While the lads are great, the cinematography, writing, crazy ideas (eg attack-helicopter race) - and actually making them happen - are what make the show IMHO. The hosts surely contribute a lot of the writing and ideas, though I don't know how much, but much less execution.

I understand the show runner also left with them.

Unfortunately, they can't copy the format of TG due to copyright (eg game-show formats are protected copyright subject matter). It's possible they'll come up with something even better, but more likely to be like Titanfall after CoD.

It woudo be interesting to find out how many production staff they poach.

Perhaps they used a lot lf contract staff anyway and won't be a big deal.

Either way, with Andy Wilman in charge and undoubtedly a bigger budget, I would say it will improve, if anything.

That said, I doubt it will be a clone of TG. They probably have had some ideas they have wanted to try, but couldn't because of the BBC and because they wouldn't be 'top gear'.

I think the main producer is with them, do they probably will.