148Series19,Episode127January2013DamianLewis
Review:RichardreviewsthePaganiHuayra,thelatestsupercarfromtheItalianmanufacturer.Thecariscapableofsavageacceleration,withalotofattentionplacedintothebodywork,interiorandutilizingcuttingedgetechnology.Despitethemassivetwin-turboengineandhorsepower,thankstoitssophisticatedaerodynamicpackage,thecarcaneasilybedrivenhardwithouttheriskofspinning.TheHuayraalsosetthefastesttimeontheTopGearTestTrackinthehandsofTheStig,1:13.8,beatingthepreviousrecord,setbytheArielAtomV8.
News:TheDaciaSanderoisnowonsaleintheUK.TheMercedes-BenzSLSAMGBlackhasbeenupdatedtoproduceextrahorsepower,butthehandlingisstillchallenging.JeremyclaimsthathehasfoundamaleequivalentversionofFiftyShadesofGrey,presentingakid'sbookabouttractors.ThenewChevroletStingrayisannounced.JamesMayturnedfiftythepreviousweek.Also,therallyteamcomposedofwaramputees(previouslymentionedinseries17,episode6)finallycompletedtheirchallengeoffinishingthe2013DakarRally.
Review:JamesreviewsthenewBentleyContinentalGT,andnotesthenewengineandsubtleridecharacteristics.BelievingthattheBentley,withfourwheeldrivesystemandabig,powerfulengine,canhandlethingsworsethanaWelshcountrysideroad,JamestakesthecarontoaWelshstageoftheWorldRallyChampionship,withKrisMeekebehindthewheel,andJamesbeingtheco-driver.Despitethecarhavinglessgrip,moreweight,anelectronichandbrake(unsuitableforusageonarallystage)andJamesnotbeingproficientatgivingpacenotes,theBentleywasactuallyfasterthanoneofthefullWRCcars.
StarInAReasonablyPricedCar:DamianLewistakeshisturninthecar,anddriftstheKiaCee'daroundthesnow-coatedtesttrackandcrossesthefinishlinesideways,settingtheslowestevertimeof2:09.1.JeremycheersDamianupbymakingaseparateboardforsnow(hejustsputthetimeunderneathandtothesideofthefastestlaptimeonthatboard)andsaysthatheisthefastestdrivereverontheir"snowboard".
Challenge:JeremyattemptstobuildacarsmallerthanthePeelP50,naminghiscreationtheP45.Itwasbasedonaquadbike,withbodyworkfitted,designedtowraparoundthedriver.Hethenpresentedhisideatothe'Dragons'inaDragons'Denstyleformat.Allofthedragonsdeclarethemselves"out"andbackinthestudio,RichardconcludesthatfortheP45tobeputinproduction,Jeremywouldhavetobedead.
149Series19,Episode23February2013MickFleetwood
Challenge,Part1:Inanotherchallenge,thepresenterspickedthreesupercarstotakeonanepicrace.SinceitwasHammond'sturntoselectthechallengelocation,theteamwenttotheWesternUnitedStates.JeremyselectedtheLexusLFA,JameschosethenewAstonMartinVanquish,andRichardtooktheSRTViper.AfterabriefdriveintheNevadadesert,thetrioheadedtoLasVegasMotorSpeedway,specificallythedragstrip,tocompeteindragracesorganizedbytheLasVegasPoliceDepartment;whomorganizeditwiththetheorythatallowingpeopletodragrace,legally,ataclosedcircuit,wouldpreventstreetracing.Despitethehighperformanceoftheircars,thetriowerebeatenbymodifiedproductioncars,and4WDcars,ineachoftheirdragraces.
News:JeremycomesupwithasolutiononhowtosolvethecrisisaffectingBritain'stowncentres:sackingalltrafficwardensandremovingdoubleyellowlines.ThetriothenreviewaChineseproductdesignedtostopdrowsinessbehindthewheel,beforetheytookafirstlookatthe2013JaguarF-Type.Theypraiseditsstyling,butcriticizeditshighpricetagof£60,000,aswellasitstargetaudience.JamesmentionsPeugeotCitroen'scarintendedtorunoncompressedair;Jeremyattemptedtouseafireextinguishertodemonstrate,butfailedafteronlycausinghimselftoturnslowlyaround.
Challenge,Part2.:AfterleavingLasVegas,JamesandRichardmakefunofJeremy'sLFAforlackingnotonlyBluetoothconnectionandiPodconnectors,butcupholders,despitebeingthemostexpensivecar.TheyarethentaskedtoheadtoWillowSpringsInternationalMotorsportsPark,buttheyinsteadstoponagroovedroad,whereeachcardrivesoverthegroovesandproducesnotes.WhentheyreachWillowSprings,theyareforcedtoplayanaerialversionofLaserQuest,wheretheywoulddrive5lapsaroundthetrack,whilstbeingchasedbytwoAermacchiSF.260armedwithlaserguns.Intheend,Jameswonthechallengebybeinghitonly17times.
StarinaReasonablyPricedCar:FleetwoodMac'sMickFleetwooddrovetheKiaCee'daroundtheTestTrackwithalapof1:45.4.
Challenge,Part3:DepartingWillowSprings,thegroupheadedforLosAngeles,California.Inordertodo"realworld"testing,Richarddevisedachallengetoseewhocouldburnthebestelevens.ThethreeinsteadendedupdrawingaphallusandleftLA.TheteamthenstayedforanightinPalmSprings.However,theproducersgavethemafinalchallenge.ThethreewoulddrivefromPalmSpringstotheMexicanborderatCalexicothefollowingmorning,andthelasttomakeittotheMexicanborderwouldhavetotravelintothecountryitselftodrivetheMastrettaMXT,aMexicansportscarmadefunofbythepresentersinanearlierseries,foralatersegmentontheshow.InrevengefortakingthemtoAmerica,JeremyandJamessabotagedHammond'sViper,causinghimtolose10minutesintherace.Despitemakingastopforfuel,Jeremymadeittothefinishlinefirst,withJamesinsecond.Richardthenwalkedtotheborderbeingthelastpersontoarrive.Atthestudio,JamesandJeremyendbysayingthattheViperwasawfulandthattheVanquishandLFAwereamazing.
150Series19,Episode310February2013AmyMacdonald
Review:JeremyreviewstheToyotaGT86andtheSubaruBRZ.Thecarsarealmostidentical,butJeremypreferstheToyotaGT86.TheStigthencompletedalapoftheTestTrackin1:31:3.
News:TheydiscussthenewSubaruImpreza,whichisnotcomingtoUK,andtheythentalkaboutthenewMaseratiQuattroporte.
Challenge,Part1:TheproducershavereservedasingletickettoafootballmatchattheSanSiroinMilan,NorthernItaly.ThetriohavearacefromWembleyStadiumtotheSanSiro.JeremydrivestheShelbyMustangGT500andRichardandJamestravelonpublictransport.SimilartothepreviousracetoMonteCarlo,RichardandJamesarenotallowedtouseanycars,andJeremyisnotallowedtouseanytrains.AccordingtoJeremy,sincethelastepicrace,thetrainshavebecomefasterandboatshavebecomeslower.RichardandJamesopenedupabigleadwhilsttravellingontheEurostar,andarriveinPariswhileJeremywasstillcrossingtheEnglishChannelonaferry.AfterreachingFrance,JeremydiscoversthattheMustangonlyholds50litresinitsfueltank.AfterleavingParis,RichardandJamesdiscusswhattodouponarrivinginMilan—astherearetwoofthembutonlyoneticket.Hundredsofmilesbehind,Jeremyendspart1ofthechallengestatingoutloud,"I'mgonnalose!"
StarinaReasonablyPricedCar:AmyMacdonalddrovetheKiaCee'daroundtheTestTrackin1:44.4.Duringoneofherpracticeruns,Amyaccidentallydestroyedoneoftherunwaylights,whichJeremygivestoherafterrevealingthelaptime.
Challenge,Part2:ThehighspeedTGVsloweddownasitapproachedthemountainsthatsurroundNorthernItaly.Jeremybegantocatchupandwasnearlyneckandneckwiththetrain,untilroadworksattheMontBlancTunnelslowhimdown.ThetrainstartstoaccelerateagainandreachesNorthernItalyaheadofJeremy.RichardandJamesuseatubenetworktogettothestreetsnearthefinishline.JamesmaintainshisoppositiontorunontelevisionandRichardrunsoffalonetofindthefinishline,whichisatabarintheIMVillaVeuveCliequot.Jamesthenassembledabikewhichhehadhiddeninoneofhisbagsandridestothebar,onlytofindthatRichardisalreadythereandhaswontheraceandthetickettothefootballmatch.Momentslater,Jeremyarrivedandaccepteddefeatforthefirsttimeeverinanepicraceofalltheseries.
151Series19,Episode417February2013LewisHamilton
Review:JeremyreviewstheVauxhallAstraVXR,FordFocusSTandRenaultMeganeRenaultSportCup.TheStigdidlapsofeachcar,theFocusbeingtheslowestat1:29.6,theAstraVXRat1:28.3,andtheMeganein1:27.7.Despitethis,JeremychosetheAstraVXRasthebestoverallcarofthethree.
News:Theydiscussthenewestcars,suchastheAlfaRomeo4C,thenextgenerationFordMustangwouldbesoldinGreatBritain,buttheUKversionwouldcomewitha2.0EcoBoostengine,andtheimportanceofthehandbraketurnin"maledevelopment".
Review:JeremyteststheallnewKiaCee'd,puttingitthroughamyriadofstrangeroadtests.IncludingMattLeBlancdoingalapwithboththeoldandnewCee'd,BruceWillis(incharacterasJohnMcClane)testingthehornoftheCee'd,EricClaptontestingitsauxiliaryinputjack,andJeremytestingtheCee'd'sselfparallelparkingfeature.
StarinaReasonablyPricedCar:LewisHamiltonopensupabouthismovefromMcLarentoMercedesAMGandtakestheoldSuzukiLianaaroundtheTestTrack,settingthefastestF1time,a1:42.9.
Review:Aspunishmentforlosingthepreviousrace,RichardisforcedtoreviewtheMastrettaMXTinMexico.Mindinghiswords,hestatesthattheMXTwasanambitiousundertakingforthefirst-timemanufacturer,butthatithaditsshareofflaws.
Challenge:JeremyandJamesplaycarrugbyusingKiaCee'dsandKiaSportagesatTwickenhamStadiumandStiginVauxhallAstraPolicecarasthereferee.Jeremy'steamwins.
152Series19,Episode524February2013JamesMcAvoy
Challenge,Part1:JeremyandRichardattempttodesignacartargetedatelderlypeople.Jeremydemonstratesthecomplexityofmoderncars'dshboard.RichardbringsaFiatMultiplaandbothmodifyit.Jeremybreaksthedashboardandreplacesitconsideringittobetoocomplicatedforelders.Richardasksfortheairbagssayingthatitisdangerousfortheelderlywhoareasdelicateaschildren,andthatheneedsitforasafetyfeature.Jeremymakesaspeedometerwhichreads20mphatthetopspeed,healsousesanolddesignswitchforrearfoglightwhichdoesnothing.Jeremyinstallsapet-cageandreplacesthebackseatwithhighseatchairsandtheFiatbadgewithaRoverone.Theypaintitinbeigeafterobservingtheshadeofahearingaid.Richarduseswater-resistantfabricasseatcovers,andwhilestitchinghurtshiseye.Theycompletethecarandendthepart1withRichardwearingheavybandagesoverhislefteye.
News:VolkswagenwilllaunchGTIversionofthenewGolfandGTversionofUpwillbelaunched.KiawilllaunchtheProCee'dGT.TheMiniPacemanislaunched,andthetriomockthefrontendofthecar,claimingthatitlooksdepressing.ThetrioagreethattheBritisharethebestdrivers.Alfa-RomeoreleasesphotographsoftheGloria,inwhichthetriomakefunofit'sname.RichardhadarrivedlatesoJamesandJeremyhadattemptedtoplaytenniswithcars(whichhasalotofediting).
Review:JamesreviewsthenewRangeRoverinLondon.Thenewcariscompletelyredesigned,400kglighterduetoAluminiumbody,hasactivesuspension,newgearbox,minimalistdashboardandoffersbettercomfort.JamesthenracesitagainstTerraMaxatNevadaAutomotiveTestCentre,Nevada.Theracewastoahill10mileacross,passingthroughrockyterrain,hillock,mud,riverandsand-tracks.TerraMaxwasswitchedtodronemodeduringtheracetodeflatethetyresandtakeashort-cut.TheRangeRover'sautomaticTerrainResponseSystemisdemonstrated.Jamestakesalongerroutetoascendthehillbutstillwinstherace.Atthestudio,thetrioconsiderthedriverlesscarstobenotverypractical.
StarInAReasonablyPricedCar:JamesMcAvoydrovetheKiaCee'daroundtheTestTrackwithalapof1:43.6despitehavinglessexperienceofdrivingcars.Hedroveovergrassypatchinthelastcornerbutmanagestokeepthecarundercontrol.
Challenge,Part2:JeremyandRichardroad-testtheircaratChristchurch,Dorset.Thecarhaslargefrontbumpersmadeupoffoam,largerear-viewmirrors,squeakingballunderthebrake-pedal,largemagnifying-glassonthedashboard,satnav(voicedbyRichardBriers)withonlyfourdestinatons.ThecarhasanartificialcatontheroofwhichlaterfelloveronthewayofBingohall.Richardlatershowshissystemtofindthelocationofparkedcar(thecaractivatesaflareandthenreleasesaballoon).JeremyshowsthattheradioonlyplaysHorseoftheYearShowthemeonaloop,whichbothlaterfindtobeirresistibletoclapalong.ThenameofthecarisrevealedtobeTheJames.Theypickupthreeelderlyladiesfromapensioners'homeforroad-testinganddrivethemtoabowlingclubwhereitisshownthatRichardfittedtheairbagattherearforparkingassistwhichinflatestheairbagoncloseproximity.JeremyandRichardbuyfoodforpicnic,choosingonlyBritishfoods.TheyattachtheshoppingtrolleytoTowhitchandheadforpicnic.Theroofofthecarleaksasitrains.JeremyandRichardendupchoosingapicnicspotonroadsidewheretheyfindthetrolleytobedamagedduringreversingandthefoodtobesoaked,howevertheyatethefoodwhichwasnotruined.ThenextdaybothleaveChristchurchandJeremyshowshissystemtopreventthecarfrombeingdrivenonthewrongsideoftheroad,thecarinitiallysoundsalarmandlaterthetyres,doorsandotherpartsofthecarexplodewhichstopsthecarandrendersitimmobile.Atthestudio,Jamesconsiderstheheatertobecomplicated,thetriothankRichardBriersandannouncetheAfricaspecial.
153Series19,Episode63March2013NoGuest
Firstofthetwo-episodeAfricaSpecial,takingplaceinAfrica.Theepisodewasshotin2012.
Challenge,Part1:Buyusedestatecarsforupto£1,500inBritainandreportatasmallvillageinruralUganda.JeremyarrivesinaBMW528iTouring,RichardinaSubaruImprezaWRXEstateandJamesinaVolvo850RWagon.ThechallengeistofindthetruesourceoftheriverNile.
Theysetoffandiscoverthatexploringisn'tasdifficultasfirstthoughtwhentheygoonaniceeasydriveandfindLakeVictoria,ofwhomtheVictorianExplorersthoughtwasthesourceoftheNile.HowevertheyarethentoldthatitisnottheactualsourceoftheNileandthereweretwootherdisputedlocationsforit,oneinRwandaandoneinBurundi.However,JeremyClarksoninsistedthatbothoftheselocationswerewronganddecidedtoheadwesttowardsLakeEdwardtoseewhethertherewasalinkbetweenthatlakeandLakeKivuinRwanda.
Intheirjourneywest,wheretheyvisittheEntebbeAirportandfromthereseetheFordScorpioEstateback-upcar.TheycontinueintoKampala,Uganda'sCapitalCitywheretheygetheldupinatrafficjamovernight,themosthurrendoustrafficthey'deverseen.
Theycontinueonwell-maintainedhighwayswestfindingtheirtripincrediblyeasybeforereachingthetownofMbararainthesouthwestofthecountry,viaastopinJezza,avillageinMpigiDistrict.Heretheystayinadisgustinghotel,afterdrivingthroughteaplantationsinanattempttodiscoveralovelyteahousehotel,whichinthemindofRichard,wasboundtofoundduetoteaprogrammeshe'dseen.
InMbararatheystayedintheEconomicLodgewithJeremyhavingabedwithfaecesonit.TheyleftthehoteldisgustedbeforeRichardhastheideatomakethecars'hotels'.JamesmodifieshisVolvobyaddingalibrary,RichardaddsacookerandJeremyaddsacoffin.Thecoffinheusestoputhisclothesin,hesleepsonEgyptianCotton.
TheyleaveforLakeEdward,campingovernighttherebecauseofitsbeautybeforeheadinginsearchoftheriverheadingforLakeKivu.Noneoftheriversconnectthelakeastheyallheadeastratherthansouth.Theygiveup,leavingthemdisappointed.ThenJeremylooksatamapanddiscoversthesourceoftheNilemustbeontheothersideofLakeVictoria.HisreasoningisthattheMediterraneanSeaiseffectivelyaninlandseaandsoGibraltaristhetruemouthoftheNile,ratherthanAlexandriainEgypt.
AfterdiscoveringthistheydecidethattheymustdrivestraighttotheothersideofLakeVictoriatogettothesoutheastcoastinTanzanianeartheSerengeti.TheystartthisjourneybyheadingsouthintotheRwenzoriMountains,findingthegoinghardandmostofthetimegettingtheirvehiclesstuckinmud.
