This car could not be less like a real Scion tC if it tried and, for drifting, it's probably a good thing it isn't. First, the car has been converted into a more drift-appropriate rear-wheel drive setup. Gone is the dinky four-banger, replaced instead with a Toyota NASCAR V8 putting out 650 HP and 450 lb-ft of torque through a four-speed shifter. The car was prepped by AEM and is a beast to behold.

The car will compete in the Formula D series and, obviously, is still sponsored by Rockstar Energy Drink.

[Toyota via Inside Line, AutoBlog]

Although the Top Gear website's claiming they took a pass on the Peacock, our sources at both NBC and the BBC tell us the brightly-colored feathered network passed on an opportunity to tie up the show after the failure of the new Knight Rider series and expected high production costs associated with the show.

So, rather than tie up the franchise with a deal or an extension, they've cut Top Gear USA free to search for a new home. Top Gear's website claims interested parties are available on cable and to expect a deal shortly. We remain hopeful they'll be able to find a backer with enough money on hand to really do the show right.

[Top Gear USA]

After yesterday's report of Travis Pastrana's injury, we were worried about what would happen to his seat in this weekend's Race of Champions if it was true. It was true and now, the worry is over, folks: Team America will still be properly represented. Tanner Foust, who makes a living racing on the Rally America circuit, stunt driving in films and playing co-star in the potentially upcoming Top Gear USA TV show, will be assuming Travis Pastrana's seat. Tanner will be working alongside Carl Edwards, a NASCAR driver currently working for ROUSH Fenway Racing. We've got a damn good idea who'll be making the lefts. Full press release from OverAmerica below:

Tanner Foust To Team With Carl Edwards For Team USA At Race Of Champions In London

Foust Replaces Injured Travis Pastrana For This Weekend's Race
At Wembley Stadium

December 10th, 2008, London, UK— Tanner Foust was picked today as a last minute alternate to Travis Pastrana for the all-star Race of Champions at Wembley Stadium in London, England this coming weekend. Pastrana was injured this week in California. The Race of Champions pits the world's fastest drivers from the sport's top race series including Formula One, World Rally Championship, and Touring Car Racing. Featured drivers this year include championship winners, Sebastien Loeb, Michael Schumacher and Mattias Ekstrom.

Rockstar Energy Drink driver Tanner Foust joins NASCAR phenom Carl Edwards to represent Team USA in the ROC Nations Cup. Tanner Foust is the 2008 and 2007 US Formula Drift champion and also a championship winning rally driver who took the gold medal in the 2007 X Games Rally and silver behind Pastrana in this year's X Games. Foust is also an on-air TV host currently presenting Speed TV's Supercars Exposed and one of the three hosts for the coming US version of BBC's Top Gear.

Tanner is ecstatic about participating and said "The investigation will reveal I had nothing to with Travis' injuries and of course I wish him a speedy recovery. More seriously though, I'm honored to have this opportunity to represent the USA on the world stage racing against guys who are heroes to me."

The Race of Champions pits the best race drivers in the world against each other in head-to-head races on a tarmac course inside Wembley Stadium. The drivers race various identical cars including, for this year,KTM X-Bows, Ford Focus WRC cars and Abarth Assetto Corsas. The winner of the Race of Champions will be crowned Champion of Champions. The event is anticipated to have fifty thousand plus live spectators and millions of TV viewers watching the worldwide broadcast of the event. This is the twenty first year of the Race of Champions. ROC will air on Discovery HD early in the New Year.

Since the X-Games format is a head-to-head tournament on the super-special stage, Picard's opponent, Dave Mirra, went on to win the race despite broken control arms on his Subaru, which caused him to limp around the course making three-point turns. In the final round, Travis Pastrana claimed the gold medal victory over none other than Top Gear USA host Tanner Foust. [YouTube]

Shredding Tires with Tanner Foust - Garage419

Most recently, Foust has been the host of the SPEED Channel's Supercars Exposed, a program all about fast cars. Promising, right? Well, no. The show only scratches the surface of automotive insight, and often comes off as feeling overly drawn-out and tedious. Of course, that's not completely Tanner's fault, but his commentary does lack the spice of his British counterparts. At least he won't be camera shy, as he's also been on ESPN's Import Tuners, and SPEED's Redline TV.

Perhaps it's best to look at Foust as a driver first and foremost — someone who can entertain us by doing big smokin' powerslides. After all, Foust has had most of his professional driving success as someone who can control a car at its limit, and then push it even further. That's what he does as a stunt driver, hooning on the sets of productions such as The Bourne Ultimatum, The Fast and the Furious: Tokyo Drift, and The Dukes of Hazard, as well as on various television shows and commercials. He's probably also got some connections at the rainbow-peacock empire NBC-Universal.

Of course, while doing fancy spins for the camera is all good for paying the mortgage, any serious driver proves himself on the track. Tanner is no exception, having won a gold medal at the 2007 X-Games Rally and a championship in the 2007 Formula Drift series. Okay, so those are both racing series that aren't traditionally considered in the top tier of motorsport, but they demand driver skill nonetheless. Especially when you consider that Foust's X-Games win in his WRX came over the factory Subaru team's Ken Block. Besides, Tanner has raced all over the place, doing open-wheel series, the Pikes Peak Hill Climb, winning five Ice Racing championships, competing in the SCORE Baja 1000, setting lap records across the US in time-attack events, and even driving a Scion in the 25-hour endurance race at Thunderhill.

But will this be enough to overcome the cockiness, wit and repertoire we'll expect? We guess we'll have to see.

See, we have high hopes for the show, given that the current BBC version is pretty much the best broadcast anywhere in the world. We also have grave concerns, given American networks' history of eviscerating imported program ideas in an effort to tweak them for "our unique tastes." So, what say you: Will Top Gear USA succeed?

Obviously, a show's hosts and the related chemistry are a huge part of success or failure. To that end, the announcement of Adam Carolla and Eric Stromer as co-hosts makes us even more wary. On the other hand, stunt driver Tanner Foust, the third host, sounds like a potential winner. If the three can play off each other just right, and they're able to work in enough killer car footage despite our litigious society, Top Gear USA could be a winner. Or not.

NBC’S ‘TOP GEAR’ BUCKLES UP ITS HOSTS FOR HIGH-OCTANE PILOT FROM BBC WORLDWIDE AMERICA BASED ON INTERNATIONAL HIT FRANCHISE

BURBANK - June 16, 2008 - Television and radio comedian Adam Carolla, champion rally and drift racer Tanner Foust, and TV construction guru Eric Stromer, will lead NBC’s pilot of the international smash hit series “Top Gear.” The production will begin later this week.

Produced by BBC Worldwide America, the U.S. version of the hit franchise will mirror the UK show’s irreverent humor and camaraderie between the three presenters, epic races, outrageous stunts and challenges, unique celebrity guest participation and eccentric methods of testing cars.

"This franchise is a proven winner worldwide and the hosting team of Adam, Tanner and Eric that we have brought together for the U.S. version offers a perfect match of humor, insider know-how and priceless track experience," said Craig Plestis, Executive Vice President, Alternative Programming Development and Specials, NBC Entertainment. "We are going to create a high-powered show that, like the original, will keep viewers in every demographic clutching the edge of their seats."

“These three guys will get to drive the world’s most amazing cars, go on incredible road trips and blow stuff up. It’s a dirty old job but someone has to do it…why didn’t I get the job?!” said Paul Telegdy, Executive Vice President, TV Sales and Content & Production, BBC Worldwide America.

Jeremy Clarkson, executive producer and host of the UK “Top Gear” said: “This is fantastic news - but how on earth you lot are going to do it on the wrong side of the road I’ve no idea.”

Adam Carolla:

Television and radio personality Adam Carolla is host of the daily, nationally-syndicated radio program “The Adam Carolla Show,” based out of Los Angeles’ KLSX 97.1/ FREE FM. With partners Jimmy Kimmel and Daniel Kellison, Carolla created Jackhole Industries where he produced and starred in two hit Comedy Central shows, "The Man Show" and "Crank Yankers." Carolla also co-hosted the nationally-syndicated radio program “Loveline” with Dr. Drew Pinsky for 10 years, as well as its TV version on MTV. Carolla also recently wrote and starred in the independent, award-winning feature film, “The Hammer.” In season six of “Dancing with the Stars,” Adam became the first ever contestant to complete a Paso Doble on a unicycle. Carolla is an avid car collector and owns several classic collectible Lamborghinis, Maseratis, two Ferraris and an Audi S4.

Tanner Foust:

Tanner Foust is in high-demand as a stunt driver, with film credits including “The Bourne Ultimatum,” “The Fast and the Furious: Tokyo Drift” and “The Dukes of Hazard.” Foust is a winning competitor in rally, drift, ice racing and time attack with multiple champion podium placements including the 2007 X Games Rally Champion and 2007 Formula Drift Pro Drift Champion. His varied race experience includes open wheel competition, the Pikes Peak Hill Climb (2002 - 2004), five Ice Racing championships and the 2005 PGT Rally Championship. He also holds class lap records at numerous U.S. road courses in Time Attack. In addition, Foust also hosted “Supercars Exposed” for the SPEED channel. Foust’s car of choice is a tricked-out M3.

Eric Stromer:

Eric Stromer, host of the HGTV show "Over Your Head," started life in construction and remodeling houses after a short acting career as a soap opera hunk was abruptly ended by a Styrofoam boulder on the set of “Santa Barbara.” For 20 years he ran a successful building company before becoming the face of HGTV’s hit show. He’s a regular on Adam Carolla’s nationally-syndicated radio show giving out construction advice, and also appears on TLC’s “Clean Sweep,” NBC’s “Three Wishes” and is a special correspondent for “The Insider.” Stromer prefers his Camry hybrid.

About the Executive Producers:

The pilot of “Top Gear” will be executive produced by Tod Mesirow and Kevin Harris. Mesirow’s background includes producing credits on “Wired Science,” Discovery Channel's “Smash Lab,” “Mythbusters,” and “Monster Garage.” He also executive produced Discovery Studio's “Overhaulin'” for TLC. Harris’ credits include “The Apprentice” and “The Baby Borrowers” for NBC.

About Top Gear:

The series, which premiered in the UK in 1977, is consistently BBC TWO’s most-watched program in the UK. The UK version of “Top Gear” is broadcast globally in over 100 countries and has been airing on BBC America since 2007. The program has been the recipient of various awards including National Television Awards, BAFTAs, Broadcast Award, Royal Television Society Awards and an International Emmy Award. Top celebrity guests have included Hugh Grant, Simon Cowell, Ewan McGregor, Helen Mirren and Gordon Ramsay. In addition to the television show, the “Top Gear” brand has achieved global success. The self-titled magazine Top Gear continues to be both the best-selling car and men’s magazines in the UK. Internationally, Top Gear is the leading motoring media brand.

About BBC Worldwide America:

BBC Worldwide America (BBCWA) is part of BBC Worldwide - the main commercial arm and a wholly-owned subsidiary of the British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC). BBCWA has headquarters in New York and Los Angeles and brings together all of BBC Worldwide’s businesses in the U.S. – including cable channel BBC America and a bi-coastal production division responsible for the smash hit “Dancing with the Stars,” which returns for its 7th season this Fall.