148Series19,Episode127January2013DamianLewisReview: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,Episode23February2013MickFleetwoodChallenge,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,Episode310February2013AmyMacdonaldReview: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,Episode417February2013LewisHamiltonReview: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,Episode524February2013JamesMcAvoyChallenge,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,Episode63March2013NoGuestFirstofthetwo-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.
