Hammond appears on fake Chinese 'Top Gear', tests their EV's
Discussion
So this is essentially bootleg Top Gear. Videos made by a guy that started out by adding Chinese subs to official (but illegally downloaded) Top Gear episodes that were never officially available in China...
Then all these years later Hammond is their guest star!
I started watching this with raised eyebrows but they seemed like genuine car guys and were totally honest with RH when he asked about the habit of copying the west - and various other questions about the turning tide of car manufacturer supremacy..
I'm genuinely impressed that RH's interest in cars was sufficient for him to do this, given that he's getting driven around by the guys that illegally provided his Top Gear content to the entirety of China. The local car culture guys clearly adored Top Gear and to be fair there was no way they could have ever had it legally.
Got to admit, the cars are very impressive - despite being a bit bootleg, although it's hard to argue with the lap times at the nurburgring. Every last thing about this video is bootleg though, and RH seemed entirely at peace with that.
Then all these years later Hammond is their guest star!
I started watching this with raised eyebrows but they seemed like genuine car guys and were totally honest with RH when he asked about the habit of copying the west - and various other questions about the turning tide of car manufacturer supremacy..
I'm genuinely impressed that RH's interest in cars was sufficient for him to do this, given that he's getting driven around by the guys that illegally provided his Top Gear content to the entirety of China. The local car culture guys clearly adored Top Gear and to be fair there was no way they could have ever had it legally.
Got to admit, the cars are very impressive - despite being a bit bootleg, although it's hard to argue with the lap times at the nurburgring. Every last thing about this video is bootleg though, and RH seemed entirely at peace with that.
BunkMoreland said:
Enjoyed that.
Though Hammond shouldn't have a drink when he's clearly jet lagged as he was nodding off in the Huawei!
I think of the 3, I like the Huawei the most.
I agree, but also I think that it's likely that within the next 1-2 years there will be PH members with these cars on their driveway - for less than 100k. Which is beyond bonkers.Though Hammond shouldn't have a drink when he's clearly jet lagged as he was nodding off in the Huawei!
I think of the 3, I like the Huawei the most.
Random PH'ers that used to own a fast ford suddenly have a 1500hp supercar or an 800hp 'Rolls Royce' on the drive. This is going to happen and I suspect that's part of the reason Hammond (who clearly wants to remain relevant in car culture), decided to make the trip to China. He's no idiot, he wants to 'talk car' as a career still, and the car for the rest of his life is largely going to come from China. So he went over and showed his face, which is pretty decent imo!
Whilst I haven’t watched this and am not suggesting this was RH’s incentive to participate…
I recall that there was a PR campaign focussed on US auto journalists earlier this year whereby several high-end Chinese EV’s were offered for review purposes in a mixed manufacturer group.
There was an implication that accepting this opportunity perhaps also came with some numerical incentives similar to the PR campaign ran by Vinfast several years previously which featured paid for trips to Vietnam and straight cash into people’s bank accounts…allegedly.
I recall that there was a PR campaign focussed on US auto journalists earlier this year whereby several high-end Chinese EV’s were offered for review purposes in a mixed manufacturer group.
There was an implication that accepting this opportunity perhaps also came with some numerical incentives similar to the PR campaign ran by Vinfast several years previously which featured paid for trips to Vietnam and straight cash into people’s bank accounts…allegedly.
Mezzanine said:
Whilst I haven t watched this and am not suggesting this was RH s incentive to participate
I recall that there was a PR campaign focussed on US auto journalists earlier this year whereby several high-end Chinese EV s were offered for review purposes in a mixed manufacturer group.
There was an implication that accepting this opportunity perhaps also came with some numerical incentives similar to the PR campaign ran by Vinfast several years previously which featured paid for trips to Vietnam and straight cash into people s bank accounts allegedly.
I have zero doubt that all sorts of gravy train car journalists head to China to politely report on their latest efforts.I recall that there was a PR campaign focussed on US auto journalists earlier this year whereby several high-end Chinese EV s were offered for review purposes in a mixed manufacturer group.
There was an implication that accepting this opportunity perhaps also came with some numerical incentives similar to the PR campaign ran by Vinfast several years previously which featured paid for trips to Vietnam and straight cash into people s bank accounts allegedly.
But multi millionaire Hammond has no such incentive. He clearly went there for car culture. He can do anything, he can do nothing. He chose to go to China and break down some barriers and open some eyes.
If he didn't care, he'd just stop. But he does care - so he went to China.
Mezzanine said:
Whilst I haven t watched this and am not suggesting this was RH s incentive to participate
I recall that there was a PR campaign focussed on US auto journalists earlier this year whereby several high-end Chinese EV s were offered for review purposes in a mixed manufacturer group.
There was an implication that accepting this opportunity perhaps also came with some numerical incentives similar to the PR campaign ran by Vinfast several years previously which featured paid for trips to Vietnam and straight cash into people s bank accounts allegedly.
Every review I read about Vinfast said the cars were cack! I recall that there was a PR campaign focussed on US auto journalists earlier this year whereby several high-end Chinese EV s were offered for review purposes in a mixed manufacturer group.
There was an implication that accepting this opportunity perhaps also came with some numerical incentives similar to the PR campaign ran by Vinfast several years previously which featured paid for trips to Vietnam and straight cash into people s bank accounts allegedly.
TheDeuce said:
I have zero doubt that all sorts of gravy train car journalists head to China to politely report on their latest efforts.
But multi millionaire Hammond has no such incentive. He clearly went there for car culture. He can do anything, he can do nothing. He chose to go to China and break down some barriers and open some eyes.
If he didn't care, he'd just stop. But he does care - so he went to China.
The thumbnail just reminded me of that US-based event as it was odd that various (competing (?))brands were offered for review at the same time, which usually you wouldn’t see if it was not state sponsored. But multi millionaire Hammond has no such incentive. He clearly went there for car culture. He can do anything, he can do nothing. He chose to go to China and break down some barriers and open some eyes.
If he didn't care, he'd just stop. But he does care - so he went to China.
BunkMoreland said:
Every review I read about Vinfast said the cars were cack!
It was a PR disaster that’s for sure.There is a good article about the whole weird experience here
Matt Farah was quoted as being offered $10,000 to be on this trip (which he declined) and said at the time he knew of other journalists/influencers who were offered multiple times that figure.
Mezzanine said:
TheDeuce said:
I have zero doubt that all sorts of gravy train car journalists head to China to politely report on their latest efforts.
But multi millionaire Hammond has no such incentive. He clearly went there for car culture. He can do anything, he can do nothing. He chose to go to China and break down some barriers and open some eyes.
If he didn't care, he'd just stop. But he does care - so he went to China.
The thumbnail just reminded me of that US-based event as it was odd that various (competing (?))brands were offered for review at the same time, which usually you wouldn t see if it was not state sponsored. But multi millionaire Hammond has no such incentive. He clearly went there for car culture. He can do anything, he can do nothing. He chose to go to China and break down some barriers and open some eyes.
If he didn't care, he'd just stop. But he does care - so he went to China.
BunkMoreland said:
Every review I read about Vinfast said the cars were cack!
It was a PR disaster that s for sure.There is a good article about the whole weird experience here
Matt Farah was quoted as being offered $10,000 to be on this trip (which he declined) and said at the time he knew of other journalists/influencers who were offered multiple times that figure.
We all know the motoring and other industries media is awash with gravy train journalists - but it's pretty clear of you watch that RH didn't act remotely like a shil, as I said, he doesn't need the money. My best guess would be that he keeps drivetribe going and keeps reviewing cars because he... likes to do so.
I also reckon he misses the old TG/GT days which seems evident in the video. Maybe that's why this slightly odd collaboration video occurred.
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