AM-RB 001: BRITAIN REDEFINES THE HYPERCAR

AUGUST 2016
Topless darts
Issue 285

Ferrari 488 Spider

vs Huracn Spyder
CARS vs McLaren 650S
JOY MACHINES AM-RB 001 LAMBORGHINI CENTENARIO ABARTH 124 SPIDER FERRARI GTC4LUSSO ULTIMATE LEGO

GUARANTEED Spider
TO MAKE
YOU GRIN
(AND WHY)

All these
cars make
me feel
completely
alive
Rory Reid

MACHINE S
Its not about power, speed or expense...
its about putting the biggest smile on your face

Mark Webbers Monster Merc: Has Minis latest How to turn a Porsche
Le Mans 577bhp AMG GT R is very concept taken 911 GT3 RS into a
race diary green and very fast personalisation too far? Lego masterpiece
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00 8 JULY 2016 J TOPGEAR.COM
 E D S L E T T E R

Issue 285 August 2016

Welcome There are some for

whom a car is merely
15ft of conveyance, a
dispassionate white good
which serves as a means
of getting from one place
to another. But if youre
reading this magazine,
its more likely than not that your relationship with cars
exists on a very different, more engaged, more passionate,
deeper-rooted level. For many of us, looking at and talking
about cars is a central and hugely enjoyable thread
throughout our lives. Dig deeper into what fuels that
relationship, and it soon becomes clear that, for most of
us, cars, our passion for them, the technology they drive
and the freedom and spirit of adventure they encapsulate,
represent a fundamental part of the joy of life.
This month we delve deeper into that relationship
and explore what it is that makes certain cars that bit
more special than others. What is the perfect recipe for
automotive entertainment? What takes a car from a regular
mundane experience to something transcendent and joyful?
When discussing the list for this test, it became clear
that the parameters of automotive joy were broader than
first thought, and that many of them were deeply personal.
For some, the purity and solitude of driving the BAC Mono,
a world in which you cannot be disturbed (in itself a luxury
for many) was the definition of driving heaven; for others,
the ability to go anywhere confident that nothing will get
in your way and the wealth of freedom and opportunity
that presented fulfilled the dream. Others hankered for
bleeding-edge technology to ease their journey, while
some kicked back against supercar convention and
pushed for purity over performance.
The debate raged for weeks, a testament to the
deep-rooted passion of the team, but gradually a few key
attributes and parameters for the recipe of joy emerged.
After a few long days jumping from the sublime to the
ridiculous in one of the most diverse tests in TopGear
history, some common themes emerged. Gradually, we
began to create the perfect formula for TopGear Joy
Machines, a set of cars and rules that will never fail to put
a smile on your face. Cars that transcend their roles as
mere transport and actively enhance your life... if youre
reading this magazine, youll understand what we mean.
Enjoy the issue.

Charlie Turner E D I T O R - I N - C H I E F
@ TopGearEditor
 TAG HEUER CARRERA CALIBRE HEUER 01
TAGHeuer is the Offcial Timekeeper and Team Performance Partner of RedBullRacing.
Two disruptive teams who #DontCrackUnderPressure both on and off the track.

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 Contents

Features 110
085 Joy machines 110 AM-RB 001 126 Scary spiders
TopGear decamps to Dunsfold for a serious discussion... The offspring of the Aston Martin/Red Bull marriage Lamborghini LP 610-4 Spyder + Ferrari 488 Spider
on what makes a car enjoyable. Prepare for many tantrums has been shown exclusively to TG. Youre welcome + McLaren 650S Spider = serious arachnophilia

108 Most smiles per mile 118 Ford GT to Le Mans 136 Lamborghini Centenario
Its taken 23 pages, but weve finally decided which car is Jason Barlow dons his chest wig and biggest medallion, leaps Made to celebrate what would have been Ferruccios 100th
the most, well, fun. And it may not be what you expect... into a classic car and heads to the worlds best 24hr race birthday. Who needs a telegram from the Queen anyway?

Test drive TopGear magazine take out a subscription for 16.99 every six months, saving you over 40 per cent. Plus receive an I am The Stig T-shirt,
worth 17.95. Visit buysubscriptions.com/TGP816 or call 0844 848 9757 (quoting reference TGP816).

TOPGEAR.COM J AUGUST 2016 0 11

 Contents

050

Drives Intake Garage

Driven this month...
020 Abarth 124 Spider
023 Fiat 124 Spider
025 Ford Focus RS
027 Mercedes-AMG C43 Cabrio
028 VW Golf GTI Clubsport S
029 Ford Fiesta ST200
035 Bentley Mulsanne EW
036 Ferrari GTC4Lusso
043 Bricking it
Lego has decided to make a replica 911 GT3 RS. We
sent our man to see how well the kit went together
050 Merc-AMG GT R
Four-wheel steer, 577bhp and added green
for AMGs latest tyre-shredding monster
056 Stablemates
Ferrari 488 GTB meets its old-timer relative, the
F355 Berlinetta. Expect much engine revving
144 Hyundai Tucson
A new crossover has joined the TopGear Garage...
and it means business. Watch out, you rivals
153 BMW M3
Matt LeBlanc drives one of the TG Garage.
Chooses the slidiest, silliest car we have
155172 Data
All you need to know about the best cars on sale today.

039 Mini Cooper Cabrio

072 Mark Webber Your car not there? Sell it, and buy one that is, then...
The ever-genial Aussie talks us through a
vs Mazda MX-5 typical day at the Le Mans 24-Hour race

TOPGEAR.COM J AUGUST 2016 0 13

 BEHIND
THE SCENES
Making it
happen
Who: Chris Rowles
& Richard Pardon
Where: Wales
Getting the perfect rear-end shot
Who: Rowan Horncastle
W h e r e: A 28 Fr a n c e
The true test of how much you love
a car is surely whether you keep
smiling when soaked to the skin...
Who: Charlie Turner
W h e r e: D u n s f o l d
Our editor-in-chief falls down
a rabbit hole, eats a cake and
finds hes too big for the car
Been up to anything picture worthy?
Send your snaps to inbox@topgear.com
or via our Twitter or Facebook pages
facebook.com/
TopGear
014 AUGUST 2016 J
What: Walkie-talkie boots
Where: Dunsfold
When all the talk on the radios gets
too childish, the best thing is to let
your feet to do the talking
Who: Rory Reid
W h e r e: D u n s f o l d
Turns out that sitting in a Pocket
Classic for the hours required for a
covershoot sends your legs to sleep
Who: Charlie Turner
Where: En route to Le Mans
Serious driving glasses on, Pocket
Classic swapped for a 5m
GT40, reputations fully restored
twitter.com/
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EDITOR-IN-CHIEF
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Drives
w
EDITED BY OLLIE KEW Every ne
car thast,
matter r
rated o
slated

CONTENTS

Volvo V90
p26

Mercedes-AMG C43
p27

VW Golf GTI Clubsport S

p28

Ferrari GTC4Lusso
p36

Twin test: fun cabrios

p39
Spidey
sense
Abarth 124 Spider
from 29,565
WE SAY: A REIMAGINING OF A
CLASSIC THATS NOT A believe I have. Here then is the cold unvarnished truth.
TRAVESTY? BRING IT ON...
O
ld rally cars really do it for me. And it looks like Im
not alone. Theyre back. Top early-Seventies Monte
Carlo contenders were the Lancia Stratos, Alpine
A110 and Abarth 124. Their four-decades past is
overtaking us. Renault is reviving Alpine on a car
inspired by that original. Fiat ditto with the Abarth. (No chance
of a production reinvention of the Stratos, sadly, though Michael
Stoschek famously commissioned his Ferrari-Pininfarina one-of.)
One other ofence Id like to be taken into consideration. I owned
and rebuilt a Fiat 124 Spider. We all have some sort of lodestone that
steers our motor emotions, and for me it was always beautiful
Pininfarina roadsters with plenty of camshafts and carburettors.
Against all of which positive bias, I must employ the height of
objectivity when reviewing this new Abarth 124 Spider. And I really
Its a corker.
Youll have heard its an MX-5 underneath. But its a 124 Spider on
top. In fact, even for this old sentimentalist, they have been almost
too faithful to the original. You might want something more
forward-looking. Among the classic cues are the almond-shaped
headlight apertures and the grille, plus the feature line that rises in
the metalwork around the doorhandles and runs back to a dovetail
rear deck. Even the inward-tapering tail lights and the twin bonnet
humps are cover versions of the classics.
Inside the cabin, only a thin veil is draped over the MX-5. Softer
materials clad certain areas, and the doors and seats are retrimmed.
TOPGEAR.COM J AUGUST 2016 021
 Blood-red seats meet
Alcantara for the full-
on fluffy Dracula vibe...
The Abarth version gets plenty of blood
red, and Alcantara. Like the Mazda, its
a small, cosy space that makes the whole
experience profoundly intimate. The
Abarths matt black bonnet is alleged,
as with the old works cars, to reduce
refections. Its a bit self-conscious, but
optional. When you fold the roof and
you should the cabin protects you well
against wind turbulence.
The Abarth and Fiat 124 Spiders are
built in Mazdas factory, using engines
that are shipped from Italy. Swapping a
high-revving naturally aspirated Japanese
engine for a torquey turbocharged Italian
one isnt just a heart transplant, its a
change of soul too.
Its lifted from an Alfa Romeo
Giulietta, giving 170bhp in the Abarth.
Thats slightly more than a 2.0-litre MX-5
engine. And look at the torque: 25 per cent
more, at far lower revs. While the throttle
is sharp (compression is a highish 9.8 to
one), the turbo itself is actually quite laggy
until you pass 3,000rpm. After that, the
engine downs its espresso and gets going
with some zing, advertising its eforts
though the rasps and pops of a four-outlet
exhaust. The gearbox is a joy, but thanks
to the wide efective range, you can now
use it as much for recreation as necessity.
022 AUGUST 2016 J TOPGEAR.COM
The Abarth loves bends. Sharp and
urgent steering is great, especially when
it avoids nervousness. This thing really OR TRY THIS
doesnt know how to understeer. But
neither does it do that MX-5 thing of
rolling early onto the outside rear tyre.
It feels more composed. Then the turbo
gets to work, its eforts parcelled out by
the LSD, and you can set your angle of
travel with hilarious ease. Yes, the turbo
does alter the character. But in a good way.
Especially if its a road you dont know, so Mazda MX-5
cant guarantee to be in exactly the right Purer, cheaper
gear for the most expeditious corner exit. even in top
Or indeed the most spectacular, if thats trim. Misses the
your choice. Oversteer is a cinch to Abarths torque
balance then gather up.
The hardware is much like the upper
versions of the MX-5. The list includes
tauter Bilstein dampers, frmer springs
and anti-roll bars, front strut braces. But
Abarth has its own set-up. The Fiat/Abarth
engineers insist they didnt just take the
MX-5 and adapt it. They say they were
in with Mazda from early in the MX-5s
development, so they could be sure the
base car was primed for their adaptations.
That story is a bit muddy, though, because
when the Japanese-Italian co-operation
was announced, it wasnt to have
produced a Fiat or an Abarth, but a small
Alfa Romeo. Only in early 2014 was the
idea of an Alfa dropped and the car
redesigned with the Fiat-shaped body.
Whatever, the result has a harmony.
Its not fast like a 30k hot hatch, but its
a sports car. It slices across the hills, the
sounds of exhaust and tyre-squeal echoing
of the rocks. The breeze washes your face,
the smells of the felds waft up your nose.
It turns petrol in its tank to electricity in
your nervous system. PAUL HORRELL
SPECIFICATION
1368cc, 4cyl turbo, 170bhp, 184lb ft
44.1mpg, 148g/km CO2
062mph in 6.8secs, 145mph
1060kg
VERDICT Surprisingly,
9
gentle turbocharging adds
to rather than subtracts
from the pure roadster
experience.
10
 August I 2016

Cheap &
cheerful
Fiat 124 Spider
from 19,545

WE SAY: DONT THINK OF

THIS AS A DOWNMARKET
ABARTH OR SIMPLY A
REBADGED MX-5
he Abarth 124 is fun, but its

T 30k for 170bhp. That might

seem, in horsepower terms,
a poor return in investment.
Most people will probably stick with the
Fiat. It makes 140bhp, but really its hardly
slower, and you pay comfortably less for it.
Like the Abarth, its powered by the
MultiAir variable-valve engine from the
Alfa Romeo Giulietta, but here its 30bhp
less. But the critical number is torque.
The Fiats fgure is just four per cent less
than the Abarths, and their gear ratios
and fnal drives are the same. In other
words, until the moment you really have
a go at the red line, the Fiat is as lively.
Unfortunately, it doesnt sound as
fast. The Fiats exhaust is a little fat-
sounding. The Abarths is a bit louder
and more schoolboy in tone more
fartissimo than fortissimo.
The torque is also what separates the
Fiat from the Mazda. But the Fiats one
makes it easier to play with the rear-drive
handling. Sadly, at this price, youre denied
the limited-slip dif, and the damping isnt
Abarth seats (and 124
ones) differ from MX-5
as controlled as on the Abarth, but even
so, its a fun car to chuck around light
only in terms of trim
and lithe and chatty. As with the base-
model MX-5, the Fiat rolls at the rear end
as soon as you turn into a bend, but you
soon learn to trust that this doesnt mean
an imminent step-out.
If you love revs, the Mazda is for you.
Fiats prices align with Mazdas but the
strategy is diferent. Prices start at 19,545
(cloth, 16s, halogen), close to a base MX-5.
But the Mazda gives you more power and a
sportier chassis as you go up its range Fiat
gives you more kit. The tester is the top one
(23,295), with heated leather, 17s, LED
adaptive headlights, nav, Bose. Chassis and
engine boosts are left to Abarth.
So I keep mentioning the MX-5, but
the Fiat doesnt feel like some badge-
engineered inauthentic derivative. It has
Roof mechanism is the a favour all its own. And anyway it was
same easy manual one
as in the Mazda
budget European roadsters like the
original 124 that gave Mazda the
inspiration for the frst MX-5. Its
legitimate for Fiat to be returning
the compliment. PAUL HORRELL
SPECIFICATION
1368cc 4cyl turbo, RWD,
140bhp, 177lb ft
44.1mpg, 148g/km CO2
062mph in 7.5secs, 134mph
1050kg
VERDICT Welcome

8
But the Fiat will keep up because of the alternative to the Mazda.
turbo, and its a more relaxing car when Buy or avoid on the basis
of looks, or where you
you just gurgle along at low revs, taking
in some rays.
stand on torque vs revs.
10
TOPGEAR.COM J AUGUST 2016 023
 August I 2016

Acceleration Top speed

NUMBER
(seconds)
010 0.5
020 1.1
030 1.7

CRUNCHER 165
040 2.7
050 3.6
060 4.7
070 6.2
080 7.6
090
0100
9.4
11.8 CARS PUT TO THE TEST AGAINST
mph
0110 14.5 THE CLOCK, TAPE, G-METER, ETC
0120 18.4
0130 22.8
Power/torque
3070 4.5
Ford Focus RS
347lb ft @ 20004500
345bhp @ 6000rpm

01000 400 402

350 335

0 16.8 300 268

reaction time (0.7)
250 201

200 134

G-meter 150 67

100 0
0 2000 3000 4000 5000 6000

0.88 Engine speed (rpm)

Peak
accel g
Weight
40% Weight distribution 60%
Peak
decel g

1.27
Where it counts, the new
Focus RS is very fast indeed. L 4468mm x H 1410mm x W 1854mm

Braking Its only above 70mph that the

100
4.3secs (92.4m)
0 60 0
2.6secs (33.3m)
BMW M2 we tested last month
really starts to pull away the 1599 216bhp/
RS would be quicker still if it kg tonne
werent so porky. The manual
Quarter-mile gearbox doesnt hold it back Kerbweight Power-to-weight
ratio
(standing start) too much as the shift is clean

13.3
PHOTO: SIMON THOMPSON

and fast, but the brakes are

no better than average. Economy/range
Blame the weight. Again.

seconds @ 105.7mph
36.7 mpg
(claimed) 501 miles
(claimed)

TOPGEAR.COM J AUGUST 2016 025

August I 2016
Real
e love big estates, but
Volvo reckons people no
W longer buy them to haul
estate
vast boxy loads. If you
want to do that, or indeed
carry seven people, get the XC90. The
new V90 actually has a few fewer litres
Volvo V90 in its boot than the V70 that it replaces.
35,000 approx. Its slightly rakish silhouette and
sloping rear glass mean the V90 cant
quite ingest Ikea boxes like Swedish
WE SAY: THE ORIGINAL estates once could. Its boot, even with
KING OF ESTATES IS BACK its rear seats folded, is big in area but
shallow foor-to-ceiling. Still, on the 363
WITH A NEW WAGON
days a year when you dont need max
cube, youll appreciate the clever storage
adaptive dampers and air
and tie-down gadgets.
Anyway, estates are cool. More so
when they look like this. For passengers
and driver, its a lovely thing to sit in too.
Small wonder, because the V90, and the
S90 saloon that accompanies it into
showrooms this September, copy-pastes
its engineering and technology, and
adapts its design themes, from the XC90.
For the UK, we have a FWD with
the D4 190bhp diesel, and a D5 AWD
with 235bhp. The spec sheet boasts of
PowerPulse. Cor! Its a small cylinder
of compressed air. When you mash the
accelerator from low revs, this releases
pressure into the intake, giving boost
before the turbos spool up. An electric
pump then recharges the cylinder.
Its helpful. Hooked to the autobox,
02 6 AUGUST 2016 J TOPGEAR.COM
the sum of the parts is a quiet but
stalwart powertrain.
There will also be a more powerful
T8, with Volvos plug-in hybrid petrol
Twin Engine set-up. Its designed for
super-low-emissions commuting if you
plug it in daily, and gets a major swerve
around company-car tax even if you dont.
The D5s chassis isnt overtly sporting,
but it agreeably blends predictable
handling responses with ride comfort.
Some cars work well only on one kind
of road, but this is more universal. On a
tricky back road, it keeps its dignity even
at a decent lick. On motorways, it glides
We drove the V90 with serenely and tracks earnestly to its lane.
springs. Cushioned
At urban speed, the ride stays supple.
The dynamics of the S90 saloon are
just as good and its 2k cheaper. But
dont buy it. Big Volvos have to be
wagons. Its the law. PAUL HORRELL
SPECIFICATION
1969cc 4cyl twin-turbo diesel,
4WD, 235bhp, 354lb ft
57.6mpg, 129g/km CO2
062mph in 7.9secs, 145mph
1783kg
VERDICT: Comfortable,
8
safe, relaxing, capable.
Being sensible rarely
felt so good.
10
The joy
of six?
Mercedes-AMG C43 Cabriolet
50,160

WE SAY: BABY V6 AMG still good for a can-you-hear-me-now

IS LOVELY... PROVIDED 155mph. But there are no bulging arches,
YOU CAN FORGET THAT no dual-clutch box, and no V8 bellow.
THE C63 EXISTS We ought to talk about the exhaust note
actually, because this bi-turbo V6 already
ou can have a very handsome lives in the SLC and GLE, and sounds

Y
car in the new C-Class Cabrio,
and a refned top-down
cruiser. But not at the same
time. The standard-ft Aircap gadget, which
electronically erects a table tennis net atop
the windscreen, does a terrifc job of
batting airfow over the top of your head
(for front-seat occupants at least; those in
the fairly spacious rears had better staple
their eyebrows down), but it does for the
cars lines what a Disneyland bumbag
does for fashion cred. The rear decks air
defector stands up defantly, but could you
drive along towing an ungainly plastic tea
tray like Connerys bulletproof DB5? Either
your hair looks smart, or the car does.
Of course, it does depend how fast
youre going. For bald hedonists, see below
stupidly overdone, like Kanye West has run
Brian Blesseds snores through Auto-tune.
Here its on much better form, rasping on a
downshift and whumphing on the way back
up, but not oversinging every note like a
desperate X Factor reject. As an auto, the
nine-speed gearbox is sorted, but fick the
paddles and hesitancy betrays this is a
boggo Merc transmission at sports day
rather than a proper athlete.
Merc ofered us a blat in a C43 Coupe
in between stints in the Cabrio, which,
capable as the Cabrio is, is like having Bify
Clyro on the warm-up bill for the school
orchestra recital. Good luck following a
stifer car carrying 120kg less fab. Weight
blunts the Cabrio everywhere, but its agile
enough, plus standard AWD means both
are bent on all-weather unfazeability, not
smokey heroics. At least AMGs retuned,
less snatchy steering trounces the regular
C-Classs for consistency. OLLIE KEW
SPECIFICATION
2996cc bi-turbo V6,
AWD, 362bhp, 368lb ft
34.0mpg, 121g/km CO2
062mph in 4.8secs, 155mph
1795kg
VERDICT: Nice cabrio but

7
for AMGs V8 skydiving special. This C43 lacks a defned character
is more of a bungee jump. Its still badged without C63s visual clout
and swagger. Speaking
an AMG, its fabulously intricate cabin is
indistinguishable from the big lad, and its
of which...
10

Mercedes-AMG C63 S Cabrio wideboy), but it cackles with vigour,

72,245
Cutting the roof off a car ruins it,
especially a fast car. No, its no
good. Not the car, but my prejudice.
I keep reciting the truism that a
decapitated C-Class is an idiotic,
unnecessary place to deploy 503bhp
and is approachably playful where
an M4 attempts homicide. Germany
has just perfected muscle cars. OK
SPECIFICATION
3982cc bi-turbo V8,
RWD, 503bhp, 516lb ft

8
of RWD-only dragon breath, but I 26.4mpg, 208g/km CO2

cant help myself. Im enjoying it. 062mph in 4.1secs, 155mph

Sorry. Yes, its a bit lumpen when you
10 lean on it (because its a two-tonne
1925kg

TOPGEAR.COM J AUGUST 2016 0 27

To Hell
and back
Volkswagen Golf GTI Clubsport S
35,000 approx.

WE SAY: ITS TIME TO thats 36 seconds a lap quicker than a
WELCOME YOUR NEW normal Performance Pack GTI.
NORDSCHLEIFE OVERLORDS To make that happen required a simple
recipe: add power, lose weight. Thirty
ver the past year, the hot kilos of rear seats, parcel shelf, hidden
dry), knowing the composed chassis and
neutral rear end will have your back, allows
for vast corner speed and inspires confdence.
Plus, with that voodoo electro-
hydraulic dif between the front wheels,

O
hatch arms race has foor, armrests and noise insulation were you can apply aggressive amounts of
intensifed with seemingly all chucked in the bin. Then, the usual throttle to slingshot yourself out of corners
never-ending one-upmanship 2.0-litre turbo four was fettled to give and be phenomenally quick pretty much
to be the King of the Nrburgring. But 306bhp and 280lb ft of torque through everywhere. So bow to the new King of the
now, VW has joined the party and drawn the front wheels. Zero to 62mph? 5.8secs. Ring, coming to extend its reign over a
a pretty signifcant line in the sand thanks Top speed? 165mph. Yep, VW also threw B-road near you soon. ROWAN HORNCASTLE
to this, the Golf GTI Clubsport S. away the electronic limiter too.
Its a 35,000, 400-car limited- However, its gone about this whole
Are we looking forward
run, striped-out, semi-slicked, ber-
powerful and aerod version of the
to driving this in the UK?
You betcha
hardcore hatch thing in a very GTI way.
Its wonderfully refned inside and out
SPECIFICATION
1948cc, four-cylinder, turbo petrol,
standard Clubsport (now known as and a master of everyday usability. 306bhp, 280lb ft
the Edition 40) that has Renault, Seat and The tweaked dampers are what make 38.2mpg, 172g/km CO2
Honda spitting feathers and scratching the diference. Theyre tuned specifcally 062mph in 5.8secs, 165mph
their heads as to how to go faster around for the notoriously knotted and undulating
1360kg
the legendary Nordschleife. Nordschleife and give great body control
The CSS managed a 7:49.21 lap around yet are supple enough to hoover up the VERDICT: The fastest,

9
the Green Hell 1.5secs faster than monstrous kerbs giving us hope that itll most powerful and
Hondas Civic Type-R to claim the be a hoot on our broken UK B-roads. expensive Golf GTI
ever. But, crucially, also
front-wheel-drive production-car lap But being able to lean on the sticky
record. To give you some perspective, Michelin Pilot Cup 2 tyres heavily (in the
one of the best.
10

V E I T B E F O R E Y O U DIE
DR I ng, Germa
ny
Which I still When
should
Why the
GTI CS?
Nrburgri bit? cant
The Nordschleife.
The infamous
find it I go? The Clubsport S
takes the sting
and complex Bash this into In the summer (no out of this
12.93-mile circuit your satnav: snow). But dont fearsome place
nicknamed The 50.3341, crash, as youre immensely ably.
Green Hell by Sir 6.9427 likely to become Beginners should
Jackie Stewart a YouTube star start here

028 AUGUST 2016 J TOPGEAR.COM


Fighting
trim
Ford Fiesta ST200
22,745
WE SAY: FORD DECIDES TO GIVE THE
REST OF ITS MODEL RANGE A HEADACHE
f you dont read magazines in
I
page order (who does?), you
might have seen a Fiesta ST
elsewhere in this issue,
because its small size encloses a whole
bunch of fun. This end-of-the-line ST200
is the same size but more so.
This isnt straightforward. It has 10 per
cent more power and 20 per cent more torque
than the regular ST. The name refects the
power output, 200PS, which is 197bhp. But
wait. The regular ST has 10-second
overboost, taking it to 197bhp. Still, the
ST200 has overboost too, to 215PS (212bhp)
and 236lb ft, and it goes for 15secs. You
wont be mashing the throttle for 15 seconds
uninterrupted, so really its a 212bhp engine,
end of. More confusion, though. Thats
still the same as the Ford-approved 650
aftermarket Mountune upgrade. So the
ST200 needs, and has, another trick. Its fnal
drive is shorter. Thats equivalent to another
six per cent punch in each gear, though it
means you have to shift up sooner.
By 55mph youve hit the strict 6,500rpm
limiter and snapped the short-throw lever
forward to third. Thats a truly useful gear,
short enough to punch this lightweight
through a series of bends or an overtake.
The suspension is great, but again,
theres some confusion. They developed
a revised chassis, with stifer rear torsion
beam, softer springs, stifer front anti-roll
bar and revised steering assistance. But
the factory said it was too complicated
to do both kinds, so since last summer
the basic ST and now the ST200 get the
same kit. Its slightly more chuckable,
predictable and catchable than the
original ST, which was all those things
in superabundance anyway.
OK, whats really really unique to the
ST? The Storm Grey paint, the black wheels
and some other grey and silver and chromey
bits inside the cabin. Cosmetics in other
words, but tasteful ones.
Trouble is, the Fiesta ST was always a
bargain, and this isnt. Its only a fver less
than a Focus ST. Its 2,350 more than an
This caption is
ST-3 Mountune. A lot for the new colours
and the shorter gearing. PAUL HORRELL
brought to you in
Storm Grey paint
SPECIFICATION
1596cc, 4cyl turbo, FWD,
197bhp, 236lb ft
46.3mpg, 140g/km CO2
062mph in 6.7secs, 143mph
1163kg
VERDICT: A small
8
bundle of huge fun.
But priced for fast-Ford
completists only.
10
TOPGEAR.COM
August I 2016
SO, WHAT
EL SE IS NEW?
4
Mercedes A250 AMG
What should I know?
That it exists. The awesome 367bhp A45
nicks the Merc mega-hatch headlines,
so youve possibly never heard of this
11k cheaper, 215bhp lukewarmer and
its red pinstripe bodykit. And as
standard, its a manual. In a Benz!
Should I care?
As you were. This is the least AMG car
Merc makes. Droney, fat motor, inert
chassis and a manual gearshift so
vague we utterly forgive Mercedes for
abandoning three pedals. Get a Golf R.
8
Porsche 718 Boxster
What should I know?
The entry-level Boxster (but no longer
the cheapest Porsche sports car, as the
Cayman now undercuts it) now has a
2.0-litre flat-four turbo motor. Quite a
tiddler for 42k, even if it is up 35bhp...
Should I care?
Know that while the 718 retains status as
the worlds best mildly sensible-money
roadster, thats all down to its sublime
handling balance and usability, not the
coarse, humdrum, laggy engine. Its quick
enough you dont need the 51k Boxster S,
but overall, an improvement it aint.
5
Suzuki Baleno
What should I know?
That given what you get inside, this is
an incredibly reasonably priced car. It
sits in the same class as its Suzuki Swift
sibling but isnt set to cannibalise sales
as its a bit bigger, more grown-up and
better equipped than its stablemate.
Should I care?
If design and street cred isnt your thing,
yes. Compared with other superminis
like the Ford Fiesta and Skoda Fabia,
its not the prettiest. But the 1.0-litre
3cyl turbo engine is a good un and it
comes loaded with kit, all for 12,999.
J AUGUST 2016 029
Find out more about
the new Ateca SUV
seat.co.uk/ateca

The day I test drove

the new SEAT Ateca
For the launch of its rst ever SUV the Ateca SEAT sent a lucky
Top Gear reader to Barcelona to be one of the rst people to drive it. For
Brendan Waterman, it's a decision neither he nor SEAT look likely to regret

I
need to 'fess up to one or two things,
before we start. My name is Brendan
Waterman and I am a petrolhead. I'm
also about to become a dad for the frst
time and me and 'the mum to be' have actually been
looking at new cars that would meet our changing
needs. It's no coincidence that the new SEAT Ateca is
on that list: a nice high driving position (a particular
priority for the wife); a great list of standard features
& options (the DSG gearbox, electric boot operation
and full-link connectivity would be top of my list) and
a lot of space inside, including a 510 litre boot. On
paper, this new SEAT defnitely ticks all the boxes.
But in my capacity as a motoring journalist
(well, for a couple of days), I felt obliged to
take reviewing the Ateca seriously, and not just
because I am a genuine potential customer. I'd
heard all about the great locations and splendid
lunches that car launches are famous for (all true,
by the way) but this was a bona fde opportunity
to fnd out what SEAT's frst ever SUV was all
about before 'real' journalists got the chance.
And the Ateca was everything I had hoped it
would be. Te frst thing I noticed was a real feeling
of quality throughout. Te doors shut with that
reassuring 'thunk' I've often read about; once inside,
the controls and dashboard surfaces were all very
satisfying to the touch. It gave me a real sense of
travelling in style, especially once we got out on
the road. I was in an XCELLENCE, admittedly,
but it felt quick! Great acceleration and sporty
handling combined with an almost eerily quiet,
smooth ride on the motorway. I can't see the baby
having any problems sleeping on one of our trips
from Kent to the Lake District, that's for sure.
As enjoyable as my frst car launch was, I'm
not sure I'd make it as a full time journalist. But
with my other hat on as a new car buyer I've
researched things enough to know that prices start
from just 17,990. By the time youre reading
this, it's just possible I may have moved from
'potential customer' to the UK's frst customer...
 1 My rst look at the new
Ateca: Welcome 'puddle'
Light is a nice touch 2 Talking of lights: the full LEDs at the front
look great and increase my sense of being
safe: look at the size of that indicator!

3My time with the car included a testing 'parcours'

assault course. As a current 4WD owner, I was
impressed by the 4x4 ability of the Ateca

4
Inside, the car feels at least as good as my current SUV.
The dashboard materials had that satisfying soft touch;
the level of standard equipment is impressive

5 In town, features such as the 360 camera

and park assist really make life easier; out on
the road, the Ateca felt like a real drivers car
August I 2016

Q & A

Crossover
cross-over
Kia Niro
22,000 approx.

WE SAY: KIA AIMS TO TEMPT a non-plug-in EV. You need 16-inch wheels
for such parsimony; fit the smarter 18s, and
YOU INTO A HYBRID SOFT-
the returns crumble to 64.2mpg and
ROADER... BY FIGHTING ITS
crucially 101g/km. No free VED if you like
OWN SPORTAGE. EH? to rock big rims, then.
We dig the dash layout,
but the rest of the cabin
is run of the mill...

Another me-too crossover? Wont the Niro walk all over

Nope, the Niro is different. This is Kias Prius
a petrol-electric hybrid in its own, bespoke
skin built on an entirely new platform. And
its impressively proficient, without being
massively impressive.
Oh great, another droning
CVT hybrid?
Fear not. What we have is a 1.6-litre,
104bhp normally aspirated petrol engine
accompanied by a 32kW (43bhp) electric
motor and 1.56kWh lithium-ion battery,
driving the front wheels through a six-speed
dual-clutch automatic transmission.
Proper gearbox, then. Must
be pretty grunty
Peak outputs are only 139bhp and 195lb ft,
but more importantly, economy of 74.3mpg
and 88g/km of CO2 emissions are decent for
a Sportage?
Perhaps. Its a mildly handsome thing,
Sportage plus its shorter and lower too,
Kia too busy making room
for the children to leave
space for any imagination
Better be cheap, then?
the Niro, better resolved visually than the
expect the Niro to start at around 22k (the
although it has a 30mm longer wheelbase.
That leads to excellent rear passenger room
for two people (three would be a squeeze
width-wise), and you get a 427-litre boot
instead of a rabbit hutch half-swallowed by
lumpen batteries. So, its utilitarian enough,
but so too is the dash itself, which isnt
Kias finest. The design is fairly staid and
humdrum, save for a funky oblong display
in the instrument cluster. Been admiring the
Audi TT, have we, Kia?
Have we finally got a fun
mainstream hybrid?
Sorry. The drive is as staid as the cockpit. The
Niro is perfectly fine for its intended purpose
of providing comfortable, easy motoring with
a higher-than-normal driving position, but
sporty it is not. The steering is light, and the
drivetrain, while commendably smooth as
the powerplants take over from one another,
takes an age to arrive at motorway speeds.
Its fit enough for its urban-intended purpose,
Prices and specs are to be confirmed, but
Sportage kicks off at 18k) and for that, Kia
will furnish buyers with a wealth of safety
equipment as standard. The seven-year
warranty remains intact, too, so if you were
itching for a smaller, more frugal Sportage-
like vehicle for mainly urban driving you
lucky thing theres another boringly sensible
reason to like it.
Niro or Prius?
Probably the Niro, purely because its quieter
and not styled by Edward Scissorhands.
MATT ROBINSON
SPECIFICATION
1580cc 4cyl plus electric motor and
battery, FWD, 139bhp, 195lb ft
74.3mpg, 88g/km CO2
062mph in 11.5secs, 101mph
1425kg
VERDICT: (Yet) another

6
though. The Niro has a comfy ride and hybrid that works quite
impressive levels of noise suppression nicely in town, but wed
hoped for a bigger leap from
(although the tyres become a touch rowdy
at motorway speed).
Kias bespoke eco hero.
10
TOPGEAR.COM J AUGUST 2016 0 33
August I 2016
Max F
irst up, some fagship
Bentley housekeeping,
luxe
because the Mulsanne has
had a little light surgery
across a range which
now encompasses standard, Speed and
Bentley Mulsanne Extended Wheelbase. All get a new,
Extended Wheelbase wider, vertical-vane grille; a new, more
252,000 horizontal one-piece bumper; and
superformed aluminium front wings
featuring creases that you could happily
WE SAY: slice yourself with. The googly eyes are
OPULENCE JUST GOT now slightly less irritating, seeing as they
have been lined up instead of drooping at
LONGER AND MORE
the edges (shades of Bentayga here), and
COMFORTABLE
there are new LED headlamps.
Annoyingly, there are Bs in the front
grille, side vents and even the rear lights
(reversed either side), and once seen, they
cannot be unseen. Its too try-hard on an
otherwise very confdent refresh.
The usual 6,752cc V8 sits up front,
doing superb duty, with 505bhp/752lb ft
in the standard car and EWB, the Speed
getting a hike to 530bhp and 811lb ft. But
its the EWB were interested in here.
The EWB is gunning for a market
segment soon to be vacated by the
outgoing Rolls-Royce Phantom (not due
to be replaced for at least 18 months), and
to do so, the Mulsanne grows by 250mm
entirely in the rear passenger compartment.
Which makes it massive in the back.
Identifable by the broken side profle
line across the rear wheelarch the
8
10
standard and Speed have one long strake
its the inside thats the interesting bit,
because its what Bentley does best. A pair
of airline-style reclining seats, champagne
fridge, a pair of tablets that deploy
electrically from the front seatbacks and
an impressively engineered folding table.
Its tech meets trad meets a herd of dead
cows and several pricey, varnished trees.
Better than that, all-new Mulsanne
gets a suite of improvements to insulate
you from the world: active engine mounts,
new super-isolating suspension bushes
even noise-absorbing foam in the tyres.
And, boy, does it work. Sitting in the back
of the EWB, you barely notice the outside
world. Better than a Rolls? Just diferent.
In the right colour slightly less fashy, a
little more sporting. But if youre in the
Not a car to drive,
rather a car to be driven back of the EWB, you wont really care.
in. Champagne, anyone? About anything. TOM FORD
SPECIFICATION
6752cc, V8 twin-turbo petrol,
505bhp, 752lb ft
18.8mpg, 342g/km CO2
062mph in 5.5secs, 184mph
2730kg
VERDICT: Opulent
9
British ber barge with
enough rear space to mislay
the butler. Feels old-school
in the right ways.
10
53.3mpg, 139g/km CO2
062mph in 8.7secs, 129mph
1775kg
TTOOPPGGE EAARR. .CCOOMM JJ J M
UALY 2016 0 35
August I 2016

Ferrari four
aybe the name was too
literal. FF. Four-seater,
M
Sculpted flanks have
four-wheel drive. Not helped the GTC4Lusso
shed some visual weight

the family
very sexy. Whatever
the reason, its now the
GTC4Lusso. As names go, this one is
a bit clunky and not strictly accurate
Ferrari GTC4Lusso (the initials stand for Gran Turismo
Competizione), but it does talk to
230,430 Ferraris history. And Ferrari is good
at liaising with its back catalogue, not
just through plucked names, but through Five years on, its had a freshen
WE SAY: THE FFS model continuation the mid-engined up. For the most part, this is entirely
SUCCESSOR MATES 4WD AND V8 sports car, the front-engined V12 predictable. Its got a bit more power,
4WS WITH V12 GOODNESS coupe. These are long-running themes a little less weight, rear passengers have
over at Maranello. 16mm more legroom, emissions have
The FF may have introduced 4WD dropped, the infotainment is improved.

IMAGES: SIMON THOMPSON

to the Ferrari idiom, but its strategy was
entirely familiar. Here was a front-engine
V12 four-seater that could actually seat
four, and for extra brownie points,
swallow their luggage too. It required
little compromise, delivered where it
needed to, exceeded expectations.
But one thing is perhaps surprising.
It still uses a naturally aspirated 6.3-litre
V12. Were not used to this. Where
are the turbos? Aston has been forced
to ft them to the new DB11 to keep
it class competitive, likewise Ferraris
own 488 GTB.

GTC4Lusso retains its

naturally aspirated V12.
Which we like. A lot

03 6 AUGUST 2016 J TOPGEAR.COM

 Competition is the reason. The
488 gained blowers not because of
emissions legislation, but because it
was at risk of being out-powered by
Porsche and McLaren. But the GTC4
is diferent. It has no natural rivals
theres nothing out there, literally
nothing, with the same skill set.
So a naturally aspirated V12 it is. And
Ferrari has not left the old 651bhp unit
alone. The compression ratio has been
raised, the piston design has changed,
theres now multispark ignition and, as a
result, power has climbed 30bhp. 681bhp
is a big number, enough (with tweaks to
the gearbox and traction software) to
knock 0.3secs of the 062mph time.
Lovely cabin, but youll
But what I like most about it is that it
be too busy using the
now starts more quietly in the mornings.
Ferrari has been listening to its customers,
and they said they didnt want it to be
quite so efusive frst thing. So now the
exhaust bafes stay closed more when the
engine is cold or at low speeds. You see
this response to customer feedback in
other places as well. The steering wheel
is new, equipped with bigger pads for
the headlights and wipers and indicators
that can be activated by fngers from
behind as well as thumbs at the front. Its
more functional, but aesthetically? Not so
good. Thats the trouble with responding
to customer feedback the customer aint
always right.
The rest of the cabin is close to being
a triumph. The new dash design, which
incorporates a ten-inch central screen
and a separate passenger display is a big
improvement. Its quick and slick, and the
passenger can keep themselves occupied
making phone calls, controlling music,
fddling with the satnav and seeing how
681bhp to notice fast the driver is actually going.
Size-wise its a little bigger in all three
dimensions, but were talking millimetres
here, and the thing was already the size of
an S-Class. Its better looking though.
The new strakes behind the front wheels
have helped visually shorten the profle,
while the rear haunches are more
curvaceous. The back end, bracketed top
and bottom by an integrated spoiler and
underbody difuser, looks really cool. The
rear hatch is more upright, improving
both stowage and aero, apparently. I love
the way it looks from the rear three-
quarter the front I can take or leave,
but the rear sells me on the whole car.
Overall theres more tension to the
surfacing, more sculpting. The FF used
to look like a long, thin, pencil-ish car,
but the GTC4Lusso comes across as a
bit shorter and broader. That change is
refected in the driving. The track widths
have barely changed, yet it feels more
broad-shouldered through turns, and
stubbier than its 4,922mm length suggests.
Theres a reason for that. A veritable
legion of acronyms underpins the
GTC4Lussos chassis, but Im going to
concentrate on just one of them: 4RM-S,
which manages the four-wheel drive and
TOPGEAR.COM J JULY 2016 0 37
AugustI2016
Onthefewopensweeperswe
encounter, its clearly in its element
new four-wheel-steering system. It works
in harmony with SSC4, SCM-E and
E-Dif (in order: side slip control, adaptive
damping and electronic diferential), but I
only mention them to show the complexity
and integration of the various systems
that keep the car pointing in the desired
direction on a thin ribbon of tarmac laid
over a treacherous Dolomite.
Anyway, the four-wheel steering really
does make the GTC4 more agile than the
FF. The car is a bit lighter, which helps
with direction changes, but this system,
which is almost entirely unobtrusive,
makes the GTC4 sharper into corners
Ikea runs Ferrari owners
and gives it a more attacking, willing
demeanour. Almost unobtrusive it
occasionally felt snatchy coming out of
tight corners, meaning I hadnt wound the
GTC4Lusso has many,
many screens. Which
onerunsMario Kart?
038 AUGUST 2016 J TOPGEAR.COM
lock of the super-fast steering quite fast
enough. But thats the only time I ever felt
the GTC4 wasnt 100 per cent cohesive.
Youve got to remember its a big,
heavy car, and one that isnt particularly
designed for the area Ferrari has chosen to
launch it in. Yes, Im sure some owners do
take their cars skiing, but hairpins are not
a natural stamping ground for a 1,920kg,
long-wheelbase grand tourer. Still, the
GTC4 looks beautiful in the Dolomites
and does a far better job of controlling
its weight on these tight, difcult roads
than Id anticipated. On the few open
Seats fold flat for those sweepers we encounter, its clearly in its
always do at weekends element, big engine howling, just a snif of
steering lock applied, but the tight stuf
gives you plenty of proof about how well
this car apportions torque to each wheel.
Its very, very efective.
And so well-controlled. Initially I was
surprised that the GTC4 didnt have the
same suppleness in its suspension as the
488GTB, but the more I drove it, the more
I came to appreciate how exceptional the
wheel control is. Its not uncomfortable at
all, it just deals with stuf in a completely
unfappable manner. Little disturbs the
on-board calm.
Little except the engine, of course. Yes,
it now has an extra 30bhp and 11lb ft, but
its the sheer drivability it ofers that sets
it apart. This is an utterly triumphant
engine. It has epic reach and spectacular
harmonics. I love the way the GTC4 deals
with corners, but the best bit is when you
get the power on, feel all four wheels work
the last part of the corner, then the V12
hurls you up the straight. It does have
reasonable torque at the bottom end,
but forget about that, because its what
happens higher up that counts.
The GTC4Lusso is such a special
car. I was sceptical about how much
of a step forward over the FF it would
be when the basic concept remains so
similar, but its a wholesale inside-and-out
reworking thats lost nothing, gained extra
dynamism and retained the atmospheric
V12. Good news all round. OLLIEMARRIAGE
SPECIFICATION
6,262cc V12, 4WD,
681bhp, 514lb ft
18.8mpg, 350g/km CO2
062mph in 3.4secs, 208mph
1920kg
VERDICT: A thoroughly
9
overhauled and updated FF.
Still does the same job, but
does it with more panache
10
and dynamism.
 Q UICK T WIN TEST

Mini Convertible vs Mazda MX-5

WE SAY: YOULL NEVER REALLY USE THE BACK SEATS, SO WHICH WINS ON FUN?
Which Mini This is the Cooper, the boggo Convertible. A Cooper S or JCW just arent
and which in the MX-5s price or power ballpark. Thats fine, though, because right
now the most basic Minis are usually the best. It costs 2,850 more than
Mazda?
the hard-top before you get busy with the spec. This ones a silly 25k...
Since its up against pricey opposition, weve brought along Mazdas
biggest gun, which in sports-car terms is still a bit of a water pistol.
Its the 2.0-litre MX-5, rocking a standard limited-slip diff, a world-
class six-speed manual and 158bhp for the rear tyres to play with.

Whos got Most dinky drop-tops cheat at rooflessness by keeping the roof rails, You dont just unlatch the MX-5s roof manually, you also thrust it
the cleverest so they stay stiff, but all you get is an XL sunroof. The Minis a proper down until it clicks into its cubbyhole. Superbly packaged, foldable
soft-top? convertible, with a fully electric 20secs top. Still knackers rear visibility. in three seconds flat, without ever leaving the drivers seat.

Does turbo This is an enthusiastic little motor but here its utterly smothered by
eco test-bent gearing. The shift is slick, but the long ratios and
triple beat
135kg of stiffening snuff out the torque, Result? Its sluggish...
revvy 4cyl?
Despite its stuck-in-treacle urgency, decapitating the Mini doesnt hurt
Whos king
its playfulness. The wheelbase feels short and agile, and it responds
of chuckable
keenly to mid-corner inputs. The driving position is more sorted than the
roadsters? cramped Mazdas too, and we prefer its heftier, more accurate steering.
The MX-5 couldnt be more different. Its outputs are hardly thrusting,
but with just a tonne to push, a zingy rasp to the throttle response
and ber-tight gearing, it zips along, begging to be wrung out.
Initially, its actually the Mazda that feels less sporty. Not just
in how light n twirly the steering is, but the softness. The angles it
adopts as it rolls into bends are downright alarming at first, but trust
grip is there and it turns dull mini-roundabouts into an autotest treat.

Mini Cooper Convertible

18,475
6 10
Mazda MX-5 2.0 SE-L
20,495
8 10
WORDS: OLLIE KEW / PHOTOS: SIMON THOMPSON

1499cc 3cyl turbo, VERDICT: Maintains a sweet chassis, 1998cc 4cyl, RWD, VERDICT: Hits the basic sports car
FWD, 134bhp, 169lb ft but for this cash lacks the go to enjoy it. 158bhp, 147lb ft bullseye. Its smiling as much as you.

57.6mpg, 114g/km CO2 40.9mpg, 161g/km CO2

1415mm

1225mm

062mph in 8.8secs, 129mph 062mph in 7.3secs, 133mph

1280kg 1000kg
3821mm 3915mm
TOPGEAR.COM J AUGUST 2016 0 39
THE
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TOPGEAR.COM J AUGUST 2016 0 43

 Imagine playing
three-dimensional
chess with
3,600 pieces. All
in a days work
for Uwe Wabra
(left) and Andrew
Billund where plastic Woodman
pine trees sit on real
(we think) grass

illund is Denmarks second biggest airport,

B
eclipsed only by the one that serves the
capital, Copenhagen. This is entirely down
to the presence of a certain toy manufacturer,
Lego. This makes Billund the Maranello of the toy world, a
place of pilgrimage for the faithful, and ensures that Lego,
like Ferrari, is the engine of the towns economy a quad-
turbo, 16-cylinder, 16-litre engine at that.
But although there are Lego versions of various Ferraris,
its actually a Porsche thats brought us to this pleasantly
unprepossessing corner of Scandinavia today. Last month,
the companys Technic line unveiled a magnifcent and
magnifcently complicated iteration of the 911 GT3 RS,
complete with functioning dual-shift gearbox, steering
and engine. Almost as desirable and in many ways as
ingeniously engineered as the real thing, this merited
much closer investigation.
Lego, like many great brands, has had its ups and downs,
most recently a worrying brush with the economic grim reaper
in the early Noughties. Since 2005, though, the company has
grown a whopping 18 per cent year-on-year every year, the
latest fgures showing a 1bn proft on a 4bn turnover, and
still wholly owned by the family descended from founder
Ole Kirk Christiansen. (Lego paterfamilias Kjeld Kirk
Christiansen is a gigantic petrolhead, coincidentally.)

The Stay Puft

Marshmallow Man has
got serious competition

04 4 AUGUST 2016 J TOPGEAR.COM

 MOTORSPORT

How to build your

own supercar.
By Lego
JUST HOW DO THEY TURN A SUPERCAR INTO A
PIXELATED PLASTIC MODEL? ALLOW US TO EXPLAIN...

WORDS: JA SON BARLOW / PHOTOGR APHY: TOM BARNES

TOPGEAR.COM J AUGUST 2016 0 45

 Shrewd licensing deals with entertainment
behemoths like Star Wars, Harry Potter and current
best-seller Frozen embolden the bottom line, but
Lego, like the BBC, has kept the faith with a Reithian
inform, educate, entertain mantra, winning over a
new generation of kids whose brains havent yet been
nuked by omnipresent games consoles. Available in
140 markets globally, this isnt just one of the worlds
biggest toymakers, its also one of the best-loved.
And not just by children. The 911 GT3 RS model
costs 250 in the UK, yet it sold out on the frst day.
In-demand Lego products generate a quasi-religious
fervour, and those amenable Danes can now pretty
much pick and choose who they want to team up with.
We needed a partner that would work with us to
create something really special, Lego Technic senior
design manager Andrew Woodman tells me. We
needed access to the people who designed the real
thing, and access to the factory. Fortunately, there
are lots of Lego nerds within Porsche.
Negotiations began around three years ago, when
Woodman and other members of the Technic team
visited Weissach. Turns out that
some of those Lego nerds included
Porsche GT boss Andreas Preuninger
and vice president of Motorsport, Dr
Frank Walliser. No grubbing around
in the lower reaches of the marketing
department for these guys. In fact,
Walliser even contributes a heartfelt
piece to the monolithic instruction
book thats part of what is a
sumptuously packaged afair.
Perhaps unsurprisingly, as a child
he honed his formidable engineering
skills using Lego Technic.
Creating a product on this scale
is a stunning achievement. Lego
insiders refer to individual pieces as
elements, and there are no fewer
than 2,704 in the Porsche. Given that
there are 3,600 in the entire Lego
arsenal (not including diferent colours there are 60
of those), its clear how deep the design team had to dig
on this one. But the real genius of this thing isnt that it
exists, its that only seven of those 2,704 elements are
new, including the wheel rims, the brake calipers, the
suspension components, and badges. The vast majority
of the Lego GT3 RS is thus made up of pieces that are
used in other Technic models, and right across the
Lego system spectrum.
The designer responsible is a Dane called Uwe
Wabra, and the longer I talk to him, the more its
clear that the man a former chef turned mechanic,
with an early VW Beetle, Fiat 1100 and 1927 Chevy
04 6 AUGUST 2016 J TOPGEAR.COM
hot rod amongst others in his real-world
garage is a genius.
For one simple reason: as someone who
regularly trips himself up while building Lego
with the instructions, Uwe is voyaging into the
unknown, efectively making it up as he goes
along, using mostly pre-existing Lego elements
to create, in this case, a functioning large-scale
model of a Porsche. Then he revisits what hes
done, makes sure whatever methodology hes used is
repeatable, before running through the whole thing
with Legos instruction builders. They, in turn, set to
work drafting the manual, ensuring that these brilliant
Lego facts
creations are as idiot-proof to build as its possible to
be given the variations in IQ among the end users.
Think about it in these terms, and it calls to mind the
sequence in Ron Howards brilliant movie Apollo 13,
where Nasas fnest minds have to return Tom Hanks 1 The company was founded in 1932.
In Danish, leg godt means play well
and team to Earth by rehabilitating their stricken
module using bits of hose, sticky tape and toilet roll.
Thats what we pride ourselves on: being able to
2 There are 4,000 Lego employees in Billund,
17,000 worldwide
do so much with as few new elements as possible.
Its the ultimate design challenge,
Woodman asserts. Somebody gives
3 The storage warehouse in Billund houses
one billion bricks, stored in 424,000 boxes.
There are two other facilities like this, one in
you a set of restrictions and we have Mexico, the other in Hungary
to be as creative as possible within
those. We take what we have and
begin experimenting, building up
4 Up to 100 tonnes of specially granulated
plastic is used per day, piped out of trucks
and into giant on-site vats
the basic parameters. Uwe starts
by trying to understand where he
wants to put stuf. He makes a map 5 Just 10 tiny fragments of granulated plastic
dropped into a 500kg vat of another colour
would be enough to ruin the entire lot
of where he wants things to be.
Then he makes a structure holding
those things where he thinks they
should be. And if somebody says
6 The raw material is injected into the
moulding machine at 29,000psi. The
moulding itself is done at 300C, but as the
at some point, This needs to be machine opens, the brick is immediately
cooled to 70C using an air and water spray
shorter, he needs to go back and
rethink how it all interrelates.
Its a massive game of 3D chess. 7 For the creation of bulk Lego elements,
a moulding machine would be serviced
You have to have some level of genius approximately every 400,000th stamp. Each
mould has a lifespan of around 20m stampings
to visualise this stuf. Its basically
constant problem-solving.
I ask Uwe if he ever loses his temper. Yes, he
replies. Especially when you reach the point where
8 There are 760 moulding machines in
Billund, and each costs around 32k.
The exact design of these machines is a
getting one thing to work properly stops something secret; different companies manufacture
the constituent parts, and the machines are
else from doing so. assembled in Legos facilities to stop rivals
This is Lego as a metaphor for life. ripping off the design
The designers might have to change what they
think is a really awesome detail so that it can be
repeated, Woodman adds. We dont think of it as 9 3.2m elements are made here per day
compromise, we prefer to say optimising. Its fne-
tuned to the point where you dont even notice when
10 The tolerance between two elements
is 0.004mm
you are putting one piece on top of another.
Woodman reckons there were maybe 40 prototype
versions of the 911 GT3 RS, the frst done without
11 Lego makes 318m tyres per year,
more than Goodyear, Firestone and
Michelin combined
 1 2

1. Lavish packaging includes

huge instruction manual 2. Fully
automated robots service the
moulding plant 3. Basement
archive houses every single
Lego set ever made 4. 250 Lego
designers turned up at internal
shindig for Porsche model launch.
Danes like cake 5. Orange
elements bound for the 911
GT3 RS 6. Four of the 40 stages
of Porsche prototype 7. There are
1bn Lego elements stored in here.
Messes with your head, that
3

6 7
It cost 250, less than 0.2
per cent of the real deal.
Hows that for a bargain?

access to data or images of the real thing. Before long,

a secure server deep within Legos main infrastructure
was set up, containing everything the guys needed to
render the car in Lego. Only four of the 11 designers
had access; security is paramount here. Woodman
and Wabra shuttled to and fro between Billund and
Weissach, carrying prototypes through curious airport
security (Lego designers spend a lot of time in the
special room at airports, if theyre travelling with
secret new models, Woodman says mischievously).

There were about 40

prototypes of the GT3 RS
The model was variously too long, the roof needed
to be more curved, the proportions fnessed, and
Porsche even vetoed the inclusion of the GT3s rear-
steer that Uwe had managed to replicate. On the other
hand, the team agreed to leave out the cooling fans,
so that the models amazing working engine could be
enjoyed properly. Its one of the important things we
talk to our partners about: the abstraction level. Car
designers talk in great detail, obsess over a beautiful
curve theyve created, then we show them something
thats a straight line and has holes in it. But this is a
Lego Technic Porsche, not a model of a 911 GT3 RS.
A certain leap of imagination is required.

048 AUGUST 2016 J TOPGEAR.COM

 his is the Mercedes-AMG GT R,
NEW METAL and youll be delighted to know
its just as shouty as it looks.
It is the most honed AMG
Mercedes-
model, and the most powerful, since the
old SLS Black Series.
There are so many highlights, its very hard
AMG GT R
to know where to begin. But lets be obvious,
and begin with its green (and really quite
mean) exterior. The paint is called Green Hell,
to honour the track the Nrburgring on
AMGS MOST TRACK-HONED which much of the GT Rs development has
ROAD CAR SINCE THE SLS BLACK taken place. The roof is carbon, unpainted
for extra paddock kudos.
Its wider than the already wide AMG GT S,
WORDS: STEPHEN DOBIE that more muscular body smothering broader
tracks. The front splitter not only gulps in
extra air, but actively directs it via moving
faps. Unlike the rear wing, that is, which is
fxed, but can be mechanically adjusted to suit
how you want the car to behave, or the speed
of the track youre visiting.
Which brings us neatly to the suspension.
Double wishbones all round, it is also
mechanically adjustable. Worried youre an
Traction control comes
with nine modes. Lewiss
favourite feature...
05 0 AUGUST 2016 J TOPGEAR.COM
engineering degree short of understanding
it? Theres electronic, adaptive damping too.
That adjusts through three modes Comfort,
Sport and Sport Plus AMG recommending
the frst for the road, the last for smooth
circuits, and the middle option for bumpy
tracks like the Nordschleife.
While the GT R stays true to AMGs roots
with rear-wheel drive, theres a trick up its
sleeve. Just like the Porsche 911 GT3 and
Ferrari F12 tdf, it has rear-wheel steering.
Like the GT3 (but unlike the tdf), the rear
wheels can turn in both the opposite and
matching direction to the fronts. They oppose
at low speeds (well, below 62mph) to make
the car hyper-agile, and match at high speeds
for more stability.
And while were on stability, its traction
control comes with nine modes, switchable via
a racecar-like toggle slap bang in the middle of
the dashboard. Lewis Hamilton who helped
unveil the GT R at Mercedes-Benz World in
Brooklands seemed particularly taken by
that feature when we spoke to him. But then
he is probably paid to say things like that
 That weve made it this far without
acknowledging a new AMG engine tells you
how serious the rest of the GT Rs spec is. But
its V8 naturally deserves some attention. A
twin-turbo 4.0-litre, its efectively the same
unit as the GT Ss, with sharper-reacting
turbos and a new exhaust system yielding
an additional 74bhp and 37lb ft.
That means peaks of 577bhp and 516lb ft,
enough to hustle the 1,630kg GT R (around 15
kilos lighter than the S, despite the addition of
wings n things) from 0 to 62mph in 3.6
Twin-turbo 4.0-litre seconds, and on to a 198mph top speed.
V8 makes 577bhp and
516lb ft. Adequate But despite its unsubtle nods to the place,
no Nrburgring lap time at least for the time
being. Expect sub-7:20, but when we spoke
to AMG boss Tobias Moers, he said publicly
chasing a time such as the Nismo GT-Rs
7:08 is of the menu. No, we dont do that,
was his blunt response.
He did promise, though, this GT R would
be one of many new AMG GT variants, with a
Roadster and GT4 customer racecar among
others arriving this year. For now, though, this
GT R is giving us plenty to salivate about
TOPGEAR.COM
Ollie reads the notes
for Tobias Moers on
Goodwood hill
We ride in
the new GT R
Its the day after the GT R was revealed
to the world by Lewis Hamilton, and the
venue has moved from Brooklands to
Goodwood, where Tobias Moers is going
to demo the car at the Festival of Speed.
I get to ride shotgun to try to get a feel
for this early development prototype.
Now, Im not a massive fan of the
standard AMG GT its too snatchy,
darts and weaves on bumpy roads and
the chassis doesnt have a big enough
sweet spot between understeer and
oversteer. This makes me nervous for the
GT R, but from the off, Mercs 911 GT3
RS-chaser feels more magnanimous.
Tobias isnt averse to a bit of
showboating, but hes clearly not
fighting the car as it smokes its way
out of Turn 1, nine-position traction
control dialled down to zero. It doesnt
feel as locked down as the Porsche,
but then I suspect AMG is going for a
slightly different audience, one that is
less concerned about lap times, more
about having a good time.
The noise it makes cannot be legal. I
WORDS: OLLIE MARRIAGE
suggest to Tobias that it appears to have
borrowed the F1 safety cars exhaust. He
smiles back, and blips the throttle again.
In the crowd, I see people flinch. It feels
gutsy, very rapid and more forgiving than
the standard car, which might seem
unusual, but this is early days.
J AUGUST 2016 0 51
 NEW METAL
Black swan
PORSCHES UGLY DUCKLING
SHARPENS UP ITS ACT
n the night Porsche unveiled its new v2.0
O Panamera, even its design bods admitted
the frst car (of which a tidy 150k were
shifted) was fairly challenging on the eye.
So well come to the new cars Bentley-shared platform,
Ferrari-baiting performance and Starfeet cabin shortly.
Firstly, just look at it. Better, isnt it? The new all-
aluminium Panamera is actually 5mm taller overall than
the old car, plus 35mm longer and 5mm wider (gulp), but
shaving 20mm of the rear roofine has banished the sea-
mammal profle and blessed it with proper grace.
Slimmer LED lights help too; the 911 Carrera 4-style
light strip is set to become a feature on all Porsches. And
inside, itll still seat four six-foot burly types, in extreme
Comfortable rear seating
in a Porsche? They said
itd never catch on...
052 AUGUST 2016 J TOPGEAR.COM
comfort. Want to carry fve and their kit?
Wait for the production version of the
2012 Sport Turismo concept. Yep,
the Porsche estate is happening.
But what to power it with?
Surely the 190mph, 4x4 Turbo
youre looking at here is the default
choice? Its 542bhp and 3.4secs
062mph sprint make a compelling,
Ferrari GTC4Lusso-bothering case.
Riding on the architecture Bentley
will borrow for the new Conti GT,
complete with rear-wheel steering and an
Two instrument screens
8spd dual-clutch gearbox, its been clocked sandwich a (gasp!)
around the Nordschleife in 7:39. Blimey. physical rev counter
Porsche has also announced therell be two
plug-in hybrid versions (an eco-focused entry-level one
and a pricier e-Hybrid thats more about oomph) and a V6
Panamera 4S with 434bhp. But are you sitting down? Its
the diesel version thats the lunatic among Panameras.
The worlds fastest diesel, no less. Out goes the old V6,
and in its place is a certifable 416bhp, 627lb ft V8 monster
that arrives at 62mph in just 4.3secs and returns up to
42mpg. Its CO2 emissions are in the same class as the new
four-pot Boxster. If Porsche had been around in medieval
times, wed have been dunking them for witchcraft.
That ultra-diesel ought to ft the Panameras countries-
for-breakfast, continents-for-lunch talent to a tee, and
what a cabin youve now got to chomp those miles in. The
More screens than your
drivers seat drops 10mm lower twin seven-inch screens local multiplex even the
sandwiching an old-fashioned physical rev-counter. Then rear passengers get one
theres a 12.3in main touchscreen, with climate and
chassis controls handled by a glassy touch-sensitive panel
where the pebble-dashed buttons used to live. It looks
sensational, but will it be as easy to use without removing
your gaze from the road when youre on the move? And on
paper, this car can really move. Only this time, youll be
just as proud of it when its standing still. OLLIE KEW
 MOTORSPORT

Eight 1
Racing is a cruel mistress
The biggest lesson that can be taken
away from Le Mans this year is that to

things we
finish first, first you have to finish. 23
hours and 56 minutes into the race, Toyotas
Group hugs: even macho
#5 car needed to complete just one more lap

learned at
racing drivers need a little
of the 8.5-mile track, and a maiden victory love now and then
would be theirs. And then in a twist a bad
Hollywood script writer couldnt dream up,

Le Mans catastrophic power failure enabled the

WHY SIT UP OVERNIGHT WATCHING THE
WORLDS MOST FAMOUS CAR RACE, WHEN
#2 Porsche to coast past on the finish line,
and because it took 11 minutes for Kazuki
Nakajima to limp home on the final lap,
they werent even classified. This being a
IMAGES: GETTY, LAT, DPPI

gentlemans sport, Toyota driver Anthony

TOPGEAR CAN BRING ALL YOU ALL THE
BIG TALKING POINTS ON TWO PAGES?
Davidson quickly tweeted his congrats to
Porsche, while the rest of the grid responded
with an outpouring of commiserations.
Cue man tears all round.

Audi has work to do
The LMP1 class was a two-horse race, with
Toyota and Porsche duking it out up front
and Audi picking up the crumbs behind not
acceptable for a team whose cars have won in 13
of the last 17 races. Youd be a brave person to bet
against them finding some extra pace next year,
though, and hopefully a sports exhaust, too the
R18 was the quietest car out there.
Le Mans can do Hollywood
just as well as F1
Bringing the glamour to the grey and wet
grid walk was Hollywood A-lister Brad Pitt. He
was flanked by Jackie Chan, who had an actual
reason to be there as the owner of the Baxi DC
LMP2 team, and stubbly action hero Jason
Statham, whose only link to Le Mans was once
narrating a documentary on Audis 2008 win.
Nothing is impossible
One of the great stories this year
belonged to Frdric Sausset, who
competed for OAK Racing despite losing parts
of all four limbs following an infection in 2012.
Driving a specially modified LMP2 car, Sausset
drove 69 of the teams total of 315 laps, helping
his team to a respectable 38th overall, becoming
the first Garage 56 entry to finish the race.
Ford does the GT40 proud
Fifty years since the GT40 won the first of
four titles in 1966, Ford and Chip Ganassi
fielded four new GTs in the GTE Pro class, and
promptly won. Both the winning #68 Ford and
second-place Ferrari traded post-race penalties
which left the standings unchanged, but
eyebrows will be raised, as the GTs were five
seconds faster than they were in practice.
Chris Hoy can really drive
Olympic cycling legend Chris Hoy found
himself on the grid of the worlds most
prestigious endurance race just four years after
swapping his bicycle helmet for a racing one.
His Algarve Pro Racing team finished 12th
in the LMP2 class and 17th overall. Hoys
contribution included an initial seven-lap stint,
followed by three 11-lap stints... and no crashes.
Alpine is on a roll
With a new 40,000 mid-engined sports
car to flog from the end of this year,
Renaults sporty offshoot received a well-timed
publicity boost when the Signatech-Alpine #36
car won the LMP2 class. Of course, the 550bhp
carbon prototype bears no resemblance to the
car youll be able to buy in the coming months, but
it will come in the same fetching shade of blue.
TOPGEAR.COM J AUGUST 2016 055
 rogress is a moot point in Maranello.

PROGRESS REPORT P
Engineers measure it empirically, and in
those terms 2016s Ferrari 488 GTB
administers a ginormous Gucci loafer-clad
kicking to 1994s F355. Its harder, faster, stronger, better

Ferrari 488 GTB made, much better equipped, more efcient, and, when it
comes to active and passive safety well, lets not even go
there. You can switch of the ABS in the F355, and its your

vs Ferrari F355
JUST 22 YEARS SEPARATE THESE
TWO. IT COULD BE A CENTURY
WO R DS: JA SO N BAR LOW /
PH OTO GR APHY: S IM O N TH O M P SO N
bottom and twitching right foot that control traction.
The fact is, the 488 GTB is such a monumentally
impressive engineering achievement that criticising it
involves picking nits so tiny theyre practically subatomic.
Ferrari is an R&D powerhouse these days, not just a
carmaker, so as well as being the companys mid-engined
entry point if you can call a base price of 183,964 that,
and most buyers add an average of 50k in options the
488 also strategically cherry-picks some of the tastiest
elements from other, unicorn-rare Ferraris.
It gets the steering rack and dampers from the 458
Speciale, an evolved version of the Side Slip Control

F355 BERLINETTA
Engine: 3496cc, V8,
375bhp @ 8250rpm,
268lb ft @ 6000rpm
Performance: 062mph
in 4.7secs, 183mph
Transmission: 6spd
manual, RWD
Economy: N/A mpg,
N/A g/km CO2
Weight: 1350kg (dry)
L x W: 4250mm x 1900mm
chassis electronics that debuted in that car, and the brakes
come straight from the LaFerrari. It also parachutes some
of the LaFs active aero voodoo into what passes for the
mainstream in Maranello, and serves the whole lot up in
a body that makes up in lip-smacking on-road presence
what it lacks in old-fashioned aesthetic grace.
It is a deeply, outrageously fast car. We could be
measuring the progress of performance from 355 to 488
in 20 light years rather than normal run-of-the-mill ones.
Itll hit 60mph in three seconds fat, and surges forwards
with a sustained ferocity thats close to uncomfortable.
More importantly, it also vaporises in-gear increments,
dropping you into a vast vat of torque no matter which
gear youve just selected. Double-clutch gearboxes may
Here, theyre off for
lack romance compared to an open-gate manual, but its
not hard to admire the work thats gone in.
Its also a car you can slip into and just drive. Its a
low-speed doddle. Historic Ferraris, including the F355
you see here, can be histrionic; for example, you can forget
about selecting second until the gearbox oil is warmed
through, and the driving position is as daft as popular
lore suggests. The 488 GTB is just a normal car in this
regard, and locates the driver at the heart of the action.
Mid-engined cars often have hopeless rear-three-quarter
visibility and cavernous blind spots. This one doesnt.
The biggest nitpick concerns the layout of the
instruments; the main display is spot-on, but the auxiliary
ones should have been refused planning permission for
the extensions on either side, and, no matter what Ferrari
says, they dont get any easier to use with familiarisation.
Ditto the buttons festooned on the steering wheel, with
the exception of the manettino. That we have got the
hang of, 12 years since it frst appeared on the F430.
355 meets 488. Twiddling it gives you control over the chassis, of
a quick espresso
course, and its here youll fnd the biggest evolutionary
jump. The ride quality is unbelievably good, thanks in
no small part to the magnetic dampers, which is handy
because before long youll be leaning on this car in a way
that would have defed belief 20 years ago. You arrive at
corners so quickly its like youve fallen through a hole in

488 GTB
Engine: 3902cc, V8
twin-turbo,
661bhp @ 8000rpm,
561lb ft @ 3000rpm
Performance: 062mph
in 3.0secs, 205mph
Transmission: 7spd DCT,
RWD
Economy: 24.8mpg,
260g/km CO2
Weight: 1525kg
L x W: 4568mm x 1952mm

TOPGEAR.COM J AUGUST 2016 0 57

You arrive at corners so quickly its like youve
fallen through a hole in the space-time continuum
Anyone can drive a 488
quickly... Yeah, if you can
afford to buy one, that is
058 AUGUST 2016 J TOPGEAR.COM
FA N C Y O N E I N
YOUR GAR AGE?
the space-time continuum rather than merely accelerated 2015 FERRARI 458
up to them. Modern Ferraris have ultra-fast steering, SPECIALE 369,950
so the 488 can feel over-sharp at frst. Odds-on youll
over-drive the car until you get used to it. At which
point, its so intuitive you think your way around bends.
None of this happens in the F355, and the things that
do happen do so at a noticeably less frenzied pace. But the
old car makes you question the true meaning of progress
in three key ways. First, the engine. Its free-breathing
3.5-litre, 40-valve V8 might be down almost 300bhp on
the 488s twin-turbocharged 3.9-litre unit, but the noise
an F355 makes once its into its stride is quite simply
quintessential Ferrari. Its way, way down on torque,
compared with the 488, but youre too busy smiling to
1995 FERRARI F355
notice. The throttle has a lovely, long travel, so the power GTB 149,950
arrives in a linear, seemingly endless rush. The 488 butts
up against the red line much earlier, riding a software-
manipulated torque curve. It sounds pretty awesome, but
the F355 is more awesome still.
Then theres the gearbox. I once almost moved
amiable former Ferrari CEO Amedeo Felisa to the
point of fury by banging on about the F355s manual
box. He insists that DIY gearchanging distracts you from
getting the best out of the rest of the car, but its one of
my favourite parts of the Ferrari experience. In an F355,
every corner or roundabout demands properly co-
ordinated driver input, and has the potential for theatrical
satisfaction. Any numpty can drive the 488 quickly. 1993 TOYOTA MR2
Finally, well, just look at it. Although it was the frst MkII 5,950
Ferrari to feature a fully fat underfoor, the F355 was also
the last to appear before aerodynamics overwhelmed
aesthetics. Its a beautiful, normally aspirated, mid-
engined Ferrari with a manual gearbox. Check out the
way the market currently values these things if you want
an idea of how some people prefer to look back when it
comes to going forwards.
EXPERIENCE

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from a awless surface as you admire your car is one of lifes simple pleasures.

Whether you are just starting your journey or are an experienced traveller, join us on the road to reveal
your True Colours. There will never be a dull moment.
 In the blue corner In the red corner Gentlemen, these are your
Name: Ollie Kew Age: 24 Name: Tom Harrison Age: 23 instructions. Obey the rules,
Occupation: road test editor Occupation: staff writer
protect yourself at all times,
Secret weapon: girlfriends cakes
and only resort to violence if
Secret weapon: inscrutability
you really have to. Ding ding

FIGHT

Has Mini taken

personalisation too far?
OK: At last, a Mini that looks different to the twee Summer Wine TH: Ive read the bumf. Mini says it makes getting in and out
creations Oxfords been stamping out for over a decade easier, and that when the cars in autonomous mode, the wheel
is stowed away between the front passengers, and in front of a
15:07 grammatically/philosophically troubling thing: the Cooperizer...

TH: True, if by different you mean really quite odd in comparison
to. Wheres the engine in this thing, anyway?
15:09
OK: Given this is Minis Next 100 concept, spitballing what form
its trendy city car could take over the next century, an engine
will soon seem as archaic as a chequebook or platform shoes.
Its obviously electric, and the drive-by-wire controls mean you
can shift the steering wheel and pedals between left- and
right-hand drive. Can you comprehend the possibilities that creates?
15:14
15:17
OK: OK, that ghastly name and the idea of an on-board
assistant is a bit too Nineteen Eighty-Four. But look at the bigger
picture. Mini has created a car built entirely around the idea of
car-sharing. Summoned via an app, self-driven and parked if
you choose, or sent on its way again. It could revolutionise
urban transport for the youth of tomorrow. Isnt that exactly
what the original Issigonis Mini did 50 years ago?
15:25
TH: Well, yes, but the whole idea of car-sharing, at least in the
way Mini describes it, is inherently flawed. If you dont own it,
who does? Whos responsible for maintenance, insurance,
emptying it of crisp packets and parking tickets? Theyll be
abused like rentals because no single person owns one, and for
there to be enough of them to be available whenever and
wherever theyre required, there will have to be more of them
than there are people who actually buy into the idea. Millions.
This isnt a car, its a mass transit system. Like Uber. Or the bus.

15:34

OK: Fair point, well made. But
car-share schemes are already here,
so its right that Mini should try
innovating them. The Next 100
imagines a future where all of your car
preferences, from bodywork graphics
to ambient lighting, music choice and your
favourite nav destinations are stored in the online
cloud, so as soon as you step aboard, it downloads
your likes and becomes, well, yours. Id take that
personal touch over a vomit-stained Uber Prius
any day, ta. Seeing the sense yet?
15:41
TH: Just because it knows what kind of music I like doesnt make
it mine. And if personalisation is the big draw, surely theres
much more scope to make something your own if its yours to
begin with. But, hey, this is the future. Who knows what Britain
will look like by the time something like this is market-ready?
15:44
OK: Who knows what Britain will look like this time tomorrow,
frankly? Still, this is at least less cringeworthy than Maximum
Go Kart Feel...
15:45
TH: That I agree with. Youre still wrong, though.
15:46
TH E KN OW LE DG E
THINGS YOU DONT KNOW BUT
ARE TOO EMBARRASSED TO ASK
#04 Satellite navigation
Didnt the US military invent it?
Sort of. Most modern satnavs rely on a network of satellites
known collectively as the Global Positioning System (GPS).
The frst satellites were sent into orbit during the Cold War
by the US Department of Defense to help guide its arsenal of
ballistic missiles. Today, there are 31 operational satellites in
a 12,550-mile orbit, with at least 24 in use at any one time.
So, how does it know where I am?
The satellites continuously broadcast their location and the
exact time (from onboard, super-accurate atomic clocks). This
info is received by your car. Once the receiver has data from a
minimum of four satellites, it can triangulate its position to
within a couple of metres.
Are there other types of satnav?
Yep. Russia has GLONASS its own constellation of satellites,
which is sometimes used alongside GPS by some smartphones.
Behind GPS, its the next-biggest positioning system. India has
its own system too, and before long so will China and the
European Union.
BONUS PUB FACT
Until President Clinton put a stop to it in 2000, the
US Army intentionally degraded civilian GPS signals
for national security, so military GPS was the only
efective form of satellite navigation. Thanks, guys.
TOPGEAR.COM J AUGUST 2016 061
MAKING
MOVIES
To coincide with the launch of Castrol
EDGE Supercar, Castrol celebrate their
latest Titanium Trial with the release of
two, truly ground breaking lms. Called
Clone Rivals, the technology behind
them is as cutting edge as the oil itself.
hen youre already among the best at
something, just how do you fnd new ways
to push the limits? For Castrol, continual
development and refnement of its products is a
given; fnding new ways of doing it is the really
interesting bit. Like the idea of testing yourself,
against yourself, for example.

Introducing the concept behind Clone Rivals

Two of the undoubted stars of this fourth Titanium
Trial were the iconic supercars chosen to feature in the
Clone Rivals flms. Te ultra rare Koenigsegg One:1
and track-only Aston Martin Vulcan have played
a crucial part in Castrols relentless, ever-evolving
programme of research and development; the
pinnacle of automotive technology deployed as it was
meant to be in the pursuit of maximum performance.
So, when you already work with the likes of Aston
Martin and Koenigsegg, where do you go next to push
the limits of what might be possible? For Castrol,
the answer was obvious: you clone what already
exists and then challenge them to go head-to-head.
Castrol called it Clone Rivals. Two flms, one
featuring British racer, Darren Turner, at the
wheel of Aston Martins track-only Vulcan, the
other starring Koenigseggs test and development
driver, Christofer Nygaard, in the truly epic/
epochal One:1, the worlds frst ever one-megawatt
supercar. Watch the movies now at topgearpromo.
com/clonerival; fnd out more here about just
how these two remarkable flms were made.
topgearpromo.com/clonerival
 ADVERTISEMENT FEATURE

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push the boundaries of what is possible, with the
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Its most advanced oil range ever Castrol EDGE
boosted with TITANIUM FST is available now.

SCREAM IF YOU WANNA
GO FASTER
When the Ferrari Land theme park opens next year
in Spain, it will become home to Europes tallest,
fastest rollercoaster, affixed to which will be one
of the worlds largest Ferrari badges, standing
12 metres high and weighing nine tonnes. We
dont yet know the rides name, but here are some
other facts about it:
A VERITABLE ARSENAL OF
INFO, SOME OF IT USEFUL BOOTY QUEEN
The new Mercedes E-Class Estate has 1,820 litres
of bootspace with the rear seats folded. This is
excellent news for tennis-ball salesmen, as it can
hold over 12,000 of them (balls, not salesmen).
Its also good news for bonfire enthusiasts, as
the E Estate is the only passenger car that can
swallow a regulation-size Europallet.

Height: 367 feet

Acceleration: 0112mph in five secs

Steepest angle: 90 degrees

That makes it only marginally less terrifying than

Ferraris other rollercoaster in Abu Dhabi, which
happens to be the fastest in the world with a top
speed of 149mph.
ELECTRIC SHOCK
Within a week of Tesla opening the Model 3
order books, 325,000 people placed a $1,000
ROAD WARS deposit for the all-electric car due next year. The
According to the World Economic Forum, number quickly rose to 385,000, but has since been
Britains roads are in a similar state to those in adjusted to 373,000 after 8,000 cancellations and
Namibia or Puerto Rico. In fact, in the WEFs 4,000 duplicates.
Quality of Roads Report 2015, the UK barely
makes the top 30. Heres an edited summary Holy rollers
of the league table:
When hes not being
1 UAE 30 UK paraded behind bulletproof
2 PORTUGAL 49 CHINA glass, Pope Francis a
famously humble man
3 AUSTRIA 76 INDIA
drives around the Vatican
10 JAPAN 124 RUSSIA
in a white Renault 4 with
16 USA 142 LIBYA 186,000 miles on the clock.
This is far less flashy than FAIL ARMY
Between them, Englands 20 worst learner
the time Pope John Paul II drivers have attempted the practical driving
commandeered a 1988 test more than 700 times. One 38-year-old
Liverpool man took 39 goes to pass, while a
Ferrari Mondial on a visit to 30-year-old Ilford woman sat the theory test
Maranello, making it 113 times. The town of Heckmondwike in
West Yorkshire accounts for a fifth of the top
historys fastest Popemobile.
IMAGES:GET T Y

20 practical test repeaters, so if youre in the

area and spot L-plates, consider heading for
the county border as quickly as possible.

064 AUGUST 2016 J TOPGEAR.COM

CASTROL EDGE SUPERCAR.

TESTED IN SUPERCARS.
ENGINEERED FOR YOU.
TITANIUM STRONG FOR
MAXIMUM PERFORMANCE.

Boosted with TITANIUM FST, Castrol EDGE is our strongest and most
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strength*, preventing oil flm breakdown and reducing friction.

At the forefront of the Castrol EDGE range is Castrol EDGE SUPERCAR,

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Tribological tests have shown that Castrol EDGE boosted with TITANIUM FST doubles its flm strength.
*

www.castrol.com
 ts a multi-million-dollar scientifc

I
expedition vehicle built by the former
The tractor unit Motive power comes
president of Walt Disneys Imagineering
is a Unimog with from a six-cylinder,

MY OTHER
division. His name is Bran Ferren a stretched and 260bhp diesel
engineer, technologist, vehicle designer, visual-efects strengthened chassis. engine with 700lb ft
artist, scientist, inventor, and father to seven-year-old Instead of shocks and torque. Theres a
springs, it has a 25kW (32bhp) diesel

CAR IS...
Kira, who gives her name to the truck. But it isnt just
computer-controlled generator to power
named after her, its been built for her. So, on the one nitrogen-over-oil the trailers tech and
hand its the ultimate family camper, with two bedrooms suspension system electrical systems
including a pop-up penthouse, a kitchen and high-speed
broadband. On the other, it can be used for movie-
The Applied location scouting, geological surveys, archeological
digs, mapping and remote exploration. How remote? Its
Minds KiraVan 650-litre fuel tanks hold enough gas for 2,000-mile trips.
The tractor unit, a modifed Unimog, has permanent
Satellite comms
provides wireless
broadband with
Long-range optics
include infrared and
night-vision cameras
A GO-ANYWHERE UNIMOG four-wheel drive, and the trailers rear axle can also be 10Mbps download on telescopic masts
FOR THE ULTIMATE engaged for six-wheel drive up to 25mph if the going gets speeds, which works with pneumatic
almost anywhere on servos. In the cockpit
CAMPING TRIP really tough. So its safe to say it can venture further into
Earth. As a back-up, there are 11 control
the wilderness than most articulated lorries. Especially theres an antenna screens, six of them
those commanded by a seven-year-old child. for VHF or UHF radio touch-sensitive

Cant be easy to keep

NEWS IN BRIEF clean, but think of
the possibilities...

OFF TO THE
SYSAUSTR ALIA

Daihatsu has 2017. The plastic Pity they dont do

partnered up with parts, which are only full body panels

PRINTERS
3D-printing company for the roadsters (yet...). Wonder how
DOMINOS

Stratasys to offer bumpers and wings, close a cyclist would

IMAGE: STRATA

textured, so-called come in 15 designs dare to get to a car

TINY ROADSTER GETS skins for the Copen and 10 colours, but covered entirely
IMAGE:

3D-PRINTED SKINS Kei car, beginning in can be customised. in spikes?

066 AUGUST 2016 J TOPGEAR.COM

 THE CAR: HONDA EV CONCEPT
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ITS THE WORLDS MOST FEARSOME HILLCLIMB

068 AUGUST 2016 J TOPGEAR.COM

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 THE TOPGEAR TOP 9
Lego car kits
WE LOVE CARS. WE LOVE LEGO. SO AS FAR AS PLAYTIME
GOES, THIS LOT IS ABOUT AS GOOD AS IT GETS

VOLKSWAGEN BEETLE GHOSTBUSTERS ECTO-1 24-HOUR RACE CAR

BLACK CHAMPION RACER PORSCHE 917K & 919 PITLANE BACK TO THE FUTURE DeLOREAN
IMAGE S: 2016 THE LEGO GROUP. USED WITH PERMISSION

FERRARI F40 BATMAN vs RIDDLER CHASE HIGHWAY SPEEDSTER

TOPGEAR.COM J AUGUST 2016 071

 A DAY IN
THE LIFE OF...
...Mark Webber
AUSSIE LEGEND RECALLS HIS
LE MANS 24HRS RACE DAY. BONZA

START
06:55
Get up. Quick shower, get dressed
and drive to the track with Timo
[Bernhard] and Brendon [Hartley].
08:00
Catch up with engineers to talk through
the warm-up session ahead and preview
the race.
08:30
Breakfast: scrambled eggs and sausages
fuel for race day!
09:00
Timo and Brendon are in the car for
the 45-minute warm-up session on race
day. Im watching from the garage and
listening to the radio conversation with
the engineers.
09:55
Last meetings before the race kicks of
later in the afternoon.
11:30
Check in with the family. My partner,
parents and a few good mates have come
to support me, so I pop down to the
motorhome to say hello and catch up.
12:35
Ofcial photo with all drivers.
13:30
I make my way to the grid for the ofcial
starting ceremony.
15:00
Race start. My teammate Timo is in
frst, which means I have a bit more time
until my frst stint later in the evening.
Ive got a few hours until Im in the car,
so I try to relax, keep well hydrated and
on top of my meals. You dont want to
have huge portions but keep chipping
away on food.
16:30
Time to prepare for work. I warm up
the muscles, stretch and get a massage.
Because we are in the same position
in the car for quite a while, stretching
the lower back and especially the
hamstrings is important. Well ahead
of my stint, Im in the garage listening
to the radio and talking to the engineers.
When the car is running, you want to
listen to your teammates and engineers
to see how the health of the car is going.
Also the drivers start feeding back
information to me. Now is also the time
for any last-minute toilet breaks.
18:25
I take over in the car from Brendon
and hand over to Timo at 20:45. After
my stint, I want to get fuid into my
stomach as quickly as possible and then
try to pass it. The last thing I want to do
is leave the hydration too late, because
then I might need to go to the toilet at
the wrong time, or feel dodgy in the car.
I get a dry set of freproof underwear
and a dry suit on and have a load of pasta
with chicken.
21:30
Meet and greet over the course of the
weekend, Porsche hosts lots of guests
and partners, and I pop by to update
them on the progress of the race and
ofer some insights.
22:25
Time to rest. Im on the back of the cycle
with one of my teammates in the car,
and the other one waiting to go next, so
I have a chance to relax. Ill be in my
private room laying on my bed with a
headset on, no car noise, no radio from
the engineers because that can be
draining, and I try to switch of as much
as I can and have a nano nap.
23:45
I get woken by my teammate Timo. Our
car has hit some technical issues and is
in the box for repairs, which means my
next scheduled stint has been blown out
and I have a bit longer to rest. Its hard to
completely switch of, as the adrenaline
is still pumping, but its good to lie down
and try to relax.
Ill have some light dinner, some more
02:30
Time to get back into work mode again,
warm up and stretch and go into the
garage to get up to speed with where
we are.
04:13
I take over the car from Brendon and
hand over to Timo a little over two
hours later.
06:30
I have a massage after my second stint
to loosen up the muscles and grab
breakfast: cereal and fruit.
08:45
Another meet and greet with the
Porsche guests.
11:20
I take over the car from Brendon for
my last stint of the day.
13:40
I stop at the garage, and the car gets
pushed in for some checks. Timo takes
over. I go and have a cold shower, get
changed and have a little snack and
plenty of fuids.
14:15
I go over to the team in the garage to
watch the last few laps from there, and it
couldnt have been a more dramatic end,
with Toyota hitting trouble on the last
lap and our sister car grabbing the win.
15:03
I and a few other guys from our team
walk over to the Toyota garage to pay
our respects to the guys. Weve had a
great battle with them over the 24 hours.
What happened to them is really hard to
take, and you have to feel for them.
15:15
We are under the podium and
congratulate our sister car on the win
among tens of thousands of fans. Once
the dust settles and the guys come back
from the podium we have our team
photo in front of the garage.
16:15
I catch up with my family in the
hospitality and have a cold beer. Im also
craving sugar, so Im having chocolates
and other sugary sweets. After being
awake for 30+ hours, your body is in
a bizarre situation and your eating
schedule has been all over the place.
dessert and chat to the team.
19:00
Back to my motorhome to put my feet
up and chill out. Its been a very long
day, and tiredness kicks in.
20:30
Lights out and catch up on sleep.
END
TOPGEAR.COM J AUGUST 2016 0 73
 BLUE MICROPHONES LOLA HEADPHONES
Many headphone reviews concentrate, quite
reasonably, on the quality of the sound being
poured into your ear holes. That, of course, is why
you strap a couple of small, noisy bins onto your
head in the first place. And in that respect, these
Blue Mic Lola cans do an admirable job, provided
you dont mind looking like the bloke who waves
Gadgets ping-pong bats in front of planes at the airport.

Cans
The most interesting thing about them, though,
is the headband. Usually these things are spring-
loaded and pinch your head like a vice. These,

that can
however, are inspired by the wishbone-style
suspension of F1 cars, meaning theyre more
adaptable, more flexible, and therefore help to
form a tighter seal around your ear, resulting in
HEADPHONES TO MAKE YOU less sound bleed. They also have adaptive ride
DREAM OF FORMULA ONE height the pivoting arms help the cups float
into place and move with you, rather than being
clamped into one position. 219.99; amazon.co.uk

TOPGEAR.COM J AUGUST 2016 075

 SUMMER SALE
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 Style

Weekend
warrior
NEW KIT FOR A QUICK TRIP

01 Barbour International Hawk shirt. Its the time of

year when Barbour backs off the heavy waxed
jackets and gives us stuff like this lightweight,
slim-fit shirt. 69.95; barbour.com 02 Ted Baker
Romea. It may look like an over-the-shoulder
holdall, but its bigger than that. More like a
decent-sized suitcase, hence the roller wheels and
telescopic handle at one end. 225; tedbaker.com
03 Tomas Maier TM9 Classic aviators with
tortoiseshell acetate and stainless steel frames.
Theyre made in Italy and also come in a greeny-
grey sort of colour. $290; tomasmaier.com 04 Green
chino shorts. Among the things fashion people like
right now are chino shorts and the colour green. So
you can see why theyd approve of these. 22;
topman.com 05 Vans Vault Buffalo Trail. The Vans
Vault pulls designs from the archive and gives them
a modern refresh. These are a reimagination of
some retro runners, designed in collaboration with
Japanese artist Taka Hayashi. 169; endclothing.com

TOPGEAR.COM J AUGUST 2016 077

PRECISELY
YOUR
MOMENT
DS ACTION
WWW.CERTINA.COM
 Watches

Keeping
time
THE WATCHES WE WANT
THIS MONTH

VICTORINOX
INOX PARACORD
We already know the Inox can survive being run
over by a 64-tonne tank, but heres a brand-new
and even more macho version, with a strap made
from the stuff they use for parachute suspension
lines. The strands can be unravelled to form a
fishing net, replace a shoelace, make a bow-drill
for starting fires, or because it has a snapping
point of 250kg it could even be used as an abseil
rope. Or maybe even to tow a [very] small vehicle.
If it were any manlier it would have a hairy case
and a tendency to supress its emotions until one
day its found crying behind some bins after a
disastrous camping trip. 459; victorinox.com

O U R
TO P
P I C K

TOPGEAR.COM J AUGUST 2016 0 79

 tell you the most critical thing is proportion. Some
estates might indeed have a slightly tapered tail end, H O R R E LL
but only in a proportion thats a gross misrepresentation
vs
of any sports car Ive ever seen. The only way their
so-called coupe-like roofine could be taken for the I NTE R N E T
roofine of an actual coupe is if viewed through the
bottom of a beer glass. After a very long night.
And I say this as a person who loves fast estates.
Why not just enjoy them for what they are instead of
trying to pretend theyre what theyre not? Audi RS6?
Not a sports car. Saloons and coupe-SUV contraptions
REVIEW:
must also be denied AMG C63? Not a sports car. Mini The Abarth
Paceman JCW? Not a sports car. 124 Spider
And Im not prepared to make the netting any coarser
just to grant an exemption to hot hatches. They too must
PAUL HORRELL ON be fltered out. Even the sainted Golf R is still not a sports CPOKashue
My problem is
car. We all know it in our hearts, boys and girls. Its a

Adhering
that this is very
fve-seat hatchback thats been given power and made close to Lotus
to drive brilliantly. Its faster than many sports cars, Elise and Golf R
but speed isnt the qualifcation. money, and you

to type... All this mislabelling is no surprise. What sort of seem to mostly

be paying for
clothing sells best? Sportswear. People who get out of
a half-effort at
breath reaching for their half-pounder and fries from gussying up what
IS IT SPORTY OR JUST SPORTY- the drive-thru window do it in tracksuits and trainers. is still the inside
LOOKING? JUST ASK HIPSTERS This isnt just because they identify with actual sports of a Miata.
superstars (whose honed bodies can only be derived
from abstaining from the drive-thru). Its also because Paul Horrell
a tracksuit stretches softly to cover the fab. Different car
from the Elise.
ushy beard, tweed jacket, sleeve of tattoos. Which illuminates why so many cars pretend to be
You can hear

B
Steel-framed single-speed bike, even a sports cars and so few are. People like the concept of the radio for a
fxie, but defnitely no drops. Freelance, sportiness, but not the reality. Sports cars are far less start. Ive lived
working in new media. Lunch involving accommodating and comfy than sportswear. Theyre with the Elise, and
it demands some
quinoa from a street-food pop-up. It doesnt take much of cramped and noisy. Even mainstream ones like MX-5s
pretty stringent
an anthropologist to identify the tribe that congregates compromises in

People like the concept of

just down the road from where I live. Shoreditch High everyday usability
Street is the UKs centre of gravity for the hipsters. and long-distance
Seriously, these people are so thick on the ground you comfort/noise.
couldnt spill a single-estate artisan-roast fat white
without staining some app developers canvas iPad sleeve. sportiness, but not the reality. The Golf R is
definitely faster
but isnt pure

Sports cars are cramped

But guess what? None of them would actually
self-identify as such. They adhere to all the tropes, but
they think it was all their own creative brilliance that put
the look together: I am an individual; they are hipsters.
The exact opposite is true of sports cars. The roads
are jammed with things that identify themselves as a
sports car, but very few actually are. Delusion is rife.
Fast cars are common. So are cars with a more-or-less
sloping roof, or even a folding one. Red brake calipers are
all around us. But none of these characteristics, in and of
itself, doth a sports car make.
Here is a statement with which I cannot disagree.
You cannot build a sports car without enthusiasm.
Thats from Porsche, a company that should know. But I
do take issue, strongly, with Porsches application of the
idea. That quote comes in the companys website section
on the Cayenne Turbo S. Oh, sure, its quick around the
Nordschleife and, yes, its fun in certain circs. But it isnt a
sports car because it was built to be an SUV and developed
to be sporty. And it weighs two-and-a-third tonnes.
You seldom meet the designer of an estate car without
being told its got a coupe-like profle. Which is a bit
ridiculous really, given designers, in the next breath,
rear-drive, is
(and feels) a
lot heavier than
the Abarth, and
your neighbours
might think youve
and Boxsters. Hardly surprising most people simply wont got a 1.6 TDI
put up with them. So they sell in small numbers, leaving BlueMotion.
most manufacturers unable to make a proft on them.
Its easier and more proftable to sportify the You can find Horrell
mainstream cars. To pick and choose a limited range of most days overseeing
sports-car characteristics and smear them onto an estate the TopGear.com
comments section
or hatch or SUV. The result is often extremely satisfying,
as with the cars I named above (alright, not the Paceman).
Being a sports car should be like being a hipster: dont
pretend to be in the tribe unless
absolutely sure. I often ride a bike.
I sometimes eat at joints that call
themselves bar and kitchen rather
than restaurant. I work in the
media. I am very fussy about my
cofee. I share this limited array of
characteristics with the hipsters,
but I dont call myself one.

TOPGEAR.COM J AUGUST 2016 081

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 AVA I L A B L E I N
S E L EC T E D R E TA I L E R S
 M A C H I N E S

Its not about power, speed or expense...

its about what puts the biggest smile on your face
WO R DS: RO RY R EID, O LLIE MAR R IAGE, O LLIE KE W, PAUL H O R R ELL ,
ROWAN H O R N C A STLE, TO M FO R D, JACK R IX / COVER IMAGE: J O H N W YCH ER LE Y

TOPGEAR.COM J AUGUST 2016 085

 M A C H I N E S

A few months back, Rowan Horncastle and I were

driving around Europe. Italy was zipping past when the
conversation threw up a very raw, simple question: what
makes cars fun? We started riffing on it: steering feel is
fun, noise is fun, road trips are fun, off-roading is fun...
Before we knew it, Bolzano had become Milan and his
Notes app had a list that required much scrolling.
Wed headed down a few cul-de-sacs (Can a seat
be fun? Are tyres fun? What about if theyre skinny?),
but we had the germ of an idea. When we got back
to the office, we opened it up to the floor. Discussions
were had; arms were waved. The list grew mightily.
Ruthless culling brought it back to a manageable size.
The categories fell into rough groupings: engines,
components, emotional appeal, stealth, utility,
cleverness and hoots. There wasnt much science
behind it, but this is a test about joy, and joy isnt
scientific. Nor is this test designed to be definitive.
We werent even going to pick a winner until we all
started banging on about the same car

08 6 AUGUST 2016 J TOPGEAR.COM

The first task was to choose cars to fill each
of our categories. We did this by a democratic
voting process during which no one exited the
building from the third floor. Well done us.
However, we did do it in secret to prevent
arm-twisting from the seniors
On the whole, it was remarkable how much
we agreed, which made the final car choices
relatively simple. Ill gloss over the fact no one
agreed with me that the VW Caravelle was a
better active lifestyle bet than a Land Rover
Discovery. Wont even mention it.
Anyway, we then handed each group of
cars over to a writer to try to analyse what
makes them fun. So welcome to TopGears
Guide to Joy. Enjoy the chaos that follows.
Jo The
M A C H I N E S
issue
Noise

Acceleration

Daftness
 Us Brits arent meant to show our feelings. Try telling
that to Rory when he gets let loose at Dunsfold...
Wind in the hair

WO R DS: RO RY R EID / PH OTO GR APHY: MAR K FAGEL SO N

ou can keep power. Shove torque up
your jacksie, for all I care. What counts
for me is the raw emotion that a car drags
out of you. Yes, performance numbers
play a part in eliciting some emotional response.
Brake horsepower, pounds feet and the confguration
of the cylinders in an engine are useful theoretical
metrics that indicate whether a car might be
interesting in some way, but the ultimate benchmark
surely has to be a drivers empathic response to a car.
The Range Rover Sport SVR grabs you by the feels
every time, thanks to one brutal addition: it has an
exhaust note that sounds like Brian Blessed stepped
on a piece of Lego.
Its this noise, allied to the sheer size of the Range
Rover Sport SVR that means driving it is such an
emotive experience. The lofty driving position makes me
feel as if Im perched on the very roof of the thing, like
Ive climbed atop my own mobile Everest and proclaimed
whatever road Im on as my own. I wrestle with its heavy
steering wheel, feeling as though Im merely along for
the ride. I feel and this is no exaggeration as if Im
riding on the back of a particularly ill-tempered T-Rex.
Push the throttle and, sure, the SVR shows a
staggering turn of pace enough to see of many a
 1 2

Posing

5 6 7
sports car. But its a diferent party trick that
stimulates me. Im loathe to admit it, but cruising
past a group of pedestrians in frst or second gear,
lifting of the throttle and causing an almighty bang
from the exhaust gets me of. Watching pensioners,
children and pets jump six feet in the air on the
whim of my right foot is a temptation often too
great to resist. The SVR, it would seem, makes
it all too easy to channel your inner douchebag.
The Ariel Atom stirs very diferent emotions: fear,
primarily. Actually, its more a cocktail of terror and
bewilderment. With a shot of awe. The sensations
triggered by a full-bore blast down a long straight in
an Atom are unlike any Ive ever experienced.
I remember popping my Atom cherry like it was
yesterday. I strap in, raise the revs, dump the clutch
and immediately feel as if gravitys gone violently
horizontal. Im pretty sure Ive swallowed my tongue,
but I have enough wits about me to grab second gear
and keep my foot in. I cant make out much of an
exhaust sound. Instead, proceedings are dominated
by a loud, high-pitched, supercharger whine that
crescendos from the roll hoop above my left ear.
It sounds like a deranged Dyson hand dryer.
By the time the cars ready for third gear, I can
barely process the world around me. My brain feels
like a pocket calculator trying to run an Xbox One
game. I cant see the road ahead. My eyes work just
fne, its just that my brain isnt fast enough to
process the events around me. Humans werent
designed to accelerate this fast. Its terrifying.
Thats not the only emotion the Atom rips out
of you. Eventually youll feel massive frustration
frustration youre not as good a driver as you thought
you were. Once you get used to the savage straight-
line speed, youll encounter a corner. Youll try to
carry some velocity through the bend and youll spin.
Youll try again, this time throwing in massive
amounts of opposite lock with the power on, but,
again, youll spin. This process will repeat until you
realise you are not a driving god not in an Atom. Its
sticky rubber and short wheelbase mean that, unless
youre Jenson Button, youre mostly just along for the
ride. Eventually, youll feel a grudging respect for the
thing... and a sense that its defeated you.
If you prefer your emotional engagement to be
a little less frightening, there is no better antidote to
the Atom than to enter a Rolls-Royce Dawn. If driving
the Atom is the equivalent of being pushed of a clif,
driving the Dawn is analogous with being given a
massage every time you slide inside it.
Youve probably heard countless stories about
how comfortable Rolls-Royces are. Those stories
are accurate. But what you may not appreciate is
how they make you feel. Youll be happy at frst
overjoyed, in fact. But then, as the scope of this
cars magnifcence permeates your brain, youll
begin to feel an abject sadness.
Youll realise that (unless youre flthy rich)
you may never drive one again, let alone own one.
Youll feel the efortless pull of its whisper-quiet
engine, the inch-thick lambswool rug between your
toes, the softness of the leather against your thighs
and youll marvel at the peacefulness that comes
from the double-glazed windows. Then youll
realise (certainly in my case) youre going to
have to give this back and return to your 1-Series.
I panic. How in the name of all that is civilised
will I tolerate normal levels of road noise? Ill have
to slow for speed bumps. Life is basically over.
Hell, even if I robbed a bank and raised the
bonkers cash required to join the Rolls-Royce
owners club, theres a good chance everybody
would hate me for it.
Then, surrounded by silence and luxury
the like of which most mortals will never
experience, youll weep big, fat tears.
Of course, not all cars evoke the same reaction in
all people. Case in point: The Mazda MX-5. Many
petrolheads have loved that thing for decades, and
the new model is the best example yet. Me? Im not
fussed, no matter how good theyre supposed to be
on paper. Yes, they follow a marvellous blueprint;
rear-drive, open-top, low price, but I wont be buying.
Why does it roll about so much in the corners?
Why do I have to operate the convertible roof
manually? Everyone else may love this back-to-
basics, wind-in-the-hair simplicity, but I like my
cars with a backbone, an attitude. I want to step
inside and feel something, anything. When I hop
into an MX-5, Im oddly numb. Sure it does slides,
yes its visually acceptable (in a pouty, slightly
androgynous sort of way), but its all slightly
characterless, especially in this company.
I want a car that makes me feel good. Or bad.
Or like a complete cock. Thats why I want a Pocket
Classic. I think. True, once wedged in I needed
assistance to get out and had to spend the next 10
minutes nursing circulation into my legs, but slicing
around Dunsfold in the Cobra and JPS Lotus was,
if nothing else, memorably hilarious.
It fed my emotions, as did the Range Rover, Atom
and Dawn. All in diferent ways, but all sharing a
common trait: all of them in their own unique
way make me feel completely alive.
 d
irate
ly asp
tural
Na

The
J
M
o A
C
H
I
N
E
S

ed
charg
p or
rbo a s
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o d, rged
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Tu erch ne is ard?
sup ich o forw L / E L S O N
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the R D S: PARUA PH Y:
M

O G
W OTO
P H

reat engines are fun we know
that. But its a diferent kind of fun
depending on the means by which
air enters the cylinders, whether
drawn in by the pistons or encouraged by
turbos or mechanical supercharging.
The Hellcats supercharged urge is the gift
that keeps on giving. At low revs, its urgent but
usable because you get just what you expect
when you expect it. No ifs or buts or delays. And
so it goes, all the way to the red line. I slapped
against the racks end stop while opposite-
locking my way around the Hammerhead.
With the traction control turned on. A slightly
unseemly supercharger scream accompanies
the big-hearted V8 bubba sound. Which is
ed
harg
rc
pe
Su
appropriate, as supercharging feels like always-
on free additional displacement. And remember
the Hellcat has 6.2 litres to begin with.
The Audi R8 Plus and Porsche 911
Turbo S, representing natural aspiration and
turbocharging, are natural supercar rivals.
Around a Dunsfold lap, theyre evenly matched in
the deliverables. Using the gears like a racer, you
keep both in their highest-rev regimens. Then the
Porsches response is immediate and its chase for
its red line just as quick-witted as the Audis.
The R8s 10-part chorus is a Glasto headliner
in its 8,700rpm pomp. And the way it chases
there, seemingly more virile with every increment
the needle sweeps past, is hypnotic. At low revs,
the noise is gorgeous too, and the response is
immediate, precise and progressive. But you
have to satisfy yourself with that, because actual
low-rev performance is limited: at 2,000rpm, its
torque is a bit over half what the Turbo S musters.
The Turbo Ss fat-out engine noise has
no answer for the R8s clarion call, and at low
revs its drowned by treacherous tyre noise.
But foor it, even down at 2,000rpm, and the
Turbo S serves up a brain-addling acceleration
trace. First is lag: bittersweet anticipation, the
tease of a wait. Until deliriously abundant
satiation in the full-boost torrent that follows.
So great engines can come from any of our
three starting points. What matters is execution
not induction. Lets induct these three into the
hall of fun fame.
TOPGEAR.COM J AW
UGAR
UDST
S 2016 093
 Jo The
M A C H I N E S
issue

Commercial

Utility
Could it be that fitness for purpose is the most
fun attribute of all? Bring on the tough stuff
WO R DS: ROWAN H O R N C A STLE / PH OTO GR APHY: J O H N W YCH ER LE Y

09 4 AUGUST 2016 J TOPGEAR.COM

 Off-road
urry hooks and getting two
C
six-footers behind each other.
Popular buzzwords in adenoidal
practicality tests but defnitely
not what this exercise is about.
Even though I can confrm 1,260 litres
of Discovery boot is more than enough to
happily drift a Crazy Cart while moving
at 30mph, Im not here to be a fun sponge.
What Ive brought along are bastions of
utilitarianism, intravenous lines to fun
and go-anywhere giggles.
See, a truly utilitarian car one that
dispenses with styling fimfam and
overwrought luxury in favour of proper
function can be as, if not more, joyous than
trying to rip your face of with downforce.
Its a disparate group, Ill give you that.
But a rear-wheel-drive Ariel, portal-axled
Unimog, mostly front-drive 10,000 Eastern
European SUV and a seven-seat schoolrun
favourite can all serve up a hefty smile.
First, we need to go back to the basics.
And it doesnt get more basic than the
humble Dacia Duster. Out of the three
million quids worth of cars present, its
the cheapest. Even more afordable than
Rorys Oompa Loompa Formula One car.
Yet it charms you into a grin by being a
modern day donkey.
With a 1.6-litre engine and part-time
4WD, it isnt interested in impressing you
with petty frivolities and tech. Its all about
bare-bones honesty. Its unwittingly dogged
constantly toiling to get you to your
destination, no matter the conditions.
In base spec, it doesnt even come with a
radio. But that doesnt matter; it has four
wheels and afords you the greatest option of
all: freedom. But with something so honest,
competent and rational, you fnd yourself
doing utterly irrational things. Like tugging
the handbrake around Chicago, or seeing how
fast you can take Second-To-Last.
But, if you want to take your smiles
further afeld, the Discovery is what you need.
Like the Dacia, its magnanimous. Not as
ostentatious as a Range Rover, but capable
of providing comfort in inhospitable parts of
the world while never looking out of place.
Lifestyle
Mechanicals designed to cross the Darin
Gap provide complete reassurance. Plus, for
little ones, the Discos capacious cabin is a
portal for their imagination to run wild.
Yet, there are some vehicles that can
magically warp your age, shrinking you into
being a kid again. Things like the Universal-
Motor-Gert, or Unimog to you and me.
Its a tractor-cum-pickup-cum-sports-lorry.
A four-wheeled, ladder-framed mannequin that
can be dressed up in all kinds of pragmatic
clobber. From frefghters to the Special Forces,
for the last 60 years, Mercs Unimog has been
modifed in every which way to turn even the
most restrained adult into a giddy child. You
can even option it to be a train, for pitys sake.
The proportions alone make you feel
infantile. As its nearly 10 feet tall, you
have to climb hand over hand into the cabin
before hopping into the overly sprung seat.
Its a simple cabin, primarily because it can
be changed from left- to right-hand drive on
a whim. But most excitingly has a ball
knob steering wheel to wind in and out
monstrous amounts of steering lock.
TOPGEAR.COM J AUGUST 2016 095

Firing the 286bhp straight-six diesel into
life, you worry that its not enough grunt to
get the goliath rolling. But with the release of
the satisfyingly stubby nub of a handbrake, a prod
of the accelerator (coughing a hefty black plume
out of the vertical stack exhaust), the masses of
torque (811lb ft) shunt, hop and jiggle the Mog
into movement before munching through the
gears. All 16 of them.
And, with a wading depth of 1.2 metres,
onboard tyre pressurisation and enough ground
clearance to avoid any airfeld furniture; you can
maraud around with utter indestructibility. But
that gearing perfect for scaling some sort of wall
or wilderness is too short for our big, fat circuit,
topping out at just over 50mph.
Enter the Ariel Nomad. A bright orange
Honey I Blew Up The Tamiya Truck for the
streets. Its a concept that might have come from
a brain overly lubricated with Somerset cider,
but executed so well it tugs at both your head
and heart in equal measure.
Practical, it is not. To get into the drivers seat
requires crawling through a lattice. Yet there are
so many diferent ways to do so it simply becomes
a climbing frame. This, like the Unimog, rekindles
childlike touchpoints of enjoyment. Plus, it drives
over the landscape with wanton abandonment just
like the toy car you pushed around the kitchen and
Euro NCAP tested against the skirting board.
With a supercharged 2.4-litre Honda
four-cylinder, it can hang with Mr
Marriages lightweights. But with hlins
dampers and diferent favours of tyres on
ofer, you can do that anywhere. But its
certainly not Baja or bust, as the Nomad
behaves hilariously well on track.
With soft suspension, each
extremity protrudes and splays out
096 AUGUST 2016 J TOPGEAR.COM
4WD
reaching
for grip while
providing visual
entertainment. However, its not wayward.
Once you get used to the initial roll, its perfectly
controllable, and, with plenty of power available,
adjustable on the throttle.
Unlike lots of cars that have to be driven
at a gazillion miles an hour to evoke emotion,
the Nomad difers especially of-road. In a
decision that is simultaneously a brilliant idea
and horrendous mistake, I decide to test the
Nomads of-roadness in the muddy badlands
of Dunsfold. Problem is, theyre waterlogged.
With one turn of the wheel, half of Surreys
claggy, wet and stony base layer is seemingly
stufed into a BF Goodrich musket and fred
straight into my face. But I dont care. My teeth,
ears and eyes are full of gloopy brown mud while
the plastic seat is brimmed with so much water
it may as well be a bidet.
Five minutes later when happiness normally
subsides I still dont care. The ability to attack
corners, jumps, holes and water splashes taps
into driving pleasures rarely seen on tarmac.
I quickly realise the Nomad has so many
tasty ingredients all compressed into one
object. A great manual gearbox, the ability
to skid, perfect pedal weights the list goes
on and on and on.
Theres no doubt in my mind that its
the most entertaining four-wheeled
driving instrument on the planet.
Its an utterly mad gem that moves
you in a way other cars simply cant.
But with sludgy sediment cementing
my tear ducts shut, I couldnt cry if
I wanted to. But if I could, they
would be tears of joy.
 Jo The
M A C H I N E S
You want to have fun, yes? Then its
time to unleash your inner tyke and
engage in disorderly conduct
WORDS: TOM FORD / PHOTOGR APHY: JOHN W YCHERLEY
Mustang helpfully has a
burnout mode. But we
prefer the old-school way...
Burnouts
kydiving or crochet? A gentle ramble
across the Yorkshire Dales or a
masochistic 20-mile obstacle course
flled with the dubious promise of
mud in your unmentionables? Bridge club or
superclub? Its virtually impossible to defne fun
in any meaningful way, simply because we all have
diferent versions of the recipe. But when it comes
to fun in cars, I defy you to be able to ignore a
little bit of light hooliganism. Because stupid and
unproductive has been fun since man frst told
jokes about mammoth trunks. Pointlessness is
fun. You can intellectualise it, give it meaningful
weight and psychological purpose, but if it makes
you happy, then thats the defnition. And some
of us arent all that intellectual.
Well start small, with a Crazy Cart. Because
drifting an electrically motorised tray around an
ofce/airfeld/living room is so deeply amusing,
you almost forget about the potential for broken
ankles. Theres no way it can be taken seriously,
what with the hunched posture (we accidentally
acquired the child-sized model), desperate
TOPGEAR.COM J AW
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grimace mostly when you realise there arent It is not, however, my favourite type of
Off-road mayhem
any brakes and sheer, childlike joy on the face pointlessness. Because that would be a speciality
of middle-aged men when they frst manage a of mine: the humble burnout. Originally intended
semi-controlled slide on a 400 kids toy. Even if by drag racers to warm and clean tyres, the static
it is eye-wateringly close to ending in the side of a spinning and production of as much smoke as
Porsche 911 Turbo S. This is a distillation of fun possible has become a classic class-leader in fun.
no megabucks, no pretension. No slight fear The aim is simple: stay still and torch the tyres.
that if you get it wrong, youll be picking bits of Bystanders will therefore know that you have a)
150k supercar out of your forehead. Just smiling copious amounts of power and b) the appropriate
and glory bruises. Make sense? Of course it does. disregard for being a trailer queen.
Ably demonstrated by the fact several hardened Of course, in the way of things, the new Ford
100mph slide-merchants were more than happy Mustang has an electronic function that allows
to give up their M3s to prat about in the Cart. perfect line-locked burnouts, but to be honest, its
We need to talk about the M3 actually. Its rubbish because it doesnt allow you to calmly
not the car I voted for as the best for sustained edge forward and release the tyre-slaying.
slidiness. Too spiky, too hairy. But then even in Better to go old-school, and simply switch of the
something friendlier the C63 Coupe occupies traction control, dial up the revs, smartly pop the
my thoughts drifting isnt easy. It causes brows clutch and then roll onto the brake, modulating
to furrow as you juggle the confusion of steering middle pedal and throttle to give the perfect
wheel and pedals. bonfre. Unless you are about to race, it serves
So how about some unproductive tomfoolery no purpose other than childish chest-beating.
in the TG Rallycross Mini? Again, were talking Showing of with extra noise, and smoke and
about the kind of car control that serves very drama. Do it wrong, and you look stupid. Do
little purpose until you graduate to committed it right, and you laugh like a mad person. Its
rallyist, but seems to amuse beyond all pointless. Its perfect. Its undeniably the best
expectation: handbrake turns, reverse-fick kind of fun. Whatever your defnition.
J-turns, handbrake drifts that mean you enter a
corner in a FWD car backwards. Its not big, and
its not clever, but theres a reason why it amuses
teenage drivers across the world: theres a tiny bit
of you that imagines you have godlike skills, even
if it is in a car park in Birmingham. The risk
factor is relatively low, and the truth is it never
stops being funny. OK, so the handbrake in the
TG Mini is sticky and doesnt lock like a
hydraulic handbrake, and the car itself is
lightly uncoiled to cope with the vagaries
of celebrity drivers skill sets, but the
chuckles keep coming when youve been
tasked with spending half an hour
getting a small hatchback as out of shape
as possible using nothing but ingenuity and
physics. Its a 3D stressball for petrolheads.
Similarly, of-road mayhem might be
Go and be stupid for half
considered one of the less erudite forms of an hour we said. And he
expression when it comes to car stuf, but took us at our word...
theres a deep and wide nerve that connects the
controlled chaos that comes with driving a car
very quickly of-road and your brains laughter
functions. For that, you might pick something
like the Bowler Defender. A supercharged Jaguar
V6 lifted from the F-Type, eight-speed auto and
a noise like a large storm contained in a small tin
shed, the Bowler demonstrates more than you
might think possible how much fun charging
about of-road can be. The car is remarkably stif
race regulations mean a dearth of suspension
travel and the experience is desperately
physical, but the Bowler feels as if you could nuke
it from orbit and itd still come crashing out of
the mushroom cloud bellowing like a wounded
bull. It fies with the grace of a small block of Handbrake turns
fats, but a proper rally-spec of-roader gives you
the kind of options that fragile, paltry, meek road
cars cannot manage. Its defnitely fun. In fact,
almost defnitively.
 This is a
distillatio of fun
no megabucks,
Engage Drive and just keep
going. The Bowler stops for
neither man nor geography
no pretensio

Skids

Smaller skids

Yes. It is fun to drive the

Mustang. But it is more fun
to do burnouts in it. Fact

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 Q car

Hot hatch

Pocket rocket

Stealth Posing is for wannabees and losers.

Whats really fun is sneaking in under
the radar. In max attack mode...
WO R DS: O LLIE KE W / PH OTO GR APHY: J O H N W YCH ER LE Y

100 AUGUST 2016 J TOPGEAR.COM

Under this bland wrapper
lies mayhem. Rather like
the whole car, then

know. Nitrous Blue is not

I stealthy, so I want you to

imagine a grey Focus RS.
There, much better. That
way the silliness comes as more of a
surprise. Because while I promise myself
Ill leave it in Sport mode, and explore the
basic balance of this heavy 4WD hatch,
concentrate on the nuances of its steering,
brakes and throttle response, really learn
where its limits lie, and oh sod it,
Wave your wheel
whoops, done it again. The nondescript in the air like you
drive mode button has been impatiently just dont care...
jabbed and weve arrived in Drift mode.
Ooh, the Hammerhead. Well, itd be rude
not to, wouldnt it?
Half a turn of lock to the left, on the
brakes. Feel the car arch like an irritated
tabby. Half a turn to the right. Nail the
gas. No need to insert any talent here,
which is just as well. The Focus notes
Im in wally mode, 345bhp arrives at the
tyres, the difs do something clever and
sideways we go. Clearly my input isnt as
sophisticated as the cars, but youd have
to have a demeanour bluer than the
Nitrous bodywork not to fnd this
addictive. And when not at Dunsfold,
its a great hot hatch. The best there is.
Audis S8 Plus has modes to play with
too, but theyre not its genius. Among
these everyday heroes, this was chosen for
its subtlety. This, currently, is the worlds
ultimate Q car. Every diesel barge out
there wears huge wheels and LED lights
these days, so not a soul notices this
597bhp express. A limo with launch
control has to be 2016s biggest
paradox on wheels, but the 3.6-to-
62mph time we recorded is only one
part of the S8s appeal. Team it with
stealth and ability however...
You know the sign: a white circle
with a black slash. That might as well
say initiate launch sequence to the S8
Want the perfect combo Drift mode, eh?
of luxury and outrageous driver. Mash the gas and it teleports you Well need to try that out.
speed? Step this way up the road V8 muted, gearshifts barely Many, many times...

registering, chassis dexterous and able.

No other car combines such punch with
such a lack of fair warning to those about
you. You dont giggle in here, you gufaw.
Those two are superb machines. Both
massage your ego while scrunching your
forehead into a corrugated mess. The
Ford Fiesta ST, meanwhile, is simple, but
simply laugh-out-loud good. No buttons,
no modes. Even a simple run to the
Dunsfold canteen is enough to fall back in
love with this burbling, three-wheeling,
tail-wagging hatchback. Three years on,
its still the best-sounding, best-handling,
most rewarding small fast car on Earth.
No wonder theyre everywhere. Ford still
makes the ultimate everyday hero.

TOPGEAR.COM J AWARDS 2016 1 01


hat do a 300k Roller, a pill-shaped
W diesel hybrid, a pure electric saloon
and an 8k city car have in common?
Nothing. Not a sausage. Yet each
one in turn is triggering the same involuntary
spasms in my cheeks, causing the edges of my
mouth to curl upwards. Most curious.
There can be only one explanation: that joy
neednt necessarily come from cremating a set
of tyres and generally acting like a yob. Theres
pleasure in cleverness, too, in exceptional design
that fts the brief and then some, because when
a set of engineers really put their heads together
something outside of the box often emerges.
And things that are diferent, tend to be fun.
Take the VW Up, probably the least unusual
thing here, but with its three-cylinder engine
thrashing away in front of you, your foot
constantly welded to the bulkhead and enough
bodyroll to take the paint of the doorhandles,
I defy anyone to say its not a hoot. And this is
on an airfeld around town, its better still. Its
nimble because its small, and because its small,
1 02 AUGUST 2016 J TOPGEAR.COM
Smallness
its cheap 8k for a car that looks and feels like
a proper VW? Insert happy face emoji here.
Remove cost from the equation, promote
fuel economy to the top of your list, and the
VW XL1 is what you get a 313mpg monument
to aerodynamics and lightweight materials that
proves even the Germans can get a little crazy
sometimes. It is not fast in fact, Im amazed
68bhp pushing 800kg feels quite this sluggish, and
noisy, but every minute spent in it is an event. It
has gullwing doors, and digital wing mirrors, and
wonderful unassisted steering (wasnt expecting
that), and the world is a better place with it.
Same could be said about the Tesla Model S.
A small start-up company from California has
brought EVs into the limelight in a way no
established manufacturer could, not because
its deploying a particularly unique type of
powertrain, but because its slathered in Silicon
Valley tech, and new-trousers-please fast.
Engage Ludicrous mode, and you can actually
feel the blood being squeezed to the back of
your body, leaving nothing but your colourless,
Hypermiling
gurning face peering out of the windscreen.
Sounds painful, but its utterly addictive.
Mark Higgins he who recently piloted the
Prodrive Time Attack Subaru at an average of
129mph around the Isle of Man TT course
joined us at the track and was only interested in
one car: the Tesla. We gave him a couple of laps in
it he came back grinning like a kid, and enthusing
about the ridiculous performance. Nuf said.
Meanwhile, the Phantom isnt as fast, nimble
or fuel-efcient as the other three, but driving
one or preferably being driven in one is
extraordinary. Steering it through town is like
sailing Abramovichs gin palace down the
Regents Canal, but the ride is so superb and
youre so isolated from the outside world that
its impossible to care about anything going on
in it. And thats what makes the Phantom so, so
special that it cloaks its cleverness in a thick
hide of traditional luxury, so you dont know
exactly why it makes you feel so good every time
you step inside, it just does. The ultimate joy
machine? Of these four, you bet.
Electricity Ride quality

Jo The
M A C H I N E S
issue

Ingenuity comes in many shapes

and sizes. But how much fun is
there to be had in clever design?
WO R DS: JACK R IX / PH OTO GR APHY: ROWAN H O R N C A STLE

TOPGEAR.COM J AUGUST 2016 1 03

 Brakes

Jo The
M A C H I N E S
Gearbox

Is good steering or an amazing set of Steering

brakes enough to give you a stupid
grin... or do you need more?
WORDS: OLLIE MARRIAGE /
PHOTOGR APHY: MARK FAGEL SON

Throttle
 Bring me skinny tyres, bring
me three wheels, I feel the
need for a ginormous grin

n order to make a car move, we have to

operate it with our hands and feet, at
least until autonomous cars get in on
the act. Anyway, we need to move
levers and pedals and wheels the components
that the car is built from.
These move mechanically, and their actions have
the capacity to cause us satisfaction and joy. So we
asked everyone to name the car with their favourite
gearbox, brakes, steering and throttle response, and
because were not completely backward-looking,
to see if they could fnd fun in paddleshifts, skinny
tyres and wings, too.
The results of this were pretty clear a lot of
hardcore sports cars that put the minimum distance
between the action you make and the response from Skinny tyres
the car. I dont think anyone was surprised by this.
Take the Lotus Elise. Im going to start there
because it was the landslide victor in our election for
best steering only two people voted for anything
else. Our votes were dictated by our memories, and
what we all remembered about the Elise is the way the
wheel dances and writhes in your hands, letting you
know precisely what the wheels are up to before
youve put any pressure through the rim.
Yes, in the new Cup 250 its quite weighty at
low speed, and, if Im honest, older, less hardcore,
skinnier-tyred Elises have even more fnesse and
delicacy, but the way the chassis follows the steering
so harmoniously will make you smile.
Now skinny tyres arent just good for undiluted
communication. The low grip levels they ofer make
them accessible fun for all. Many people in the ofce
hold that the best Caterham isnt the 620 featured
here, but the humble three-pot 160. One Caterham
was enough, though, so here its the even skinnier-
tyred Morgan 3Wheeler that delivers our fun.
Watching the wheels dart and skip about, feeling
Peppermint never looked
the grip run out when even the VW Up is still
so fast. Mash the throttle
glued on its line is very amusing. for the full effect
The Caterhams throttle and the GT3
RSs brakes come from the more senior end
of fun. A brush of either pedal is enough to
snap your neck. Actually, so savage is the
Lovely shifter, that
Caterhams throttle that youre almost BAC Mono. Fancy one
nervous of it. The Porsches brakes are more for everyday? Um...
benign. They operate smoothly, but its the feel of
the pedal under your foot thats so special like
youre actually pushing your plimsoll against the disc
itself. Theres so much power in them, so much
precision and response.
A backlash against the GT3 RS caused Porsche to
build the manual-gearbox 911R. That garnered a few
votes, as did the MX-5 and the exposed-linkage Lotus
Exige. All have good shifts, but in the Cayman GT4
moving the lever is only part of the fun the clutch is
perfection, its easy to heel and toe. So you build this
fantastic rapport, savouring the processes, making
unnecessary shifts, just because you can. Paddleshift
A paddleshift doesnt really compare, even when
its the one in the BAC Mono. Now, a good single-

TOPGEAR.COM J AUGUST 2016 1 05

 It loks like an
Wing Impreza thats
snagged a Chassis

kitesufe

BR E AKIN G L AP
R ECO RDS IS F UN

Hone all of your components

to vanishing point and you
might arrive here. Here being
the Prodrive-developed 600bhp
Subaru Impreza that Mark
Higgins used to lap the IoM TT
course near-as-dammit as fast
as those bike-mounted loonies.
If you havent already, watch
the film of his 128.7mph lap.
Its genuinely staggering.
This car is basically evidence
of just how precise your
components can be if they
only have to perform one task
in one situation. Its wonderful
to pore over the detailing,
but actually quite alarming
to drive and, unless your name
is Mark Higgins, fun probably
isnt the right word.

clutch sequential box is a rare thing, and this one is a

peach. The shifts are split-second, the pneumatic
pssst actuation is a real thrill its as good as paddles
get, but its harder to get genuinely excited about it.
Unlike the wing on the back of the Roger Clark
Motorsport Gobstopper II. This isnt a component you
have infuence over, just one you feel the efects of. Is it
fun? Maybe only to look at, like the Impreza underneath
seems to have snagged a kitesurfer, but it does the
business this was fastest up the hill at Goodwood.
You could argue that just one of these facets the
Caymans gearchange, the Elises steering is enough
to make the whole car fun. But look at the bigger
picture: if you care enough to develop crisp throttle
response, chances are you want good brakes. You want
the whole componentry package to be great, surely?
And beyond this, if you care about the components,
chances are youll care about other driver facets the
chassis, engine, driving position, looks. Because if you
sweat the small stuf, the big stuf will follow. Its as
close to a recipe for fun as I can think of.

10 6 AUGUST 2016 J TOPGEAR.COM

 M A C H I N E S

The finalists From 32 down to the final few,

these are Britains most fun cars
WORDS: OLLIE MARRIAGE / PHOTOGR APHY: J O H N W YCH ER LE Y

s we stated at the beginning, we really didnt plan
on having winners from this test. Wed done the
voting up front and ended up at Dunsfold with a
mega bunch of cars, each of which was already a
winner in our eyes. Wed planned to leave it there.
But as day two wore on, there were a few that we kept coming
back to. Not because they were fast, or expensive, or even
because they handled well, but because they delivered on the
most vital and intangible of all criteria they were fun.
Now fun is almost impossible to quantify, but Im going to
attempt to explain it via the medium of a Caterham R620 and
a BAC Mono. You see, for a while I petitioned for the Mono to
be one of our fnalists, but then I realised its more serious-
minded than the Caterham. That its much more expensive,
better built, has a superb central driving position and so
is, for the purposes of this test, irrelevant.
The Caterham is a happier machine, has a puppyish enthusiasm
whether donutting around cones or clipping apices. I mean, its
mad as a box of frogs, has stupid doors and your feet wont ft
in the footwell, but, boy, does it know how to have a good time.
Others followed. The Fiesta ST may ride frmly, but it tingles
with eagerness and this isnt even the new ST200 model. The
MkIII Focus RS is as broad-minded as it is broad-shouldered,
all Jack-the-Lad attitude, a wheeled Saturday night on the town.
And then theres the Porsche Cayman GT4. Underneath the
track-day demeanour lies nothing but pure enthusiasm. A
serious car, but it doesnt take itself too seriously.
And that, we reckon, is the key. These four cars know how
to laugh at themselves. God knows how you give a collection of
mechanical parts a sense of humour, but these four have achieved
it they love driving as much as you do. None, however, has
achieved it as spectacularly as our winner

Ford Porsche Caterham Ford

Focus RS Cayman GT4 R620 Fiesta ST

TOPGEAR.COM J AUGUST 2016 1 07

 M A C H I N E S

Matt LeBlanc uses

a Nomad to evade the
flying motorcycle paps

Ariel Nomad
The winner
WORDS: OLLIE MARRIAGE

t looks ridiculous. It serves precisely no purpose. Its bright

orange. Its an of-roader with open fanks to aid mud ingress
and has only two driven wheels, its a super-fast lightweight
with a winch and light bar. I mean, come on, the Ariel Nomad
is a mishmash, a lash-up, a vanishing point of irrelevance.
And the most fun car that any of us has ever driven.
My favourite moment of this whole test, even more amusing than
watching Paul Horrell donut the Crazy Cart or Charlie Turner attempting
to disembark the Pocket Classic, was seeing the Nomad in the long grass.
It was more dog than car, a Jack Russell with a scent in its nostrils, zapping
back and forth, tongue lolling out, tail waving in the air. Just plain funny.
Driving it, you realise those anthropomorphic habits feed back its like
plugging yourself into a dogs brain. Simple, charming, easily pleased.
Everyone loved it. As our Dunsfold daftness drew to a close, I
conducted a poll, asking everyone to name their top three cars. Everyone
and I really do mean this not only named the Nomad in their list,
but placed it frst. Everyone.
How is this possible? I can only guess, but it seems to me that the Nomad
comes from a diferent mindset to almost every other car. It wasnt built for
a purpose, but rather as an answer to the question Wouldnt it be fun if?
I have no idea what followed on from there, but, wow, am I glad they
followed through with it. It may not be a mindset thatll sell millions of
cars around the world, but we all need more fun in our lives. And as far
as cars go, the utterly joyful Nomad is the best at delivering it.
 Though its only two-wheel-
drive, momentum takes the
Nomad almost anywhere

How it feels to be in the

driving seat. Now imagine
youre really cold and wet

Driving the Nomad makes

you feel young again. And
look a lot younger too

TopGears rally Hyundai

edges past the Nomad.

Thanks go to...
Sam doesnt care

This test wouldnt have been possible without the help of a lot of people:
Jon Chester and Andy Webb from Bowler, Ben Nicolson for letting us
borrow his Unimog, Matt Clark at Roger Clark Motorsport for bringing
Gobstopper II along, Mark Higgins, Richard Thompson from Prodrive,
James Cooper from Pocket Classics, Bell and Colvill for the loan of the
Lotus Elise and Clive Sutton Cars for the Hellcat. Thank you all very much.

TOPGEAR.COM J AWARDS 2016 1 09

AM-RB 001

110 AUGUST 2016 J TOPGEAR.COM

 WO R DS: PAUL H O R R ELL / PH OTO GR APHY: WIL SO N H EN N E S SY

Meet the AM-RB 001. The beautiful result of Adrian Newey and

TOPGEAR.COM
Marek Reichman tearing up the supercar design manual...

J
AUGUST 2016
1 11
 AM-RB 001

E arly on a summer
Sunday in the F1 car assembly workshop at Red Bull
Racing in Milton Keynes. All is silence. The team is
away at a race. Instead, heres the Aston Martin
AM-RB 001, sucking the atmosphere out of the
room, bending the light towards itself. It renders
me speechless through a prolonged inability
to draw breath. Im smitten by astonishment,
exhilaration, bewilderment and pure, simple
petrolheaded joy. Frankly its a reaction the like of
which Ive never experienced on seeing a new car.
Two months ago, Adrian Newey, pre-eminently
successful Grand Prix car engineer, and Marek
Reichman, design director at Aston, sat down
with TopGear and outlined a series of outlandish
claims that amounted to knocking the LaFerrari,
McLaren P1 and Porsche 918 into the weeds.
They were going to build, from late 2018, an
edition of 99 road cars that would be a step up in
performance from anything around. And theyd
also do a version with wider tyres, more wings,
a difuser and a stripped cabin, that would lap
a track alongside an LMP1 car. Which is almost
unimaginably faster than an FXX K or P1 GTR.
Well, Newey is undoubtedly a man of outstanding
fast-car credentials, but, still, I was sceptical.
Ferrari, McLaren and Porsche know what theyre
doing. Yet this pair insisted passionately that
clean-sheet design would see them home. Only
they wouldnt show anyone that design.
Today, its clear what they were on about. There
simply has not been another car like this. Its speed
will come in great part from downforce, lightness
and smallness. Its copious beauty derives as much
from what is absent as what is present. It is tiny and The ultimate road car/
insect-low. Its volumes are carved away almost to racing car marriage
has borne delicious fruit
nothingness. I fall down on my knees. Not in
supplication, but in curiosity.
The underside is where it all goes mad, defned
by negative space, giving it the colossal downforce
necessary for its grip and braking targets.
Everywhere you look are voids. The nose is high
and carries, like an outline in the sand, the
suggestion of an Aston grille. But no grille is
present, merely a pair of downward pylons on

112 AUGUST 2016 J TOPGEAR.COM

 Im smitten by
bewilderment and
petrolheaded joy

TOPGEAR.COM J AUGUST 2016 1 13

 AM-RB 001

Even standing still, the

AM-RB 001 looks like
its doing 100mph

which hang a low-level wing. Behind that, a

cathedral of clear air. The suspension barely
intrudes, and the occupants feet are raised high
in a cockpit pod thats well clear of the ground.
At the rear is a difuser that could ofer several
men shelter from a storm, and another huge wing
above. The enclosed bodywork between is shallow
and narrow, and even Newey admits hes found it
hard to squeeze in a V12 engine, transmission,
cooling and silencing.
The side view, too, shows undercar space
for torrents of air to food through. A sweeping,
elegant barge board lies behind the front wheel.
Newey explains it manages fow around the
front wheel and then feeds good-quality air
to the foor, difuser and radiator intakes. He
says the cooling openings are small, a sign of
aero efciency. Reichman adds, In a previous
iteration, there were two major lines on the side of
the car. Now weve integrated the air intake with
what looks like a shroud for the rear wheelarch.
Its the same aerodynamically, but much more
striking because it took a line away.
This is a clue to what is, for Reichman, a new
way of working compared with normal road cars.
You spend a lot of time drawing sketches that are
impossibly low and wide. They couldnt ft two
adults. Thats what a designer wants. So when
someone comes along and says, Could you make it
lower? You just go, Fantastic. Nothing has been
impossible. Reduction allows a designer freedom.
This is Neweys mantra too. Hence the shape of
the cars underside. The Porsche 918 and McLaren
P1 used adapted tubs from other, more conventional
cars, tubs that fll the space between their wheels.
The LaFerrari has a bulky V12. All have big hybrid
packs. So the kind of underfoor aero Newey dreamt
up for the AM-RB 001 was never available to them.
I have a reputation as an aerodynamicist,
says Newey, fairly. For a couple of decades in F1,
aerodynamics has been the main performance
diferentiator. The mechanicals are integrated,
working together with the air. Its not aero as a
separate thing. He says the car isnt only small in
dimensions but efectively smaller again, as aero
has squashed the volumes. So it is a packaging
challenge. Thats something I enjoy in racing.
Upon this little car sits an even tinier cockpit
bubble. On its rear three-quarter edge is a bright
strip that winks at the one on the DB11. At the
projects outset, the Aston team made a mock-up
of this cockpit space, to Neweys spec. Reichman, to the fnal car. Reichman says you can see its an
a tall fellow, insists he could ft, accompanied
by Aston CEO Andy Palmer, whos shorter and
rounder (less so these days). The challenge since
then has been to make small internal adjustments
to the seat positions to meet the rules about
headspace and restraints. Rules of which Newey
admits he was blissfully ignorant at the start.
But we cant see inside the cockpit because
this is a clay model. Newey says its better, faster
and cheaper to do most of the engineering in the
virtual world. His team has the tools to simulate all
sorts of mechanical layouts. In fact, he says the car
takes a lot of inspiration from the Red Bull X1
virtual car made for Gran Turismo. Strangely,
Reichmans team had also done one of those, the
mid-engined DP-100. The information you have to
provide to PlayStation has to be accurate, he says,
because the feeling of driving virtually is getting
more and more real. Adrians ideas and mine
werent a million miles apart.
But this clay model is dimensionally faithful
Aston because of the forms. Purity of form is
very hard. And because this is a fuid form you
have to use the highlight to make the tension.

114 AUGUST 2016 J TOPGEAR.COM

A few trips on the
Eurotunnel should
get these kerbed nicely

This is the clay model.

Now we want the
real thing, please

Rainstorm coming? Fear

not, just find the rear of an
AM-RB 001 to hide under

TOPGEAR.COM J AUGUST 2016 1 15

 Whos making it?
Whos buying it?
There will be active
aerodynamics so as
not to break the
suspension at high
speed. This is the
road car. Track-only
version gets even Into this tiny space
bigger wings and are crammed a V12,
diffuser, plus wider gearbox, cooling,
tyres covered by fuel tank and
stretched arches silencers. And
perhaps a hybrid
element too. Power?
Around 1,000bhp
probably. Driver
aids? Yes, phew

Itll use a V12 engine,

a tiny thing, making
big power per litre
116 AUGUST 2016 J TOPGEAR.COM
 LOTUS
AM-RB
EXIGE001
SPORT

Cockpit is a This is about the

narrow bubble, sixth version of the
but two people fit, visual design, as
side by side. As Reichman and
in a racecar, your Newey collaborate
bum is low, knees around the technical
and feet high. Road needs. The early
car will have stereo ones looked too
and aircon Group C-ish,
they say

Giant voids under the floor deliver the

downforce. This board behind the front
wheel feeds clean air to the diffuser
and radiators behind. Suspension
wishbones are actively actuated

What lies beneath the surface isnt so fxed.
It will, says Newey, use a naturally aspirated V12
engine, a tiny thing, high-revving, making big
power per litre. Its being designed from scratch
Roger shows how to
no surprise, as existing road engines are too bulky
pose with a car. Dave
and heavy, and a race motor would Mintertoo
be diva-ish
(right), less so
and need too much maintenance. The time taken
to design the engine gives Newey a couple more
months to get the rest sorted.
The transmission remains a major area of
research, he says. Existing DCTs are bulky and
weigh about 150kg. Hes a softly spoken gent, but
almost spits that number, so we can be sure he
wont be using one of those. But he wont give
details of what he is exploring. Its going to be
tricky. Will it be hybrid or have KERS? The truth
is we are evaluating a whole load of solutions. He
says, if it is electrifed, it will be in a new way.
He wont give an actual power output or a
weight. Clearly the power-to-weight is going to be
similar to an LMP1 car, yes? He points out LMP1
cars set of out of a corner with a huge electrical
kick, but arrive at the next one with only 400bhp
of combustion power. If we have an electric
contribution, it will be a much smaller percentage
of the combustion engine power, so the variation
will be less. Id say well be above the average power
of an LMP1 car, but less than their peak. Itll have
switchable driver aids, not just because it might be
faster than its owners on track, but also because it
will be comfy for everyday use when conditions
(or driver attention level) might not be optimal.
The suspension will have to be active because
of the immense high-speed downforce. If it
couldnt adapt, itd be rock-solid at low speed,
or compressed on its springs going fast. But
active aero will also to an extent mitigate this
problem, Newey says. Again, though, the actual
nature of the suspension adaptation is still a
subject of Neweys bofny virtual experiments.
Newey says todays simulators are so good, hes
able to try a lot of tech without building prototypes.
So its relatively cheap to winnow through even
outlandish ideas. When the frst running car is
built, itll feel pretty close to the fnished article,
and then F1 drivers will be involved in the
development, as well as Aston engineers.
And how will it end up? However staggering the
numbers and lap times, Newey claims those arent
the whole of it. Were talking about the driving
experience. How you feel in the car, if you take
pleasure in driving it. If it feels like an LMP1
car, we will have failed. You wont have to psych
yourself up to drive it fast. On the other hand, it
can be docile and if you want to go to the theatre
through heavy trafc, it will be comfortable.
So were a step closer. First, we heard the claims,
which sounded fantastical. Now weve seen the body,
and it looks like it could live up to the claims. If
theres a long way to go, the course has been set.

TOPGEAR.COM J AUGUST 2016 1 17

 GT40 TO LE MANS

118 AUGUST 2016 J TOPGEAR.COM

 The
WORDS: JA SON BARLOW /
PHOTOGR APHY: RICHARD PARD ON

long
way
home
It was in 1966 that the Ford GT40 gained automotive immortality at Le Mans.
Now weve been entrusted to take it and its successor down to the 2016 race

TOPGEAR.COM J AUGUST 2016 1 19

 GT40 TO LE MANS
The word has been worn
wafer-thin with overuse, but in this
case nothing else will do: the
Ford GT40 is the most genuinely
iconic racing car of all time.
Theres one sitting in front of Team TG right now, ultra-low and
black and gold with a big number two graphic on it, under the roof of an
otherwise unremarkable outbuilding in the heart of Fords sprawling
Dagenham factory. Its in good company: alongside it is a 2006 GT road
car, the Blue Ovals last go at rebooting the coolest corner of its huge
heritage, and a contemporary supercar hero in its own right.
TG editor-in-chief Charlie Turner and I will shortly be piloting this
pair from the UK to Le Mans. Fords 2016 WEC efort is well under way,
but the assault on La Sarthe, almost 50 years to the day since the
epochal 1-2-3 win in 1966, is the acknowledged crux of the whole
campaign. Wet and wild weather is tormenting this part of Europe right
now, but a particularly intense high-pressure area is hovering over the
Ford garages in the Le Mans pitlane. If theres a better way of getting
there to witness it in person, I cant think of one.
How much do you know about the GT40 story? It was born out of
the car worlds most infamous grudge, and plays like the movie it should
be. Its 1963. Following months of careful negotiation, Ford is ready to
do a deal with Enzo Ferrari to purchase his 16-year-old company. The
Old Man, as wily as he is, is presiding over a fnancially rickety company
by this point, and Ford wants to go endurance racing. They need each
other, but Ferrari will prove to be an unreliable suitor.
By May 1963, a deal is on the table, bringing the US giant together
with the Italian upstart to create road cars and competition machinery.
When Enzo baulks at losing his cherished autonomy, he sends the Yanks
packing. Empty-handed on his return to Detroit, Fords point man, Don
Frey, is told by Henry Ford II to go to Le Mans, and beat his ass.
The rest is history, but complicated. An expat Brit called Roy Lunn,
who had worked on Aston Martins 1949 Le Mans efort and was
running Fords advanced vehicle department, got the nod, mainly
because no one else in the entire organisation knew where to begin.
On 12 June, Lunn and Frey presented a confdential competition
programme to Fords cigar-chomping execs, envisaging a mid-engined
racecar called the GT40 (it stood just 40in high), and a road-going GT46
iteration. Lunn wanted to create a high performance, two-seater
sports-car prototype that, if produced in low volume, would neutralise
1 20 AUGUST 2016 J TOPGEAR.COM
the Corvette image. Apparently it took fve minutes to get sign-of,
the other 55 being spent discussing the marketing strategy.
Lunn returned to the UK, where a thriving homespun racing
subculture and the urgency of the mission quickly led him to Lola. As
compact as the frm was, its racing car was the right confguration, had
an aluminium body, and used a Ford V8. It was pretty much a prototype
GT40. Lunn bought two, sequestered $1.7m from the Dearborn bean-
counters, hired ex-Aston Martin team boss John Wyer, and got to work.
The Ford Advanced Vehicles HQ was in sunny Slough. Lolas owner,
Eric Broadley, soon clashed with Lunn, while Broadleys deputy, Tony
Southgate (who would go on to design numerous F1 cars and the Le
Mans-winning Jaguar XJR-9), recalled that the Ford approach was
somewhat infexible. There was no deviating from the script. Well,
motor racing is about as far removed from that as you can get.
Bruce McLaren was hired to evaluate a prototype in August 1963,
and work swiftly progressed. The steel-bodied GT40 was heavy but
durable, while a primitive computer programme helped calibrate the
suspension geometry. The frst car, chassis no. GT/101, ran a Ford
Fairlane-sourced 4.2-litre V8, but with an aluminium block and
pushrods. Coventry-based Abbey Panels fabricated the body, and the
whole thing was fnished barely in time to make its fight from Heathrow
to JFK ahead of a big unveiling the day before the New York auto show,
in April 1964. In going into GT racing, we feel we are accepting the
toughest challenge presently available to the minds and talents of motor
car builders, Ford boss Lee Iacocca told the press. Given that he hadnt
clapped eyes on the thing until the night before, that was ballsy stuf.
Things stuttered at frst, and it took Carroll Shelbys decidedly more
gung-ho ethos to give the GT40 programme the necessary cowboy-
booted kick up the ass. Out went the small-block 4.2-litre V8 (later
4.7-litre), and in came the 7.0-litre unit Shelby had used so famously
in the Cobra, matched to a new ZF transmission.
At Daytona in 1965, the MkII GT40 scored its frst win, with Ken
Miles and Lloyd Ruby at the wheel. A podium in Sebring followed a
month later, but Le Mans was a disaster, all fve GT40s recording DNFs.
(Ferrari won, which didnt help.)
 The GT40 was born
out of the car worlds
most infamous grudge,
and plays like a movie

Colour-coordinated driving
shoes... TopGear takes its
fashion very seriously

This GT40 has the Gurney

bubble, meaning its easier
to get in and out of

TOPGEAR.COM J AUGUST 2016 121

 GT40 TO LE MANS

The GT40 is struggling

to clear its vast Weber-
carbs-assisted throat

The GT40s seats reveal

whether youve been eating
the pies recently

1 22 AUGUST 2016 J TOPGEAR.COM

 But 1966 saw the good times fnally kick in, across a mix of works
and privateer entries. There was a 1-2-3 fnish at Daytona; the 7.0-litre
V8 was now producing 463bhp, enough to see almost 200mph on the
tracks banking. Miles and Ruby won the race again: The Mark II was a
really good car, Ruby noted. It had lots of power, was fast and handled
damned good. Thirteen Fords raced at Sebring; Ken Miles won, passing
Dan Gurney, who was forced to push his car across the fnish line after it
expired on the fnal corner. Then came the sensational 1-2-3 win at Le
Mans, for which preparation included running a development engine on
a dyno for 48 hours of simulated laps at La Sarthe, gearchanges and all,
while a further 12 engines were race-prepared.
Ford assembled an army for Le Mans that year 100 personnel,
nine cars (including a spare), seven spare engines, and 21 tonnes of
spare parts, all moved around in a giant rig too big to ft in some of
the tighter French side streets. Henry Ford II was there, anticipating
certain victory; in fact, he handed Leo Beebe, head of Fords racing
programmes, a business card inscribed with a simple message:
You better win.
They did, staging a controversial photo fnish. The car were driving
down in is the original 1964 press car rebodied to look identical to the
one Bruce McLaren and Chris Amon piloted to victory at Le Mans
in 66. Identity mash-up or not, its still worth north of 5m and assisted throat. Even four cars back in the queue, we can hear the beast
beautiful beyond words. The conjoined doors and roof open very wide.
Fortunately this car has the Gurney bubble (welded in to accommodate
lanky US racer Dan Gurney), so its not wholly uncivilised. You get in by
standing on the side of the chassis and then the seat, before sliding in
feet frst, trying not to take the right-mounted, wood-topped gearlever
with you. Its said to get hotter than the surface of the sun in a GT40
Ah the modern world. In
which theyve discovered
aircon. And waterproofing
cockpit, but well deal with that later. The rear tyres dont look as though
theyd shift much in the way of standing water, either, but well cross
that bridge when we come to it, too. Car no. 2 has duties to perform at
Le Mans, and we have to get it there. And get it there we will.
Charlie does the frst stint, leaving me in the relative comfort of
the air-conditioned GT. Watching him pick his way out onto the mean
streets of Dagenham is surreal beyond belief. The roadworks that greet
us on the A13 are sadly far more real-world. CT burbles across the
walkie-talkie that the 40 is struggling a bit to clear its vast Weber-carbs-
at work. (The car, not Charlie.)
The GT a car with a supercharged, 550bhp V8 and 205mph top
speed suddenly feels remarkably tame by comparison. I drove one
to Paris for TG back in 2004, and tame is not how I remember it.
Intergalactically fast and amusingly lairy in the wet, given the absence of
traction control: that is what I recall, as well as doing donuts outside the
Ford GTs bucket seats have
been designed with an eye
towards the Lego version...
2006 Ford GTs V8 is only
5.4 litres; GT40 has a
7.0-litre beast
TOPGEAR.COM J AUGUST 2016 123
 The GT40 makes the
greatest noise Ive ever
heard a car make from
3,000 to 6,000rpm

LE MANS 2016: HOW THE RACE WAS WON

The pressure on the car no. 68 driven by before the flag dropped
Ford squad at Le Mans Sbastien Bourdais, Joey to derail their race. Car
had to be experienced Hand and Dirk Mller) no. 67 recovered to
to be believed. As in came a mere 395 days finish ninth, but spent
66, nothing was left to after the car turned a most of the time running
chance, and all the big wheel for the first time. experimental set-ups
guns CEO Mark Fields, Bourdais also had a and strategy plays on
executive chairman Bill paranoid night- behalf of the other
Ford and Edsel Ford time stint during which three. Tincknell was
were in town to watch an electronics meltdown stoical: Were here to
history being made. cut him off from the help, he said, a little
Not that this was a pitlane. Turns out his mournfully. But the Ford
foregone conclusion, steering wheel was on Chip Ganassi team got
despite nailing pole the blink. the result it came for,
position in qualifying. TG spent a lot of and watching Bill Ford
Building a new car and time with the Brit squad cheer as Joey Hand
racing it at Le Mans is a Marino Franchitti, Andy blasted past the no. 82
monumental task, Priaulx, and Harry Fezza, run by US-based
Fields told us on Tincknell in the run-up Risi Competizione, in the
Saturday morning. No to the 3pm start, only for 20th hour was one for
kidding: the LM GTE Pro a gear-selecting issue the memory banks.
class win (courtesy of on the grid minutes History indeed.

1 24 AUGUST 2016 J TOPGEAR.COM


Stade de France. (Dont tell anyone. Its gearing is so tall it would
probably do donuts in sixth.)
Down the M20 we go. The GT40 revels in some clear air, revving
with such vocal mechanical thunder its enough to part the clouds
above. This is the most privileged convoy Ive ever been part of, but the
scale of the challenge is underlined again not far from the Channel
Tunnel when the fuel pump suddenly packs up. This car, like all of Fords
heritage feet, is meticulously maintained by a dynamic duo called Ivan
and Colin, but sometimes stuf just happens. Fortunately, Fords tame
mechanic Andy, whos along to help, is not the sort of guy to get
fustered, and ingeniously runs a connection of the battery to the
left-hand pump (the GT40 has two fuel tanks). Its a phenomenal piece
of improvisation, if decidedly makeshift on a car whose 4.7-litre V8
generates huge heat and horsepower, and guzzles fuel like its going out
of fashion (which it is), but it works. Theres a chance we might have to
abandon the old girl at Folkestone, but after security we make the
decision to push on. (We later discover that a fuel pump connector
got disturbed somehow; Im blaming the photographers feet.)
My turn. Charlie, a man with considerable mechanical sympathy
and experience in gnarly historics, reckons its as tricky a car as hes
ever driven. With that, it falls to me to get the GT40 onto the Channel
Tunnel train. The clutch immediately reveals itself to be not just heavy
but also equipped with a biting point thats the gear-changing equivalent
of an accurate headbutt. It needs a bootful of revs and a gentle yet
simultaneously frm left foot to get it moving without looking like a
total berk. The bloke in the hi-vis jacket glowers at me as though Im
in a Fiesta Zetec. I glower back. Staring at the two cars on the train, 30
minutes later, with the English Channel above our heads, eases the pain.
Then we have to push it of the train as we arrive in Calais. For the
briefest of moments, it seems that old no. 2 simply isnt going to play
ball. But, with one last gasp push on the starter button, the engine
catches and we rocket of. Now I can really get to grips with this thing.
GT40 TO LE MANS
Like all old cars, it bites and bitches at you until you get it right, at
which point it becomes the best thing youve ever driven by a country
mile. When I say that the GT40 makes the greatest noise Ive ever heard
a car make from 3,000 to 6,000rpm in third, fourth and ffth gear, well,
its actually an understatement. No adjective can truly describe the
sound a GT40 makes. The gearbox is never less than tricky, and as a
sequential you have to work up and down it very methodically. But as
every prod on the throttle pedal elicits another wailing roar, the main
challenge is to resist messing about with the box for the sheer hell of
it. There is no assistance on anything: on the steering, on the brakes,
in the chassis. Youre utterly on your own, so the thought of slamming
down the Mulsanne straight in one, at night, in the rain, at 180mph, in
1966, makes my head swim. Bruce McLaren, Chris Amon, Dan Gurney,
Jacky Ickx and all those other huge names must have had cojones made
of Kevlar-reinforced titanium.
It does rain on us, south of Rouen, both biblically and post-
apocalyptically. In fact, it rains so hard that its actually raining
inside the car; this is because the shutlines in the door/roof above
the occupants heads are, erm, approximate. Ive never been in a car
that has a roof but still lets in water. My grip on the Moto-Lita steering
wheel is rather intense at this point, but the GT40 sails across the
standing water without actually setting sail. Occasionally, the walkie
crackles into life. Above the vigorous, visceral thrum of no. 2s V8,
all we can hear is the sound of laughter. In here, air-conditioning is
via the gap at the bottom of the doors.
Soon, there are signs to Le Mans. This is my 15th trip here for
the 24-hour race, and rarely have I been so pleased to see the place.
The citys roundabouts are an intense test, and there are dices with
unwitting French hatchbacks, oblivious as to what theyre tangling with.
Job done, we pass the baton to the Ford Chip Ganassi Racing squad,
confdent they know what theyre about. Half a century on, its time
to write a new chapter in the history books.
TOPGEAR.COM J AUGUST 2016 125
 WAR OF THE SPIDERS

A stern battle awaits any manufacturer that

enters supercar-infested waters. Its Ferrari vs
McLaren vs Lamborghini in the war of the spiders...
WORDS: JACK RIX / PHOTOGR APHY: RICHARD PARD ON

1 26 AUGUST 2016 J TOPGEAR.COM

TOPGEAR.COM J AUGUST 2016 1 27

Afterworkingupasweat,
the650Salwaysliked
toairitsarmpits
A1,904bhpconvoyofmulti-
colouredsupercars,andstill
the sheep couldnt care less
1 28 AUGUST 2016 J TOPGEAR.COM
ou dont see many
fuoro supercars in
Streatham, the dodgy
Y end. I know this,
because moments after
opening the 650Ss
butterfy door, swinging
my leg over the chunky
carbon sill and stumbling into the middle of the
road, Im descended upon by at least six of my
neighbours, all with bouncing, chocolate-
smeared children in tow.
Its a full-time job being a supercar owner.
First-world problems, I know, but it really is
exhausting threading it through trafc without
clouting the wing mirrors, smiling and waving
at every enthused pedestrian and fnding
a parking space where you can see it from
your bedroom window. A ftful nights sleep
follows, ravaged by anxiety dreams and no
fewer than fve curtain twitches to ensure
its still there and without a fresh set of
racing stripes down the side.
My 6am departure the next morning is
sheer joy just a snoozy city and the length of
the M4 between me and the Black Mountain
road in the Brecon Beacons. Im of to meet
two more decapitated supercars the
Lamborghini Huracn LP 610-4 Spyder and
Ferrari 488 Spider for two 98 RON-fuelled
days throwing them at the best roads, and
beaches, South Wales and the West Country
have to ofer. But frst, an explanation, because
while the 488 and Huracn are both hot of the
production line, the 650S has been around
for donkeys years. Well, since 2014.
Avid readers will know there is now such
a thing as the McLaren 675LT Spider a
285,000 al fresco version of the 675LT Coupe
that recently broke the TopGear lap record in
the hands of The Stig. It has more power than
the 650S Spider, a wider track, weighs 100kg
less and produces more downforce. In short,
it is a better car, but is limited to 500 units
worldwide and sold out within weeks of its
reveal. Our trio are the ones you can actually
go out and buy now, should you have a spare
200,000 rattling around your piggy bank.
This is as real-world as supercar testing gets.
When it comes to the coupe-equivalents
of these cars, there is already an established
pecking order, but the moment you lop the roof
of, those verdicts are lost in the wind like an
errant toupee. Convertibles are better for being
seen in and therefore appeal to show-ofs. The
way they look, then, is more important, and
without a roof to mufe the noises occurring
behind your head, the way they sound is critical.
Both these play directly into the Huracns
hands. Im sitting on the wall of a grubby
petrol station in Upper Brynamman when I
 WAR OF THE SPIDERS

Ihearthe
Lamborghini
coming.An
antisocialbark
followedby
amassofmini
explosions

The 488s sculpted leather

bucket seats youll
needtheirsupport

TOPGEAR.COM J AUGUST 2016 129

 PENDINE:
A HISTORY
OF SPEED
hear it coming. An antisocial bark followed by Back in the Twenties,
a mass of mini explosions that pinball of the Pendine Sands was the
scene of several world
shops and houses lining the high street. Then
land-speed records attempts by two great rivals
I spot it like a stealthy wedge of Caerphilly, Malcolm Campbell and JG Parry-Thomas. The
with its impossibly short and steeply raked records began tumbling with Campbells 146mph run in
bonnet, matt grey paint and low, squared-of 1925 in his Blue Bird. Campbell made two further attempts
rear end. Theres nowt like a Lamborghini for in the next two years, culminating in his benchmark
174mph run in Blue Bird II. Parry-Thomas was convinced
making a low-key entrance.
he could top it in his car, Babs, but was decapitated
The drivers door swings open, and Chris when the drivetrain snapped at 170mph and struck
Rowles falls out onto the oily forecourt bent him on the neck. Undeterred by his rivals
double. Hes six foot three and complaining demise, Campbells career continued,
eventually becoming the first man
loudly (he does a lot of that) that the thinly
to top 300mph, at Bonneville
padded seats are instruments of torture and Salt Flats in 1935.
dont go back far enough, he also had to angle
his neck to stop his head from scraping the
roof. Funny that, because, on my four-hour
motorway run, the 650S was nothing short
of a delight, with its well-cushioned sports
seats, famously supple ride thanks to its
trick interconnected adaptive dampers,
and turbocharged V8 that fades out to a
background whisper when you keep the revs
low and dont wake the turbos. I choose not
to tell Chris this, because I like my face.
Like a true prima donna, the Ferrari is
running late, so we decide to get some proper
driving under our belts before it arrives and
steals all the attention. Its a mesmerising road
this, a road testers favourite, but for good
reason. Smooth enough to keep all four tyres
in contact with the tarmac, open enough to
plan several corners ahead and from the point
TopGears approach to the
where the road peaks before curling its way sandcastle competition won
down into the valley, there are views that it many admirers
steal the air from your lungs. Much like
the McLaren when you fnd the courage
and space to give the engine its head.
On paper, the 488s 661bhp 3.9-litre
twin-turbo V8 has both the McLarens 641bhp
3.8-litre twin-turbo V8 and the Lambos 602bhp
5.2-litre V10 licked, but, in reality, its the Brit
that feels fastest. Theres something faintly
old school about the way the engine takes a
moment to register your right foot, then the
turbos start sucking like a tornado flling
its lungs before it unleashes a frightening
amount of shove. Its an endless game of
chicken, man vs McLaren: how long can
you keep it pinned? Who will crack frst?
On public roads, theres an overwhelming,
eye-widening amount of performance.
Thats not to say the Huracn is slow. On
this road on any B-road, in fact its probably
the faster point-to-point car, despite being the
lardiest here by over 100kg. In the McLaren,
youre constantly keeping track of the boost,
trying to keep the engine on the boil and
managing grip at the rear. In the Lambo, you
just point it vaguely in the right direction,
deploy all 10 cylinders and the four-wheel-drive
system keeps you glued to the road. Its less
interactive, sure, but ridiculously forgiving,
while the scalpel-sharp throttle response and

130 AUGUST 2016 J TOPGEAR.COM

 WAR OF THE SPIDERS

We snatch a cheeky single-car drift and

a three-car burnout, before being shooed off
by a rapidly approaching tide

towering soundtrack is a constant reminder

of why the eradication of naturally aspirated
engines is a travesty.
Ive driven a Huracn Coupe on track, and
it tends to understeer on the limit more so
than its blood brother, the Audi R8 and with
an extra 120kg of chassis strengthening and
roof mechanism to carry around, we can only
assume the Spyder would fare no better. On
public roads, though, its as neutral as David
Dimbleby, but the electromechanical steering is
the oddest here. A rubbery, variable-ratio mess
that artifcially springs back to its centre point
Kids and orange supercars:
a recipe for going
and makes it hard to place the pointy front end.
nowhere very fast Not a deal-breaker, but then it depends on how
you plan to use your car: on the Kings Road,
who cares? On fast roads and race tracks, this
stuf really matters.
And then the Blu Corsa Ferrari arrives
looking utterly gorgeous, and we all fock to
it likes moths to a Bunsen burner. Theres a
hard-edged drama to the Huracn, while orange
paint and fancy doors are always going to get
the 650S noticed, but its the Ferrari that steals

TOPGEAR.COM J AUGUST 2016 1 31

 WAR OF THE SPIDERS
your heart on frst sight. The lines are organic
and sculptural, yet crisp and modern at the
same time, and that badge still has the power
to seduce more than any other. I waste no time
in snatching the keys and taking it for an
exploratory drive/damn good thrashing.
Ever since Ferrari announced it was ditching
the 458s imperious naturally aspirated V8 and
swapping it for a smaller, turbocharged one,
Ive been quietly smouldering. But that was
before I had driven it. Within metres, Im
grinning and fushed with a sense of relief the
whole car is shot through with the same DNA
that made the 458 such a brilliantly evocative
thing. From the featherlight, but super-alert
steering to the way it makes its stratospheric
performance so friendly and accessible.
OK, the engine doesnt respond with quite
the same zeal as the 458s, but how could it with
twin-blowers bolted on? Next to the McLaren,
though, engine pick-up is a whole league
quicker, and with so much torque at your
TheHuracnshrieksandcracklesits
waythrougheverycorner,shaking
rockclimbersfromtheirholds
disposal (561lb ft at 3,000rpm versus 398lb ft at
6,000rpm in the 458), dished out in increasingly
large portions as you move up through the
gears, the acceleration is gut-wrenchingly fast,
even if you let the revs drop. And the sound?
Being a fat-plane-crank V8 it has a similar
tenor-pitched rumble to the 458 at low revs,
then comes the sucking and whistling, followed
by a hollow wail as you let the revs build. It
cant match the symphony of its predecessor,
but honestly its not that far of, and theres
enough to encourage you to rev it out and
enjoy the complexities. Bluntly, McLarens
muter V8 needs to up its game.
But theres more to these cars than just
engines and noises a truly modern supercar
should be usable everyday, something I ponder
as we head west for a photo call on Pendine
Sands. Im in the Ferrari, and rear visibility is
fne, thanks to a slender two-panel roof that
slots tightly under the rear deck in 14 seconds.
The same cant be said of the McLarens
Themanwhotookthiswas
almostpushedoverthe
edgebyagoat.Noreally
chunkier two-panel arrangement or the
Lambos fabric hood, both of which take 17
seconds to stow, but live under a higher rear
panel, obscuring the car directly behind you.
As for the gearboxes, all three upshift
with startling immediacy, shift down with
a fattering blip of revs and generally let you
concentrate on keeping your 600bhp-plus
supercar on the road. Two things: Firstly,
I prefer the long column-mounted paddles in
the Ferrari and Lamborghini they are more
tactile and satisfying than the McLarens much
smaller wheel-mounted rocker switches, plus
you always know where they are with some lock
dialled on. Secondly, the Lambos engineered-
in kick in the back when you upshift in Corsa
mode seems a bit needless, when the other two
feel just as visceral in their most aggressive
powertrain settings, but do so without
pummelling your kidneys into pt.
If you have to have the most comfortable,
the 650S edges it, although the 488 in its
Bumpy Road mode runs it close. In terms
of interior quality, the Lambo takes it thanks
to its close ties with Audi, but the Ferrari feels
more special. The low, ribbed leather seats have
a lot to do with that, as does the ingenious
display on the glovebox (a 2,592 option)
showing speed, gear and rpm, so passengers
can quantify just how frightened they should
be. In terms of design, the 488s random spray
of buttons is still a god-awful mess, but with
the thick wheel and manettino switch in front
of you, and the huge tachometer behind that,
it just feels like an event.
On the inside, the 650S is starting to show
its age. Theres nothing wrong with the quality
the slim steering wheel is a tactile highlight
but the portrait-orientated interface isnt as
intuitive to use as the Ferrari or Lambos digital
instrument clusters, and we had a few electrical
glitches along the way. The wing mirrors kept
pointing themselves in all sorts of directions,
and the passenger seatbelt alarm went of if
TOPGEAR.COM J AUGUST 2016 1 33
 Designated bays
are for normal cars,
not supercars
you put so much as a Twix wrapper on it,
despite this being a factory-fresh car.
We arrive at Pendine Sands, a perfectly
fat and straight seven-mile beach (see roundel),
just in time for a council member to lower the
bollards and let us roll down the slipway onto
the sand. But not before a stern warning that
we were there for a slow-speed photo shoot,
not cocking around. Fine by me I thought
when we arranged access, but once here its
hard to resist. In the end, we snatch a cheeky
single-car drift and a three-car burnout, before
being shooed of by a rapidly approaching tide.
The next day, with 12 hours of sunshine to
bask in, we formulate a plan to head east, back
Carbon, leather and a
Ferrari badge on the wheel.
over the Severn Bridge and past Bristol to
Interior design is easy Cheddar Gorge natures own echo chamber.
The Huracn once again rises to the challenge,
shrieking and crackling its way through every
corner, shaking rock climbers from their holds
and generally attracting unwanted attention.
An open-top tourist bus pulls up to let punters
take pictures of us. Seriously? Were surrounded
by Mother Nature in all her glory and still its
the cars that are vacuuming up the attention.
With the pesky tourists moved along, there are
still important decisions to be made, because
while the Lambo has several winning attributes,
truly engaging handling is not one of them. So I
hop between the Ferrari and McLaren using my
patented road-test toothcomb.
Master the delayed power delivery, and the
650S is a joy to punt along at absurd speeds. The
steering has more weight to it than the Ferraris
and with a fraction more feel, while the carbon
chassis (the only carbon tub here and the only
one that doesnt need any reinforcements) feels
incredibly stif. Even when youre fully loaded
in a corner and hit a bump, it stays straight and
true. Problem is, the mere existence of the
675LT means we know what this chassis and
engine is capable of, so what was perceived as an
improvement over the 12C two years ago is now
a signifcant step down from the 675LT. Shame,
because there are fashes of genius in the 650S,
but it still feels like a company in progress. Our
advice? Wait for the drop-top 570S.
The 488 on the other hand feels like a
Ill have a mini-mega
company in its pomp. A company that can drop
mocha latte please. With a a turbocharged engine into its mid-engined
side order of smugness money-maker for the frst time and nail it
straight out the gate. And it works wonderfully
without a roof, bringing you closer to the world
thats rushing by, amplifying the less visceral
but still soulful exhaust track and retaining all
the otherworldly handling delicacy of the coupe.
You could build a case for any of these three
cars. Sounds like a cop-out, I know, but you
really could. The Lambos V10 shone in the
gorge, while the McLaren is the choice for
adrenaline junkies, but its the Ferrari that has all
the bases covered. So, given the choice, its the
488 Id take back to Streatham, the dodgy end.

134 AUGUST 2016 J TOPGEAR.COM

 F-PACE GROUP
SPI vs SPY
TEST

Theres a hard-edged drama to

the Huracn, but its the Ferrari
that steals your heart on first sight

LAMBORGHINI FERRARI 488 SPIDER McLAREN 650S SPIDER

LP 610-4 SPYDER Price: 204,411 Price: 218,250
Price: 165,660 (282,728 as tested) (270,190 as tested)
(196,090 as tested) Engine: 3902cc Engine: 3799cc
Engine: 5204cc V10, twin-turbo V8, twin-turbo V8,
602bhp @ 8250rpm, 661bhp @ 8000rpm, 641bhp @ 7250rpm,
413lb ft @ 6500rpm 561lb ft @ 3000rpm 500lb ft @ 6000rpm
Transmission: 7spd Transmission: 7spd Transmission: 7spd
dual-clutch auto, 4WD dual-clutch auto, RWD dual-clutch auto, RWD
Performance: 062mph Performance: 062mph Performance: 062mph
in 3.4secs, 201mph in 3.0secs, 203mph in 3.0secs, 204mph
Economy: 23.0mpg, Economy: 24.8mpg, Economy: 24.2mpg,
285g/km CO2 260g/km CO2 275g/km CO2
Dry weight: 1542kg Dry weight: 1420kg Dry weight: 1370kg

TOPGEAR.COM J AUGUST 2016 1 35

 LAMBO CENTENARIO

136 AUGUST 2016 J TOPGEAR.COM

 Big
bulls
How do you celebrate a centenary?
A trip to the bingo hall? A nice cup
of tea with some cake? Not if youre
Lamborghini, you dont. You make
your maddest car even madder
WO R DS: CHAR LIE TUR N ER / PHOTOGR APHY: TOM SALT
 LAMBO CENTENARIO
ts 6am, and the mercury is already heading rapidly
I
north at Nard, VW Groups top-secret test facility
on the heel of Italy. After multiple security checks
of increasing ferocity, were fnally into the inner
sanctum and staring at the reason for all the
secrecy: the Lamborghini Centenario. Hunkered
down on the tarmac, its a monument to carbon-
fbre precision that would rival any modernist sculpture on its visual
merits. Except, in this case, your appreciation of its stunning lines are
disturbed by thoughts of its brutish potential.
The Centenario is Lamborghinis posthumous birthday present to
its legendary founder Ferruccio Lamborghini, who would have been 100
this year. But it represents more than a nod to the old man its the most
recent in a chain of jaw-dropping motor-show unicorns that started with
the Reventn, then punctuated the last decade with highlights including
the Aventador J, Sesto Elemento, Estoque and Veneno. More poignantly,
it was the last car presented by Stephan Winkelmann at the Geneva show,
following the announcement of his sudden departure to quattro GmbH
and the appointment of Stefano Domenicali in his place. It is, then, an
automotive baton for a company under new leadership, a touchpoint
for what went before, but also an articulation of Lamborghinis future
direction. Sticking to the brief of its forebears, the Centenario is strictly
limited production, only 40 will be made: 20 coupes and 20 roadsters.
Nard is where the VW Group comes when it wants to develop
something antisocially, intergalactically fast. Its where the team comes
to cruise up to and through the 200mph zone, and with the Centenarios
vmax in excess of 217mph, today will not be a slow day. Best concentrate,
then, and avoid removing fve per cent of the genus from existence.
The Centenario is powered by a mighty 6.5-litre V12, which idles at
850rpm and red-lines at 8,600rpm; it produces 760bhp (20bhp more than
It is powered by a 6.5-litre
V12 that idles at 850rpm
and red-lines at 8,600rpm
138 AUGUST 2016 J TOPGEAR.COM
the Aventador SV, not a car you would ever accuse of lacking punch)
and 507 torques. Itll smash to 62mph in 2.8 seconds and, if youre brave
enough (and have enough air left in your lungs after the shouting) will
explode to 186mph in 23.5 seconds. Harnessing all the madness and
applying it to the road are bespoke Pirelli P Zero Corsas: 255/30 ZR20 on
the front and 355/25 ZR21 on the rear, poor things. At the front, the more
aggressive twin-deck splitter generates massive downforce and channels
the airfow over the car and down the sides via the sideblades, but its at
the rear where the dark art of airfow is let of the leash. The Centenario
features one of the largest difusers this side of a Le Mans racer; combine
that with the removal of much of the bodywork behind the rear wheels
and an active rear wing which extends 150mm, and you get 227kg of
downforce at 174mph.
The biggest hardware news is that the Centenario is the frst
Lamborghini to employ rear-wheel steering, a system that provides
increased manoeuvrability at speeds below 45mph and increased stability
at higher speeds, in efect shortening and lengthening the wheelbase by
1,200mm depending on attack speed. Despite all this added technology,
the Centenario weighs in at 1,520kg, 55kg lighter than an Aventador.
While the carbon-fbre obsession runs deep, its the materials science
in conjunction with the aerodynamic and tech developments that deliver
the numbers. With frst deliveries due at the end of the year, Im part of
an exceedingly small group thats been invited by Lamborghinis head
of R&D, Maurizio Reggiani, to experience and give feedback on the whole
package. Today you work for Lamborghini, Im told.
After a safety briefng on the four-mile ribbon of tarmac that forms the
handling circuit in the centre of Nard, were led out to four Aventadors
of various potency. At the back of the queue lies the standard white
Aventador coupe, next in line is an Aventador SV which is ftted with
the frst iteration of the rear-wheel-steer system and is THE car that
 The red line is at 8,600rpm.
Youd have to take an extra
dose of brave pills to hit it

Aventador SV had a mere

740bhp. Centenario ups the
ante to 760bhp and 507lb ft

Rear-wheel steer provides

low-speed agility and high-
speed stability

TOPGEAR.COM J AWARDS 2016 1 39

This is the kind of sculpture
TopGear appreciates. And
its mobile. Very mobile

Mostly familiar in
here, bar the enormous
new portrait screen

Centenario too analogue

and hard to remember?
Then just call it LP 770-4...

persuaded the board that the tech was worth pursuing. In front of that is
the Centenario and then the lead car, another SV driven by Lamborghini
test driver Mario Fasanetto.
I opt to build up my tolerance to the insanity and start with the
Aventador, immediately regretting my decision as the others disappear
up the road while Im left doing all I can to keep them in sight. After the
frst four-lap stint, Im still struggling to process the track layout, the fact
that the other three cars made the Aventador look relatively ordinary, and
seriously questioning my ability. Cofee time.
Recafeinated, I grab the SV with the prototype rear-wheel
steering and am relieved to fnd myself sticking with the Centenario.
The diference isnt just the additional 49bhp but the stability and
responsiveness of the car. Where the Aventador felt large and brutal,
the SV feels predictable and nimble. Its a genuinely eye-opening
comparison, and the laps pass with addictive repetition.
After more cofee, I fnally lower myself into the familiar, yet subtly
diferent surroundings of the Centenarios cockpit. With only 40 being
made, the lucky owners are able to be more demanding regarding the
personalisation of their slice of Lamborghini history, and the carbon-
fbre-clad interior of our car (no. 0) is exquisitely executed. Its hard to
know what a 1.7m interior should feel like, but this feels close, helped
in no small part by the bespoke 10.1-inch portrait screen which occupies
the centre console and features an all-new infotainment system
Lamborghini describes as its take on the connected car. It comes with
suitably angular graphics and features the usual suspects (media, nav,
car set-up) plus telemetry that logs your lap times, gear selection,
throttle inputs and braking points all of which will be reviewed by
the development team and its boss, Maurizio Reggiani, following the
laps. No pressure, then.
I lift the fghter-jet safety fap (something I never grow tired of) to
reveal the start/stop button, turn the engine, and the familiar V12 barks
into life. But this one has a far harsher, deeper base tone which suggests
its potency and builds as I head down the straight after Mario.
The Centenario features
one of the largest diffusers
this side of a Le Mans racer
LAMBO CENTENARIO
Where the SV was a leap forward over the standard Aventador, the
Centenario moves the needle a lot further and represents a more complete
package. In full-fat Corsa mode, on the frst fying lap of the session Im
seeing 172mph at the 100m braking point for Turn 1. BRAKE, drop a
gear and let the aero work its magic through the long left-hander, which
tightens to a super-late apex. After which you need to shed a LOT of speed
and another three gears. The Centenario remains wonderfully stable
throughout the high-speed transition as the balance of the front and
rear aero weaves its magic, while the rear wing and magnetorheological
dampers constantly adjust to optimise the cars attitude. Its hugely
confdence-inspiring and totally addictive. As the Centenario devours the
6.2km course its constantly communicating: dive too deep into one of the
tighter corners, and it will understeer, but let it fow, and the way it batters
entry, apex and exit makes you grin... broadly.
In Sport, the Centenario becomes a lot less focused on obliterating
lap records and a LOT more amusing. Want to slide your 1.7m hypercar?
This is the mode for you. As the laps accumulate, you learn to trust the
Centenario in a way that feels unnatural in such a rare and precious thing.
You delve deeper into its aero, and it rewards each committed approach
with scintillating speed. Where the Aventador was mildly dismissive of
your eforts, the Centenario keeps pushing you to go deeper, work harder
and help it bully physics. Changes from the remapped gearbox are rife-
fast but come without the SVs ferocity, which keeps the car more stable
as it hunts down its next target. The brakes are spectacular, but Id have
liked a frmer pedal with more feel; however, thats a personal thing and
may or may not be changed before deliveries start.
Having the chance to explore the margins of the cars performance,
and to play development driver for a day was a rare privilege. More
important is what the Centenarios depth of capabilities says about the
future direction of one of the last purveyors of hypercar madness. And
its good news. Lamborghini still knows how to make proper hypercars.
Cars that exist at the furthest margins of acceptability and are all the
better for it. Cars that demand respect, and then reward it.
TOPGEAR.COM J AW
UGAR
UDST
S 2016 1 41
 WELLMAN.CO.UK
Live life well

Ive been taking Wellman since

my twenties to support my
health and hectic lifestyle.
David Gandy

Made in Britain

From Boots, Superdrug, supermarkets, Holland & Barrett, health stores, pharmacies
*UKs No1 mens supplement brand. Nielsen GB ScanTrack Total Coverage Unit Sales 52 w/e 26 March 2016
 EDITED BY OLLIE MARRIAGE

TopGears long-term cars. Tested & verified

150
Jaguar XE

144 Hyundai Tucson 146 Audi A4 Avant 149 Mazda MX-5 152 Peugeot 308GTi 270
We welcome a Tucson to the Garage Adam has been keeping his dog in the dark... An extra portion of humble pie for Sam, please Off to the Continent to see some racy cousins
TOPGEAR.COM J AUGUST 2016 1 43
Hyundai Tucson
Price 32,450 Model 2.0 CRDi Premium SE Driver Esther Neve Why its here Is there more to the Tucson than an attractive pricetag?
1995cc, 4cyl turbodiesel, 4WD, 183bhp, 295lb ft 43.5mpg, 170g/km CO2 062mph in 9.5secs, 125mph 2250kg

A little while ago (issue 277) Ollie need on top of the basic kit. Very little, but, of course,
HELLO Marriage visited Korea. I know, I know, there is something. Two things, in fact.
why do we care? Well, we care because he was there The two extras the Tucson simply cannot do without
to see Hyundais operation. And he saw it through the are a) roof bars (roof rails are, you guessed it, standard)
windscreen of a Tucson a car he was well pleased with. and b) a tow bar (you can order a demountable or fxed
Fast-forward six months, and the wheels that so version; I went for the fxed variety better for protection
impressed Ollie over there have arrived on UK shores in car parks...)
with one (this time in attractive dark silver not the This Tucson is motivated by the high-power 2.0-litre
questionable brown he had in Korea) making its way CRDi engine, which ofers up 183bhp and 295lb ft of
to the TopGear Garage and into my grateful hands. torque. Its a good engine. Quiet, slick and, in conjunction
TGs Tucson is extremely highly specced as standard with the 6spd auto transmission, smooth. Motorway trips
its a Premium SE, which comes with practically the pass with little to no need for unseemly gearbox lurches
entire options list thrown at it. You want touchscreen it just does what it needs to do, when it needs to do it.
satnav? Its got it. You want keyless smart entry? Its got The other important piece of info about TGs Hyundai
it. You want electric seats? You want leather seats? You is its driven wheels yup, weve gone for 4WD. The fuel
want heated seats? You want cooled seats? Its got it all. consumption may sufer minutely as a result, but the
But dont worry, Im not going to take you through peace of mind that comes with having all four wheels
the list of standard equipment... well just nod sagely driven is worth more than the odd quid or two at the
at each other and recognise that theres very little you pump. And, come the winter months, this is one of the
GARAGE LOGBOOK
few cars that will be moving while others spin their Good stuff Bad stuff
wheels in pure frustration. Its a small thing, The wheels. I know
There are many things Im looking forward to but I love the I chose them, but I
electric tailgate. chose beauty and
doing with EJ16 ZKE, from of-roading to towing to So useful. All cars now Im worried
canoe trips down the River Wye (not in the car, obvs...), should have about damaging
one by law them on high kerbs
and Ill be keeping you up to date with how its getting
on with each new challenge. So far, so good with No memory seats.
However, frst on the list is a more prosaic test the the autonomous Now Ive got
front braking everything,
Hyundai is about to be pressed into service delivering system. It seems I want more!
me and three others from London to Bradford and back to be well attuned
in a day so we can attend a christening. Should be simple to town driving

enough, right? Indeed. And its a great opportunity to TOTAL MILEAGE AND OUR MPG
see just how comfy those leather, electric, heated and 0
0 0 2 8 2 3 1 32.3
cooled seats really are.

144 AUGUST 2016 J TOPGEAR.COM

Audi R8
Price 134,520/150,720 Model V10 Plus Driver Ollie Marriage Why its here Is Audis everyday supercar still special to live with?
5204cc V10, 4WD, 602bhp, 413lb ft 23.0mpg, 287g/km CO2 062mph in 3.2secs, 205mph 1454kg

You play with car confgurators, right? If an almost life-size screen, zoom in and out of pictures of it
HELLO not, you should hours of amusement. in various environments (weirdly deserted city, Scottish
Anyway, Audi said we could spec our own R8, at which point
GARAGE LOGBOOK highlands and, yes, thats mine on the moon), and also watch
everyone in the ofce had a go. I was sent PDFs of R8s in Good stuff Bad stuff a video of it driving. I was skeptical about this, but actually
green, stealth ones in grey with small wheels, but the key Want to see Hard to have its really interesting, watching light play over the surfaces,
the full spec? any bad points
point here is that WE HAVE AN R8 COMING! seeing if interior and exterior complement each other. I dont
Go on the Audi at the moment
Its nearly here now in fact, just a month away. And yes, configurator and when Im in a think its perfect yet the resolution and sharpness could be
thats the spec we settled on in the picture above. Vegas type in this code: state of giddy better, and a more interactive Oculus Rift-style VR solution
AMQ9Q54U. excitement, but
Yellow with carbon sideblades and the 20-inch anthracite And yes, we I will make the
that let you actually get into the car would be cool. I suspect
wheels. I know, I know, its loud and shouty. But what you avoided the prediction that Audi is working on something along those lines.
have to remember is that loud and shouty cars stand out on Dynamic fuel economy But this is a useful tool I was going to have the smaller
Steering option. isnt going to
the pages of a magazine. Ara Blue with Ice Silver sideblades If you enjoy be the R8s wheels (dynamic reasons) until I saw the video of it driving
and diamond cut wheels that would be my personal choice, driving, you strongest suit around on screen. Bigger ones it is now, which Im hoping I
would too
bit more sophisticated. wont come to regret. Im doubting Ill regret the rest of it
Anyway, this was all ages ago (the waiting list is nine TOTALBad
MILEAGE
stuffAND OUR MPG its a V10 Plus with sport exhaust, Magnetic Ride, laser lights
months long), so I went down to Audi City in Piccadilly 0 and sport seats. Pig in poo, thats me right now.
0 0 0 0 0 0 1 00.0
where you can confgure your car and broadcast it onto

TOTAL MILEAGE AND OUR MPG

0
Volvo XC90 0 0 8 7 3 5 1 32.8

Price/as tested 50,685/67,145 Model 2.0 D5 AWD Inscription Driver Tom Ford
Why its here Comfortable and calming, but is the XC90 boring?
As we blur past 8,500 miles in the
REPORT 5 XC90, its probably worth taking
stock of some of the smaller features that make
life just a little bit better. How about the three-pin
plug socket in the rear centre console (for childrens
electronics)? Or the neat, stowable booster seat
for small kids that lives in the centre seat squab?
Theres a fold-up boot barge board (with elastic
strap), that keeps shopping from flying around in
the cavernous boot and a little plastic tag that
holds car-park tickets to the windscreen. All tiny
things that scream attention to detail. Thats
without taking into account the seven seats that
will actually take seven adults albeit with no
room for luggage and theres a cupholder each
too. The point is that the XC90 has been designed
by people who have really thought about wants
and needs and not just on the surface.

1969cc, 4cyl twin TD, 4WD, 225bhp, 347lb ft 48.7mpg, 152g/km CO2 062mph in 7.8secs, 137mph 2009kg

TOPGEAR.COM J AUGUST 2016 1 45

Bloodhound
SSC
Driver Mark Chapman
Why its here Its Bloodhound SSC...
Rolls-Royce EJ200 turbofan,
Nammo hybrid rocket, 47,700lb
thrust 200 litres of jet fuel
and 800 litres of rocket fuel
per run 01000mph in
42.0secs, 1050mph 7750kg
Weve signed a
REPORT 15 sponsorship deal.
I know, this might not sound like
much, but the reason you havent
heard anything from me since issue
282 and we had the model, not the
real car, at the Goodwood Festival
of Speed, was due to a lack of funds.
Its been a tough year, but theres
light at the end of the tunnel.
I cant tell you who the sponsor
is until September, but the cash
injection is enough to get us out
to South Africa and probably up
to 800mph. Were confident that
once we start this process other
sponsors will come on board.
The plan now is to resassemble
the team (many of whom have
gone off to work on other projects),
dismantle and rebuild Bloodhound,
test the rockets, and get it ready to
run at Newquay next spring. Take
it from me, this is great news.
Audi A4 Avant
Price 35,430/43,920 Model 2.0 TDI S line Driver Adam Waddell Why its here Is the
all-new A4 really as conservative as it looks? 1968cc, 4cyl turbodiesel, FWD, 187bhp,
295lb ft 65.7mpg, 113g/km CO2 062mph in 7.9secs, 143mph 1530kg
My last long-term test car was a closes quickly and, unlike on the Mondeo, it seems
REPORT 6 Mondeo estate, and though I liked to work reliably. There is even the option of a sensor-
it very much, I couldnt help feeling it was a little controlled tailgate, which means that if your arms
barge-like in its proportions. Depending on your are full of shopping, you simply wiggle your foot
circumstances, thats possibly no bad thing, but under the bumper and the boot will open.
living in London, it felt like a big car. The boot has a very low lip, which makes sliding
Conversely, the A4 feels like a much smaller car. boxes in and out easy, and it also has a clever load
Its 14cm shorter and 10cm narrower than the cover which can raise and lower with the tailgate.
Mondeo, which might not sound like much of a Just dont forget to release it if you have a dog, as
diference, but its enough for you to notice when I do, or the hound will be travelling in darkness!
living with the car in the city. In fact, the A4s For a car that is practical in so many other ways,
dimensions are somewhere between the Focus and its strange the cabin storage is so limited. Youd be
Mondeo estates and yet its boot capacity is greater hard pushed to ft much more than a couple of CDs
than both. But thats not to say and the owners manual in the
that the A4 is small its glovebox; space under the drivers
marginally bigger than both the GARAGE LOGBOOK armrest is limited too.
Mercedes C-Class and BMW That said, the A4 is, in most
3-Series and has slightly more Good stuff Bad stuff ways, well thought out and easy to
luggage space than both as well. The new A4 is Cabin storage is live with. It might not look much
full of nice little disappointing
You could say that the A4 Avant diferent from its predecessor, but
surprises stuff wallet, keys,
has some Tardis-like qualities that doesnt cost phone and its slightly larger, slightly lighter
but its still got nothing on much, but makes sunglasses have and an all-round better car. If
owning the car no obvious home.
the VW Passat estate, which that little bit better Glovebox is tiny
you are after a quality mid-sized
somehow manages to cram estate, then the answer is probably
150 litres more of load capacity New model looks 19-inch, 20-spoke German, and for many reasons the
very similar to alloys fitted to
into a similarly sized body as previous one but my car look great A4 Avant should be near the top of
its German rivals. thats no bad thing but are fiddly as your shortlist. Its just a shame that
hell to clean
But its not just the cars Jaguar has said that there isnt an
dimensions and boot size that TOTAL MILEAGE AND OUR MPG XE estate on the cards anytime
make it practical. Our car has a 0 soon, as that would have made the
0 0 4 5 6 0 1 36.4
power tailgate which opens and choice a whole lot more interesting.
Mazda CX-3
Price 20,495/21,035 Model Sport Nav 2WD Driver Dan Read Why its here Has Mazda made the worlds best little crossover?
1998cc, 4cyl, FWD, 118bhp, 150lb ft 47.9mpg, 137g/km CO2 062mph in 9.0secs, 119mph 1230kg

Theres an obvious problem with small Theres just enough roof room beside the box for a
REPORT 3 SUVs, and its this: you can miniaturise single bike carrier (80, also by Thule), though for two-bike
the car, but you cant shrink the stuf you put inside it. Not
GARAGE LOGBOOK couples theres the option of a more pricey, rear-mounted
until someone fnds a way to turn a Labrador into a pug and Good stuff Bad stuff rack. Getting a bicycle onto the roof isnt the most elegant
a large suitcase into a handbag. The LEDs swivel The fuel flap exercise but you get the hang of it. Still, its allowed me to
as you steer and release lever in
In other words, packing the CX-3 for a weekend away invent my own park-and-ride scheme commuting to the
cause much less the cabin looks
results in some overspill. There are only three of us, eyestrain than a bit cheapo. Do edge of town then doing the fnal miles on two wheels (on
including the animal, but once you add some basic going- xenons cars even need the bike I mean, not driving like a clown).
them anymore?
away things such as four wellies and a soft mountain of The CX-3, plus
The total price, including the roof bars necessary for
dog towels, it gets a little tight and smells a bit weird. roof box, can The wind really mounting everything, comes to 474. Worth it, Id say, for
Time for some accessories, then. The Thule roof box take four fence whistles around the diference the extras make. Besides, if you added them
panels to the the roof bars
(253), an ofcial Mazda option, isnt the sleekest, but it dump, provided above 60mph, at the time of purchase and bundled them into the PCP
adds a useful 400 litres of storage more than doubling those panels are even without the payments, youd barely notice the extra cost.
smashed up box on top
the bootspace alone. Now Im not claiming a roof box is You might have also noticed the new tow bar an
a revolutionary thing, but it makes the most of the mini- TOTAL MILEAGE AND OUR MPG unusual sight on a car weighing just 1,230kg. Why is it there?
SUV idea by adding space only when you need it, rather 0 Well, for my next trick, Ill show you how even the littlest of
0 0 3 6 0 1 1 34.2
than constantly hauling around a bigger, pricier car. SUVs can live a big-car life

TOTAL MILEAGE AND OUR MPG

0
Land Rover Disco Sport 0 0 7 3 9 8 1 33.7

Price/as tested 43,000/51,499 Model HSE Luxury Driver Owen Norris

Why its here Is the Discovery Sport the best of both worlds?
My kids often fall asleep in the car,
REPORT 6 and Ill sit on the drive watching the
onboard TV until they wake up, as its better to leave
them. The other day, the mother-in-law was doing
just that and after doing some chores I heard my
name being shouted. Where was that coming from?
Was I losing my marbles? Probably. It was coming
from the car outside on the drive. She couldnt get
out of the car. The passenger doorhandle wasnt
working. Initially I just thought it must be the child
locks or something, but no, the handle unlocked on
the first pull but didnt open the door on the second
pull as it should do. A quick call to the Land Rover
assistance line, and a very friendly man came and
took off the door panel a few hours later. The cable
for the doorhandle had somehow popped out of its
clip, meaning the cable wasnt tight enough to pull
it. Ill be extra careful not to slam the door in future...

1999cc, 4cyl turbodiesel, AWD, 180bhp, 317lb ft 53.3mpg, 139g/km CO2 062mph in 8.9secs, 117mph 1884kg

TOPGEAR.COM J AUGUST 2016 1 47

Maserati Ghibli
Price/as tested 63,805/75,685 Model S Driver Jason Barlow Why its here Because its a Maserati. Do we need another reason?
2979cc, twin-turbo V6, RWD, 410bhp, 405lb ft 27.2mpg, 242g/km CO2 062mph in 5.0secs, 177mph 1810kg

Two of Italys great brands, Alfa Romeo and
GOODBYE Maserati, are in the midst of a comeback
campaign. The same bloke, Harald Wester, is in charge, and
though the new Giulia is of to a strong start, six months
with the Ghibli suggests that theres still work to be done.
Maserati is the company that made arguably the most
irresistible racing car ever in the shape of the mid-Fifties
250 F, and one of the coolest playboy gran turismos in the
form of the Allemano-bodied 3500 GT.
But the Sixties gets further away every year, and the
latest Ghibli is aimed at company directors, retired
company directors, and people who might be eyeing up the
outstanding new Merc E-Class. Boring but true. The lease
deals on the Ghibli, by the way, are very competitive.
So, should you bother? I cant defnitively answer that,
even after living with one for a while. But I love the name,
the way it looks, the way this V6 petrol sounds especially
the fatulent little parp on the overrun and if Im returning
from a trip, usually after driving something else, knowing
that theres an emozioni blu Maserati waiting defnitely lifts
the spirits. In that sense, its job done.
But there are issues. Bravely shunning the diesel in
favour of the 3.0-litre twin-turbo petrol V6 is fne, but a
non-diesel 20mpg average equates to a range of around 300
miles lots of fuel stops and sustained hits to the wallet.
This would be less annoying if it was the price paid for lots
of sly, long-way-home drives, but the Ghiblis weight, odd
steering and lumpy chassis are all deterrents. The engine
still feels a bit uptight now, even as we go our separate ways.
The day we pitted the Ghibli against the M4 and C63
was proof that the Italians are of the pace when it comes
to suspension kinematics and chassis tuning. Our car had
the optional Skyhook adaptive dampers, but give it some
beans and the Ghibli soon fnds itself out of phase in
vertical movements and, at the best part of two tonnes, too
heavy to work miracles in the lateral sense, either. So you
end up slowing down. (So much for the ally doors and cross
members, or indeed the magnesium designed to lighten the
GARAGE LOGBOOK
dashboard structure.) It also needed new rear tyres after Good stuff Bad stuff
just 6,000 miles, closer inspection revealing an uneven wear A charismatic Its expensive to
that makes me ponder the Ghiblis camber angle. Italian sports run. Not sure if
saloon from the I could do the
And yet. The interior is seductive, the touchscreen most charismatic of diesel Ghibli, but
becomes intuitive, and the B&W audio system is probably all Italian marques. there were plenty
You will never, ever of times having
the best Ive heard (but not the DAB: signal drop-out is
tire of saying the the petrol version
common, but is never restored automatically). Whatever, word Maserati seemed plain daft
the whole experience has a specialness that the 5-Series
It didnt miss a beat The ride and
and XF both of which are superior driving machines during its time here handling. Not bad,
dont serve up. Its about now that I should start wibbling electronics were just not as good as
on about soul, that fg leaf for cars when theyre not quite totally reliable they should be

good enough rationally. For sure, the Ghibli polarises TOTAL MILEAGE AND OUR MPG
opinion, and its far from perfect. In that sense, its not for 0
0 0 7 5 5 0 1 20.7
everybody. But those that do get it, well, theyll really get it.

148 AUGUST 2016 J TOPGEAR.COM

Mazda MX-5
Price 23,295/23,835 Model 2.0 Sport Nav Driver Sam Philip Why its here Is this years simplest sports car also its best sports car?
1998cc, 4cyl, RWD, 158bhp, 147lb ft 40.9mpg, 161g/km CO2 062mph in 7.3secs, 133mph 1075kg

Please, I beseech you. Beat me with prostrate, b) a Borrower, or c) both. Still, such
REPORT 4 a bale of twigs as I beg your mercy, subterfuge is no excuse for my slanderous accusations
for I am a fool. A bufoon. A bonehead. A simpleton ft for
GARAGE LOGBOOK against Mazdas fnest. I can confrm, now I have located
nothing better than to be mulched into budget dogfood Good stuff Bad stuff it, that the MX-5s boot-release button does a fne job
and fed to the beasts of Battersea. Has a boot Boot-release of ofering everything you want a boot-release button
release. Good button sneakily
Last month, I cruelly, scurrilously, half-wittedly to ofer: press it, and the boot pops open and, OK,
thinking, Mazda hidden from
accused Mazda engineers those decent, honest bastions halfwit thats basically all it does, but what more do you need
of society of neglecting to equip the MX-5 with a Fuel economy journalists from a boot-release button?
is impressive:
boot-release handle, thus requiring the driver to retrieve 45mpg-plus is Dinky 45-litre
So, Mazda engineers, TopGear faithful and the rest
the keyless entry fob from his or her pocket should he easily obtained fuel tank limits of you, I sink to my knees and plead your forgiveness
or she wish to gain access to its trunk. range between for my callous, unthinking foolishness, for besmirching
Some 5,000 refills. How
As a handful of diligent, polite TG readers diligently, miles down, about an the very name of Japanese sports cars. The MX-5
politely pointed out to me on social media, the MX-5 mechanically optional touring despite my scurrilous rumour-mongering remains
perfect so far tank, Mazda?
does indeed boast a boot-release button. It is, admittedly, all but beyond reproach, a roadster perfectly pitched
deucedly well hidden, tucked away on the underside of TOTAL MILEAGE AND OUR MPG for British summertime. And even better when you
the lip atop the rear licence plate, somewhere down below 0 discover that its actually entirely straightforward
0 0 5 6 4 0 1 41.1
knee height, entirely obscured from view unless youre a) to retrieve your possessions from its boot

TOTAL MILEAGE AND OUR MPG

0
Ford S-Max 0 0 7 9 9 0 1 34.1

Price/as tested 32,260/39,460 Model Titanium Sport Driver Andy Franklin

Why its here Is the S-Max still the answer for families?
This month has been full of love/
REPORT 4 hate moments regarding visibility
and safety tech. The hate being at the front of the
car and love at the rear.
Due to the cars very boxy design, its desire to have
as much space inside the car as possible and also to
have a sleek look... the front A-pillar is huge. In fact,
its so huge a small window was put in so you can see
cars coming. Yet, despite this, and due to the nature
of the shallow angle and thickness of the pillar, I really
struggle to see oncoming traffic. It can often be
hidden, especially if approaching roundabouts.
On the love side, Ford has included sensors on
the side of the car that give you a warning on your
dash if a car is approaching when youre reversing
out of a space. It is very effective, simple and has
saved me many times. Now all Ford needs to do
is put a sensor on the A-pillar and Ill be happy.

1999cc, 4cyl TD, FWD, 210bhp, 332lb ft 51.4mpg, 144g/km CO2 062mph in 8.8secs, 135mph 1766kg

TOPGEAR.COM J AUGUST 2016 1 49

 GOODBYE

Fleet-footed
JAGUARS MANAGERS SPECIAL IS LEAVING TOPGEAR , BUT
NOT WITHOUT A BIT OF PLAYTIME AT THE TG TRACK...

couple of weeks ago, I had my aggressive angles in the corners, just a beautifully
goodbye spiel for the XE all balanced thing to punt along a car that
GARAGE LOGBOOK
A done and dusted. A trusty, if
unspectacular, companion for
demonstrates in glorious Technicolor that Jag really
knows how to tune a chassis, even for the ordinary
Goodstuff Badstuff
the last 10 months, could do with stuf. Even the overly coarse Ingenium diesel Pop a pair of Tyre pressure
more space, engine is a bit grumbly, blah, blah, blah. engine, one of the low points of the whole package, ear plugs in, get dropped suddenly
peddling and you on left rear
And then, on the drive to the TopGear test track summoned up a spurt of energy, because when you could imagine topped it up and
for the Joy Machines feature you can enjoy in this decide what gear to use yourself, you can keep it in youre driving its holding its PSI
very issue, I decided to show the XE some love. the fat torque band, rather than waiting for the something faster
and sportier. So rattly is the
By love, I mean toggle across to Dynamic mode, 8spd auto to have a quick think then kick down. Neat trick engine on start
switch the ESC to Trac and use the plasticky So impressed was I, that upon arriving at up, Ive had other
Even with the roof staffers convinced
paddles behind the wheel to change gear for Dunsfold I demanded to let the XE loose on the
rack, average theres something
myself. As I was largely using the XE for my hellish track. Perhaps not such a great idea. While I was economy is wrong with it.
nine-mile commute through London, lethargy scything across country lanes on the way there, I above 40mpg There isnt

set in, and I rarely took the XE out of Comfort and
Auto. What a fool Ive been, because its when you
leave Comfort and Auto that the XE comes alive.
We need some context here, because, as
discovered when it split the 3-Series and C-Class
in our wet triple test in Wales, were not talking
about Porsche Cayman levels of steering detail, or
had visions of me finging it around, catching slides TOTAL MILEAGE AND OUR MPG
with a deft fick of my wrists, and generally proving 0
to everyone that my 2.0-litre diesel middle
0 0 7 3 8 7 1 41.5
managers special wasnt so ordinary after all.
Trouble is, at much higher speeds the front tyres
simply cant hold on so the whole thing melts into a
mess of understeer, while the engine doesnt have

IrarelytooktheXEoutofComfort
and Auto. What a fool Ive been
anywhere near enough grunt to unstick the rears.
Experiment over and erased from my memory.
When I want to recall the XEs dynamics, its the
road drive Ill call upon.
Its fair to say the XE was a bit of a slow burner
in the TG ofce. To begin with it was eschewed in
favour of anything more exciting, but I noticed
IMAGES: ROWAN HORNCASTLE
once someone tried it, they kept coming back for
more. Especially when they had some miles to kill
at the weekend, or a smart engagement to attend.
And then when the double bike rack was added,
sporty types started to get in on the action, too.
But I spent the most time in it, covered the most
miles, transported the most friends, bikes, bags and
cats. And refecting on the whole ownership
proposition, it is a very solid all-rounder, but not
quite as dazzling as its initial reviews suggested.
Its so often the case with a car that captures the
medias attention and arrives in showrooms
surfng on a wave of goodwill so large it couldnt
possibly fail. And there were reliability issues too
dislodged front suspension took it out of action
for three weeks, and the satnav needed fashing to
stop it freezing on a regular basis.
I shall collate my opinions into a checklist for
the next-generation XE. (Who knows? Someone
from Jaguar might even be reading this). Keep
the chassis and steering as is, but sharpen up the
XE2.0dR-SPORT
Driver Jack Rix
Why its here Has Jag
really cracked the
3-Series thing?
Price 34,775/43,815
1999cc, 4cyl TD, RWD,
178bhp, 317lb ft
67.4mpg, 111g/km CO2
062mph in 7.4secs,
140mph 1565kg
gearbox slightly (new software should be available
by then). Theres nothing wrong with the diesels
acceleration, but sharper throttle response and
improved refnement, especially on start-up,
wouldnt go amiss.
A rethink of the packaging is a must the
rear seats are too cramped for actual-sized people
on long journeys. Surely a couple of inches of
knee- and headroom can be scraped together from
somewhere? And then theres the interior: logically
laid out and easy to use, but lacking slightly in
quality and detail next to the Germans, and its
about time Jag made its top-fight InControl Touch
Pro system standard on everything it builds.
So there we have it, its goodbye to the XE
my frst long-termer since joining the TopGear
team in August last year, and its served me very
well indeed. Next up, something altogether less
practical and sensible my wife is having a baby
in December so I need to take my chance while
I still can
TOPGEAR.COM J AUGUST 2016 1 51
Peugeot 308 GTi 270
Price 28,155/29,920 Model GTi 270 Driver Ollie Kew Why its here Does Peugeots first family hot hatch in two decades cut la moutarde?
1598cc, 4cyl turbo, FWD, 266bhp, 243lb ft 47.0mpg, 139g/km CO2 062mph in 6.0secs, 155mph 1205kg

You join me in Belgium, at the World The main thing I learned, Im afraid, is that the
REPORT 2 Rallycross. What a spectator sport 308 GTi 270 has ofcially the worst seats of any hot
this is. Jumps, paint-swapping, drifts, and mid-engined hot
GARAGE LOGBOOK hatch. An odd thing to lead on? Look, I like lots about this
hatchbacks that could outrun a Le Mans prototype on dirt. Good stuff Bad stuff car, but when youre in the saddle for hours at a time the
Its all noodly turns and switchbacks cunningly heaped to Stereo isnt a The seats. driving position really counts, and the 308s fat, high-set
premium job Critical to get
keep the action in visual range of one sweep of the head. seats stitched with thick but squidgy afterthought bolsters
but is pleasingly right in a hot
Peugeot Sport obviously liked the look of it, because it powerful hatch. Peugeot are proper duds. After fve months clasped in the Type-R
entered three 208 GTis into the fray. If any motorsport anyway. Like the really hasnt Civics superb bucket I wasnt used to getting backside-
car, really
could actually sell road cars, it would be WRX. Do you numbing pins n needles before Id even boarded the
want a fast car, a nigh-on indestructible car, a car driven Satnav. 32.8mpg from a Channel Tunnel.
by nine-time WRC king Sbastien Loeb? Of course you do. Once youve 1.6 on the mway. You couldnt blame the kidney-kneading massage
deciphered the How? Worse
But the 308 GTi is the newest road-going fruit of Peugeot menus, it was than TGs old function, because its worse than useless. It just slowly
Sports labours, and frankly with all of its concessions to really accurate, AWD Golf R and infates the already lacking lumbar support, like youre
dodging traffic Civic Type-R
everyday comfort, its the Peugeot youd want to drive from Sophie sat on the BFGs lap while hes having a snooze.
London to the Circuit Jules Tacheny, Belgium and back TOTAL MILEAGE AND OUR MPG Another bit of odd standard kit Id bin, and drop the price.
to watch its 600bhp cousins. You can learn an awful lot 0 So, the GTis an unimpressive GT. Like its WRX cousins,
0 0 2 2 4 7 1 31.4
about a car in three countries and 600 miles. it prefers going totally fat out. Roll on next month...

TOTAL MILEAGE AND OUR MPG

0
Renault Kadjar 0 0 4 8 2 1 1 38.4

Price/as tested 23,595/24,120 Model Dynamique S Nav dCi 110 Auto EDC
Driver Simon Carrington Why its here Can it out-Qashqai a Qashqai?
Renault wants me to be a better Second, the acceleration is really disconcerting.
REPORT 3 driver. As its a sensible SUV, sadly The slightest touch on the accelerator sends the
this doesnt mean quicker or slidier, but more frugal. revs shooting, and because the gear change is
And it wants to tell me how Im doing: when I turn too slow, I seem to be consistently at high revs in low
off the engine, Im given a rating for acceleration gears. Its infuriating.
and anticipation. Ive been stuck on 2.5 out of 5. Is this a Renault conspiracy, though? Because
But the car isnt helping me to improve. First, the after two months, Ive learnt to reduce the revs and
stop/start system is so rubbish, Ive had to restart to am driving really slowly. Sure, its more efficient, but
engine manually in London traffic on a few occasions. its no fun. And worst of all... Im still 2.5 out of 5.

1461cc, 4cyl TD, FWD, 108bhp, 184lb ft 72.4mpg, 103g/km CO2 062mph in 11.7secs, 112mph 1421kg

152 AUGUST 2016 J TOPGEAR.COM

BMW M3
Price 56,505/64,560 Model M3 Driver Ollie Marriage Why its here Which side of the lairy/liveable line does the M3 live on?
2979cc, twin-turbo in-line 6cyl, RWD, 425bhp, 405lb ft 32.1mpg, 232g/km CO2 062mph in 4.1secs, 155mph 1560kg

It was utterly inevitable really. It
REPORT 7 was tipping down, and Dunsfold is
genuinely hazardous when its streaming wet like
driving on patches of ice. And Matt LeBlanc was in my
M3, and as we know by now, Toothless isnt the most
forgiving of cars to go skidding about in.
Wed had a chat about it, and Id softened the
suspension and put the traction into M Dynamic mode
it allows a bit of slip, but will save your bacon if it
needs to. The wildcard to throw in at this point is that
Matt was neither alone nor unobserved in my car. No,
this was just before the new series started up and he was
being interviewed for Good Morning America. Broadcast
on ABC, its the biggest morning show in the world.
In the passenger seat was a lady called Lama Hasan,
who had never been on a track before and clearly had
no idea what shed let herself in for. From Matts point
of view, this was just as well, since he came in after
one lap complaining that the traction control was too
intrusive and would I mind if he turned it of. Of
course not. He vanished of in a vapour of water
and spinning wheels, Lama was pinned back in her
seat, and I bet the producer that Matt would spin.
Probably at Chicago. Right on both counts.
Lama assumed it was Matts great driving, and to
give him his due he completed a full 360, came back
straight and carried on down towards Hammerhead
without ever coming to a halt. Fair play.
Due to this and one or two other exploits, Toothless
will soon be needing new rubber. The Continental
CSC5Ps have lasted about 7,000 miles and are
approaching the wear indicators. I am as surprised
as anyone to report that they have worn pretty evenly
all-round its a rear-drive car with 425bhp and Im
not averse to a bit of oversteer. That said, Im not
that impressed with how long the rubber has lasted
I put almost double that on an RS6 with Dunlop
Sport Maxx GTs.
GARAGE LOGBOOK
And theres another rubber issue as well. Theres Good stuff Bad stuff
been a lot of creaking from the door seals lately. Ive Matt LeBlanc likes Squeaking
had a nose about on a few forums, and this is a known my car. Really door seals have
likes it, despite it manifested
BMW issue. Some blame the exterior Shadowline trim spitting him off themselves over
rubbing on the seals, others rubber rubbing against at Chicago. Then the last four to six
again, maybe weeks. Hopefully
rubber. To my ears it sounded more like the latter.
it was because the fix will last
It had got pretty irritating constant squeaking hed spun it that he
and creaking on bumpy roads made me concerned felt the need to be Economy not
nice about it good this month.
that somehow the chassis had developed a bit of fex, Im blaming
but no, according to a few sources all thats needed Matt LeBlanc
is a good clean and a squirt of GT85 bike lubricant.
Apparently, BMW dealers will sell you a pot of TOTAL MILEAGE AND OUR MPG
something vastly overpriced, but on this occasion 0
0 1 3 8 7 1 1 22.8
Im giving forum advice a whirl.

TOPGEAR.COM J AUGUST 2016 153

 ALL NEW
RIS DRIVES
CHRIS HAR
E X C L U S
I V E L Y O N

.com
 PRODUCED BY

Everything you need to know about buying new cars

ALFA ROMEO
TopGear on Alfa Romeo:
The best badge in the business, now worn by two hatches
and a sports car that divides opinion. History repeating?

4C
Lotus by Alfa, with the odd Alfa foible to
boot. But when a cars this pretty, light
and engaging, you just want one.
PRICE 062 MPH BHP LB FT MPG CO2 RATING
1.7T Coupe 52,505 4.5 160 240 258 41.5 157 5/10
1.7T Spider 59,505 4.5 160 240 258 41.5 157 7/10
Euro NCAP n/a, LxWxH in mm: 3989x1864x1183, 40-litre fuel tank,
110-litre boot, 1 engine, 1 trim, 2 models in total.

GIULIA
At long last, Alfas back in the small sports
saloon game with an agile, comfy, RWD
blinder. Wonders shall never cease.
PRICE 062 MPH BHP LB FT MPG CO2 RATING
2.9 BiTurbo QV 59,000 3.9 190 510 442 TBA 189 9/10
Euro NCAP LxWxH in mm: 4639x1426x1873, 58-litre fuel
tank, TBA-litre boot, 1 engine, 1 trim1, 1 model in total.

ARIEL
TopGear on Ariel:
Artfully shaped metalwork containing frenzied engines
and a man clinging on for dear life. Hectic, addictive.

ATOM
The single most insane car on sale. Even
the regular version will redene your
sense of whats possible in a car.

TG SPEAKS SOME WORDS... YELLOW BAR FUEL ECONOMY 2.0 245

PRICE 062 MPH BHP
32,255 3.2 141 245 154
LB FT MPG CO2
N/A N/A
RATING
9/10
Our verdict on the brand ...about the car Denotes the TG Favourites Less is, um, more
2.0 SC 350 R 64,800 2.5 155 330 243 N/A N/A 9/10
MODEL CHOICE CRASH TESTING BOOT VOLUME NOT EVERY ENGINE Euro NCAP n/a, LxWxH in mm: 3410x1890x1195, 42-litre fuel tank,
Just the ones that count You want five stars here Two numbers? Seats up/down is available with every trim! n/a-litre boot, 4 engines, 4 trims, 4 models in total.

NOMAD
Part special forces all-terrain fast attack
vehicle, part latter-day beach buggy. This
is Tamiya made real, and its mega.
PRICE 062 MPH BHP LB FT MPG CO2 RATING
2.4 Nomad 33,000 3.4 125 235 221 N/A N/A 10/10

Fiat 124 Spider p160

Euro NCAP n/a, LxWxH in mm: 3215x1850x1425, 42-litre fuel tank,
n/a-litre boot, 1 engine, 1 trim, 1 model in total.

PRICE 062 MPH BHP LB FT MPG CO2 RATING ASTON MARTIN

TopGear on Aston Martin:
1.4T MultiAir 19,545 7.5 134 140 177 44.1 148 8/10 Achingly cool cars that make up in beauty and charisma
what they lack in technical and dynamic ability.

VANTAGE
Tesla Model X p170 PRICE 062 MPH BHP LB FT MPG CO2 RATING
The car that took on the 911. And lost.
But its an Aston, which means brogues
to the Porsches two-a-penny trainers.

PRICE 062 MPH BHP LB FT MPG CO2 RATING

P90D 100,180 3.8 155 773 713 N/A 0 9/10 4.7 V8 S 92,795 4.8 189 430 361 20.4 321 8/10
6.0 V12 S 140,495 3.7 205 573 458 17.2 388 8/10
6.0 V12 S Rster 149,495 3.9 201 573 458 19.2 343 8/10
Euro NCAP n/a, LxWxH in mm: 4380x1870x1260, 80-litre fuel
tank, 300-litre boot, 4 engines, 2 trims, 4 models in total.

TOPGEAR.COM AUGUST 2016 155

 DB9 A4 TT
ASTON MARTIN-BAC
Actually a blend of DB9 and now-defunct Meet the regional bosss new A4. Just It wont chase away the old stereotypes,
Virage. Not without charm, but next- like the regional bosss old A4. Its lighter but the all-new TT is a big step forward.
generation DB11 is imminent. and smarter. Unlike the regional boss. Interior is genuinely cool.

PRICE 062 MPH BHP LB FT MPG CO2 RATING PRICE 062 MPH BHP LB FT MPG CO2 RATING PRICE 062 MPH BHP LB FT MPG CO2 RATING
6.0 GT 140,000 4.5 183 547 457 19.8 333 7/10 1.4 TFSI SE 25,900 8.7 130 150 185 53.3 126 7/10 2.0 TFSI Sport 30,650 6.0 155 230 273 46.3 141 8/10
Euro NCAP n/a, LxWxH in mm: 4710x1880x1270, 80-litre fuel tank, 2.0 TFSI SE 27,700 7.2 149 190 236 50.4 127 7/10 2.0 TDI ultra 30,545 7.1 150 184 280 62.8 116 8/10
175-litre boot, 1 engine, 1 trim, 1 model in total. 2.0 TDI SE 29,150 8.9 130 150 236 74.3 99 7/10 Euro NCAP LxWxH in mm: 4177x1832x1353, 50-litre fuel
tank, 305/712-litre boot, 3 engines, 3 trims, 14 models in total.
VANQUISH 3.0 TDI q S Line 38,950 5.3 155 272 443 55.4 134 7/10

Overhauled DBS is another evolutionary

Euro NCAP LxWxH in mm: 4726x1842x1427, 58-litre fuel
tank, 480-litre boot, 6 engines, 3 trims, 20 models in total.
R8
step from Aston and is likely to struggle No V8, no manual, only a faint restyle?
to broaden the customer base. Has Audi dropped a dicult second
album clanger? Nope, not at all.
PRICE 062 MPH BHP LB FT MPG CO2 RATING
DATA IN NUMBERS: LAUGHING GAS
V12 Coupe 195,950 3.8 201 576 465 22.1 298 8/10 Audi A4 1.4 TFSI 150 CO2 126g/km PRICE 062 MPH BHP LB FT MPG CO2 RATING
5.2 V10 119,520 3.5 200 540 398 23.9 275 9/10
V12 Volante 207,950 4.0 197 576 465 22.1 298 8/10 Audi A4 2.0 TFSI 190 CO2 127g/km
5.2 V10 Plus 134,520 3.2 205 610 413 22.8 289 9/10
Euro NCAP n/a, LxWxH in mm: 4692x1912x1294, 78-litre fuel tank, Kia Soul 1.6 CRDI CO2 128g/km
368-litre boot, 1 engine, 1 trim, 2 models in total. Euro NCAP n/a, LxWxH in mm: 4470x1240x1940, 83/73-litre fuel

A5
tank, 112/338-litre boots, 2 engines, 2 trims, 2 models in total.

DATA IN NUMBERS: ROOFLESS CUT An artful lesson in understatement, Audis

Q3
A5 does desirable without the ash. Unless This is the car Audi says rivals the Range
Vanquish Coupe top speed 201mph you spec it in white with 20s. Fool. Rover Evoque. Oh dear. A high-rise Golf
with an inferiority complex.
Vanquish Volante top speed 197mph PRICE 062 MPH BHP LB FT MPG CO2 RATING
2.0 TFSI q SE PRICE 062 MPH BHP LB FT MPG CO2 RATING
RAPIDE S 33,995 6.4 155 225 258 42.8 152
3.0 TFSI 333 S5 43,795 4.9 155 333 324 34.9 190
7/10
7/10 2.0 TDI quat SE 29,550 7.9 136 184 170 53.3 139 6/10
Aston has ensured the latest Rapide is, 3.0 TDI quattro 41,345 5.8 155 245 358 49.6 149 Euro NCAP LxWxH in mm: 4385x1831x1608, 64-litre fuel
err, rapid-er by giving it the engine from 7/10
tank, 420/1325-litre boot, 4 engines, 3 trims, 15 models in total.
the latest Vanquish. Better than ever. Euro NCAP n/a, LxWxH in mm: 4630x1860x1370, 65-litre fuel tank,
455/829-litre boot, 8 engines, 5 trims, 45 models in total. Q5
6.0 V12
PRICE 062 MPH BHP LB FT
149,500 4.4 203 560 465 21.9 300
MPG CO2 RATING
8/10 A6 Audis small SUV is only small because
the Q7 is the size of sub-Saharan Africa.
Euro NCAP n/a, LxWxH in mm: 5019x1929x1360, 90.5-litre fuel tank, Audis photocopier styling department Its small inside though, if that helps.
317/886-litre boot, 1 engine, 1 trim, 1 model in total.
has pulled another one out the bag. Still
not up to 5-Series standards.
PRICE 062 MPH BHP LB FT MPG CO2 RATING

AUDI RS 6
PRICE 062 MPH BHP LB FT MPG CO2 RATING
SQ5
2.0 TDI q SE
45,930 5.1 155 313
33,555 8.4 130 190
479 41.5 179
295 49.6 148
7/10
5/10
TopGear on Audi: 79,095 3.9 155 560 516 28.8 229 8/10
Aspirational premium brand is inventing so many niches, if 2.0 TDI ultra SE 32,295 8.4 144 190 280 65.7 113 6/10 Euro NCAP LxWxH in mm: 4630x1880x1650, 75-litre fuel
theres not one for you today, there will be by tomorrow. tank, 540/1560-litre boot, 6 engines, 3 trims, 16 models in total.
3.0 BiTDI SE Av 48,520 5.2 155 320 479 45.6 164 7/10
A1 Euro NCAP LxWxH in mm: 4910x1870x1460, 65-litre fuel Q7
tank, 535/1680-litre boot, 8 engines, 6 trims, 23 models in total. About time too. New Q7 smaller on the
Essentially a posh Fabia, the A1 is prince to outside, bigger where it matters. Margin-
Skodas pauper. Or maybe the emperors
new clothes. Either way, its not 20k good. A7 ally less oensive, too.
Audis niche-busting continues. The A7 is
basically an A8 hatch, with the added sug- PRICE 062 MPH BHP LB FT MPG CO2 RATING
PRICE 062 MPH BHP LB FT MPG CO2 RATING gestion that you might drive yourself. 3.0 TDI 272 SE 50,345 6.3 145 272 442 49.5 149 8/10
1.4 TFSI Sport 16,905 8.8 127 125 147 57.6 115 6/10
Euro NCAP LxWxH in mm: 5053x1963x1730, 100-litre fuel
S1 25,600 5.8 155 231 272 40.3 162 8/10 PRICE 062 MPH BHP LB FT MPG CO2 RATING
tank, 295/2075-litre boot, 1 engine, 2 trims, 2 models in total.
Euro NCAP LxWxH in mm: 3973x1740x1416, 45-litre fuel RS 7 85,035 3.9 155 560 516 29.7 221 7/10
tank, 270/920-litre boot, 4 engines, 4 trims, 14 models in total. 3.0 BiTDI S Line 57,235 5.2 155 320 479 46.3 162 7/10 BAC
A3 Euro NCAP n/a, LxWxH in mm: 4970x1911x1420, 73-litre fuel
tank, 535/1390-litre boot, 6 engines, 5 trims, 13 models in total.
TopGear on BAC:
A car so good to drive that youll need to take everyone you
New A3, old looks. But new bits under- know out for a ride in it. Oh, wait
neath and a really rather lovely cabin.
Slight naness standard with every model. A8
Will the A8 ever escape the S-Class's
shadow? Probably not, but then on this
MONO
PRICE 062 MPH BHP LB FT MPG CO2 RATING evidence, it doesn't deserve to. Some say its too extreme. All we know is
1.4 TFSI Sport 21,565 9.2 128 125 147 55.4 117 6/10 that Stig once voted it his car of the year.
And that some people are fools.
e-tron 35,690 7.6 138 204 258 177.6 37 8/10 PRICE 062 MPH BHP LB FT MPG CO2 RATING
S3 31,235 5.2 155 300 280 40.4 162 7/10 W12 99,265 4.6 155 500 461 25.0 264 6/10 PRICE 062 MPH BHP LB FT MPG CO2 RATING
2.0 TDI Sport 23,865 8.6 134 150 236 68.9 106 7/10 4.2 TDI SE Ex L 78,140 4.9 155 385 626 38.7 190 6/10 2.3 280 150,000 2.8 170 280 206 N/A N/A 9/10
Euro NCAP LxWxH in mm: 4230x1770x1420, 45-litre fuel Euro NCAP n/a, LxWxH in mm: 5135/5270x1949x1460, 90-litre Euro NCAP n/a, LxWxH in mm: 3952x1800x1110, 35-litre fuel tank,
tank, 365/1,100-litre boot, 10 engines, 6 trims, 70 models in total. fuel tank, 520-litre boot, 5 engines, 6 trims, 17 models in total. NA-litre boot, 1 engine, 1 trim, 1 model in total.

FOR ALL THE FACTS AND STATS YOU NEED TO KNOW ABOUT EVERY CAR ON SALE IN THE UK GO TO TOPGEAR.COM/REVIEWS
BENTLEY 1-SERIES

BENTLEY-BMW
TOP 5
Perhaps the pick of the premium hatches
TopGear on Bentley: right now, the 1-Series thrashes the opposi-
Speak softly and carry a big stick, as W. O. Bentley tion for driving. M135i is bargainous gem.
literally never said.

CONTINENTAL GT TRACK DAY TOOLS 116d ED+ 3d

PRICE 062 MPH BHP LB FT
22,180 10.4 121 116 191 83.1 89
MPG CO2 RATING
7/10
Way better than the David Dickinson 120d Sport 5d 25,990 7.1 142 190 295 65.7 114 7/10
image would suggest, the Conti GT is a
masterclass in modern British style. M135i 3d 32,020 5.1 155 326 332 35.3 188 9/10
1 BAC MONO Euro NCAP LxWxH in mm: 4329x1765x1421, 50/52-litre fuel
PRICE 062 MPH BHP LB FT MPG CO2 RATING Price 150,000 Specs 280bhp, tank, 360/1200-litre boot, 11 engines, 6 trims, 54 models in total.
206 lb ft, 0-62mph 2.8secs,
4.0 V8 S
6.0 W12 Speed
150,740 4.3 192 528 502 26.7 246
169,475 4.0 206 635 605 19.5 338
8/10
8/10 VMax 170mph, N/A mpg,
2-SERIES
2-Series follows BMWs new naming
6.0 W12 Conv 166,775 4.4 195 575 517 19.0 347 8/10 CO2 N/A g/km strategy, but is very much its own car.
Euro NCAP n/a, LxWxH in mm: 4806x1920x1400, 90-litre fuel tank,
And a rather good one at that.
358-litre boot, 5 engines, 5 trims, 9 models in total. Its made by some men in Cheshire. It will make you feel
like Ayrton Senna. It looks like a formula racer. And it PRICE 062 MPH BHP LB FT MPG CO2 RATING
FLYING SPUR really doesnt matter if you have no mates. 220d Sport 27,700 7.2 143 184 280 58.9 125 7/10
Brilliant in many ways, but somehow fails M235i 35,235 5.0 155 326 332 34.9 189 8/10
to capture the essence of luxury as well
as the Conti coupe.
2 ARIEL ATOM 3.5 M2 44,080 4.5 155 365 369 33.2 199 9/10
Price 38,000 Specs 310bhp, Euro NCAP n/a LxWxH in mm: 4432x1774x1418, 52-litre fuel
tank, 390-litre boot, 6 engines, 4 trims, 11 models in total.
PRICE 062 MPH BHP LB FT MPG CO2 RATING
169 lb ft, 0-62mph 2.7secs,
4.0 V8
6.0 W12
143,740 4.9 183 507 487 25.9 254 6/10
VMax 155mph, N/A mpg, 3-SERIES
154,475 4.3 200 625 590 19.0 343 6/10 Not only the benchmark small exec, but
CO2 N/A g/km one of the best saloons of all. Recently
Euro NCAP n/a, LxWxH in mm: 5299x1976x1488, 90-litre fuel
facelifted, so even more excellent.
tank, 475-litre boot, 2 engines, 2 trims, 4 models in total.
It changed how we think about track-day cars. Now in its
fourth generation, the Somerset lightweight is just getting
MULSANNE better and better. Better still as a jacked-up Nomad... 340i M Sport
PRICE
38,815
062 MPH BHP
5.2 155
LB FT MPG
326 332 36.7 179
CO2 RATING
7/10
The replacement for the Arnage, and
every bit as opulent and grand. Recent M3 56,605 4.3 155 431 406 32.1 204 8/10
facelift hasnt done the styling any favours.
3 CATERHAM 420R 316d SE 27,620 10.9 126 118 192 68.9 109 7/10
PRICE 062 MPH BHP LB FT MPG CO2 RATING
Price 32,990 Specs 210bhp, 320d ED Sport 31,170 8.0 143 163 280 68.9 108 9/10
6.75 V8 230,535 5.1 184 512 752 16.8 393 7/10 150 lb ft, 0-62mph 3.8secs, 330d xDrive M 39,600 5.3 155 258 413 53.3 139 9/10
6.75 V8 Speed 253,175 4.8 190 537 812 19.3 342 7/10 VMax 136mph, N/A mpg, Euro NCAP LxWxH in mm: 4624x1811x1429, 57/60-litre fuel
tank, 480-litre boot, 10 engines, 7 trims, 66 models in total.
CO2 N/A g/km
4-SERIES
Euro NCAP n/a, LxWxH in mm: 5570x1930x1530, 96-litre fuel tank,
443-litre boot, 1 engine, 3 trims, 3 models in total.
New 420R is Caterhams mid-ranger, above the 360
The name may have changed but the
BENTAYGA and below the manic 620. Still light, fast and nimble. games still the same. Smooth, genteel,
rened and sport-ish.
Bentley aims to clobber the Range Rover And still nowhere to keep a dog.
with its fearsomely quick, luxurious and
expensive Bentayga SUV. PRICE 062 MPH BHP LB FT MPG CO2 RATING
4 LOTUS EXIGE S 430i Luxury 36,025 5.9 155 252 258 43.5 151 8/10
PRICE 062 MPH BHP LB FT MPG CO2 RATING Price 54,500 Specs 345bhp, 440i M Sport 42,235 5.2 155 326 332 36.7 179 8/10
6.0 TSI W12 161,375 4.1 187 600 664 21.6 296 8/10 295 lb ft, 0-62mph 4.0secs, M4 57,065 4.3 155 431 406 32.1 204 7/10
Euro NCAP n/a, LxWxH in mm: 5140x1998x1742, 85-litre fuel tank, VMax 170mph, 28mpg, M4 GTS 121,780 3.8 190 500 443 34.0 194 8/10
431-litre boot, 1 engine, 1 trim, 1 model in total.
CO2 236g/km 420d SE 32,645 7.3 149 190 295 67.3 111 8/10

BMW The last one was as raw as sashimi. This ones more
grown up, and now has a supercharged V6, but can still
Euro NCAP n/a LxWxH in mm: 4638x1825x1362, 57/60-litre fuel
tank, 445/480-litre boot, 8 engines, 7 trims, 87 models in total.
TopGear on BMW:
i cars good, 2-Series Active Tourer bad. Well leave you to spot an apex from a mile of. Lotus still knows its onions. 5-SERIES
put the rest of BMWs range on the swing-o-meter. Remains a top-notch exec thanks to
cosseting cabin and ride. Big, smooth and
ZENOS E10 S brilliant - why d'you need a 7-Series?
i3 5
Price 29,995 Specs 250bhp,
The future is here, its electric and we love PRICE 062 MPH BHP LB FT MPG CO2 RATING
it. The rest are now playing catch up. From 295lb ft, 0-62mph 4.0secs,
535i Luxury 44,845 5.7 155 306 295 37.7 174 7/10
a long way behind. VMax 145mph, N/A mpg,
M5 73,985 4.3 155 560 501 28.5 232 8/10
CO2 N/A g/km
PRICE 062 MPH BHP LB FT MPG CO2 RATING 520d SE 32,615 7.9 147 190 295 65.7 114 8/10
i3 EV 30,980 7.2 93 170 184 n/a 0 8/10 If the Ford Focus ST-engined E10 is anything to go 530d Tour SE 43,905 5.9 155 258 413 53.3 139 9/10
i3 EV REx 34,130 7.9 93 170 184 470 13 9/10 by, British upstart Zenos will be around for a while yet. 535d Lux 49,070 5.3 155 313 464 52.3 143 8/10
Euro NCAP LxWxH in mm: 3999x11775x1578, 9-litre fuel Actual windscreen makes it semi-usable on the road. Euro NCAP LxWxH in mm: 4907x1860x1460, 70-litre fuel
tank(REx), 260-litre boot, 2 engines, 4 trims, 8 models in total. tank, 520-litre boot, 13 engines, 6 trims, 62 models in total.

FOR ALL THE FACTS AND STATS YOU NEED TO KNOW ABOUT EVERY CAR ON SALE IN THE UK GO TO TOPGEAR.COM/REVIEWS
 6-SERIES X4
BMW-CHEVROLET

TOP 5
Unusually, BMW launched the 6 as a People with the hides of rhinos and a
Cabrio rst. Also unusually, the coupes a passion for obnoxiousness bought the
bit... rubbish. GC 4dr is much better. X6, so we now have to suer an X4. Joy.

PRICE 062 MPH BHP LB FT MPG CO2 RATING PRICE 062 MPH BHP LB FT MPG CO2 RATING
650i Sport Con 75,700 4.6 155 450 480 30.7 214 5/10 4-SEAT CONVERTIBLES xDrive30d XLi 45,515 5.8 145 258 413 49.6 149 4/10
M6 Coupe 93,165 4.2 155 560 501 28.5 232 6/10 Euro NCAP n/a, LxWxH in mm: 4671x1915x1624, 67-litre fuel tank,
500/1400-litre boot, 3 engines, 2 trims, 6 models in total.
640d GC SE 62,295 5.4 155 313 464 50.4 148 9/10
1 ROLLS-R0YCE DAWN
M6 GC 95,565 4.2 155 560 501 28.5 232 8/10 Price 250,000 (est) Specs
Euro NCAP n/a, LxWxH in mm: 4890x1890x1370, 70-litre fuel tank,
563bhp, 575lb ft, 0-62mph 4.9secs,
DATA IN NUMBERS: LESS IS MORE
460-litre boot, 4 engines, 3 trims, 19 models in total.
VMax 155mph, 19.9mpg, BMW X4 xDrive35d M Sport 49,615
7-SERIES CO2 330g/km BMW 435d xDrive Gran Coupe M Sport 45,745
Never as attractive a proposition as the
Merc S-Class, the 7 is phenomenally
good without anyone really giving a toss.
Essentially a decapitated Wraith (but in reality much, X5
much more), the Dawn is how luxury should be done in Very good on tarmac, assuming you
PRICE 062 MPH BHP LB FT MPG CO2 RATING
2016. Its not about the tech, its all in the tailoring. want to pummel it into submission. Just
like with those building contracts, yeah?
730d 64,530 6.1 155 269 458 60.1 124 7/10
740Li M Sport 75,715 5.6 155 331 332 40.4 164 7/10 2 PORSCHE 911 PRICE 062 MPH BHP LB FT MPG CO2 RATING
Euro NCAP n/a, LxWxH in mm: 5098/5238x1901x1467, 78-litre fuel CARRERA CABRIOLET M50d 65,240 5.3 155 381 545 42.8 173 6/10
tank, 515-litre boot, 4 engines, 2 trims, 14 models in total. Price 85,798 Specs 370bhp, xDrive30d SE 49,665 6.8 142 258 413 47.9 156 7/10
Z4 332lb ft, 0-62mph 4.8secs, VMax
181mph, 33.2mpg, CO2 195g/km
Euro NCAP n/a, LxWxH in mm: 4896x1938x1762, 85-litre fuel tank,
650/1870-litre boot, 3 engines, 3 trims, 5 models in total.
How does BMW get the Z4 wrong? It
looks right, but doesnt drive right. The
Some people think a soft-top 911 is just plain wrong.
Boxster kicks it in the tenders.
Those people are wrong. A proper sports car, just as
DATA IN NUMBERS: M OR M?
PRICE 062 MPH BHP LB FT MPG CO2 RATING wonderful to drive as the coupe. Now with turbos. BMW X5 M50d 65,240, 42.8mpg. 0-62mph 5.3secs
sDrive18i 29,695 7.9 137 154 177 41.5 159 4/10 BMW X5 M 90,200, 25.4mpg, 0-62mph 4.2secs
sDrive28i 39,345 5.7 155 245 258 41.5 159 5/10
3 BENTLEY CONTI GT V8
Euro NCAP LxWxH in mm: 4240x1790x1290, 61-litre fuel tank,
180/310-litre boot, 6 engines, 2 trims, 9 models in total.
Price 154,500 Specs 500bhp,
487lb ft, 0-62mph 4.7secs,
CATERHAM
i8 VMax 187mph, 25.9mpg,
TopGear on Caterham:
Small, light and nimble 50-year old cars remain all that.
A supercar for spacemen. Theres noth- But they didnt have to negotiate X6s in 1965.
ing else like it: this is a performance car
CO2 254g/km
that makes a Prius look like a gas-guzzler.
The Conti GT has always been a bit Premier League, but SEVEN
PRICE 062 MPH BHP LB FT MPG CO2 RATING there are few better platforms from which to enjoy the As old as the hills, yet as energetic as
a spring lamb. The small, light, imsy
i8 104,540 4.4 155 367 236 134.5 49 9/10 sights, smells and sounds of the outdoor world than this. template still serves the 7 well.
Euro NCAP n/a, LxWxH in mm: 4689x1942x1298, 42-litre fuel
tank, TBA-litre boot, 1 engine, 1 trim, 1 model in total.
4 BMW 428I CABRIO 0.8 160
PRICE 062 MPH BHP LB FT MPG CO2 RATING
18,995 6.9 100 80 79 57.6 114 9/10
X1 Price 37,720 Specs 242bhp,
2.0 360 26,995 4.8 130 183 143 n/a n/a 7/10
New X1 gets FWD platform from 258lb ft, 0-62mph 6.4secs,
620 R 49,995 2.8 155 310 219 n/a n/a 8/10
2-Series Active Tourer. Is less objection- VMax 155mph, 41.5mpg,
able than old one in every single way. Euro NCAP n/a, LxWxH in mm: 3530x1690x1140, 36-litre fuel tank,
CO2 159g/km 75-litre boot, 5 engines, 5 trims, 5 models in total.
PRICE 062 MPH BHP LB FT MPG CO2 RATING
Audi and Merc persist with fabric roofs, but the hard
xDrive20d
xDrive25d
30,940 7.6 137 190
36,370 6.6 146 231
295 58.9 127
332 55.4 133
8/10
8/10
top gives the BMW an edge. Its lighter inside, more CHEVROLET
weather-proof and has the best engine range. TopGear on Chevrolet:
Euro NCAP LxWxH in mm: 4439x1821x1598, 61-litre fuel If youre looking for Chevrolets such as the Aveo and
tank, 505/1505-litre boot, 4 engines, 3 trims, 8 models in total. Cruze, youre reading the wrong magazine.
5 FIAT 500C TWINAIR
X3 Price 17,070 Specs 104bhp, CORVETTE STINGRAY
Far superior to the last one. So much so 107lb ft, 0-62mph 10.0secs, The Americans have nally got serious
that you question the need for the X5. about taking on the Porsche 911. Others
X3 is more socially acceptable, too. VMax 117mph, 67.3mpg, have tried before, but rarely as well as this.
CO2 99g/km
PRICE 062 MPH BHP LB FT MPG CO2 RATING PRICE 062 MPH BHP LB FT MPG CO2 RATING
xDrive20d SE 33,945 8.1 130 190 295 55.4 135 7/10 Charming as a little Italian car ought to be, with a 6.2 V8 2LT 62,450 <4.0 186 460 465 23.5 279 7/10
xDrive35d M Sp 46,050 5.3 152 313 465 47.1 157 7/10 thrummy two-cylinder engine that gives it bags of 6.2 V8 SC Z06 87,860 3.4 186 650 650 20.0 322 8/10
Euro NCAP LxWxH in mm: 4648x1881x1675, 67-litre fuel character. Works well in Turin. Less well in Hull. Euro NCAP n/a, LxWxH in mm: 4495x1780x1235, TBC-litre fuel
tank, 550/1600-litre boot, 3 engines, 3 trims, 7 models in total. tank, TBC-litre boot, 2 engines, 2 trims, 3 models in total.

FOR ALL THE FACTS AND STATS YOU NEED TO KNOW ABOUT EVERY CAR ON SALE IN THE UK GO TO TOPGEAR.COM/REVIEWS
 CITROEN-FERRARI
CITROEN DS
TopGear on Citroen:
Design-led brand thats the most French of the French car
rms. Undergoing a bit of a renaissance these days.

C1
The rst time Citroen got jiggy with
TOP 1O
2DR BIGGEST BOOT VS 4DR SMALLEST BOOT
TopGear on DS:
Citroens new sub-brand will focus on style, tech and luxury.
Think Lexus. Only French-er.

DS 3
A former Car of the Year and a gigantic,
Peugeot and Toyota, they created some- mincing Gallic leap forward for Citroen.
thing quite cool. Now its round two. Not fast, but a kick up the arse for Mini.

PRICE 062 MPH BHP LB FT MPG CO2 RATING 1 1 PRICE 062 MPH BHP LB FT MPG CO2 RATING
1.0 Touch 3d 8,495 14.3 98 69 69 68.9 95 6/10 1.2 PT Chic 13,995 12.3 108 82 87 61.4 107 7/10
Euro NCAP LxWxH in mm: 3460x1620x1430, 35-litre fuel 1.6 PT Prestige 19,295 7.5 135 165 177 50.4 129 7/10
tank, 196/780-litre boot, 2 engines, 3 trims, 20 models in total. Euro NCAP LxWxH in mm: 3948x1715x1483, 50-litre fuel

C4 CACTUS
tank, 285/975-litre boot, 7 engines, 5 trims, 15 models in total.

Breath of fresh air, as only Citroen can

Mercedes-Benz Aston Martin DS 5
do. Great looking and with just enough SL Rapide S The most avantgarde DS. Not as inspir-
gadgets to keep a modern family happy.
504 litres 317 litres ing as the 3, and the ride should still be
better, but family cars come no cooler.
PRICE 062 MPH BHP LB FT MPG CO2 RATING
PRICE 062 MPH BHP LB FT MPG CO2 RATING
1.2 75 Touch 12,990 12.9 103 75 87 61.4 105 8/10 2 2 2.0 BlueHDi 27,140 10.6 127 150 272 68.9 105 7/10
1.2 110 Feel 16,155 9.3 117 110 151 60.1 107 8/10
Euro NCAP LxWxH in mm: 4530x1870x1540, 60-litre fuel tank,
1.6 BlueHDi Feel 16,885 10.7 114 100 187 83.1 90 8/10 465-litre boot (Hybrid 325l), 5 engines, 3 trims, 9 models in total.

FERRARI
Euro NCAP LxWxH in mm: 4157x1729x1480, 45-litre fuel
tank, 358/1170-litre boot, 6 engines, 3 trims, 13 models in total.

GRAND C4 PICASSO Rolls-Royce

Wraith
Mercedes-Benz
C350e
TopGear on Ferrari:
Art and science blended into the most alluring and
Funky newness from Citroen, helping diverse supercar range in the companys history.
make the world of MPVs more accept-
able. Headlights a particular success. 470 litres 335 litres CALIFORNIA T
The Ferrari that everyone thought was a
PRICE 062 MPH BHP LB FT MPG CO2 RATING Maserati now has a turbo V8. Purists will
1.6 THP 165 24,875 8.7 130 165 177 50.4 130 7/10
3 3 hate it, but itll bring in buyers.
1.6 BlueHDi Sel 23,375 11.6 117 120 221 70.6 106 8/10
PRICE 062 MPH BHP LB FT MPG CO2 RATING
Euro NCAP LxWxH in mm: 4590x1830x1630, 60-litre
fuel tank, 537/1851-litre boot, 5 engines, 4 trims, 11 models in total.
3.8 V8 T 155,230 3.6 196 560 556 26.9 250 8/10
Euro NCAP n/a, LxWxH in mm: 4570x1910x1322, 78-litre fuel tank,

DACIA BMW 6 Series

Coupe
Porsche Panamera S
e-Hybrid 488
240/340-litre boot, 1 engine, 1 trim, 1 model in total.

TopGear on Dacia:
Cheap cars from Eastern Europe, via France for a bit of
je ne sais quoi, and then on to the budget-conscious.
460 litres 335 litres So long, natural aspiration. Twin-charged
488 is new-age fast, but not quite as zzy
as the car it replaces. Mighty nonetheless.
SANDERO 4 4 PRICE 062 MPH BHP LB FT MPG CO2 RATING
The UKs cheapest new car you can
lease one for less than a Sky TV package. 488 GTB 183,964 3.0 205 670 560 24.7 260 9/10
Nothing here besides simple transport. 488 Spider 204,391 3.0 TBA 670 560 24.7 260 9/10
Euro NCAP n/a, LxWxH in mm: 4568x1952x1213, 78-litre fuel tank,
PRICE 062 MPH BHP LB FT MPG CO2 RATING 230-litre boot, 1 engine, 2 trims, 2 models in total.
1.2 75 Access 5,995 14.5 97 75 78 47.9 137 6/10 Audi A5 Inniti
0.9 TCe 90 Amb 7,595 11.1 109 90 99 54.3 120 6/10 Coupe Q70 Hybrid DATA IN NUMBERS: THROUGH THE ROOF
1.5 dCi 90 Amb 8,595 12.1 107 90 162 74.3 99 6/10
455 litres 350 litres Ferrari 488 GTB 183,964
Euro NCAP LxWxH in mm: 4060x1730x1520, 50-litre fuel
tank, 320/1200-litre boot, 3 engines, 3 trims, 7 models in total. Ferrari 488 Spider 204,391 (+ 11%)
5 5
DUSTER F12
Simple, high-riding crossover-style ve- The F12 is bombastic, epic and howlingly
seater is a favourite of James May. Good fast. The fastest ever until the LaFerrari
value, surprisingly able, very tough. came along. Emphatically not just a GT.

PRICE 062 MPH BHP LB FT MPG CO2 RATING PRICE 062 MPH BHP LB FT MPG CO2 RATING
Mercedes-Benz Toyota
1.6 105 Access 9,495 11.5 102 105 109 39.8 165 7/10 6.3 V12 241,053 3.1 211 740 508 18.8 350 10/10
E-Class Coupe Mirai
1.5 dCi Amb 11,995 11.8 106 110 177 56.5 130 7/10 6.3 V12 TdF 330,000 2.9 211 770 520 18.3 360 10/10
Euro NCAP LxWxH in mm: 4320x1820x1700, 50-litre fuel tank,
450 litres 361 litres Euro NCAP n/a, LxWxH in mm: 4620x1940x1270, 92-litre fuel tank,
475/1636-litre boot, 2 engines, 3 trims, 6 models in total. 350-litre boot, 2 engines, 2 trims, 2 models in total.

FOR ALL THE FACTS AND STATS YOU NEED TO KNOW ABOUT EVERY CAR ON SALE IN THE UK GO TO TOPGEAR.COM/REVIEWS
 GTC4LUSSO FORD
FERRARI-FORD

CAR +
A much-needed sharpening for the FF,
now with an even sillier name. In a wonder- TopGear on Ford:
ful V12 shooting brake class of one. Proof that mass market motoring can have an edge.
Note: this does not apply to the disappointing EcoSport.
PRICE 062 MPH BHP LB FT MPG CO2 RATING FIESTA

CLINIC
6.3 V12 240,430 3.4 208 690 514 18.3 360 9/10
Arguably the best supermini on sale.
Euro NCAP n/a, LxWxH in mm: 4922x1980x1383, 91-litre fuel tank, Pace-setter or pacemaker, theres some-
450/800-litre boot, 1 engine, 1 trim, 1 model in total. thing for everyone here.

FIAT 1.0T Zetec 3d

PRICE
14,395
062 MPH BHP
11.2 112 100
LB FT MPG
125 65.7 99
CO2 RATING
8/10
TopGear on Fiat: 1.6T 182 ST 1
Good when they do the small stu, bad when they go FIAT 124 SPIDER 17,745 6.9 139 182 177 47.9 139 9/10
beyond it. Buy a Panda and be content. 1.6T 182 ST200 22,745 6.7 142 200 214 46.3 140 8/10
1.5 TDCi Ztec 5d 16,495 11.9 111 95 159 88.3 82 8/10
PANDA Euro NCAP LxWxH in mm: 3950x1720x1480, 42-litre fuel
Its back, its slightly rounder and its tank, 295/979-litre boot, 10 engines, 8 trims, 48 models in total.
still entirely brilliant. Come ere cuddly
Panda, we want to give you a hug.
DATA IN NUMBERS: POWER UP
PRICE 062 MPH BHP LB FT MPG CO2 RATING
TwinAir 85 Easy 11,510 11.2 110 85 106 67.3 99 8/10 Ford Fiesta ST200 22,745 (+ 28% over ST 1)
1.2 Easy+
Euro NCAP
10,710 14.2 102 69 75 55.4 119
LxWxH in mm: 3650x1640x1550, 35-litre fuel
8/10
VS FOCUS
tank, 225/870-litre boot, 4 engines, 5 trims, 15 models in total. New engines, new interior design, even
a tweak to perk the handling back up.
Focus is back to its best.
500
Not quite the Sixties revival Fiat was PRICE 062 MPH BHP LB FT MPG CO2 RATING
angling for, but the 500 is a refreshing 1.0T Zetec 19,345 11.0 120 125 147 60.1 108 8/10
alternative to Mini-shaped ubiquity.
2.0T ST 1 22,750 6.5 155 255 250 41.5 159 8/10
PRICE 062 MPH BHP LB FT MPG CO2 RATING 2.3T RS 31,000 4.7 165 345 325 36.7 175 9/10
1.2 Pop Star 11,925 12.9 99 69 75 60.1 110 7/10 1.5 TDCi Zetec 20,045 10.5 120 120 199 74.3 98 7/10
0.9 85 Pop Star 13,225 11.0 107 85 MAZDA MX-5
107 74.3 90 7/10 Euro NCAP LxWxH in mm: 4358x1823x1484, 53-litre
fuel tank, 363/1148-litre boot, 10 engines, 6 trims, 52 models in total.
500C 0.9 Lounge 17,230 10.0 117 105 107 67.3 99 6/10
Euro NCAP LxWxH in mm: 3571x1627x1488, 38-litre fuel MONDEO
tank, 185-litre boot, 3 engines, 5 trims, 26 models in total. "I always thought I wanted an Been on sale in the US for three years
MX-5, but now the Fiat 124 has now. Smooth, rened and not too
500L come along, Im not so sure.
American. Well done Ford.
Dont be misled by the badge and the Besides the looks, how are they
headlights. The 500L is more Panda PRICE 062 MPH BHP LB FT MPG CO2 RATING
than 500, and bigger than you expect. different, and which one should I 1.5 TDCi Style 21,445 11.7 119 120 199 78.5 94 7/10
go for? I know theyre both based 1.5T Zetec 21,895 9.2 138 160 177 48.7 134 7/10
PRICE 062 MPH BHP LB FT MPG CO2 RATING on the same platform..." 2.0 TDCi Est Tit 26,245 9.5 130 150 258 67.3 109 7/10
1.4 95 Pop 13,665 12.8 106 95 93 46.3 143 5/10 Rhys Lee, Newport Euro NCAP LxWxH in mm: 4780x1890x1500, 70-litre fuel
1.6 MJet Lounge 20,265 10.7 117 120 236 67.3 112 5/10 tank, 540/1460-litre boot, 7 engines, 4 trims, 34 models in total.
Euro NCAP LxWxH in mm: 4147x1784x1667, 50-litre fuel
tank, 343/1310-litre boot, 3 engines, 4 trims, 11 models in total. B-MAX
Indeed they are Rhys. The Fords reply to the Vauxhall Meriva. Sliding
ABARTH 500 biggest difference is under
rear doors and no B-pillars means easy ac-
cess and brilliant packaging. Fine car.
Short on talent, long on appeal, thats the bonnet, where in place
the rufty-tufty Abarth. Pogo stick ride PRICE 062 MPH BHP LB FT MPG CO2 RATING
but ever so eager with it. of the Mazdas N/A 1.5- or
1.4 Studio 13,295 13.8 106 90 94 47.1 139 7/10
2.0-litre, Fiat has fitted its own
PRICE 062 MPH BHP LB FT MPG CO2 RATING
1.0T Titanium 17,395 11.2 117 125 147 57.7 114 8/10
turbocharged 1.4. Fiat engineers
595 15,090 7.8 131 145 152 47.1 139 7/10 Euro NCAP LxWxH in mm: 4080x1860x1600, 48-litre fuel
have done a load of chassis tank, 318/1386-litre boot, 6 engines, 4 trims, 14 models in total.
695 Biposto 33,060 5.9 143 190 185 43.5 155 7/10 work too, and thrown a few
Euro NCAP LxWxH in mm: 3660x1630x1490, 35-litre fuel nicer materials at the interior. C-MAX
tank, 185/610-litre boot, 2 engines, 3 trims, 8 models in total. Now with added grille. C-Max gets Fords
The overall effect is a more new family face and myriad very welcome
500X mature car than the MX-5. But improvements elsewhere.
The quest to cash in on the 500 continues. if youre in the market for a little
PRICE 062 MPH BHP LB FT MPG CO2 RATING
Similar lights, but otherwise theres nothing roadster, maturity probably isnt
500-ish here. Not a bad crossover, mind. 1.0T Zetec 19,645 11.4 116 125 125 55.4 117 6/10
tremendously high on your list of
2.0 TDCI Ti Gr 24,945 9.8 126 150 273 61.4 119 6/10
PRICE 062 MPH BHP LB FT MPG CO2 RATING priorities. The looks are your call.
Euro NCAP LxWxH in mm: 4380/4519x1860x1620, 53/60-litre
1.4 MAir PStar 18,065 9.8 118 140 170 47.1 139 6/10 fuel tank, 432/1723-litre boot, 4 engines, 3 trims, 20 models in total.
1.6 MJet PStar 19,565 10.5 116 120 236 68.9 109 6/10
2.0 MJet Cross 22,565 9.5 118 140 258 57.6 130 6/10 FIAT 124 SPIDER S-MAX
Euro NCAP LxWxH in mm: 4248x1796x1600, 48-litre fuel Price 19,545 Second-gen of Fords low-roofed MPV
tank, 350/1000-litre boot, 4 engines, 6 trims, 13 models in total.
keeps its dads ne dynamics, with a
Engine 1368cc 4cyl turbo, much smarter interior
138bhp, 177lb ft
124 SPIDER Performance 062 in PRICE 062 MPH BHP LB FT MPG CO2 RATING
Turbo torque and rmer chassis means 7.5secs, 134mph, 44.1mpg, 1.5 SCTi Zetec 25,145 9.9 124 160 177 43.5 149 8/10
Fiats MX-5 gets right up Mazdas nose. If
only it didnt look like a Dodge Viper kit car 148g/km 2.0 TDCi Zetec 26,595 10.8 123 150 258 56.5 129 8/10
Euro NCAP LxWxH in mm: 4796x1916x1655, 70-litre fuel
PRICE 062 MPH BHP LB FT MPG CO2 RATING tank, 285/2200-litre boot, 7 engines, 5 trims, 11 models in total.
1.4T 19,545 7.5 134 140 177 44.1 148
Euro NCAP n/a, LxWxH in mm: 4054x1740x1233, 45-litre fuel tank,
8/10 MAZDA MX-5 2.0
Price 20,095
GALAXY
140-litre boot, 1 engine, 3 trims, 3 models in total. Fords agship seven-seater oers extra
Engine 1998cc 4cyl, 158bhp, headroom, but is otherwise upstaged by
148lb ft the livelier and more desirable S-Max.

DATA IN NUMBERS: FIAT V MAZDA Performance 062 in

PRICE 062 MPH BHP LB FT MPG CO2 RATING
7.3secs, 133mph, 40.9mpg,
2.0 TDCi Zetec 28,945 10.9 123 150 258 56.5 129 7/10
Fiat 124 Spider prices from 19,545 161g/km
Euro NCAP LxWxH in mm: 4848x1916x1747, 70-litre fuel
Mazda MX-5 prices from 18,495 tank, 300/2339-litre boot, 5 engines, 3 trims, 13 models in total.

FOR ALL THE FACTS AND STATS YOU NEED TO KNOW ABOUT EVERY CAR ON SALE IN THE UK GO TO TOPGEAR.COM/REVIEWS
KUGA HYUNDAI Q50

FORD-JEEP
The Kuga has grown up and bought More sharply styled but otherwise anony-
some sensible slacks. Sure, its highly TopGear on Hyundai: mous saloon from Nissans lux wing. This
competent, but so are others. Value-packed Korean has earned a proper reputation for time aimed at the BMW 3-Series.
capable cars. Excuse us while we tuck into our hats.

1.5T Titanium
PRICE 062 MPH BHP
23,145 9.7 121 150
LB FT MPG
177 45.6 143
CO2 RATING
6/10 I10 Q50 2.2d SE
PRICE
29,320
062 MPH BHP
8.7
LB FT
144 170 295 65.07 114
MPG CO2 RATING
5/10
2.0 TDCi AWD Lacks the charisma of the Panda and the
26,845 9.2 126 180 295 54.3 135 6/10 sheer polish of the Up! but actually, if Q50 Hybrid 41,070 5.1 155 364 402 43.0 144 5/10
Euro NCAP LxWxH in mm: 4520x1840x1700, 57-litre fuel you dont care about cars, buy this one. Euro NCAP LxWxH in mm: 4790x1820x1450, 74-litre fuel
tank, 456/1653-litre boot, 4 engines, 4 trims, 16 models in total. tank, 400/500-litre boot, 2 engines, 4 trims, 8 models in total.

EDGE 1.0 S
PRICE
8,995
062 MPH BHP
14.9 96 66
LB FT
69
MPG CO2
60.1 108
RATING
8/10 JAGUAR
Like the Mustang, the Edge is pinched
from Fords US line-up. Is tasked with tak- Euro NCAP LxWxH in mm: 3665x1660x1500, 40-litre fuel TopGear on Jaguar:
ing on the Audi Q5 and BMW X3. tank, 252-litre boot, 2 engines, 3 trims, 7 models in total. Gorgeous Callum design and a rash demeanor get you so
far. Over-powered engines take you the rest of the way.
I20
XE
PRICE 062 MPH BHP LB FT MPG CO2 RATING
2.0 TCDi Zetec 29,995 9.9 124 180 295 48.7 149 7/10 Its the latest i20! Its not that exciting!
Otherwise a very worthy and competent Forget the F-Type, this is actually the most
Euro NCAP n/a, LxWxH in mm: 4777x1927x1742, 60-litre fuel supermini, now with decent 1.0 engines. important Jaguar of the last decade. Needs
tank, TBA/1788-litre boot, 2 engines, 3 trims, 5 models in total.
to banish all memory of the X-Type. Oops.
MUSTANG PRICE 062 MPH BHP
1.0 T-GDI Active 15,225 10.9 109 100
LB FT MPG
126 58.9 110
CO2 RATING
8/10 PRICE 062 MPH BHP LB FT MPG CO2 RATING
At last, a muscle car to call our own.
Mustang now here in right-hand drive, 1.2 S Air 11,745 13.6 99 75 90 58.9 112 7/10 2.0T SE 26,995 7.7 147 200 206 37.7 179 8/10
still feels very American. Also large. 3.0 V6 S/C S
Euro NCAP LxWxH in mm: 4035x1734x1474, 50-litre fuel 44,995 5.1 155 340 332 34.9 194 8/10
tank, 301/1042-litre boot, 7 engines, 6 trims,34 models in total. 2.0D 180 SE
PRICE 062 MPH BHP LB FT MPG CO2 RATING 30,275 7.8 140 180 317 67.3 109 9/10
2.3T 30,995 5.8 155 314 320 35.3 179 7/10 I30 Euro NCAP LxWxH in mm: 4672x1850x1416, 47-63-litre
fuel tank, 450-litre boot, 5 engines, 5 trims, 14 models in total.
5.0 V8 GT 34,995 4.8 155 418 387 20.9 299 7/10 Coo, Hyundai seems to be catching up
Euro NCAP n/a, LxWxH in mm: 4784x1916x1381, 61-litre fuel
with Kia in the design stakes, and catching
up with everyone else everywhere else. XF
tank, TBA-litre boot, 2 engines, 2 trims, 4 models in total. New XF is good. Probably-better-than-a-
5-Series good. Lovely inside too, just not
HONDA 1.6 CRDi BD SE
PRICE 062 MPH BHP
18,595 10.6 117 110
LB FT MPG
206 78.4 94
CO2 RATING
7/10
big enough for plutocrat bellies.
TopGear on Honda: PRICE 062 MPH BHP LB FT MPG CO2 RATING
Euro NCAP LxWxH in mm: 4300x1780x1470, 53-litre fuel
Reliable, practical model range that seems a lot brighter
now the Civic Type-R is here. tank, 378/1316-litre boot, 5 engines, 5 trims, 18 models in total. 3.0 V6 S/C S 49,955 5.1 155 380 332 34.0 198 9/10

JAZZ I40 2.0D 180 R Sp 35,100 7.7 136 180 317 65.7 114 9/10
Not long ago, a Hyundai would be beige 3.0D V6 S 49,995 5.8 155 300 332 51.4 144 9/10
New Jazz is clever. Very clever. Deserves and so would its driver. The stylish i40
to be bought by more under 80s than it has changed all that. Estate is the pick.
Euro NCAP LxWxH in mm: 4954x1880x1457, 55/66/74-litre
almost certainly will be. fuel tank, 540/963-litre boot, 4 engines, 4 trims, 8 models in total.

PRICE 062 MPH BHP LB FT MPG CO2 RATING PRICE 062 MPH BHP LB FT MPG CO2 RATING XJ
1.3 SE Navi 15,605 11.2 118 102 91 56.5 116 6/10 1.7 CRDi S Tour 21,745 10.5 124 141 251 65.7 114 7/10 Zoinks. The XJ is rapid, rened and just
plain beautiful. The interior is so special
Euro NCAP LxWxH in mm: 3995x1694x1550, 40-litre fuel Euro NCAP LxWxH in mm: 4775x1815x1470, 70-litre fuel we invented an award for it.
tank, 354/897-litre boot, 1 engine, 5 trims, 5 models in total. tank, 553/1719-litre boot, 2 engines, 4 trims, 16 models in total.

GENESIS PRICE 062 MPH BHP LB FT MPG CO2 RATING

DATA IN NUMBERS: ALL THAT JAZZ Like prog rock, a bit of a relic. Over-
5.0 V8 XJR 91,775 4.4 174 550 502 25.5 264 7/10
blown, thirsty and laughably expensive. 3.0D V6 R-Sport 70,980 5.9 155 300 516 49.6 149 7/10
Honda Jazz boot space 354 litres Fails to rock us: wheres the progress?
Euro NCAP n/a, LxWxH in mm: 5130/5260x1890x1490, 77/82-litre
Mini Countryman boot space 350 litres fuel tank, 520-litre boot, 3 engines, 5 trims, 13 models in total.
PRICE 062 MPH BHP LB FT MPG CO2 RATING
CIVIC 3.8 V6 50,705 6.5 149 308 293 25.9 261 5/10 F-PACE
Facelift helps add interest to the fading Euro NCAP n/a, LxWxH in mm: 4990x1890x1480, 73-litre fuel Not as pointy as a Porsche Macan, but
Civic; Type R introduces a rocket into tank, 493-litre boot, 1 engine, 1 trim, 1 model in total. cleverly pitched and therefore bound to
dealerships for guaranteed reworks. become a best-seller...
TUCSON
PRICE 062 MPH BHP LB FT MPG CO2 RATING PRICE 062 MPH BHP LB FT MPG CO2 RATING
Just what the world needed. Another
2.0 Type R 30,000 5.7 167 310 295 38.7 170 8/10 compact SUV. Silly name, but if youre into 2.0D Prestige 34,170 8.5 130 180 317 57.7 129 8/10
this kind of thing, quite good. 3.0 S Diesel
1.6 DTEC Sport 21,190 10.5 129 120 221 76.3 98 7/10 51,450 5.8 150 300 517 47.1 159 8/10
Euro NCAP LxWxH in mm: 4370x1770x1470, 50-litre fuel Euro NCAP n/a, LxWxH in mm: 4731x1936x1652, 60-litre fuel
PRICE 062 MPH BHP LB FT MPG CO2 RATING
tank, 477/1378-litre boot, 4 engines, 6 trims, 25 models in total. tank, 650-litre boot, 4 engines, 5 trims, 9 models in total.
2.0 CRDi 2WD SE 24,545 10.6 116 136 275 58.9 127 8/10
HR-V Euro NCAP LxWxH in mm: 4475x1850x1645, 62-litre fuel F-TYPE
Honda Jazz with a bit more chunk and tank, 513/1503-litre boot, 5 engines, 5 trims, 18 models in total. Over-priced Cayman rival, or cut-price
the option of 4WD. Smaller than a 911 alternative? Who cares, when the
Qashqai. Think Mazda CX-3. SANTA FE F-Type is this sodding good?
Can't aord a Disco? Then step this way,
PRICE 062 MPH BHP LB FT MPG CO2 RATING as savvy Santa Fe shows there is another PRICE 062 MPH BHP LB FT MPG CO2 RATING
1.5 S 18,495 10.7 119 130 114 50.4 130 7/10 way. Gymkhana mums might not agree. 3.0 V6 S Coupe 60,775 4.9 171 380 339 31.8 213 8/10
Euro NCAP LxWxH in mm: 4294xTBAx1605, 50-litre fuel
PRICE 062 MPH BHP LB FT MPG CO2 RATING 5.0 V8 R AWD 91,680 3.9 186 550 501 25.0 269 8/10
tank, 453/1026-litre boot, 2 engines, 4 trims, 8 models in total.
2.2 CRDi Prem 31,850 9.8 118 197 311 46.3 161 7/10 5.0 V8 SVR 110,000 3.5 200 575 517 25.0 269 8/10
CR-V Euro NCAP LxWxH in mm: 4660x1890x1760, 70-litre fuel Euro NCAP n/a, LxWxH in mm: 4470x1920x1300, 70-litre fuel
A car engineered for accountants. Its a tank, 534-litre boot, 1 engine, 3 trims, 5 models in total. tank, 196/315-litre boot, 4 engines, 4 trims, 16 models in total.
great all-rounder but deeply boring with
it. There are few more reliable SUVs.
INFINITI JEEP
PRICE 062 MPH BHP LB FT MPG CO2 RATING TopGear on Inniti: TopGear on Jeep:
1.6 DTEC SE N 29,230 9.6 125 160 258 57.7 129 6/10 Posh Nissan oshoot desperately aiming to emulate Lexus. Oblong-obsessed 4x4 experts still trading o WWII heroics.
In Europe, were still struggling to notice. Or care. Dont mention the Italian and German oily bits underneath.
Euro NCAP LxWxH in mm: 4570x1820x1685, 58-litre fuel
tank, 589/1648-litre boot, 3 engines, 4 trims, 11 models in total. Q30 RENEGADE
NSX An Inniti people may actually buy, or so it
hopes. Dierent, for sure, but that doesnt
Meet the Fiat 500Xs Yankee cousin. The
stylings a bit yee-hah, but it drives with
New NSX has had maybe longest gesta- necessarily mean better Euro sophistication, with added fun.
tion of any car ever. Weve only driven it
in the States, but early signs are good
PRICE 062 MPH BHP LB FT MPG CO2 RATING PRICE 062 MPH BHP LB FT MPG CO2 RATING
PRICE 062 MPH BHP LB FT MPG CO2 RATING 1.5d SE 21,500 12.0 118 108 192 68.9 108 6/10 1.6 Sport 17,495 11.9 111 112 112 47.1 141 6/10
3.5TT hybrid 130,000 <3.0 191 573 406 TBA TBA 8/10 2.2d Business 28,280 8.6 134 170 258 64.2 115 6/10 1.4 MAir Longi 20,895 10.9 112 142 170 47.1 140 6/10
Euro NCAP n/a, LxWxH in mm: 4470x1940x1215, 60-litre fuel Euro NCAP LxWxH in mm: 4425x1805x1495, 50-litre fuel Euro NCAP LxWxH in mm: 4236x1805x1667, 48-litre fuel
tank, TBA-litre boot, 1 engine, 1 trim, 1 model in total. tank, 368-litre boot, 4 engines, 4 trims, 38 models in total. tank, 351/1356-litre boot, 5 engines, 5 trims, 15 models in total.

FOR ALL THE FACTS AND STATS YOU NEED TO KNOW ABOUT EVERY CAR ON SALE IN THE UK GO TO TOPGEAR.COM/REVIEWS
 CHEROKEE LAMBORGHINI
JEEP-LAND ROVER
After a leave of absence, the Cherokee
TopGear on Lamborghini:
is back to do battle with the Freelander.
Its priced well and looks... interesting. HOW TO The supercar for those who dont care about lap times.

SPEC
Or The Green Party. Or visibility. But like hexagons.

2.0 MJet 140

PRICE 062 MPH BHP LB FT MPG CO2 RATING HURACAN
26,345 10.9 116 140 258 53.3 139 6/10 Lambos riposte to the 458 and 650S.
2.2 MJet 200 4x4 37,245 8.5 127 200 324 49.6 150
Euro NCAP LxWxH in mm: 4623x1859x1669, 60-litre fuel
6/10 AN...
AN... Smoother, slicker, but is still essentially
Gallardo v.2.0.
tank, 714/1267-litre boot, 4 engines, 4 trims, 11 models in total.
PRICE 062 MPH BHP LB FT MPG CO2 RATING
GRAND CHEROKEE LP 580-2 160k (est) 3.4 199 580 398 23.7 278 9/10
Jeep may be under Fiat's control, but AUDI RS6 PERFORMANCE LP 610-4 188,000 3.2 202 610 413 22.6 290 8/10
no-one appears to have told the Grand
Cherokee. Big, thirsty, pricey. Euro NCAP n/a, LxWxH in mm: 4459x1924x1165, 80-litre fuel tank,
TBA-litre boot, 1 engine, 1 trim, 1 model in total.

6.4 V8 SRT
PRICE 062 MPH BHP
65,995 5.0 160 461
LB FT MPG
460 20.0 328
CO2 RATING
6/10
AVENTADOR
Murcielago replacement doesnt disap-
3.0 CRD Oland 48,195 8.2 126 237 405 37.7 198 6/10 point. A hint of Audi has crept in, but
Euro NCAP LxWxH in mm: 4820x1940x1760, 93-litre fuel
the Aventador is still bonkers.
tank, 782/1554-litre boot, 2 engines, 7 trims, 7 models in total.
PRICE 062 MPH BHP LB FT MPG CO2 RATING
LP 700-4 260,040 2.9 217 700 509 17.6 370 8/10
DATA IN NUMBERS: AINT NO SUBSTITUTE LP 750-4 SV 321,743 2.8 217+ 750 509 17.7
7.7 370 9/10
Jeep Grand Cherokee 3.0 CRD 2,987cc Euro NCAP n/a, LxWxH in mm: 4780x2030x1140, 90-litre fuel tank,
Jeep Grand Cherokee 6.4 SRT8 6,417cc (+3,430cc) n/a-litre boot, 2 engines, 2 trims, 4 models in total.

CENTENARIO
KIA Hyper-Aventador celebrates Ferrucios
100th with more power, rear-wheel steer
TopGear on Kia: and more carbon than a coal mine.
Seven year-warranty-backed range of whitegoods with Basic price: 85,085
barely a duer among em. Were as surprised as you are. Engine: 3993cc, V8 twin-turbo, 597bhp, PRICE 062 MPH BHP LB FT MPG CO2 RATING
PICANTO 553lb ft, 29.4mpg, 223g/km
Performance: 062mph 3.7secs, 155mph
LP 770-4 1.7m 2.8 217 770 517 TBA
BA TBA TBA
A Kia cracker. Latest Picanto looks Euro NCAP n/a, LxWxH in mm: 4924x2062x1143, TBA-litre fuel
good, drives well, costs little and is Weight: 1,950kg tank, TBA-litre boot, 1 engine, 1 trim, 1 model in total.
warrantied to the max. Colour: Nardo Grey (0)
PRICE 062 MPH BHP LB FT MPG CO2 RATING
Wheels: 21" 5-V-spoke (0) DATA IN NUMBERS: LP 770-4(0)
1.0 1 3d 8,345 13.9 95 68 70 67.3 99 7/10
Trim: Valcona leather/Alcantara (0)
1.25 2 5d Standard equipment: Climate control, Lamborghini Centenario production total 40
10,745 11.0 106 85 89 65.7 100 7/10
Bluetooth, sat-nav, keyless start
Euro NCAP LxWxH in mm: 3600x1600x1480, 35-litre fuel
tank, 200/870-litre boot, 2 engines, 7 trims, 11 models in total. Options: Assistance Pack (2,100), Audi LAND ROVER
Connect & Phone Box (750), Bang TopGear on Land Rover:
CEED & Olufsen Advanced Sound System A genuine UK success story with the whole range
as at home on a eld as the red carpet.
Still a white goods car, but now its white (6,300), Ceramic brakes (9,375),
goods by John Lewis. Build quality is a
rival for VW now, as is much else. carbon styling pack (3,550), HUD DISCOVERY SPORT
(640), Parking Pack Advanced (1,310), Freelander gets a new name, and much
PRICE 062 MPH BHP LB FT MPG CO2 RATING sports suspension (1,000), top speed more besides. Not cheap, but its what
yummy-mummys will be driving this year.
1.0T-GDi GT Li 20,220 10.3 118 118 26 57.6 115 7/10 restriction increase to 174mph (1,450)
1.6T GT 23,610 7.3 143 201 195 38.2 170 7/10 PRICE 062 MPH BHP LB FT MPG CO2 RATING
Euro NCAP LxWxH in mm: 4310x1780x1470, 53-litre fuel 2.0 TD4 150 SE 31,095 11.0 112 150 280 57.7 129 7/10
tank, 380/1318-litre boot, 3 engines, 5 trims, 18 models in total. TOTAL PRICE: 111,560
2.0 TD4 180 SE 32,795 9.4 117 180 317 53.3 139 8/10
SPORTAGE Euro NCAP LxWxH in mm: 4599x1895x1724, 54-litre fuel
tank, 195/1698-litre boot, 2 engines, 4 trims, 4 models in total.
Kias are normally somewhat pleasant-
looking. This one isnt. Good though, so
dont discount it. DISCOVERY
The best practical SUV on sale. Massive
PRICE 062 MPH BHP LB FT MPG CO2 RATING inside, thoughtful design, astonishing
1.6 GDi 1 18,000 11.1 113 130 119 42.2 156 7/10 ability. Revised once again in 2014.
2.0 CRDi GT-Line 25,850 10.1 114 134 275 54.3 139 7/10 PRICE 062 MPH BHP LB FT MPG CO2 RATING
Euro NCAP LxWxH in mm: 4480x1855x1635, 62-litre fuel 3.0 SDV6 Graph 47,505 8.8 112 256 443 35.3 213 9/10
tank, 491/1480-litre boot, 5 engines, 6 trims, 13 models in total.
Euro NCAP LxWxH in mm: 4830x1880x1890, 84-litre fuel

KOENIGSEGG tank, 280/2560-litre boot, 1 engine, 4 trims, 4 models in total.

RANGE ROVER EVOQUE

TopGear on Koenigsegg:
Swedish purveyors of deeply outrageous supercars. A Range Rover for a younger, more
Big and shouty - yes. But also quite clever. stylish, more urban audience. One for
fashionistas, not farmers.
AGERA
The P1, LaFerrari and 918 are all well PRICE 062 MPH BHP LB FT MPG CO2 RATING
and good, but there is a fourth way. 2.0 eD4 SE 2WD 30,600 10.6 113 150 317 65.7 113 8/10
The Swedish way
2.0 TD4 SE Tech 35,200 9.5 124 180 317 58.9 125 8/10
PRICE 062 MPH BHP LB FT MPG CO2 RATING Euro NCAP LxWxH in mm: 4360x1960x1610, 60/70-litre
5.0 V8 T RS fuel tank, 550/1445-litre boot, 3 engines, 3 trims, 12 models in total.
1.27m TBA TBA 1160 944 TBA TBA TBA
Euro NCAP n/a, LxWxH in mm: 4293x2050x1120, 82-litre fuel
tank, 150-litre boot, 1 engine, 1 trim, 1 model in total.
RANGE ROVER SPORT
A prettier RRS would be a contradiction in
REGERA terms, but the new one denitely comes
with less thuggishness.
True to form, latest Segg is maddest yet.
Petrol-electric hybrid with a weird single
speed box. We cant wait for this one. PRICE 062 MPH BHP LB FT MPG CO2 RATING
5.0 SVR 95,900 4.5 162 550 502 22.1 298 9/10
PRICE 062 MPH BHP LB FT MPG CO2 RATING 3.0 SDV6 HSE 62,700 6.8 130 292 442 37.7 199 9/10
5.0 V8 T PHEV 1.45m 2.8 248+ 1480 1475 TBA TBA TBA 3.0H SDV6 HEV 86,595 6.4 130 345 517 45.6 164 9/10
Euro NCAP n/a, LxWxH in mm: 4560x2050x1110, 82-litre fuel Euro NCAP n/a, LxWxH in mm: 4850x1983x1780, 80-litre fuel
tank, 150-litre boot, 1 engine, 1 trim, 1 model in total. tank, 784/1761-litre boot, 6 engines, 6 trims, 8 models in total.

FOR ALL THE FACTS AND STATS YOU NEED TO KNOW ABOUT EVERY CAR ON SALE IN THE UK GO TO TOPGEAR.COM/REVIEWS
 LAND ROVER-MAZDA
RANGE ROVER 3-ELEVEN

TOP 1O
This is not an SUV. Thats too common The extraordinary Lotus 3-Eleven is a re-
a badge. Instead, think go-anywhere markable drivers car with thrilling speed
luxury car. Or GALC. Hmm, catchy. and mesmerising on-road talent.

PRICE 062 MPH BHP LB FT MPG CO2 RATING PRICE 062 MPH BHP LB FT MPG CO2 RATING
5.0 SC Autobi 103,350 5.1 140 510 461 20.5 322 8/10 BEST MPG 155MPH+ 3.5 SC Road 82,500 3.4 174 410 302 n/a n/a 8/10
3.0 TDV6 Vogue 75,850 7.4 130 258 442 37.7 196 9/10 Euro NCAP n/a, LxWxH in mm: tba, tba-litre fuel tank, 40-litre
4.4 SDV8 Vge SE 89,750 6.5 135 340 517 32.5 229 boot, 2 engines, 2 trims, 2 models in total.
9/10
Euro NCAP n/a, LxWxH in mm: 5000/5199x2070x1840, 85/105-litre
fuel tnk, 909/2030-litre boot, 4 engines, 4 trims, 11 models in total.
1 Audi A4
3.0 TDI 218
MASERATI
LEXUS
TopGear on Maserati:
67.3mpg Ferraris moody cousin. Every model beaten in every way
by German opposition, save for cachet, cool, and style.
TopGear on Lexus:
Angular luxo-Toyotas reverting back to hybrid slumberland
after mad, intoxicatingly awesome LFA supercar. GHIBLI
Maserati builds a BMW 5-Series. Its
IS 2
available with a diesel engine. Well, they
think its a good idea.
3-Series drive too well for you? Then buy Mercedes-Benz
this, its worse. In other areas, IS gives the S 300 CDI Hybrid L
Germans a much tougher time. PRICE 062 MPH BHP LB FT MPG CO2 RATING
61.4mpg 3.0 V6 53,590 5.6 163 330 369 29.4 223 6/10
PRICE 062 MPH BHP LB FT MPG CO2 RATING 3.0 V6 TT S 64,510 5.0 177 410 405 27.2 242 7/10
IS 200t Sport 28,995 7.0 143 180 258 39.2 167 7/10 3.0 V6 Diesel 49,165 6.3 155 275 442 47.9 158 6/10
IS 300h Exec 29,995 8.4 125 220 163 65.7 101 7/10 Euro NCAP LxWxH in mm: 4970x1950x1460, 80-litre fuel
Euro NCAP LxWxH in mm: 4670x1810x1430, 66-litre fuel 3 BMW
tank, 500-litre boot, 3 engine, 2 trims, 3 models in total.

QUATTROPORTE
tank, 450/480-litre boot, 2 engines, 6 trims, 10 models in total.
730d
RC 60.1mpg Noooo what have they done? The old
Bit heavier than we hoped, but roaring one was soul personied, this looks a
V8 is sure to give BMWs M4 a few bit... meh. Still, at least it drives better.
headaches. Good thing, too.
PRICE 062 MPH BHP LB FT MPG CO2 RATING
PRICE 062 MPH BHP LB FT MPG CO2 RATING 3.8 TT V8 GTS 110,405 4.7 191 530 523 26.4 250 7/10
RC 300h Lux 34,995 8.6 118 477 391 57.6 113 6/10
4 BMW 3.0 V6 Diesel 69,565 6.4 155 275 443 45.6 163 6/10
RC F 59,995 4.5 167 450 384 26.2 252 7/10 330d Euro NCAP n/a, LxWxH in mm: 5050x1900x1440, 90-litre fuel
Euro NCAP n/a, LxWxH in mm: 4705x1845x1390, 66-litre fuel tank, 56.5mpg tank, 450-litre boot, 3 engines, 3 trims, 3 models in total.
366-litre boot, 3 engines, 5 trims, 7 models in total.
GRANTURISMO
RX Muscular, pretty coupe that's more GT
than sports car. Nothing wrong there
Lexus takes NX and scales up. However and the MC Strad has bite if you need it.
good the RX is, it will almost certainly
be better than the old one. 5 BMW PRICE 062 MPH BHP LB FT MPG CO2 RATING
530d 4.7 460 Sport 91,440 4.8 185 460 383 19.7 331 8/10
PRICE 062 MPH BHP LB FT MPG CO2 RATING
RX 200T S 39,995 9.2 124 238 258 36.2 181 6/10 55.4mpg 4.7 MC Stradale 110,765 4.5 188 450 376 19.5 337 8/10
RX 450h SE 46,995 7.7 124 266 247 54.3 120 6/10 4.7 GranCabrio 98,970 5.2 177 440 361 19.5 337 8/10
Euro NCAP LxWxH in mm: 4890x1895x1690, 65-litre fuel Euro NCAP n/a, LxWxH in mm: 4880x1920x1350, 86-litre fuel
tank, 453-litre boot, 2 engines, 5 trims, 7 models in total. tank, 260-litre boot, 3 engines, 3 trims, 5 models in total.

LOTUS
6 BMW
430d
MAZDA
TopGear on Lotus: TopGear on Mazda:
Overlook shaky economics and turnip farmer jokes
and youll nd sports cars close to driving nirvana.
55.4mpg Remember when every single Ford was the best to drive
in its class? Well, Mazdas nicked that mantle.

ELISE 2
Still a joy, the current Elise oers vis- The last 2 was a sleeper it never set out
ceral driving thrills in a relatively usable to be sparky, but somehow achieved it.
package. This is steering feel. 7 Audi A6 Same again. Just with a hint more polish.
3.0 TDI quattro 272
PRICE 062 MPH BHP LB FT MPG CO2 RATING PRICE 062 MPH BHP LB FT MPG CO2 RATING
1.6 Sport 29,900 6.5 127 134 118 44.8 149 8/10 55.4mpg 1.5 SE 12,195 12.1 106 75 100 60.1 110 7/10
1.8 SC Sport 220 36,500 4.6 145 217 184 37.7 173 8/10 1.5 Sport Nav 16,095 8.7 124 115 109 56.5 117 7/10
1.8 SC Cup 250 45,600 4.3 154 243 184 37.7 175 9/10 Euro NCAP LxWxH in mm: 4060x1695x1495, 44-litre fuel
tank, 280/950-litre boot, 4 engines, 4 trims, 12 models in total.
Euro NCAP n/a, LxWxH in mm: 3790x1850x1120, 44-litre fuel tank,
112-litre boot, 2 engines, 3 trims, 3 models in total. 8 Mercedes-Benz 3
EVORA E 350d The 6s design language moves to the 3. So
does the handling verve. After that were
More power = good, more price = bad.
400 is astonishingly good to drive but an
54.3mpg less sure why youd have one over a Golf.
uphill struggle against Cayman and 911.
PRICE 062 MPH BHP LB FT MPG CO2 RATING
1.5 SE 17,095 10.8 113 100 110 55.4 119 6/10
PRICE 062 MPH BHP LB FT MPG CO2 RATING
3.5 S 2.0 Sport Nav 22,170 8.2 130 165 154 48.7 135 6/10
61,895 4.6 172 345 295 28.7 229 8/10 9 BMW 330d 2.2D SE
400 73,115 4.1 186 400 303 29.1 225 8/10 19,745 8.1 130 150 280 68.9 107 7/10
Euro NCAP n/a, LxWxH in mm: 4340x1850x1220, 55-litre fuel tank,
Gran Turismo Euro NCAP LxWxH in mm: 4465x1795x1450, 51-litre fuel
160-litre boot, 3 engines, 3 trims, 5 models in total. 54.3mpg tank, 364-litre boot, 4 engines, 3 trims, 17 models in total.

EXIGE 6
Lotus track car has grown up and got Handsome mid-size saloon with some
heavier. But dont worry, this makes it clever engine tech underneath. Drives
more usable. Deliriously good to drive. well, possibly a bit middle management.
10 Audi A7 Sportback
PRICE 062 MPH BHP LB FT MPG CO2 RATING 3.0 TDI quattro 272 PRICE 062 MPH BHP LB FT MPG CO2 RATING
3.5 Sport 350 55,900 3.7 170 350 295 28.0 235 9/10 2.0 Sport Nav 24,595 9.1 134 165 154 47.8 135 6/10
3.5 Roadster S 55,500 3.8 145 350 295 28.0 236 8/10
54.3mpg 2.2D Sport Nav 26,395 9.1 131 150 280 72.4 107 7/10
Euro NCAP n/a, LxWxH in mm: 4084x1802x1129, 40-litre fuel tank, Euro NCAP LxWxH in mm: 4870x1840x1450, 62-litre fuel
n/a-litre boot, 1 engine, 3 trims, 4 models in total. tank, 489-litre boot, 3 engines, 3 trims, 13 models in total.

FOR ALL THE FACTS AND STATS YOU NEED TO KNOW ABOUT EVERY CAR ON SALE IN THE UK GO TO TOPGEAR.COM/REVIEWS
 MX-5 B-CLASS S-CLASS COUPE
MAZDA-MERCEDES-BENZ
Ignore the stereotypes: the MX-5 is This Volkswagen Golf SV rival remains Loads of tech, loads of power, loads of
back and, crucially, better than its ever oddly proportioned but has plenty of class, quite a bit of cash. New coupe is
been before. Happy, simple fun. tech inside. Not to mention space. good enough to justify it all.

PRICE 062 MPH BHP LB FT MPG CO2 RATING PRICE 062 MPH BHP LB FT MPG CO2 RATING PRICE 062 MPH BHP LB FT MPG CO2 RATING
1.5 SE 18,495 8.3 127 131 111 47.1 139 10/10 B 180d SE 23,245 11.6 118 109 184 70.6 104 6/10 S 500 98,050 4.6 155 455 516 30.0 219 9/10
2.0 Sport Nav 23,700 7.3 133 160 148 40.4 161 10/10 Electric Drive 32,670 7.9 100 179 250 N/A 0 6/10 S 63 AMG 127,675 4.3 155 585 663 27.9 237 9/10
Euro NCAP LxWxH in mm: 3915x1735x1225, 45-litre fuel Euro NCAP LxWxH in mm: 4360x1790x1560, 50-litre fuel Euro NCAP n/a, LxWxH in mm: 5027x1899x1411, 80-litre fuel
tank, 130-litre boot, 2 engines, 5 trims, 9 models in total. tank, 488-litre boot, 5 engines, 6 trims, 57 models in total. tank, 400-litre boot, 3 engines, 3 trims, 3 models in total.

CX-3
Because the Nissan Juke doesnt have DATA IN NUMBERS: LONE RANGER DATA IN NUMBERS: THE LONG TAIL
enough rivals already. CX-3 is pretty
and drives well, though. B 180d range, full tank 776 miles 585bhp S 63 AMG 127,675
PRICE 062 MPH BHP LB FT MPG CO2 RATING
B-Class ED range, full charge 124 miles 630bhp S 65 AMG 185,480 (Cost of each extra bhp: 1,284)
2.0 SE
1.5D SE
17,595
18,995
9.0
10.1
119 120
110 105
151 47.9 137
199 70.6 105
8/10
8/10
C-CLASS SLC
Sleek and sophisticated C-Class takes An all-new name but not an all-new car
Euro NCAP LxWxH in mm: 4275x1765x1535, 48-litre fuel the ght to the 3-Series. Better looking and you can tell. The V8 AMG is gone
tank, 350/1260-litre boot, 3 engines, 3 trims, 12 models in total. and highly desirable, especially the C63. too. Prices keener to compensate.

McLAREN AMG C 43 4M
PRICE 062 MPH BHP LB FT MPG CO2 RATING
SLC 43 AMG
PRICE 062 MPH BHP LB FT MPG CO2 RATING
TopGear on McLaren: 44,460 4.7 155 372 384 34.9 183 TBA 46,360 4.7 155 367 384 36.2 178 6/10
Hyper-clinical British outt spinning ever more baing AMG C 63 S 67,450 4.0 155 517 517 34.5 192 9/10 SLC 250d Sport 32,995 6.6 152 204 369 70.6 114 6/10
model choices o its bi-turbo V8 and carbon tub.
C 220d AMG L 34,295 7.7 145 170 295 70.6 108 8/10 Euro NCAP LxWxH in mm: 4143x1810x1300, 60-litre fuel
SPORTS SERIES C 350e PHEV 38,900 5.9 155 293 258 134.5 48 7/10
tank, 225/335-litre boot, 4 engines, 3 trims, 6 models in total.

Meet McLarens bonny, bouncy baby.

As if. 570S is as focused and fast as its
Euro NCAP LxWxH in mm: 4685x1810x1447, 66-litre fuel
tank, 480-litre boot, 9 engines, 6 trims, 99 models in total. SL
siblings. Just cheaper. Perhaps the best all-round, usable hard-

PRICE 062 MPH BHP LB FT MPG CO2 RATING

E-CLASS top convertible on sale today. Practical,
fast, excellent quality and dynamics.
Laden with tech and wonderfully calming.
540C 126,020 3.4 199 540 399 25.5 258 TBA New E gets Merc back in the big exec PRICE 062 MPH BHP LB FT MPG CO2 RATING
570S 143,270 3.1 204 570 443 25.5 258 9/10 game. Even if it does look like a C-Class
SL 400 AMG L V6 73,810 4.9 155 367 369 36.7 175 7/10
570GT 154,015 3.4 204 570 443 26.6 249 9/10 PRICE 062 MPH BHP LB FT MPG CO2 RATING SL 63 AMG V8 114,115 4.1 155 585 664 28.0 234 7/10
Euro NCAP n/a, LxWxH in mm: 4530x1910x1202, 72-litre fuel E 220d SE 35,935 7.3 149 194 295 72.4 102 9/10 SL 65 AMG V12 173,315 4.0 155 630 737 23.7 279 7/10
tank, 150-litre boot, 2 engines, 3 trims, 3 models in total.
E 220d AMG Li 38,430 7.3 149 194 295 72.4 112 9/10 Euro NCAP n/a, LxWxH in mm: 4631x1877x1314, 75-litre fuel tank,
SUPER SERIES E 350d AMG Li 47,425 5.9 155 258 457 54.3 144 9/10 364-litre boot, 4 engines, 3 trims, 5 models in total.

Not a facelifted 12C, says McLaren, but an Euro NCAP n/a LxWxH in mm: 4923x1852x1468, 66-litre fuel
all new car. Has a P1 nose, more speed, is
the car the 12C should have been.
tank, 540-litre boot, 2 engines, 2 trims, 4 models in total.
DATA IN NUMBERS: PRICE RANGE
PRICE 062 MPH BHP LB FT MPG CO2 RATING S-CLASS Price span, cheapest to dearest SL 99,505
650S 195,305 3.0 207 650 500 24.2 275 9/10 Meet the car that has single-handedly
saved the luxury car class from the SUV
AMG GT
MAZDA-MERCEDES-BEN

650S Spider 215,305 3.2 207 650 500 24.2 275 9/10 incursion. Sublime in most ways.
675LT Spider 285,470 2.9 203 675 517 24.2 275 9/10 AMG gets serious about hammering Por-
PRICE 062 MPH BHP LB FT MPG CO2 RATING sche. Doesnt quite have a 911s nesse,
Euro NCAP n/a, LxWxH in mm: 4512x1910x1199, 72-litre fuel but boy does it make you feel good.
tank, 145-litre boot, 2 engines, 2 trims, 3 models in total. S 400 L Hybrid 72,900 6.8 155 333 272 44.8 147 9/10

MERCEDES-BENZ
S 500 L 90,525 4.8 155 455 516 31.7 207 9/10 PRICE 062 MPH BHP LB FT MPG CO2 RATING
S 350 L d 68,870 6.8 155 258 457 50.4 148 9/10 GT 97,210 4.0 189 462 443 30.4 216 8/10
TopGear on Mercedes-Benz: S 600 Maybach 165,730 5.0 155 537 613 24.1 274 TBA GT S 110,510 3.8 193 517 480 30.1 219 8/10
More letters combos than a bath of alphabet soup. Slurp
through that and the cars are very tasty. Euro NCAP n/a, LxWxH in mm: 5110/5250x1900x1490, 70/80-litre Euro NCAP n/a, LxWxH in mm: 4546x1939x1287, 85-litre fuel
fuel tank, 510/530-litre boot, 7 engines, 5 trims, 21 models in total. tank, 285-litre boot, 2 engines, 2 trims, 2 models in total.
A-CLASS CLS
Despite the bulbous drunkards nose, GLA
this is a conventional hatch. Watch the One of the most competent cars in On paper little more than a pointless cu-
spec or you'll muck it up. Mercs range. It no longer denes cool riosity, but in reality a rather well judged
like the rst one, but it's all top drawer. crossover. Better than the CLA at least.
PRICE 062 MPH BHP LB FT MPG CO2 RATING
A 45 AMG 40,695 4.2 155 381 351 40.9 162 8/10 PRICE 062 MPH BHP LB FT MPG CO2 RATING PRICE 062 MPH BHP LB FT MPG CO2 RATING
A 180d SE 22,485 11.3 118 109 192 80.7 89 6/10 CLS 350d 50,695 6.5 155 265 457 51.4 142 8/10 GLA 45 AMG 44,860 4.4 155 381 351 38.2 172 8/10
A 200d AMG L 25,850 9.3 130 136 221 62.8 116 6/10 CLS 63 AMG SB 87,025 4.2 155 593 590 28.0 235 9/10 GLA 250 4Matic 31,455 6.6 143 211 250 43.5 153 7/10
Euro NCAP LxWxH in mm: 4299x1780x1433, 50-litre fuel Euro NCAP n/a, LxWxH in mm: 4920x1850x1470, 580-litre fuel tank, Euro NCAP n/a, LxWxH in mm: 4417x1804x1494, 50/56-litre fuel
tank, 341/1157-litre boot, 5 engines, 6 trims, 57 models in total. 520-litre boot, 4 engines, 3 trims, 11 models in total. tank, 481-litre boot, 4 engines, 8 trims, 23 models in total.

FOR ALL THE FACTS AND STATS YOU NEED TO KNOW ABOUT EVERY CAR ON SALE IN THE UK GO TO TOPGEAR.COM/REVIEWS
 GLC MINI

MERCEDES-BENZ-MITSUBISHI
TOP 5
Take one Merc C-Class Estate, add a bit
of length, some height and a pinch of TopGear on Mini:
o-road ability. Et viola - the GLC. New hatch uglier but more sorted. Pointless Paceman
and two-seaters soon to die. Good riddance.

GLC 220d
PRICE 062 MPH BHP LB FT MPG CO2 RATING MINI HATCH
34,950 8.3 130 170 295 56.5 129 8/10 JUNIOR SPORTS CARS Yes, its bigger, and no, that isnt neces-
GLC 250d 36,105 7.6 138 204 369 56.5 129 8/10 sarily a good thing. Apart from that, the
new Mini is predictably excellent.
Euro NCAP LxWxH in mm: 4759x1890x1644, 66-litre fuel
tank, 550/1600-litre boot, 2 engines, 8 trims, 16 models in total. 1 MAZDA MX-5 2.0 SE-L
Price 20,995 Specs 158bhp, PRICE 062 MPH BHP LB FT MPG CO2 RATING
GLE 148lb ft, 0-62mph 7.3secs, One 13,935 9.9 121 103 133 61.4 108 7/10
The MLs got a new nose and a new Cooper 15,485 7.9 130 136 162 62.7 105 8/10
name to go with it. GL for SUV, E for VMax 133mph, 40.9mpg,
the one in the middle. Simple. CO2 161g/km Cooper S 18,840 6.8 146 192 206 49.5 133 8/10
Cooper D 16,635 9.2 127 116 199 80.7 92 7/10
PRICE 062 MPH BHP LB FT MPG CO2 RATING New MX-5 is everything wed hoped for. Simple, Euro NCAP LxWxH in mm: 3821x1727x1414, 40/44-litre
GLE 250d 49,285 8.6 132 204 369 47.9 155 7/10 rear-drive and over 100kg lighter than the old one, fuel tank, 211-litre boot, 6 engines, 6 trims, 12 models in total.
GLE 350d 56,285 7.1 140 258 458 42.8 179
GLE 63 AMG Cp 96,575 4.2 155 585 561 23.7 279
7/10
7/10
its perhaps the best MX-5 ever. MINI 5-DOOR
See above. And remove good looks. Not
Euro NCAP LxWxH in mm: 4932x1935x1796, 93-litre fuel
tank, 690/2010-litre boot, 5 engines, 9 trims, 26 models in total. 2 SUBARU BRZ the nicest in prole, but handily bigger
and only 600 more. Fills a(nother) gap.
Price 24,995 Specs 200bhp,
GLS 151lb ft, 0-62mph 7.6secs, PRICE 062 MPH BHP LB FT MPG CO2 RATING
The bigger, seven-seat version of the VMax 130mph, 36.2mpg, Cooper 5dr 16,085 8.2 129 136 162 60.1 109 7/10
ML gets a new name and even more
luxury. Meant for Americans. CO2 181g/km Cooper SD 5dr 20,235 7.4 140 170 266 68.9 109 7/10
Euro NCAP n/a, LxWxH in mm: 3982x1727x1414, 40/44-litre fuel
PRICE 062 MPH BHP LB FT MPG CO2 RATING Modest but revvy power, rear-wheel drive and tank, 278-litre boot, 6 engines, 6 trims, 12 models in total.
GLS 350 d a decent manual box make for one of the most
69,110 7.8 138 258 458 37.2 199
Euro NCAP n/a LxWxH in mm: 5162x1982x1850, 100-litre fuel
7/10
complete fun-per- cars of the modern age. CONVERTIBLE
tank, 360/2300-litre boot, 2 engines, 3 trims, 3 models in total. Take Mini, lop the roof o, et viola. Mini
Cab is exactly like youd expect. Good
G-CLASS 3 TOYOTA GT86 news for inner-city estate agents.
Now 37 years old, still quite lovable in Price 24,995 Specs 200bhp,
a weird sort of way. Only vehicle here PRICE 062 MPH BHP LB FT MPG CO2 RATING
with an optional third axle. Kinda. 151lb ft, 0-62mph 7.6secs,
Cooper 18,475 8.8 129 136 162 57.6 114 7/10
VMax 130mph, 36.2mpg, Cooper S JCW 28,635 6.5 150 231 236 43.5 152 7/10
PRICE 062 MPH BHP LB FT MPG CO2 RATING CO2 181g/km
Euro NCAP n/a, LxWxH in mm: 3821x1727x1415, 40-litre fuel
G 350d 87,815 8.9 119 245 443 28.5 261 4/10 tank, 215-litre boot, 4 engines, 5 trims, 5 models in total.
G 63 AMG
The Toyota twin of the BRZ, except imported in
131,695 5.4 130 571 561 20.5 322 4/10
Euro NCAP n/a LxWxH in mm: 4662x1760x1951, 96-litre fuel
higher numbers. Think a modern version of an CLUBMAN
tank, 699/2126-litre boot, 2 engines, 2 trims, 2 models in total. Escort Mexico, except Japanese and reliable. No rear-hinged doors this time round.
New Clubman is based on BMWs
MG 4 BMW M235I
2-Series and shares its mediocrity.

TopGear on MG: Price 34,540 Specs 322bhp,

Z

PRICE 062 MPH BHP LB FT MPG CO2 RATING

Chinese-backed resurrection. Sells fewer cars annually 1.5T Cooper
than Ford shifts in the time youre reading this. 332lb ft, 0-62mph 5.0secs, 19,965 9.1 127 136 162 55.4 118 6/10
VMax 155mph, 34.9mpg, 2.0 Cooper D 22,245 8.6 132 150 244 68.9 109 6/10
MG3 CO2 189g/km Euro NCAP LxWxH in mm: 4253x1800x1441, 48-litre fuel
After the startling success of the MG6, tank, 360/1250-litre boot, 3 engines, 3 trims, 3 models in total.
MG unleashes a supermini on the world.
Good value, incredible performance, slightly plain
World can hardly believe its luck.
looks, a truly great road car, but best had as an M135i MITSUBISHI
PRICE 062 MPH BHP LB FT MPG CO2 RATING hatch for many thousands less or an M2 for a bit more. TopGear on Mitsubishi:
1.5 3Time 8,399 10.9 108 106 101 48.7 136 5/10 Hard to care now Evo is dead, but electro-Outlander actually
Britains top-selling EV. Nope. Still not fussed.
Euro NCAP LxWxH in mm: 4018x1729x1507, 45-litre fuel
AUDI TT 2.0TFSI SPORT
tank, 285-litre boot, 1 engine, 4 trims, 4 models in total. 5
Price 29,915 Specs 227bhp, OUTLANDER
MG6 273lb ft, 0-62mph 6.0secs, No-nonsense seven-seat SUV. Fair to
middling. Plug-in hybrid version oered
Now facelifted. Marginally better cabin, VMax 155mph, 47.9mpg, too. Green, but only gets ve seats.
but sorely lacking everywhere else.
Despite being cheap, best avoided. CO2 137g/km
PRICE 062 MPH BHP LB FT MPG CO2 RATING
PRICE 062 MPH BHP LB FT MPG CO2 RATING The new TT not only looks sharper, it drives sharper, PHEV GX3h+ 35,304 11.0 106 164 244 156.9 42 6/10
1.9D S 13,995 8.4 120 150 258 61.4 119 4/10 too. You can have it with quattro, but the front drive 2.2 DI-D GX3 27,784 10.2 124 150 280 52.3 140 5/10
Euro NCAP n/a, LxWxH in mm: 4651x1827x1472, 62-litre fuel one is basically a Golf GTI. Nothing wrong with that. Euro NCAP LxWxH in mm: 4655x1800x1680, 60-litre fuel
tank, 498/1379-litre boot, 1 engine, 3 trims, 3 models in total. tank, 436-550/1755-litre boot, 2 engines, 5 trims, 7 models in total.

FOR ALL THE FACTS AND STATS YOU NEED TO KNOW ABOUT EVERY CAR ON SALE IN THE UK GO TO TOPGEAR.COM/REVIEWS
 MORGAN X-TRAIL
MORGAN-PEUGEOT

TOP 7
TopGear on Morgan: The X-Trail used to be a rufty-tufty
thing. Now its been emasculated. As a
Idiosyncratic British sports cars designed to give you wood result, we think its better. Fickle, us?
and a healthy exposure to the elements. Poop poop.

3WHEELER PRICE 062 MPH BHP

1.6 dCi 130 Visia 23,745 10.5 117 130
LB FT MPG
236 57.6 129
CO2 RATING
8/10
Eccentric and impractical, but for putting PLUG-IN HYBRIDS & EVS
a smile on your face, nothing this side of Euro NCAP LxWxH in mm: 4643x1820x1695, 60-litre fuel
a Tiger Moth competes. tank, 135(550)/1982-litre boot, 1 engine, 4 trims, 14 models in total.
1 BMW I3
PRICE 062 MPH BHP LB FT MPG CO2 RATING Price 34,130 Specs 170bhp, 370Z
2.0 Bespoke 2d 30,000 4.5 120 110 100 n/a n/a 8/10 184lb ft, 0-62mph 7.9secs, Z still looks great, but wheres the re-
breathing manliness of the old one, Nissan?
Euro NCAP n/a, LxWxH in mm: n/a, 40-litre fuel tank, n/a-litre boot, VMax 93mph, 470mpg, GT86 has highlighted its shortcomings.
1 engine, 2 trims, 2 models in total.
CO2 13g/km
CLASSIC The rst all-electric BMW available to the masses.
PRICE 062 MPH BHP LB FT MPG CO2 RATING
The only car to look like a restoration 3.7 V6 Standard 27,860 5.3 155 326 269 26.9 249 7/10
when actually new. The reasonably new BMW-y drive, clever interior, and the option of a tiny 3.7 V6 Nismo 38,050 5.2 155 344 274 26.6 248 7/10
Plus 8 is a fearsomely fast thing. motorbike engine to extend the range. Its brilliant. Euro NCAP n/a, LxWxH in mm: 4250x1850x1320, 72-litre fuel
tank, 235-litre boot, 2 engines, 3 trims, 3 models in total.
PRICE 062 MPH BHP LB FT MPG CO2 RATING
BMW I8
2.0 Plus 4 36,290 7.5 118 154 148 40.4 164 6/10 2
Price 104,540 Specs 372bhp, GT-R MY17
4.8 Plus 8 85,200 4.5 155 367 370 23.0 282 7/10 Cheap at twice the price, the GT-R is an
Euro NCAP n/a, LxWxH in mm: 4010x1500/1720x1220, 50-litre
421lb ft, 0-62mph 4.4secs, uber-techy, violently capable, ruthlessly
fuel tank, n/a-litre boot, 4 engines, 6 trims, 6 models in total. VMax 155mph, 113mpg, rapid speed machine. Drive one.

AERO 8 CO2 49g/km

PRICE 062 MPH BHP LB FT MPG CO2 RATING
Some ash still lurks in the frame of this A hybrid that can also go toe-to-toe with a Porsche 911? Pure 79,995 TBA 196 570 469 23.9 275 9/10
sports car. Creaks a bit, but otherwise Thatll be the i8. Stunning design, amazing powertrain and Track Edition
not as antiquated as you might think. 91,995 TBA 196 570 469 23.9 275 9/10
just so intoxicating to live with. The futures here. Euro NCAP n/a, LxWxH in mm: 4710x1895x1370, 74-litre fuel
tank, 315-litre boot, 1 engine, 4 trims, 4 models in total.
PRICE 062 MPH BHP LB FT MPG CO2 RATING
TESLA MODEL S
NOBLE
4.8 V8 Coupe 99,950 4.5 170 367 370 23.0 282 8/10
3
4.8 V8 Ssports 126,900 4.5 170 367 370 26.0 256 8/10 P90D LUDICROUS
TopGear on Noble:
Euro NCAP n/a, LxWxH in mm: 4120x1770x1200, 57-litre fuel
tank, 227-litre boot, 1 engine, 2 trims, 2 models in total.
Price 101,480 Specs 762bhp, Yes, its from the home of pork pies. Yes, the engines from a
713lb ft, 0-60mph 2.8secs, VMax school-run bus. Doesnt stop Noble being a supercar force.

NISSAN 155mph, N/A mpg, CO2 0g/km

M600
TopGear on Nissan: Quite simply, the most appealing all-electric car on Powered by a twin turbo Volvo XC90
Bizarre Addams family of geriatric hatches, cash-cow V8, the old school M600 is epically fast
crossovers and the mind-scrambling GT-R freak show. sale. Lesser models get more range, but this 90D is and amazingly supple. Major want.
worth it for 2.8-to-60mph Ludicrous mode alone.
JUKE PRICE 062 MPH BHP LB FT MPG CO2 RATING
Clever little SUV crossover that looks
like... well, looks like nothing else we can 4 AUDI A3 SPORTBACK 4.4 V8 T 650 248,184 3.0 225 650 604 n/a n/a 9/10
think of. Very nice, if a little odd. E-TRON Euro NCAP n/a, LxWxH in mm: 4360x1910x1120, 68-litre fuel tank,
n/a-litre boot, 1 engine, 2 trims, 2 models in total.
FOR ALL THE FACTS A

NISSAN-PEUGE

Price 35,690 Specs 204bhp,

1.6 94 Visia
PRICE 062 MPH BHP
13,995 12.0 104 94
LB FT MPG
103 47.1 138
CO2 RATING
5/10
258lb ft, 0-62mph 7.6secs, VMax
138mph, N/A mpg, CO2 37g/km
PAGANI
1.6T Nismo RS 22,180 7.0 137 218 207 39.2 165 6/10 TopGear on Pagani:
Like the Golf GTE, only not tarted up to ape the GTI. The greatest exponents of artistic Italian pageantry
1.5 dCi Visia 15,895 11.2 109 110 192 70.6 104 6/10 and Hulk-spec power the world has yet seen.
Euro NCAP LxWxH in mm: 4135x1765x1565, 46-litre fuel Is all the better for it. Intelligent drivetrain plus general
tank, 350/1181-litre boot, 6 engines, 5 trims, 17 models in total. Audi nice-ness makes for a winner. HUAYRA
LEAF The name is what you exclaim when
you nail the throttle in this twin turbo
The rst mass-produced leccy car. Its 5 VOLKSWAGEN V12d, active aerod hypercar.
impressive, but our infrastructure needs
sorting before it really makes sense.
E-GOLF
Price 30,845 Specs 115bhp, 199lb PRICE 062 MPH BHP LB FT MPG CO2 RATING
6.0 V12 990,000 n/a 230 730 811 23.5 300 8/10
PRICE 062 MPH BHP LB FT MPG CO2 RATING ft, 0-62mph 10.4secs, VMax 87mph,
Euro NCAP n/a, LxWxH in mm: 4610x2040x1170, 85-litre fuel tank,
EV Visia 26,030 11.9 90 109 206 n/a 0 7/10 N/A mpg, CO2 0g/km n/a-litre boot, 1 engine, 1 trim, 1 model in total.
Euro NCAP LxWxH in mm: 4450x1780x1570, no fuel tank,
Looks like a Golf, feels like a Golf, drives like a Golf.
330/680-litre boot, 1 electric motor, 3 trims, 3 models in total.
Only more silently and with a bit of range anxiety. PEUGEOT
DATA IN NUMBERS: RANGE EXTENDER Electricity takes a step into the mainstream. TopGear on Peugeot:
Chassis bods have refound their mojo with 208 GTi and
RCZ R. Design needs to be more Onyx, less ordinary.
LEAF max battery range, highest 30kW spec 155 miles VOLVO XC90 T8
6
NOTE Price 60,455 Specs 320bhp, 108
New nose, same commodious cabin. 295lb ft, 0-62mph 5.3secs, Now more rened and comfortable.
Otherwise precious little to tempt Can be had with a 1.2. Have the 1.0.
Doris out of her Jazz. VMax 140mph, 134.5mpg, Thats the one Toyota made.
CO2 49g/km
PRICE 062 MPH BHP LB FT MPG CO2 RATING PRICE 062 MPH BHP LB FT MPG CO2 RATING
Sensible money buys an XC90 with the 2.0-litre diesel, 1.0 69 Access 3d 8,495 14.3 99 69 70 68.9 95 6/10
1.2 Visia LE 9,995 13.7 106 80 81 60.1 109 5/10
but in real life the T8 is as frugal, but quicker, quieter and Euro NCAP LxWxH in mm: 3475x1615x1460, 35-litre fuel
Euro NCAP LxWxH in mm: 4100x1695x1530, 46-litre fuel
tank, 411/1495-litre boot, 3 engines, 4 trims, 9 models in total. more rened. Expensive though. tank, 196/780-litre boot, 2 engines, 4 trims, 12 models in total.

QASHQAI VOLKSWAGEN 208

Nissan started the Qashqai craze, so the 7
new one is predictably safe. Its better GOLF GTE Congratulations Peugeot, its only taken
you 25 years to reimagine the 205. 208 is
than ever for, you know, family stu. Price 34,055 Specs 201bhp, light, likeable and French. In a good way.
199lb ft, 0-62mph 7.6secs, VMax
PRICE 062 MPH BHP LB FT MPG CO2 RATING PRICE 062 MPH BHP LB FT MPG CO2 RATING
1.2 DiG-T Visia 18,545 11.3 114 115 140 50.4 132 8/10
138mph, 166mpg, CO2 39g/km
1.0 Access ac 3d 12,065 14.0 103 68 66 64.2 102 6/10
1.6 DiG-T n-Con 23,280 9.1 124 163 177 48.7 138 8/10 The GTE would be higher up this list, had VW not made 1.6 THP GTi 19,515 6.5 143 208 221 52.3 125 7/10
1.6 dCi N-Con 25,060 10.5 118 130 236 64.2 115 8/10 it all sporty. Its quick, but the plug-in hybrid powertrain 1.6 BHDi Allure 16,815 13.3 106 75 169 94.2 79 6/10
Euro NCAP LxWxH in mm: 4370x1800x1595, 65-litre works so much better in something a bit more laid back. Euro NCAP LxWxH in mm: 3970x1740x1460, 50-litre fuel
fuel tank, 430-litre boot, 4 engines, 4 trims, 19 models in total. tank, 285/1152-litre boot, 6 engines, 7 trims, 39 models in total.

FOR ALL THE FACTS AND STATS YOU NEED TO KNOW ABOUT EVERY CAR ON SALE IN THE UK GO TO TOPGEAR.COM/REVIEWS
 308 911

PEUGEOT-RENAULT
TOP 5
Well, knock us down with a feather, out Styling is evolutionary and cabin shared
of nowhere, Peugeot gives us a hatch with Panamera, but this is Porsche prov-
good to drive and own. Gobs smacked. ing it's the worlds best sports car builder.

PRICE 062 MPH BHP LB FT MPG CO2 RATING PRICE 062 MPH BHP LB FT MPG CO2 RATING
1.6 GTI 270 28,455 6.0 155 270 243 47.1 139 8/10 LONGEST RANGE 3.0T Carrera S 85,857 4.3 191 420 369 32.5 199 9/10
1.6 BHDi Active 20,345 9.7 122 120 207 91.1 82 8/10 3.0T C4S 90,843 4.2 189 420 369 31.7 204 9/10
Euro NCAP LxWxH in mm: 4253x1804x1457, 53-litre fuel 4.0 GT3 RS 131,296 3.3 193 500 339 22.2 296 10/10
tank, 470/1309-litre boot, 11 engines, 6 trims, 27 models in total.
1 Peugeot 508 1.6
4.0 R 136,901 3.8 200 500 552 21.2 308 9/10
508 BlueHDi 120 3.8 Turbo S 145,773 2.9 205 580 552 31.0 212 8/10

Peugeots replacement for the 407 is

actually quite nice in an average sort of
1,176 miles Euro NCAP n/a, LxWxH in mm: 4490x1800x1300, 64-litre fuel tank,
135-litre boot, 5 engines, 12 trims, 17 models in total.
way. Facelift helps. A bit.
PANAMERA
PRICE 062 MPH BHP LB FT MPG CO2 RATING Four-door, four-seat family Porsche. Very
fast, quite hard to fall in love with, apart
2.0 BHDi Active 24,325 9.8 130 150 273 67.3 109 5/10 2 Vauxhall Insignia
from the rather outrageous GTS model.
Euro NCAP LxWxH in mm: 4830x1853x1456, 72-litre fuel
tank, 473-litre boot, 5 engines, 4 trims, 17 models in total. 1.6 CDTi 136 Eco PRICE 062 MPH BHP LB FT MPG CO2 RATING
1,144 miles 4.8 V8 GTS 93,391 4.5 179 400 368 25.4 260 7/10
RCZ 3.0 V6 Diesel 65,289 6.8 150 250 405 43.5 172 6/10
Peugeots stunning coupe marks a S E-Hybrid
renaissance. Good-looking, fun to drive, 82,439 5.5 167 338 325 91.0 71 6/10
tolerable value. Now go buy an Audi TT. Euro NCAP n/a, LxWxH in mm: 4970x1930x1420, 80-litre fuel tank,
3 Volvo
445/1263-litre boot, 8 engines, 8 trims, 9 models in total.
PRICE 062 MPH BHP
1.6 THP 156 GT 24,750 8.3 133 156 177 44.1 149
LB FT MPG CO2 RATING
7/10
V60 D2 MACAN
1.6 THP 200 GT 27,500 7.6 146 200 206 42.1 155 7/10 1,133 miles Porsches Range Rover Evoque is a tidy
looker that has image by the bucket-
2.0 HDi 163 GT 26,600 8.7 137 163 240 53.2 139 7/10 load. Thus, soon to be everywhere...
Euro NCAP n/a, LxWxH in mm: 4290x1850x1350, 55-litre fuel
tank, 309-litre boot, 3 engines, 3 trims, 4 models in total. PRICE 062 MPH BHP LB FT MPG CO2 RATING
4 S 45,945 5.4 157 340 339 32.5 204 8/10
2008 Citroen C4 1.6 Turbo 62,540 4.8 165 400 405 31.7 208 8/10
High-rise supermini that's increasingly BlueHDi 100 s/s S Diesel 45,942 6.3 142 258 427 46.3 159 8/10
popular in the wake of the Juke. A little
mash-up which just about works. 1,129 miles Euro NCAP LxWxH in mm: 4684x1923x1624, 65-litre fuel
tank, 500/1500-litre boot, 4 engines, 4 trims, 4 models in total.

1.2 VTi Access

PRICE 0-62 MPH BHP
13,615 13.5 105 82
LB FT
87
MPG CO2
57.6 114
RATING
5/10
CAYENNE
Sporting SUV thats very capable and
1.6 BlueHDi Act 16,965 11.3 114 100 187 78.5 95 6/10 5 Skoda Superb
now better to look at. It no longer has a
ride that ruins your spine, either.
Euro NCAP LxWxH in mm: 4160x1740x1560, 50-litre fuel
tank, 360/1172-litre boot, 5 engines, 4 trims, 15 models in total. Greenline
PRICE 062 MPH BHP LB FT MPG CO2 RATING
ND STATS YOU NEED TO KNOW ABOUT EVERY CAR ON SALE IN THE UK GO TO TOPGEAR.COM/REVIEWS

EOT

5008 1,109 miles S E-Hybrid 64,512 5.9 150 422 435 83.1 79 7/10
Turbo 94,063 4.5 173 527 554 25.2 261 6/10
Large seven-seat MPV that looks pretty
good and does everything a family might S Diesel 65,495 5.4 156 383 626 35.3 209 8/10
want, although its less brilliant to drive.
SHORTEST RANGE Euro NCAP n/a, LxWxH in mm: 4855x1939x1705, 100-litre fuel tank,
670/1780-litre boot, 7 engines, 7 trims, 7 models in total.

RADICAL
PRICE 062 MPH BHP LB FT MPG CO2 RATING
1.6 BHDi Active 23,720 12.2 114 120 221 65.7 114 5/10 1 Lotus Exige
Euro NCAP LxWxH in mm: 4530x1837x1638, 60-litre fuel TopGear on Radical:
tank, 679/2506-litre boot, 3 engines, 2 trims, 4 models in total. Cup Super-fast, super-intense range of Nrburgring-humbling
race cars. Wait what, theyre road-legal? Oh my.
246 miles
PORSCHE SR3
TopGear on Porsche: Few are as extreme, and few cope as
Irritatingly great to drive, even when its a 4x4. Theres a badly with British roads. A car for dry,
reason every sports car is dubbed 911-ghter smooth, clear tarmac. Such as a track.
2 Morgan
718 BOXSTER Plus 8 2.0 245 Std
PRICE 062 MPH BHP
69,850 3.4 160 245 265
LB FT MPG
n/a
CO2
n/a
RATING
8/10
Gasp at-six engine becomes boxer
turbo four. More speed, economy but 278 miles Euro NCAP n/a, LxWxH in mm: 4100x1790x1130, 50-litre fuel tank,
less aural satisfaction. Er, sound good? n/a-litre boot, 1 engine, 1 trim, 1 model in total.

PRICE 062 MPH BHP LB FT MPG CO2 RATING RXC

2.0T Now heres a trick: Radicals second
42,094 5.1 170 300 280 38.2 168 8/10 3 Ford road car has much more power and a
2.5T S 51,105 4.6 177 350 310 34.9 184 8/10 roof, but is far tamer to drive.
Euro NCAP n/a, LxWxH in mm: 4379x1801x1281, 54/64-litre fuel
Mustang
tank, 130/275-litre boot, 2 engines, 2 trims, 2 models in total. 280 miles 3.7 V6
PRICE 062 MPH BHP
94,500 2.8 175 350 320
LB FT MPG
n/a
CO2
n/a
RATING
8/10
3.5 V6 Turbo 107,500 2.6 185 454 500 n/a n/a 8/10
DATA IN NUMBERS: PD-OK Euro NCAP n/a, LxWxH in mm: 4300x1960x1127, 50-litre fuel tank,
n/a-litre boot, 2 engines, 1 trim, 2 models in total.
718 Boxster S 0-62mph, man vs. PDK 4.6/4.4secs 4
718 Boxster S mpg, man vs. PDK 34.9/38.7mpg
Vauxhall
VXR8 Maloo RENAULT
TopGear on Renault:
CAYMAN 287 miles Still a pervading sense of imsiness about Renaults. We
hope the ageing RS Megane isnt the end of an era.
The 911s poor relation? Only if youre a
social climber. The Cayman is the purer,
more satisfying drivers car. TWINGO
Rear-engined, rear drive, its a mini-911!
PRICE 062 MPH BHP LB FT MPG CO2 RATING 5 Aston Martin
Only its actually a cheeky little city car.
Turbo is only one with any nous, though.
3.4 325 S 48,783 5.0 175 325 273 32.1 206 9/10 V12 Vantage S
3.4 GTS 55,397 4.9 177 340 280 31.4 211 9/10
3.8 GT4 64,451 4.4 183 385 309 27.4 238 10/10
304 miles 0.9 TCe 90
PRICE 062 MPH BHP
11,695 10.8 103 90
LB FT
99
MPG
65.7 99
CO2 RATING
7/10
Euro NCAP n/a, LxWxH in mm: 4380x1800x1300, 64-litre fuel tank, Euro NCAP LxWxH in mm: 3595x1646x1554, 35-litre
150/425-litre boot, 4 engines, 4 trims, 4 models in total. fuel tank, 188/980-litre boot, 2 engines, 3 trims, 4 models in total.

FOR ALL THE FACTS AND STATS YOU NEED TO KNOW ABOUT EVERY CAR ON SALE IN THE UK GO TO TOPGEAR.COM/REVIEWS
 TWIZY PHANTOM S2
RENAULT-SEAT

TOP 1O
God knows whats got into us, but we Luxury British land-yacht which man-
badly want a Twizy. Mainly to sneak up ages to drive as well as it soothes. Cars
on other cars in electrical silence. come no more opulent than this.

PRICE 062 MPH BHP LB FT MPG CO2 RATING PRICE 062 MPH BHP LB FT MPG CO2 RATING
13kW EV 7,595 n/a 50 17 42 n/a 0 7/10 MOST BHP SUB 100K 6.75 V12 EWB 373,824 6.1 150 453 531 18.9 349 9/10
Technic
Euro NCAP n/a, LxWxH in mm: 2340x1240x1460, no fuel tank, 6.75 V12 D'head 367,632 5.8 150 453 531 19.1 347 8/10
31-litre boot, 1 electric motor, 3 trims, 3 models in total. 6.75 V12 Coupe 347,256 5.8 155 453 531 19.1 347 8/10
ZOE 1 Corvette
Euro NCAP n/a, LxWxH in mm: 5830/6090x1990x1640, 100-litre fuel
tank, 460-litre boot, 1 engine, 1 trim, 4 models in total.
This could be the point where electric Z06
cars start to prove themselves. The Zoe
looks great and costs little.
659bhp WRAITH
If the Grand Tour still existed, this is how
PRICE 062 MPH BHP LB FT MPG CO2 RATING the aristocracy would get to Vienna. A
majestic symbol of Britain.
EV Expression 18,445 13.5 84 88 162 n/a 0 6/10
Euro NCAP LxWxH in mm: 4090x1730x1560, no fuel tank, PRICE 062 MPH BHP LB FT MPG CO2 RATING
328/1225-litre boot, 1 electric motor, 3 trims, 3 models in total. 2 Audi RS6 6.6 V12 235,416 4.4 155 624 590 20.2 327 9/10
CLIO Performance Euro NCAP n/a, LxWxH in mm: 5269x1947x1507, 82-litre fuel tank,
470-litre boot, 1 engine, 1 trim, 1 model in total.
A return to form for Renault. Clio 4 is
605bhp
good-looking and drives well. Just avoid
the gutless lower-powered 1.2 petrol. DAWN
This is how you do luxury in 2016. Not
PRICE 062 MPH BHP LB FT MPG CO2 RATING just a car, but a practically unbeatable
luxury experience.
0.9 TCe Dyn Nav 14,675 12.2 113 90 99 62.8 104 7/10
1.6T RS Trophy 21,780 6.6 146 220 207 47.9 135 7/10
3 Audi RS7 PRICE 062 MPH BHP LB FT MPG CO2 RATING
1.5 dCi Play ECO 15,225 12.0 112 90 162 88.3 82 6/10 Performance 6.6 V12 264,000 4.9 155 563 575 19.9 330 9/10
Euro NCAP LxWxH in mm: 4060x1730x1450, 45-litre fuel
tank, 320/1200-litre boot, 5 engines, 6 trims, 20 models in total.
605bhp Euro NCAP n/a, LxWxH in mm: 5285x1947x1502, 82-litre fuel tank,
244/295-litre boot, 1 engine, 1 trim, 1 model in total.

DATA IN NUMBERS: GOOD DIRECTIONS SEAT

TopGear on Seat:
Percentage of Clio range with standard sat nav 75% 4 Audi S8
Supposedly the sporty arm of the VW Group behemoth.
So why does it make a seven-seat MPV, then?
CAPTUR Plus
MII
Renault's take on the Juke that's,
perhaps unsurprisingly, more style than
605bhp Dont go expecting loads of Spanish air
substance. Clio for us, please. here. VW doesnt permit that. This is
just a very sensible Up-based city car.
PRICE 062 MPH BHP LB FT MPG CO2 RATING PRICE 062 MPH BHP LB FT MPG CO2 RATING
0.9 TCe Exp+ 14,575 12.6 106 90 99 56.5 115 7/10 5 1.0 SE Eco 3d 10,570 14.4 100 60 67 68.9 95 7/10
1.5 dCi Exp+ 16,275 12.6 106 90 162 76.4 95 7/10 Mercedes-AMG 1.0 75 FR Li 3d 11,065 13.2 106 75 70 60.1 108 7/10
CLS 63 S
Euro NCAP LxWxH in mm: 4120x1780x1560, 45-litre fuel Euro NCAP LxWxH in mm: 3560x1640x1480, 35-litre fuel
585bhp
SKODA-SUZUKI

tank, 377/1235-litre boot, 3 engines, 4 trims, 10 models in total. tank, 238/951-litre boot, 2 engines, 5 trims, 12 models in total.

MEGANE IBIZA
New Megane takes cues from Talisman Looks sharp, and pricing is good, but
and Espace, neither of which we get in hasn't quite made the leap that the
the UK. Early impressions are good. Leon has. Ride could be better.
6 Mercedes-AMG
PRICE 062 MPH BHP LB FT MPG CO2 RATING PRICE 062 MPH BHP LB FT MPG CO2 RATING
GLE 63 S 1.0 EcoTSI SE 5d 13,975 10.4 119 95 118 67.3 98 6/10
1.2 TCe Exp+ 16,600 10.6 122 130 151 52.3 120 TBA
1.5 dCi Dyn S 20,400 11.3 116 110 192 76.4 96 TBA 585bhp 1.8 Cupra SC 18,100 6.7 146 189 236 47.1 TBA 7/10
Euro NCAP LxWxH in mm: 4359x1814x1447, 47-litre fuel Euro NCAP LxWxH in mm: 4030x1690x1430, 45-litre fuel
tank, 384-litre boot, 4 engines, 7 trims, 15 models in total. tank, 284-litre boot, 9 engines, 5 trims, 34 models in total.

KADJAR DATA IN NUMBERS: CUPRA WINNER

Thankfully heaps better than Renaults 7 Vauxhall
last crack at a big crossover the Koleos. Saving, Ibiza Cupra SC over VW Polo GTI 3dr 1,025
Qashqai rival with genuine appeal. VXR8 GTS

PRICE 062 MPH BHP LB FT MPG CO2 RATING

585bhp LEON
1.2 TCe Exp + Seat has really upped its game with
18,495 10.1 119 132 151 50.4 126 6/10 the all-new Leon. Super-hot Cupra is
1.5 dCi Exp + 20,395 11.9 113 112 192 74.3 99 7/10 rather tremendous.
Euro NCAP LxWxH in mm: 4449x1836x1607, 55-litre fuel
tank, 864/1620-litre boot, 3 engines, 4 trims, 14 models in total. 8 PRICE 062 MPH BHP LB FT MPG CO2 RATING
BMW 1.4 EcoTSI FR 20,525 8.0 134 150 184 60.1 110 7/10
ROLLS-ROYCE M5 Competition
575bhp
2.0 TSI Cupra SC 28,380 5.8 155 290 258 42.2 156
2.0 TDI FR SC 23,045 7.5 142 184 280 67.3 109
8/10
7/10
TopGear on Rolls-Royce:
Wheeled pleasure yachts thatve seen o the challenge of Euro NCAP LxWxH in mm: 4260x1780x1460, 50-litre fuel
Maybach and oer more charm than Bentley. tank, 380-litre boot, 7 engines, 5 trims, 37 models in total.

GHOST S2 ATECA
A car for the junior plutocrat, since his 9 BMW Seats rst crossover is so good youd
boss will clearly be in a Phantom. Wave think it was an old hand. Handsome, well
at him - he needs your pity. X5 M built, and its not another Qashqai, is it?

PRICE 062 MPH BHP LB FT MPG CO2 RATING

575bhp PRICE 062 MPH BHP LB FT MPG CO2 RATING
6.6 V12 222,888 4.7 155 571 576 20.8 327 9/10 1.0 TSI S 17,990 TBA 113 115 148 54.3 121 TBA
6.6 V12 EWB 253,944 4.8 155 571 576 20.6 329 9/10 2.0 TDI SE 22,930 TBA 125 150 251 64.2 114 8/10
Euro NCAP n/a LxWxH in mm: 5399/5569x1948x1550, 82-litre fuel Euro NCAP LxWxH in mm: 4363x1841x1615, 50/55-litre fuel
tank, 490-litre boot, 1 engine, 1 trim, 2 models in total. 10 BMW
tank, 510-litre boot, 4 engines, 4 trims, 11 models in total.

X6 M
DATA IN NUMBERS: LENGTH ISSUE DATA IN NUMBERS: POWER TO WEIGHT
575bhp
Ghost per mm (overall length) 41.28 Ateca 1.0 TSI 115 bhp per kg 11.1
Ghost EWB per mm (overall length) 45.59 Ateca 2.0 TDI 150 bhp per kg 9.4

FOR ALL THE FACTS AND STATS YOU NEED TO KNOW ABOUT EVERY CAR ON SALE IN THE UK GO TO TOPGEAR.COM/REVIEWS
ALHAMBRA FORFOUR

SEAT-SUBARU
One of the very best MPVs around. If Same front end as the car above.
you don't want an S-Max, this is a worthy Concerning. Otherwise, its a decent
alternative. Lots of seats, lots of space. city car. But our eyes hurt.
PRICE 062 MPH BHP LB FT MPG CO2 RATING
PRICE 062 MPH BHP LB FT MPG CO2 RATING
1.0 Passion 11,620 15.9 94 71 67 67.3 97 6/10
2.0 TDI SE 28,965 10.2 126 150 251 55.4 132 7/10
Euro NCAP LxWxH in mm: 3495, 1665, 1555, 35-litre fuel
Euro NCAP LxWxH in mm: 4850x1900x1720, 70-litre fuel
tank, 185/975-litre boot, 1 engine, 4 trims, 4 models in total.
tank, 267/2297-litre boot, 4 engines, 4 trims, 8 models in total.

SKODA SSANGYONG
TopGear on Skoda: TopGear on SsangYong:
Supposedly the cheapncheerful arm of the VW Group Still mired where the rest of the Koreans languished
behemoth. So why does it make a 30k barge, then? decades ago. Very cheap, for very good reason.

CITIGO TIVOLI
Of course you recognise it the Citigo Neat-looking crossover is SsangYongs
is a lightly altered VW Up. Which makes more practical take on the Nissan Juke.
it a very ne city car indeed. Storming value but not bad to own either.

PRICE 062 MPH BHP LB FT MPG CO2 RATING

PRICE 062 MPH BHP LB FT MPG CO2 RATING 1.6 eXGi SE 12,950 12.0 106 128 118 44.1 149 5/10

HERO
1.0 Green SE 3d 9,495 14.4 100 60 70 68.9 95 7/10 Euro NCAP n/a, LxWxH in mm: 4195x1795x1590, 47-litre fuel tank,
1.0 Gre SE L 5d 10,815 13.2 107 75 70 67.3 98 7/10 423-litre boot, 2 engines, 3 trims, 8 models in total.
Euro NCAP LxWxH in mm: 3560x1640x1480, 35-litre fuel
tank, 251/951-litre boot, 2 engines, 4 trims, 12 models in total. KORANDO
Bigger than the Tivoli and also less
FABIA good. Still, not as oensive to look at as
it could be: a lot of car of the money.
Only 9 per cent of the old Fabia was
carried into the latest one. So its 91 per
cent better, says TG maths. LAND ROVER DISCOVERY PRICE 062 MPH BHP LB FT MPG CO2 RATING
2.2 e-XDi SE4 17,500 9.9 115 178 295 48.7 152 5/10
PRICE 062 MPH BHP LB FT MPG CO2 RATING Euro NCAP n/a, LxWxH in mm: 4410x1830x1710, 57-litre fuel tank,
1.0 S 10,750 15.7 99 60 70 60.1 106 6/10 eeded to tow something 486/1312-litre boot, 1 engine, 5 trims, 6 models in total.
1.2 TSI 90 SE
1.4 TDI 90 SE
13,600 10.9 113
15,600 11.1 113
90
90
118 60.1 107
169 83.0 88
7/10
7/10
N heavy? Traverse a raging
torrent? Tackle the wind SUBARU
TopGear on Subaru:
Euro NCAP LxWxH in mm: 3992x1732x1467, 45-litre fuel
tank, 330/1150-litre boot, 7 engines, 5 trims, 34 models in total.
head-on? Then you'll wish you had Ex-WRC legend rebuilding its brand with chunky, rugged
a Discovery. This also applies if you 4x4s. Rally heritage lives on in old-skool WRX.
OCTAVIA have kids and a regular life to lead. The OUTBACK
Skoda, VW's practicality-obsessed arm,
gives you all the car youll ever need. Disco is the perfect blend of capability, More of the unfashionable same from
Provided youre slightly dull. Subaru, but thats what owners love.
versatility, luxury and utilitarianism. New one is handily sized, very capable.
PRICE 062 MPH BHP LB FT MPG CO2 RATING Unlike the RRS, it's not too precious to PRICE 062 MPH BHP LB FT MPG CO2 RATING
1.2 TSI SE 17,865 10.2 124 110 129 57.7 114 7/10 be put to work, after which it will come 2.0D SE 27,995 9.7 119 150 258 50.4 145 6/10
2.0 TSI vRS 24,460 6.8 154 220 258 45.6 142 7/10 up smelling of roses and ready for the Euro NCAP n/a, LxWxH in mm: 4815x1840x1605, 60-litre fuel
1.6 TDI SE 19,925 10.6 122 110 184 74.3 99 8/10 next challenge. The Discovery 4 isn't tank, TBA-litre boot, 2 engines, 2 trims, 3 models in total.
Euro NCAP LxWxH in mm: 4660x1810x1460, 50-litre fuel
tank, 590/1740-litre boot, 9 engines, 8 trims, 45 models in total.
long for this world, so the once-broad LEVORG
range has been condensed down into Yet another big estate from Subaru.
SUPERB two models. Prices start at 47,505
Hard to see where it ts in, particularly
with just a single petrol engine choice.
Enormous Skoda catches Audi-itus.
Styled with ruler, but we dont care for the Graphite. It has everything you PRICE 062 MPH BHP LB FT MPG CO2 RATING
because its like an A8 for A3 money
need, so there's no need to spend the 1.6 DIT GT 27,495 8.9 131 172 185 39.8 164 6/10
PRICE 062 MPH BHP LB FT MPG CO2 RATING extra 8.5K for the Landmark. Both Euro NCAP n/a, LxWxH in mm: 4690x1780x1490, 60-litre fuel tank,
522/1466-litre boot, 1 engine, 1 trim, 1 model in total.
1.4 TSI S 19,060 9.9 129 125 147 52.3 125 8/10 come with the same 3.0-litre turbodiesel
2.0 TDI SE 22,555 8.9 135 150 250 68.9 108 8/10 engine with 256bhp. Plenty.
2.0 TDI SE L Est 28,985 8.1 146 190 295 67.3 110 9/10 DATA IN NUMBERS: MPG CHOICE
Euro NCAP LxWxH in mm: 4861x1864x1470, 66-litre fuel
tank, 625/1760-litre boot, 7 engines, 5 trims, 50 models in total. Subaru Levorg and Audi S3 Sportback Both 39.8mpg
YETI WRX STI
Skoda's SUV-lite is a favourite of TopGear. The Scooby turbo is back, minus the
It looks chunky, acts chunky and drives Impreza name but with the same huge
chunkily, too. Facelift spoils purity though. wing and heinous thirst.

PRICE 062 MPH BHP LB FT MPG CO2 RATING PRICE 062 MPH BHP LB FT MPG CO2 RATING
1.2 TSI S 17,210 10.9 111 110 129 52.3 124 7/10 2.5T STi 28,995 5.2 159 300 300 27.2 242 7/10
2.0 TDI SE L 4x4 24,875 9.1 121 150 251 55.4 134 8/10 Euro NCAP n/a, LxWxH in mm: 4595x1795x1475, 77-litre fuel tank,
460-litre boot, 1 engine, 1 trim, 1 model in total.
Euro NCAP LxWxH in mm: 4222x1793x1645, 55-litre fuel
tank, 322/1760-litre boot, 4 engines, 5 trims, 21 models in total. BRZ
SMART An entirely excellent small, sharp coupe
that's not at all like an Impreza. In a
good way. Rather like a Toyota GT86...
TopGear on Smart:
Best yet execution of a awed idea. Well have the
cheaper, mechanically identical Twingo, thanks. PRICE 062 MPH BHP LB FT MPG CO2 RATING
2.0 SE Lux 2d 23,995 7.6 130 200 151 36.2 181 9/10
FORTWO Euro NCAP n/a, LxWxH in mm: 4240x1780x1430, 55-litre fuel tank,
A doddle to park, a delight around 245-litre boot, 1 engine, 2 trims, 2 models in total.
town, but what on earth was Smart
thinking when it signed o the design? SPEC FORESTER
Price 47,505 Lacks school run glam, but thats not the
PRICE 062 MPH BHP LB FT MPG CO2 RATING Engine 2993cc, 6cyl turbodiesel, point - this is rugged transport. Pity the
1.0 Passion 11,125 14.4 94 71 67 68.9 93 6/10 240bhp XT Turbo is so ignorable.
256bhp, 443lb ft
0.9T Prime 12,415 10.4 96 90 83 67.3 97 6/10 Performance 060mph in 8.8secs, PRICE 062 MPH BHP LB FT MPG CO2 RATING
0.9T Proxy Cab 14,555 10.8 96 90 83 65.7 99 6/10 112mph, 36.7mpg, 203g/km CO2 2.0D XC 26,995 10.2 118 147 258 47.9 156 7/10
Euro NCAP LxWxH in mm: 2695, 1663, 1555, 35-litre fuel Euro NCAP n/a, LxWxH in mm: 4560x1780x1700, 64-litre fuel tank,
tank, 260/350-litre boot, 2 engines, 4 trims, 16 models in total. 450/1610-litre boot, 3 engines, 4 trims, 6 models in total.

FOR ALL THE FACTS AND STATS YOU NEED TO KNOW ABOUT EVERY CAR ON SALE IN THE UK GO TO TOPGEAR.COM/REVIEWS
 SUZUKI YARIS
SUZUKI-VAUXHALL
TopGear on Suzuki: A key car for Toyota in Europe. The
engine choice is reasonable, the Hybrid is
Only the lovable Swift Sport appears to have been fed OK, but it's not as clever as it used to be.
the enthusiasm from Suzukis mental motorcycles.

SWIFT 1.33 Icon 5d

PRICE 062 MPH BHP LB FT MPG CO2 RATING

By not trying too hard, this no-nonsense 14,265 11.1 109 98 92 57.6 114 4/10
supermini succeeds in being really rather Euro NCAP LxWxH in mm: 3890x1700x1510, 42-litre fuel
good. The Sport is thriving, too. Rejoice! tank, 347/768-litre boot, 4 engines, 4 trims, 11 models in total.

PRICE
1.6 Sport Nav 3d 13,999
062 MPH BHP
8.7 121 136
LB FT
118
MPG CO2
44.1 147
RATING
7/10
AURIS
For people who want a Prius, but dont
Euro NCAP LxWxH in mm: 3850x1700x1510, 45-litre fuel want to be seen in a Prius. Possibly
tank, 213/562-litre boot, 2 engines, 4 trims, 10 models in total. Britains worst driven car. Maybe.
BALENO PRICE 062 MPH BHP LB FT MPG CO2 RATING
Cheap and, thankfully, quite cheerful. Five- 1.8 Hybrid
door only Baleno might look a bit odd, but 20,045 10.9 112 138 105 80.7 79 6/10
delivers on the value front. Euro NCAP LxWxH in mm: 4330x1760x1475, 50-litre fuel
tank, 435/1199-litre boot, 5 engines, 5 trims, 30 models in total.
PRICE 062 MPH BHP LB FT MPG CO2 RATING
1.0T Boost SZ-T 12,999 11.4 124 111 125 62.7 105 7/10 PRIUS
Euro NCAP n/a LxWxH in mm: 3995x1745x1470, 37-litre fuel It looks totally bizarre but the weird
tank, 320/756-litre boot, 2 engines, 2 trims, 4 models in total. ULTIMATE TECH styling conceals a well-resolved hybrid.
Note the economy: who needs diesel?
S-CROSS
Out with the SX4, in with the S-Cross.
Same Qashqai-rivalling concept, same
slight surprise at how decent it is.
GROUP 1.8h Active
PRICE
23,295 10.6 112
1.8h Business + 25,995 10.6 112
062 MPH BHP
99
99
LB FT MPG
105 94.2 70
105 86.0 76
CO2 RATING
7/10
7/10

TEST
PRICE 062 MPH BHP LB FT MPG CO2 RATING Euro NCAP LxWxH in mm: 4540x1760x1470, 45-litre fuel
1.6 DDiS SZ3 tank, 445/1120-litre boot, 1 engine, 4 trims, 4 models in total.
15,499 12.0 111 120 236 67.2 108 6/10
Euro NCAP LxWxH in mm: 4300x1765x1575, 50-litre
fuel tank, 430-litre boot, 2 engines, 4 trims, 11 models in total. MIRAI
VITARA Powered only by hydrogen and smug-
ness, the Mirai is proof hydrogen cars
are ready for the mainstream. Nearly.
This one caught us rather by surprise.
Vitara is a perfectly good alternative to a
Qashqai or Juke. Well done, Suzuki. PRICE 062 MPH BHP LB FT MPG CO2 RATING
Tesla Model S P90D
1
Mirai FCV 66,000 9.6 111 152 247 N/A 0 7/10
PRICE 062 MPH BHP LB FT MPG CO2 RATING Loads of kit but, crucially, brilliantly
Euro NCAP n/a, LxWxH in mm: 4890x1815x1535, 5kg hydrogen
1.6 DDiS SZ-T 17,499 11.5 112 120 236 70.6 106 7/10 easy to operate. A rare thing, that... tank, 361-litre boot, 1 powertrain, 1 trim, 1 model in total.
Euro NCAP LxWxH in mm: 4175x1775x1610, 47-litre fuel
tank, 375/710-litre boot, 2 engine, 3 trims, 7 models in total.
he bonkers acceleration, but more
T GT86
TESLA than that, its the freedom Tesla gives
you for fully autonomous driving, or its
The best Toyota in donkeys (with a
nod of thanks to Subaru). Light 'n' lithe
TopGear on Tesla: clean-sheet approach to cabin design coupe proves that 200bhp is enough.
FOR ALL THE FACTS A

All-electric cars done properly. Model S is so good; you

could almost use one as your one and only car. Almost. Cabin quality and tech niggles like laggy PRICE 062 MPH BHP LB FT MPG CO2 RATING
sat-nav and unpredictable Autopilot in
MODEL S poor weather take the sheen off
2.0 Primo 22,700 7.7 140 200 151 36.2 180
Euro NCAP n/a, LxWxH in mm: 4240x1780x1430, 50-litre fuel tank,
9/10

The most credible alternative to the 245-litre boot, 1 engine, 4 trims, 4 models in total.
German execs yet launched. Fast, well
designed and utterly silent. BMW 730Ld

PRICE 062 MPH BHP LB FT MPG CO2 RATING

More luxury, more space. Tech present RAV4
but hidden behind endless sub-menus Still a bit o the pace, despite a recent
60 53,780 5.5 130 298 325 N/A 0 8/10 facelift. Petrol-electric hybrids a little like a
P90D Ludicrous 101,480 2.8 155 770 713 cut-price Lexus RX.
N/A 0 9/10
Very refined (for a piston engine,
Euro NCAP LxWxH in mm: 4970x1964x1445, no fuel tank,
745/1645-litre boot, 4 power outputs, 4 trims, 4 models in total.
anyway), much better value than the PRICE 062 MPH BHP LB FT MPG CO2 RATING
Tesla, and the materials all feel plusher 2.5 Hybrid Bus 26,195 8.4 112 178 155 56.5 115 5/10
MODEL X Euro NCAP LxWxH in mm: 4570x1845x1660, 60-litre fuel
tank, 410-litre boot, 3 engines, 4 trims, 9 models in total.
An SUV EV with Porsche pace. And fal- Insists on bombarding you with info.
con doors. Very pricey, but isnt this what Gesture control is a gimmick youll
the future was supposed to look like?
barely use, and otherwise, theres little LAND CRUISER
imagination Happy in the hands of armed militia and
PRICE 062 MPH BHP LB FT MPG CO2 RATING jolly farmers from Lincolnshire. One of
P90D 100,180 3.8 155 773 713 N/A 0 9/10 the most robust o-roaders ever.
Euro NCAP n/a, LxWxH in mm: 5036x1999x1684, no fuel tank,
TBA-litre boot, 3 power outputs, 3 trims, 3 models in total. PRICE 062 MPH BHP LB FT MPG CO2 RATING
3.0 D-4D Icon 48,395 11.7 109 171 302 34.9 213 5/10
DATA IN NUMBERS: XTRA FAST Euro NCAP n/a, LxWxH in mm: 4760x1885x1890, 87-litre fuel tank,
403/1695-litre boot, 1 engine, 3 trims, 3 models in total.

Tesla Model X P90D 0-62mph 3.8secs

Porsche Macan Turbo 0-62mph 4.8secs VAUXHALL
TopGear on Vauxhall:
TOYOTA Along with Ford, the bread and butter of British motoring.
Thing is, Vauxhall forgets to put tasty llings in.
TopGear on Toyota:
Maker of many boring things. And the GT86. Which is
so good, it almost makes up for the rest of em. ADAM
They called it the Adam. They should
AYGO have called it the Cheryl. Cute, but
short of panache. Blame its upbringing.
Citroen C1 with added face fungus. Still
cheap, still good around town. Now
more capable elsewhere. PRICE 062 MPH BHP LB FT MPG CO2 RATING
1.4 100 Slam 14,830 11.5 115 100 96 53.3 125 7/10
PRICE 062 MPH BHP LB FT MPG CO2 RATING 1.0T Rocks Air 17,475 9.9 121 115 125 56.5 115 6/10
1.0 x-cite 5d 11,845 14.2 99 70 70 68.9 95 7/10 1.4T S 17,475 8.5 130 150 162 47.9 139 6/10
Euro NCAP LxWxH in mm: 3455x1615x1460, 35-litre fuel Euro NCAP LxWxH in mm: 3740x1680x1590, 45-litre fuel
tank, 168-litre boot, 1 engine, 5 trims, 10 models in total. tank, 170/663-litre boot, 5 engines, 7 trims, 18 models in total.

FOR ALL THE FACTS AND STATS YOU NEED TO KNOW ABOUT EVERY CAR ON SALE IN THE UK GO TO TOPGEAR.COM/REVIEWS
 VIVA VOLKSWAGEN

VAUXHALL-VOLKSWAGEN
TOP 7
Vauxhall revives Viva name, but only in TopGear on Volkswagen:
the UK. Viva is called Karl elsewhere. Is
quite cheap. Also quite cheerful. Quietly brilliant, thoroughly deserving of every accolade
chucked its way. Up and Golf particular highlights.

1.0 SE
PRICE 062 MPH BHP LB FT MPG CO2 RATING UP
8,595 13.1 108 75 70 62.8 104 6/10 POCKET ROCKETS Finally, a VW city car you want to own.
Euro NCAP LxWxH in mm: 3675x1595x1485, 32-litre fuel Neat styling and packaging to shame
tank, 206/1013-litre boot, 1 engine, 2 trims, 3 models in total. Ikeas nest, we like the Up. A lot.
1 FORD FIESTA ST
PRICE 062 MPH BHP LB FT MPG CO2 RATING
Price 17,645 Specs 180bhp, 177lb
DATA IN NUMBERS: STRATEGIC PRICING ft, 0-62mph 6.9secs,
1.0 Take Up 3d 8,945 14.4 99 60 70 62.8 105 8/10
1.0 Club Up 5d 12,625 13.2 106 75 70 60.1 108 8/10
Base Vauxhall Viva 1.0 75 SE 8,595 VMax 137mph, 47.9mpg,
Euro NCAP LxWxH in mm: 3540x1640x1490, 35-litre fuel
Base Vauxhall Corsa 1.4 75 Sting 9,595 CO2 138g/km tank, 251/951-litre boot, 2 engines, 6 trims, 16 models in total.

Efervescent little hot hatch thats as good we dared

CORSA hope and better than rivals. Sharp nose, accurate DATA IN NUMBERS: ELECTRIFYING
Lovely little 1.0-litre turbo, very rened
and vastly improved all round. But its steering, energetic turbo and a tail that gets involved.
still a Vauxhall. Need we say more? Price difference: base 1.0 Take Up and e-Up 16,130

PRICE 062 MPH BHP LB FT MPG CO2 RATING 2 PEUGEOT 208 GTI BY POLO
1.4 Sting 3d 9,595 14.9 101 75 96 55.4 118 6/10 PEUGEOT SPORT The Golfs mini-me was facelifted for
2014. Its safe and solid, and now has a
1.0T 90 SE 5d 15,330 11.9 112 90 122 65.7 104 6/10 Price 22,365 Specs 205bhp, (little) bit more soul.
1.6T 205 VXR 3d 18,480 6.8 143 205 180 37.7 174 6/10 221lb ft, 0-62mph 6.5secs, VMax
PRICE 062 MPH BHP LB FT MPG CO2 RATING
Euro NCAP LxWxH in mm: 4020x1736x1479, 45-litre fuel 143mph, 52.3mpg, CO2 125g/km
1.0 S 3d 11,495 15.5 100 60 70 60.1 106 7/10
tank, 285/1120-litre boot, 7 engines, 8 trims, 76 models in total.
They claim its a replacement for the 205 GTI. It isnt. 1.2 TSI Mtch 5d 14,705 10.8 114 90 118 60.1 107 8/10
ASTRA But it never could be. Far too safe and well built. But it 1.8 TSI GTI 3d 19,095 6.7 146 192 236 47.1 139 7/10
Yes, yawn, its the new Astra. Trouble is a mighty efort and for that we are thankful. 1.4 TDI Mtch 5d 15,770 12.9 108 75 155 83.1 88 8/10
is, this one really takes the ght to the
Focus. Onboard connectivity is superb. Euro NCAP LxWxH in mm: 3970x1682x1462, 45-litre fuel

3 AUDI S1 tank, 280/952-litre boot, 9 engines, 8 trims, 32 models in total.

1.0T Design
PRICE 062 MPH BHP
15,995 10.5 124 105
LB FT MPG
125 65.7 99
CO2 RATING
7/10
Price 25,595 Specs 228bhp, GOLF
273lb ft, 0-62mph 5.8secs, The best done better than ever. You
1.4T 150 SRi 18,895 7.8 134 150 181 51.4 128 7/10 need no other hatchback. So dont
VMax 155mph, 40.4mpg, waste your time looking.
1.6 CDTi Design 18,180 9.0 127 136 236 76.3 99 7/10
CO2 162g/km
Euro NCAP LxWxH in mm: 4370x1871x1485, 48-litre fuel PRICE 062 MPH BHP LB FT MPG CO2 RATING
tank, 370/1210-litre boot, 8 engines, 5 trims, 41 models in total. All-wheel drive means the littlest, and best, of all the 1.4 TSI GT Ed 5d 24,870 8.2 134 150 184 57.6 115 8/10
INSIGNIA mainstream Audis will, when things get wet, run rings 2.0 GTI 5d 28,515 6.5 153 220 258 47.1 139 8/10
The Vectra replacement that changed around these other four. Pricey, but worth it. 2.0 R 5d 31,840 5.1 155 300 280 39.8 165 9/10
its name to avoid incrimination in past
crimes. Good to drive, smart design. 1.6 TDI Match 5d 22,350 10.7 119 110 184 74.3 99 8/10
4 MINI JCW 2.0 GTD 5d 27,975 7.5 143 184 258 67.3 109 8/10
PRICE 062 MPH BHP LB FT MPG CO2 RATING Price 23,050 Specs 231bhp,
ND STATS YOU NEED TO KNOW ABOUT EVERY CAR ON SALE IN THE UK GO TO TOPGEAR.COM/REVIEWS

Euro NCAP LxWxH in mm: 4260x1800x1450, 50-litre fuel

2.8 T VXR SS 30,619 5.6 170 325 320 25.7 249 6/10 236lb ft, 0-62mph 6.3secs, tank, 380/1270-litre boot, 13 engines, 9 trims, 48 models in total.

2.0 CDTi SRi ST 23,674 9.4 137 170 295 60.1 124 6/10 VMax 153mph, 42.4mpg, BEETLE
Euro NCAP LxWxH in mm: 4830x1860x1530, 70-litre fuel CO2 155g/km A sportier Beetle? Does that make this a
tank, 530/1470-litre boot, 9 engines, 6 trims, 106 models in total. cockroach? Never mind, the retro VW now
Might not quite match the Fiestas cheeky charm, but
VXR8 the Mini JCW still knows how to have a good time.
has a smattering of driver appeal.

No-nonsense Aussie saloon is back. TG

cheers loudly. Particularly as it now has Steady on the options or the price spirals alarmingly. PRICE 062 MPH BHP LB FT MPG CO2 RATING
nearly 600bhp... Strewth. 1.4 TSI Sport 22,760 8.7 126 150 185 48.7 134 7/10

PRICE 062 MPH BHP LB FT MPG CO2 RATING 5 RENAULTSPORT CLIO Euro NCAP LxWxH in mm: 4640x1770x1480, 68-litre fuel
tank, 510-litre boot, 5 engines, 4 trims, 20 models in total.
220 TROPHY
6.2 V8 GTS 55,500 4.9 155 584 545 18.5 363
Euro NCAP n/a, LxWxH in mm: 4940x1900x1470, 73-litre fuel tank,
7/10
Price 21,780 Specs 220bhp, 207lb PASSAT
495-litre boot, 1 engine, 1 trim, 1 model in total. ft, 0-62mph 6.6secs, VMax 146mph, The driver likes to pretend hes an exec,
when in truth hes a rep thats made his
MERIVA 47.9mpg, CO2 135g/km monthly bonus. Fine car, though.
Mini-MPV with rear suicide doors to Paddleshift gearbox, turbo, ve doors. Its a PRICE 062 MPH BHP LB FT MPG CO2 RATING
ease child installation and ejection of
drunks. Like a Black Cab, minus vomit. Renaultsport folks, but not as we know it. Better in 1.6 TDI S 22,650 10.8 128 120 185 70.6 105 7/10
everyday areas, but with the wild streak dialed out. 2.0 TDI S 23,775 8.7 137 150 251 70.6 106 7/10
PRICE 062 MPH BHP LB FT MPG CO2 RATING 2.0 TDI SCR GT 28,225 7.9 147 190 295 68.9 107 7/10
1.6 CDTi Excl 21,040 9.9 122 136 236 64.2 116 7/10
6 VOLKSWAGEN POLO Euro NCAP LxWxH in mm: 4767x1832x1456, 59/66-litre fuel
tank, 586/1152-litre boot, 4 engines, 5 trims, 26 models in total.
Euro NCAP LxWxH in mm: 4290x1810x1620, 54-litre fuel
1.8 GTI
CC
tank, 400/1500-litre boot, 7 engines, 4 trims, 21 models in total.
Price 19,095 Specs 192bhp,
MOKKA 236lb ft, 0-62mph 6.7secs, VMax Facelifted CC has dropped the Passat
There are many good little crossovers name, but not the underpinnings.
on sale. The Vauxhall Mokka isnt one of 146mph, 47.1mpg, CO2 139g/km Cheap, able alternative to the Merc CLS.
them. Looks quite nice, though.
Much better than the car it replaced, chiey for its PRICE 062 MPH BHP LB FT MPG CO2 RATING
PRICE 062 MPH BHP LB FT MPG CO2 RATING manual gearbox (the old one was DSG-only) and 1.8- 2.0 TDI 184 GT 30,910 8.6 141 184 258 64.2 114 7/10
1.4T 140 Tech 17,424 9.3 120 140 148 45.6 145 4/10 litre turbo motor. Less hardcore than a Fiesta ST. Euro NCAP n/a, LxWxH in mm: 4800x1860x1420, 70-litre fuel tank,
1.6 CDTi Tech 18,964 9.3 119 136 236 68.9 106 4/10 532-litre boot, 4 engines, 2 trims, 5 models in total.

Euro NCAP LxWxH in mm: 4278x1777x1654, 54-litre fuel

tank, 362/1372/663-litre boot, 3 engines, 5 trims, 17 models in total. 7 SUZUKI SWIFT SPORT SCIROCCO
Price 13,999 Specs 136bhp, Still great looking, but now resting on a
ZAFIRA TOURER 118lb ft, 0-62mph 8.7secs, platform two gens behind the Golf. Mi-
nor facelift isnt enough to disguise this.
Whod of thunk it? The words Zara VMax 121mph, 44.1mpg,
and desirable in the same sentence. PRICE 062 MPH BHP LB FT MPG CO2 RATING
Boomerang eyes are locked on S-Max... CO2 147g/km
2.0 TSI 180 23,065 7.4 140 180 207 47.1 148 7/10
PRICE 062 MPH BHP LB FT MPG CO2 RATING
Perhaps the last N/A hot hatch. Cheap, but rather 2.0 TSI 280 R 32,885 5.7 155 280 258 35.3 187 8/10
2.0 CDTi SRi 25,455 9.1 129 170 280 54.3 137 7/10
brilliant. Only 136bhp, but who cares when youve only 2.0 TDI 150 23,730 8.6 134 150 199 67.3 109 6/10
Euro NCAP LxWxH in mm: 4600x1850x1760, 65-litre fuel
got a little over a ton of car to hurl about. Euro NCAP LxWxH in mm: 4256x1810x1406, 55-litre fuel
tank, 420/1420-litre boot, 5 engines, 5 trims, 22 models in total. tank, 312/1006-litre boot, 6 engines, 4 trims, 11 models in total.

FOR ALL THE FACTS AND STATS YOU NEED TO KNOW ABOUT EVERY CAR ON SALE IN THE UK GO TO TOPGEAR.COM/REVIEWS
 TOURAN S90
VOLKSWAGEN-ZENOS

TOP 1O
New Touran sits on same MQB architec- Think XC90, only a bit lower and without
ture as latest Golf. As before, a dull but the two extra seats. Much Swedish cool-
capable way to ferry many people. ness thrown in for free.
PRICE 062 MPH BHP LB FT MPG CO2 RATING PRICE 062 MPH BHP LB FT MPG CO2 RATING
1.6 TDI SE 25,230 11.9 116 110 185 64.2 116 6/10 2.0 D4 Moment 32,555 8.2 143 190 295 64.2 116 8/10
CHEAPEST CARS WITH 6 CYLINDERS
Euro NCAP LxWxH in mm: 4527x1814x1628, 58-litre fuel 2.0 D5 Inscrip 42,055 7.0 149 235 354 58.9 127 8/10
tank, 137/1857-litre boot, 5 engines, 4 trims, 11 models in total.
Euro NCAP n/a LxWxH in mm: 4963x1895x1443, 55-litre fuel
SHARAN 1
tank, 500-litre boot, 2 engines, 2 trims, 4 models in total.

More VW MPV-ery, this time quite Nissan

good. Its comfortable, practical, seats
seven easily and gets decent engines.
370Z DATA IN NUMBERS: BUSINESS CLASS
PRICE 062 MPH BHP LB FT MPG CO2 RATING
27,860 Entry-level Volvo S90 D4 Momentum 32,555
1.4 TSI 150 SE 28,835 10.7 122 150 177 43.5 150 7/10 Entry-level BMW 518d SE auto 32,665
2.0 TDI 150 SE 30,465 10.3 TBA 150 251 56.5 130 7/10
Euro NCAP LxWxH in mm: 4850x1900x1720, 70-litre fuel
V90
tank, 300/2297-litre boot, 4 engines, 4 trims, 11 models in total. 2 Jeep Wrangler Big estates are back, and the V90 might just
be our favourite. But we havent driven it in
TIGUAN Sahara 2dr the UK yet, so well get back to you
Smart-looking all-new Tiguan is bigger
than the old car and now a much more
30,260 PRICE 062 MPH BHP LB FT MPG CO2 RATING
able Discovery Sport alternative. 2.0 D4 Moment 34,555 8.5 140 190 295 62.8 119 8/10
2.0 D5 Inscrip 44,055 7.2 149 235 354 57.6 129 8/10
PRICE 062 MPH BHP LB FT MPG CO2 RATING
2.0 TDI SE Nav Euro NCAP n/a LxWxH in mm: 4936x1895x1475, 55-litre fuel
28,005 9.3 127 150 251 58.9 125 7/10
2.0 TSI R-Line 34,430 7.7 129 180 236 38.2 170 7/10
3 Vauxhall
tank, 723/1526-litre boot, 2 engines, 2 trims, 4 models in total.

Euro NCAP LxWxH in mm: 4486x1839x1632, 60-litre fuel Insignia VXR XC60
tank, 615/1650-litre boot, 2 engines, 5 trims, 12 models in total.
30,734 Mid-size SUV stued with health and
safety kit. It should come in uoro yel-
TOUAREG low with a loud hailer as standard.
If a large SUV can be inoensive, this is
it. Shares much with the Cayenne, ex- PRICE 062 MPH BHP LB FT MPG CO2 RATING
cept the price and cock-wafting image. 2.0 D4 SE Lux 34,360 7.6 130 190 295 62.8 117 6/10
4 BMW Euro NCAP LxWxH in mm: 4630x1860x1490, 70-litre fuel
PRICE 062 MPH BHP LB FT MPG CO2 RATING
tank, 495/1455-litre boot, 3 engines, 4 trims, 14 models in total.
3.0 TDI SE 43,900 8.7 128 204 332 42.8 173 6/10 M135i 3dr
3.0 TDI R-Line 48,700 7.3 140 262 373 42.8 174 7/10 32,020 XC90
Euro NCAP LxWxH in mm: 4801x1940x1709, 85-litre fuel Everything we hoped it would be, and
tank, 493/1555-litre boot, 2 engines, 3 trims, 5 models in total. more besides. Superb safety systems,
fantastic tech and practicality.

DATA IN NUMBERS: IN CLOSE RANGE 5 PRICE 062 MPH BHP LB FT MPG CO2 RATING
Inniti 2.0 D5 46,250 7.4 137 228 347 49.6 149 9/10
Price range: bottom to top of Touareg line 4,800 QX50 3.0d 2.0 T6 49,705 6.1 143 324 295 36.7 179 9/10

VOLVO 34,500 2.0 T8

Euro NCAP
60,455 5.3 140 406 295 104.6 99 9/10
LxWxH in mm: 4950x2008x1776, 50/71-litre fuel
TopGear on Volvo: tank, 397/1951-litre boot, 3 engines, 3 trims, 9 models in total.
Far removed from Volvo of old, and far more than just
boxes on wheels. Even though they are boxy.

V40 6
VUHL
Audi A4 TopGear on Vuhl:
Volvo nally pulls its nger out and gets 2.0 TDI 218 Sport Thought up by a pair of Mexican brothers with a
serious about the premium hatchback. background in industrial design. 05 is a promising start.
Now facelifted with an XC90 front end. 34,700 05
PRICE 062 MPH BHP LB FT MPG CO2 RATING Looks like a little British track thing.
2.0 T2 Moment 20,255 9.2 118 122 162 51.4 127 TBA Isnt. Mexican money, Italian design,
2.0 D3 R-Des Ford power. Good eort.
25,345 7.9 130 150 236 74.3 99 TBA
2.0 D4 CC 26,405 7.3 130 190 295 70.6 104 TBA 7 BMW PRICE 062 MPH BHP LB FT MPG CO2 RATING
Euro NCAP LxWxH in mm: 4370x1857x1470, 62-litre fuel M235i Coupe 2.0T 59,995 3.7 152 285 310 n/a n/a 7/10
tank, 335/1032-litre boot, 7 engines, 7 trims, 87 models in total.
30,775 Euro NCAP n/a, LxWxH in mm: 3718x1876x1120, 40-litre fuel
tank, 70-litre boot, 1 engine, 1 trim, 1 model in total.
DATA IN NUMBERS: BAFFLING
Volvo V40: total number of models 87 DATA IN NUMBERS: PRICE POINTER
Basic body variants Two 8 Vuhl 05 59,995
BMW
Zenos E10 S 29,995
S60 330d M Sport
At last, a BMW 3-Series rival thats actu-
ally a 3-Series size. Good engines, nice
interior, but no 3-Series to drive.
38,100 ZENOS
TopGear on Zenos:
Upstart staed by ex-Caterham execs. It shows
PRICE 062 MPH BHP LB FT MPG CO2 RATING Ford-engined E10 is admirably well-executed.
1.5 T3 Business 22,740
2.0 D4 Business 24,295
8.1
7.1
130 154
143 190
185 48.7 135
295 72.8 102
6/10
7/10
9 Jeep Cherokee E10
3.2 V6 Trailhawk What do you get when former Cater-
Euro NCAP LxWxH in mm: 4630x1860x1490, 67-litre fuel ham chiefs leave to design their own
tank, 339-litre boot, 8 engines, 5 trims, 36 models in total.
39,205 car? Um, a 21st century Caterham.

V60 PRICE 062 MPH BHP LB FT MPG CO2 RATING

Estate version of the S60, only Volvo E10 S 29,995 4.0 145 250 295 n/a n/a 8/10
insists its not actually an estate, but a
sportswagon. Its an estate, Volvo. Euro NCAP n/a, LxWxH in mm: 3800x1870x1130, n/a-litre fuel
10 Audi Q5 3.0
tank, n/a-litre boot, 1 engine, 2 trims, 2 models in total.

PRICE 062 MPH BHP LB FT MPG CO2 RATING TDI 258 quattro SE
2.0 D4 Business 25,495 7.2 140 190 295 70.6 104 7/10 DATA IN NUMBERS: 10 OUT OF 10
D6 Plug-in 50,175 5.8 143 220 325 155 48 7/10
39,245
Zenos E10 kerbweight 700kg
Euro NCAP LxWxH in mm: 4628x1865x1484, 67-litre fuel
tank, 430/1241-litre boot, 6 engines, 9 trims, 36 models in total. Hyundai i10 1.0 kerbweight 933kg

FOR ALL THE FACTS AND STATS YOU NEED TO KNOW ABOUT EVERY CAR ON SALE IN THE UK GO TO TOPGEAR.COM/REVIEWS
 o
N
10
BMW
Z3
f anyone can flog a bad car, its Bond. The BMW
I
Z3s appearance in 1995 film GoldenEye was a low
point for the worlds most charming spy, but when the
Z3 went on sale in 1996, a years production sold out
instantly. Clearly, none of those customers had ever
tested one and must have been sorely disappointed to find it didnt
come with a built-in parachute or Stinger missiles behind the headlights,
and was a bit of dog to drive.
In 1996, I also hadnt driven one, mainly because I was a 13-year-old
boy. So, left to look but not touch, my soft spot for the Z3 grew. Those
gills in the front flanks, the curvaceous bonnet and the tight rear
proportions all appealed to a teenager who hadnt yet grasped the
phrase hairdressers car and had hormones coursing through his veins.
In theory, BMWs first mass-produced roadster should have been
pin-sharp to drive. This, after all, was a company famed for taking
things as mundane as family saloons and estates and making them
handle like racing cars. But somehow it managed to mess it up.
DEFENDING THE INDEFENSIBLE SINCE 2015
18 6 AUGUST 2016 J TOPGEAR.COM
Ah, that famous old
cheap-feeling steering
wheel. We love it
Fundamental to the cars lack of vim and vigour
was a rear-axle design borrowed from the E30
3-Series, and only marginally more advanced than
WORDS: JACK RIX IMAGE: CL A SSIC C AR AUCTIONS LTD
a horse and cart.
The odd steering was only surpassed by the cheap-feeling
steering wheel, and there was little reprieve under the bonnet. The
first UK cars were only offered with a wheezy 140bhp 1.9-litre engine
and a five-speed manual, the only upside of which is that you can pick
them up for a pittance today. Later came the 193bhp 2.8-litre straight-six
from the 328i, which was better, but it wasnt until the 321bhp M Roadster
arrived in 1998 that the Z3 has anything to shout about.
A year later and the Z3 genus reached its zenith with the Z3 Coupe
sold with the 2.8 elsewhere in the world, but only in full-fat M Coupe
guise in the UK. It looked like Batmans breadvan and went like stink,
and eventually the market has clocked on. Whereas you could pick one
up for 4,000 a few years ago, the cheapest I could find now was 14,000
for a leggy 99 car with a dodgy two-tone interior. I still would, though.
 www.aworldrallycross.com R1 | 15 Apr - 17 Apr
PORTUGAL Montalegre
R2 | 06 May - 08 May
HOCKENHEIM Hockenheimring
R3 | 13 May - 15 May
BELGIUM Circuit Jules Tacheny
R4 | 27 May - 29 May
GREAT BRITAIN Lydden Hill
R5 | 10 Jun - 12 Jun
NORWAY Hell
R6 | 01 Jul - 03 Jul
SWEDEN Hljes
R7 | 05 Aug - 07 Aug
CANADA Trois-Rivires
R8 | 02 Sep - 04 Sep
FRANCE Loheac
R9 | 16 Sep - 18 Sep
BARCELONA Barcelona-Catalunya
R10 | 30 Sep - 02 Oct
LATVIA Bikernieki
R11 | 14 Oct - 16 Oct
GERMANY Estering

FROM THE ROUGH. TO THE SMOOTH. R12 | 25 Nov - 27 Nov

ARGENTINA Autodromo Rosario

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