: Released in November 2013, it was the UK's best-selling TV title on DVD for that year, even outselling the London 2012 Olympics.
: 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. Top Gear: The Perfect Road Trip
: 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 : Released in November 2013, it was the
: Jeremy Clarkson and Richard Hammond travel over 1,000 miles from Venice, Italy to Pau, France , visiting landmarks like the Monza circuit and Monaco . : Scholars in "Top Gear: Why Does 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 .
: 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.