The US version of Top Gear finally kicked off in high hear on America's History Channel, complete with an identical looking Stig, three presenters with a background in cards, speed and comedy, but viewers seemed to think it lacked the latter.

The US show, hosted by racing/stunt driver Tanner Foust, Speed Channel reporter Rutledge Wood and comedian/actor Adam Ferrera, took a harsh beating on Twitter with tweets like ‘Top Gear US verdict: FAIL. Too scripted, no chemistry, not remotely funny, lacks flow.’ [sic]

Another tweeted: ‘Wasted an hour watching Top Gear US. Sucks compared to Top Gear UK.’

One fan wrote an online review saying: ‘I kept trying to figure out who the ‘Clarkson’ was – but I gave up. What’s the point? This is NOT Top Gear as Anglophiles know it.’

While the US Stig was described as lacking mystique and one tweeted: ‘Their Stig should have had a different name and the hosts suck.’

Buzz Aldrin was the first celebrity guest to star in the feature 'Big Star In A Small' car, and there was no expense spared with the stunts either in the debut episode.

The three presenters did time trials in Lamborghinis as well as being followed around the streets of a small town by a Cobra helicopter as they drove a Dodge Viper.

The History channel’s series is not the first time the US has tried to re-create Top Gear. In 2005 Discovery made a pilot and in 2008 NBC made another, but neither were broadcast as a series.

The British version of Top Gear is already a huge hit in America--even winning an Emmy Award in 2005. So why even create a US version?