The Grand Tour revs up new season

There were Lamborghinis, Bentleys, BMWs and a whole lotta monkey business at The Grand Tour‘s season launch at Carriageworks this week.

Amazon rolled out the red carpet for auto-lovers at the invite-only screening of the first episode. While the cars, collectively worth millions of dollars, were strictly look-but-don’t-touch, there were activities for guests to insert themselves in Grand Tour-like scenes.

But it was the screen action guests were there to see, and the episode was introduced with a video message from Jeremy Clarkson, Richard Hammond & James May.

Clarkson joked that footage had been burnt into an Ashes trophy Australia was welcome to try and nick.

This season of 8 episodes has been filmed in Croatia, Mozambique, Dubai, Spain, Switzerland, Colorado, New York and the U.K.

The biggest change sees the trio’s tent staying put in the Cotswolds, possibly not far from Clarkson’s own home.

“Is that your cat?” Hammond joked.

“I think you have a delivery,” May added as he leered across the horizon.

Episode 1, built around the theme Past, Present or Future, plants the trio in Switzerland, seemingly at the behest of Hammond (but obviously with as much authenticity as a Bachelor having an “idea” for a date).

Representing the Past (in more ways than one), Clarkson sat behind the wheels of a gleaming yellow petrol-fuelled Lamborghini, May as the Present drove a red petrol-electric hybrid Honda NSX and ‘futuristic’ Hammond piloted a white all-electric Rimac Concept One from Croatia.

Driving to Lucerne was fittingly picturesque with snow-capped mountains, rolling hillsides and narrow cobblestoned village roads hardly made for four-wheeled beasts with privileged poms. But that’s what we’re here for. The insults fly back and forth, only exacerbated by Hammond bringing his pals to Wellness Resort and quaint museums.

Meanwhile David Hasselhoff squares off against UK talent judge Ricky Wilson on a local UK racetrack in the new segment Celebrity Face-Off. This track includes a gravel section that tests both more than they care for.

Returning to Switzerland, the three supercars face a three-way testosterone speed test before a timed uphill road climb, which has already attracted headlines for all the wrong reasons (looking at you, Hammond).

Given the dramatic, unscripted outcome, this highlight is somewhat undersold. Yet nobody seems to mind. The Grand Tour fan base, like those of its BBC predecessor, are Clarkson / Hammond / May worshippers and none will diminish their praise.

The Grand Tour season two is now available on Amazon Prime Video. New customers can sign up for a free 7-day trial.