Top Gear series 17

{{Use dmy dates|date=April 2022}} {{Use British English|date=December 2011}} {{Infobox television season | series_number = 17 | bgcolour = #D6B871 | image = Top Gear Series 17 Promo 2011.jpg | image_upright = 1.13 | image_alt = | caption = Promotional poster | starring = {{Plainlist| *[[Jeremy Clarkson]] *[[Richard Hammond]] *[[James May]] *[[The Stig]] }} | num_episodes = 6 | network = [[BBC Two]] | first_aired = {{Start date|2011|06|26|df=y}} | last_aired = {{end date|2011|07|31|df=y}} | episode_list = List of Top Gear (2002 TV series) episodes }} Series 17 of ''[[Top Gear (2002 TV series)|Top Gear]]'', a British motoring magazine and [[factual television]] programme, was broadcast in the United Kingdom on [[BBC Two]] during 2011, consisting of six episodes that were aired between 26 June and 31 July.<ref>[http://transmission.blogs.topgear.com/2011/06/08/top-gear-series-17-starts-26-june/ Transmission – BBC Top Gear Top Gear Series 17: starts 26 June «]</ref> This series' highlights included the presenters making their own trains with cars and caravans, and using second-hand military vehicles to demolish houses. The seventeenth series faced criticism over its review of electric cars by attempting to mislead viewers.

==Episodes== {{Main|List of Top Gear (2002 TV series) episodes}} <onlyinclude> {{Episode table |background=#D6B871 |overall=5 |series=5 |aux1=24 |aux2=34 |aux3=11 |airdate=11 |viewers=10 |country=UK |aux1T=Reviews |aux2T=Features/challenges |aux3T=Guest(s) |viewersR=<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.barb.co.uk/whats-new/weekly-top-10?|title=Weekly Top 10 Programmes|publisher=[[Broadcasters' Audience Research Board]]}}</ref> |episodes= {{Episode list/sublist|Top Gear series 17 | EpisodeNumber = 134 | EpisodeNumber2 = 1 | Aux1 = [[Marauder (vehicle)|Marauder]] • [[BMW 1 Series (E87)#1 Series M Coupé|BMW 1 Series M Coupe]] | Aux2 = 50th Birthday of the [[Jaguar E-Type#Series 1 (1961–68)|Jaguar E-Type]] • [[Mini John Cooper Works WRC]] with [[Amy Williams]] | Aux3 = [[Alice Cooper]] • [[Amy Williams]] • [[Kris Meeke]] | OriginalAirDate = {{Start date|2011|6|26|df=y}} | Viewers = 6.22{{#tag:ref|5.27 million on BBC Two, 950,000 on BBC HD.|group=nb}} | ShortSummary = Hammond travels to [[South Africa]] to test out the [[Marauder (vehicle)|Marauder]], a South African military vehicle, to work out the pros and cons of owning one, while May returns to [[Lillehammer]] in [[Norway]] to see if the car can reclaim its honour, by racing a [[Mini John Cooper Works WRC|MINI John Cooper Works WRC]] driven by MINI test driver [[Kris Meeke]] against [[Skeleton (sport)|skeleton]] sled racer [[Amy Williams]], on the same course as the bobsleigh vs. car race. Meanwhile, Clarkson tests out the [[BMW 1 Series (E87)#1 Series M Coupé|BMW 1 Series M Coupe]], and pays homage to the [[Jaguar E-type]] by celebrating its 50th birthday while also looking at its updated, 21st century successor – the Eagle Speedster. Hard rock musician [[Alice Cooper]] has a go at driving around the track in the [[Kia Cee'd]]. | LineColor = D6B871 }} {{Episode list/sublist|Top Gear series 17 | EpisodeNumber = 135 | EpisodeNumber2 = 2 | Aux1 = [[Aston Martin Virage#Virage (2011–2012)|Aston Martin Virage]] | Aux2 = High-performance hatchbacks in [[Lucca]] and around the [[Circuit de Monaco|Monaco Grand Prix track]]: ([[DS 3#DS3 Racing|Citroën DS3 Racing]] • [[Fiat 500 (2007)#Abarth 500 (2008–)|Fiat 500 Abarth Convertible]] • [[Clio Renault Sport#Clio III RS (200)|Renault Sport Clio 200 Cup]]) | Aux3 = [[Ross Noble]] • [[Flavio Briatore]] • [[Christian Horner]] • [[Bernie Ecclestone]] | OriginalAirDate = {{Start date|2011|7|3|df=y}} | Viewers = 5.72{{#tag:ref|4.84 million on BBC Two, 880,000 on BBC HD.|group=nb}} | ShortSummary = The trio head to Northern [[Italy]] for a road trip towards the Riviera, to see which of the latest hot hatchbacks is the best – Clarkson believes he has found the perfect hatchback in the [[DS 3#DS3 Racing|Citroën DS3 Racing]], May attempts to prove it is the [[Clio Renault Sport#Clio III RS (200)|Renault Sport Clio 200 Cup]], while Hammond aims to show that the [[Fiat 500 (2007)#Abarth 500 (2008–)|Fiat 500 Abarth Convertible]] is the best. In a series of challenges on their road trip, the trio try to get out of [[Lucca]], go on a scavenger hunt, before heading for [[Monaco]] during the [[Monaco Grand Prix]] to see whose is fastest around the [[Circuit de Monaco]] (with a little training from some special helpers). Meanwhile, May goes on a rant about what is wrong with recent Aston Martins before seeing if the [[Aston Martin Virage]] is any different, and comedian [[Ross Noble]] sets out to make a fast lap in the Kia. | LineColor = D6B871 }} {{Episode list/sublist|Top Gear series 17 | EpisodeNumber = 136 | EpisodeNumber2 = 3 | Aux1 = [[McLaren MP4-12C]] • [[Range Rover Evoque]] | Aux2 = Examine toughness of the [[Range Rover Evoque]] in Las Vegas • Second-hand bargains for the price of the [[Nissan Pixo]] ([[Mercedes-Benz CL-Class (C215)|Mercedes-Benz CL600]] • [[BMW 8 Series (E31)|BMW 850Ci]]) | Aux3 = [[Sebastian Vettel]] | OriginalAirDate = {{Start date|2011|7|10|df=y}} | Viewers = 6.55{{#tag:ref|5.41 million on BBC Two, 1.14 million on BBC HD.|group=nb}} | ShortSummary = Clarkson and Hammond see if there is a good second-hand bargain for the same price as a [[Nissan Pixo]] – Clarkson believes it might be a nine-year-old [[Mercedes-Benz CL-Class (C215)|Mercedes-Benz CL600]] he bought, while Hammond seeks to prove the seventeen-year-old [[BMW 8 Series (E31)|BMW 850Ci]] he purchased is the one. Elsewhere, May ventures to [[Nevada]] to test out the sustainability of the [[Range Rover Evoque]] before chauffeuring a "megastar" across [[Las Vegas Valley|Las Vegas]], the [[McLaren MP4-12C]] is put through its paces by Clarkson on the track against its main rival, the [[Ferrari 458 Italia]], and [[Formula 1]] world champion, [[Sebastian Vettel]], sees if he's got what it takes to set a fast time in the old [[Suzuki Liana]]. | LineColor = D6B871 }} {{Episode list/sublist|Top Gear series 17 | EpisodeNumber = 137 | EpisodeNumber2 = 4 | Aux1 = [[Jaguar XK (X150)#XKR-S|Jaguar XKR-S]] • [[Nissan GT-R#2010 facelift|Nissan GT-R]] | Aux2 = Make a train out of a specially modified car and caravans as carriages: ([[Jaguar XJS#Full convertible|Jaguar XJ-S Convertible]] • [[Audi S8]]) | Aux3 = [[Rowan Atkinson]] | OriginalAirDate = {{Start date|2011|7|17|df=y}} | Viewers = 7.14{{#tag:ref|6.07 million on BBC Two, 1.07 million on BBC HD.|group=nb}} | ShortSummary = The trio see if they can find a cheaper alternative to expensive carriage trains, but an argument over their initial creation leads to them having a race to see if Hammond and May's "traditional" train – a 4WD [[Audi S8]] pulling four caravan "carriages" – can reach [[Loughborough Central railway station]], before Clarkson's "Sports Train" – a [[Jaguar XJS#Full convertible|Jaguar XJ-S Convertible]] pulling an open-top, four-man carriage. Elsewhere, the [[Jaguar XK (X150)#XKR-S|Jaguar XKR-S]] and the [[Nissan GT-R#2010 facelift|Nissan GT-R]] are tested out on the track by Clarkson, while comedian [[Rowan Atkinson]] previews his new film ''[[Johnny English Reborn]]'', as well as talking about the prototype [[V16 engine]] used in the film's [[Rolls-Royce Phantom Coupé]] and his love of cars, before lapping the circuit in the Kia Cee'd. | LineColor = D6B871 }} {{Episode list/sublist|Top Gear series 17 | EpisodeNumber = 138 | EpisodeNumber2 = 5 | Aux1 = [[Lotus T125]] • [[Jensen Interceptor#The Jensen Interceptor R|Jensen Interceptor]] | Aux2 = Demolish a house with second-hand military equipment vs demolition experts | Aux3 = [[Bob Geldof]] • [[Jean Alesi]] | OriginalAirDate = {{Start date|2011|7|24|df=y}} | Viewers = 6.13{{#tag:ref|5.01 million on BBC Two, 1.12 million on BBC HD.|group=nb}} | ShortSummary = The boys are challenged to a race by a group of professional demolishers to see who can be the first to knock down a row of houses zoned for demolition. After heading to [[Albania]] and failing to knock a test house with the standard machinery, the trio decide to tackle the challenge with a range of heavy-duty, surplus military vehicles – a [[FV432|FV434 armoured recovery vehicle]], a [[FV180 Combat Engineer Tractor]] (CET), and an Armtrac 400 [[mine flail|mine-clearing vehicle]]. Elsewhere, the boys get nostalgic for 1970s action/adventure series and attempt to create an opening sequence for a new one, involving a new and updated version of the classic [[Jensen Interceptor]], while Clarkson tests out Lotus' new purpose-built Formula 1-inspired track car, the [[Lotus T125|T125]], and rock star and charity ambassador, [[Bob Geldof]], is in the reasonably priced car.

''Note'': Due to the [[2011 Grand Prix motorcycle racing season|MotoGP 2011 live coverage]], the original transmission ended with no closing credits. The susbsequent iPlayer version of this episode cuts to a plain black background which the traditional theme music/end credits are then played over. | LineColor = D6B871 }} {{Episode list/sublist|Top Gear series 17 | EpisodeNumber = 139 | EpisodeNumber2 = 6 | Aux1 = [[Lamborghini Aventador]] | Aux2 = Electric cars for the seaside: ([[Nissan Leaf]] • [[Mitsubishi i-MiEV#Europe|Peugeot iOn]]) • Extraordinary rally team of amputee military veterans | Aux3 = [[Louis Walsh]] • Race2Recovery Team • [[Ben Collins (racing driver)|Ben Collins]] | OriginalAirDate = {{Start date|2011|7|31|df=y}} | Viewers = 6.76{{#tag:ref|5.68 million on BBC Two, 1.08 million on BBC HD.|group=nb}} | ShortSummary = Clarkson and May go on a trip to the seaside, and take with them two new electrically powered cars, the [[Nissan Leaf]] and [[Citroën C-ZERO|Peugeot iOn]], to see how practical they are, while the long-awaited successor of the [[Lamborghini Murcielago|Murcielago]] – the [[Lamborghini Aventador]] – has arrived on the track to be given a thorough test by Hammond, and [[Louis Walsh]] sees how fast he is in the reasonably priced car. Finally, Hammond heads out to a cross-country rally event, to meet with the Race2Recovery Team – an extraordinary [[Rallying|rally]] team, consisting entirely of ex-military amputees, who are taking part for the first time. In his interviews with some of the members, he learns how they are coping with their disabilities, using racing as a cure to their mental traumas, before giving them some help in their preparation for tackling the gruelling [[Dakar Rally]], in the form of former Stig, [[Ben Collins (racing driver)|Ben Collins]]. | LineColor = D6B871 }} }}</onlyinclude>

==Criticism== {{Main|Top Gear controversies}} The seventeenth series faced criticism following the broadcast of its final episode, over two elements in their Electric Cars review film. The first complaint focused on criticism of the presenters [[Jeremy Clarkson]] and [[James May]] for parking their cars into two disabled parking spaces. Executive producer [[Andy Wilman]] defended the presenters in an online blog on this matter, revealing that both had expressed deep concerns it would create a disrespectful impression, but only used the spaces when the car park's owner gave permission, adding that there had been three other disabled parking spaces available, before apologising to any viewers that had been upset by the scene.<ref name="Willman Blog">{{cite news | url=https://www.theguardian.com/media/2011/aug/02/top-gear-disabled-parking-row?INTCMP=ILCNETTXT3487 | work=The Guardian| first=Tara | last=Conlan | title=Top Gear sorry for disabled parking row | date=2 August 2011 | location=London}}</ref>

The second complaint was made by several parties, including [[Nissan]], electric car enthusiasts and newspapers when it transpired that a [[Nissan Leaf]] that had run out of charge, and required pushing in a scene in the film, had been run down to around 40% of its capacity before the car's test drive, leading to criticism on the programme's view on electric cars.<ref>{{cite news | url=http://green.autoblog.com/2011/08/02/top-gear-airs-controversial-nissan-leaf-segment-responds-to-critics | work=autobloggreen | first=Eric | last=Loveday | title=Top Gear airs controversial Nissan Leaf segment, responds to critics | date=2 August 2011}}</ref> Wilman rejected claims that the show was misleading viewers about the Leaf's charge and range, and stood by the consumer points that were raised in the film.<ref name="Willman Blog"/>

==Notes== The viewing figures shown in the Episode Table above, are a combination of the figures from the BBC Two broadcast and the BBC HD broadcast. {{reflist|group=nb}}

== References == {{reflist}}

[[Category:2011 British television seasons]] [[Category:Top Gear (2002 TV series) series]]