The next season of the universally-acclaimed car show Top Gear is just around the corner, and according to Executive Producer Andy Wilman it’s been re-tuned to bring automotive entertainment to the masses in a faster and furiouser format. The new structure revolves around shorter segments, a presenter-controlled news section and the same hi-jinkery that made the preceding seasons so entertaining. This time around, there will be more car reviews as well as the epic challenges we all love, with Wilman hinting that the biggest idea they’ve come up with so far will involve a “mega car, mega opponent, with a solid premise. And… we did it in Japan.”

We think Mothra might be involved.

Thankfully, Wilman acknowledges the criticism levelled at more recent episodes of TG being too constrained by their focus on one major story (such as the polar expedition episode, or the amphibious car episode). Wilman promises that this season, TG’s content will have a greater balance between the more traditional car reviews and the not-so-traditional races/challenges/adventures.

Other changes involve a new character being added to the team, who Wilman describes as being “a bit like the Stig, but not like the Stig, who hopefully does exciting stuff for everyone’s amusement”. The lads will also be heading over to Europe to do battle with the Germans, meaning there’ll be more of the talented Sabine Schmidt too. Other things to look out for include an Evo X vs. WRX STI shootout, a review of the CLK Black Series, a showdown between an RS6 and a skier and perhaps something involving the Mazda Furai concept. Can’t wait.

[Source: Top Gear]