: Released in November 2013, it was the UK's best-selling TV title on DVD for that year, even outselling the London 2012 Olympics.
: Scholars in "Top Gear: Why Does the World’s Most Popular Programme Not Deserve Scrutiny?" highlight the show's unique "generic hybridity," which blends traditional consumer car reviews with high-budget comedy and travelogues, making it an "emblem of the UK" globally. Background on the Special Top Gear: The Perfect Road Trip
: In the paper "The Cutting Edge of Cocking About": Top Gear, Automobility and Law , researchers argue that the show celebrates a specific, aggressive form of male identity linked to the internal combustion engine. However, it notes that the show's heavy use of nostalgia and irony actually frames this masculinity as something belonging to the past. : Released in November 2013, it was the
: The duo's stated aim is "escapism" by choosing the "perfect" car for each leg of the journey while removing annoyances like speed cameras, road works, and fellow presenter James May . However, it notes that the show's heavy use
: Another study, "Belligerent broadcasting, male anti-authoritarianism and anti-environmentalism: the case of Top Gear" , examines how the presenters use contrarian humor to deflect criticism regarding environmental and social issues.