Long-standing Grand Tour fans have shared their doubts over the revised series after Prime Video dropped the first full-length trailer, with many saying the show should have ended when original hosts Jeremy Clarkson, Richard Hammond and James May departed.
The original trio are appearing as guests in the new series, but viewers felt the format should have been retired with them. The latest trailer shows the new hosts — Francis Bourgeois, James Engelsman and Thomas Holland — getting into all kinds of trouble as they head on a globe-trotting adventure. They are also seen expressing their disbelief as they are introduced to F1 World Champion Jenson Button.
However, the original trio are not seen at all in the teaser video.
Fans React to the New Trailer
A fan shared in the YouTube comments section: "I am sorry to say this but I am not watching this, whether it's Top Gear or The Grand Tour it's not worth watching without THE TRIO."
Over on Reddit, other viewers were convinced the series would be a flop, with one saying: "Oh dear, trying to do the same thing with different people never goes well, you end up thinking the other guys would have done that better."
Another agreed: "The format should be retired with them- as no one will be able to replicate the chemistry - just look at what happened with TG once they left."
Another fan added: "I doubt you’ll ever be able to replicate the kind of chemistry those guys had, but you don’t have to. Allow them to have it, it’s theirs. Rather, find something different that works too, that can be someone else’s."
What the New Series Offers
The trailer sees the team visit California to test out the Ford Mustang GTD, Chevrolet Corvette ZR1, and a 2000-horsepower Hennessey Venom F5 Revolution Evolution, taking them up against fighter jets.
Elsewhere, Francis, James and Thomas head to Malaysia to explore the nation’s rich car culture, surprised at how little can be spent on a reliable sports car. The trio will also be journeying through the desert of Angola in track-cars not designed to tackle that sort of terrain.
Support From Clarkson and Some Fans
Despite the criticism, there were plenty of fans who were excited to see what the new hosts had to offer. One fan said: "This is amazing, this needs all the support possible!" While another shared: "I will always love the trio of Jezza, Ricky Red Neck, and May. But I am excited to see where this new trio of the Grand Tour goes."
Clarkson has previously shown his support for the new trio, saying on the podcast My Week in Cars: "I’ve seen the guys being chosen in the early days, and I’ve seen some of the stuff they’ve been doing. And it’s very, very good. It’s different because they’re three completely different people to us. But they’re bl**** funny. You shall see."
The Grand Tour premieres on Prime Video on September 4.
