Clarkson hosted the show Richard Hammond and James May from 2002 to March 2015.
The official "Top Gear" site first posted the announcement that the "BBC Radio Two" presenter would be fronting a revamped version of the series, which is about motor vehicles, reported Contactmusic.
"I'm so delighted that Chris will be presenting the next series of 'Top Gear'. His knowledge of and passion for cars is well-known, and combined with his sheer inventiveness and cheeky unpredictability he is the perfect choice to take our much-loved show into the future", said Kim Shillinglaw, the controller of BBC Two.
"Top Gear" began in 1977 as a conventional motoring magazine programme, but over time, and especially since a relaunch in 2002, it has developed a quirky, humorous and sometimes controversial.