, and Mercedes – demonstrating that the consumer’s demand for massive 4x4s was a misconception as you could persuade any unlikely vehicle to navigate the harshest of terrains with some courage (and a skilled team of mechanics). Regrettably, the consumers didn’t change their stance, but the last Grand Tour once again underscores that even low-lying coupes are equally proficient on all roads, and none, like a modified Land Rover. If only you’re courageous enough…
The culminating chapter upholds the consistency of mishaps and disputes, refraining mostly from ludicrous antics and detonations. The choice was founded on the principle of driving three vehicles through some of the world’s most breathtaking terrains, letting the picturesque scenes – some equivalent to ‘Lawrence of Arabia’ – carry the weight. That choice was commendable, accompanied by Mark Knopfler’s resonating guitar as the trio return to a legendary site (avoiding spoilers…) leaves not many vehicle enthusiasts unemotional.
The imprint left by Top Gear and The Grand Tour with this trio is a multifaceted one, one so intricate that even scholars may dispute over it one day. Pure leisure? Nirvana for motor enthusiasts? Or irresponsible endorsement of environmentally harmful machinery amid climate upheaval? It’s uncertain. What is of ultimate importance is that the journey has concluded.