Top Gear Videos

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Is the Aston Martin Valkyrie Spider better than the V12 hard-top?

We’ve just published an article about the very first customer finally taking delivery of an Aston Martin Valkyrie when Top Gear publishes a video in which they talk about the fact it might have been a better idea to get the Spider version because let’s face it, who doesn’t like a convertible hypercar?

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The Aston Martin Valkyrie Spider truly is the closest thing to a street-legal Formula One car you can get when you remove the roof section, and while the Valkyrie comes with nice-looking gullwing doors, the Valkyrie Spider looks even better with those outward and upward-opening doors, almost like wings on a bug, and it allows an easier entry into the cockpit, especially when you remove the small roof section with the two panels that open up too.

The first Valkyrie Spider will not be delivered until well into 2022 and with only 85 units of this convertible, production will run out quickly, the amazing looking Valkyrie Spider has been developed from the coupe version, taking unique engineering solutions by combining the talents of both Aston Martin themselves and Red Bull Advanced Technologies (RBAT), the engine is still the same 1,160 hp hybrid unit, combining 1,000 hp from the Cosworth developed 6.5-Liter V12 engine with 160 hp from the KERS-style hybrid system, using a 12-in-1 exhaust design, the Valkyrie’s soundtrack is reminiscent of a 90s F1 race car.

Thanks to a lot of development and slight modifications between the Valkyrie and the new Valkyrie Spider, Aston Martin managed to keep the weight gain on the Spider to a strict minimum … the result is still a top speed in excess of 350 km/h with the roof in place while driving topless will still get you over 330 km/h … all while sitting nearly in the center of the car, fixed in place by a six-point safety harness.

Even the entire removable roof system is special, consisting of a central panel made from carbon fiber that contains the hinges for the two panels above the occupants, all of these panels can be removed once the doors open, and stowed in their dedicated sections, carefully cut into the new carbon fiber structure … due to the lack of a roof, the gullwing doors from the coupe had to be redesigned into front-hinged dihedral doors, bespoke to the Valkyrie Spider.

November 8, 2021 / Comments Off

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Award winning Lotus Evija

The Lotus Evija has been named as ‘The One to Watch‘ in Top Gear’s second-ever Electric Awards as Jack Rix, editor for Top Gear magazine was able to take an early prototype onto Lotus’s own test track in Hethel, Norfolk, production for the all-electric Lotus Evija will start later this year, but the test car handed over to Top Gear is still an early sample, rather crudely finished on the inside, but in a very special wrap on the outside.

Once production of the Lotus Evija gets started, only 120 units will be made of this Lotus halo car at £2,400,000 each (that’s about $3,357,500), but this car will come with 2,000 hp that offers an acceleration from 0 to 62 mph below the 3 seconds mark, going from 0 to 124 mph takes only 6 seconds, and more importantly, an acceleration from 200 km/h to 300 km/h (124 mph to 186 mph) also in just 3 seconds, compared to for instance the Bugatti Chiron that would take 6 seconds.

Top Gear’s Jack Rix was the first to get behind the wheel of a Lotus Evija, albeit a restricted pre-production prototype … this test car came with ‘only’ 1,600 hp and 1,250 lb-ft of torque … bummer, acceleration to 62 mph takes 3.3 seconds in this car and the top speed has been limited to 140 mph, but as this car accelerates with gearshifts, it’s just a relentless push from start to finish, this seems to become a stupendously quick car to drive, even without the full 2,000 hp available.

To keep the Lotus Evija as light as possible, they fitted a small 69 kW battery, and while it’s not fitted underneath the cockpit for that low center of gravity, Lotus has fitted it behind the cockpit, in the position where the engine would be in a mid-engine car, thus offering the same agility as a car with a naturally aspirated engine, the downside of this rather small battery is the fact the Evija will only have a range of about 30 miles when pushed hard.

On the other hand, Lotus confirms the Evija will be capable of a full charge in only 18 minutes … provided you have access to a 350 kW charger, but the advantage of using such a small battery is the fact the Lotus Evija will put only 1,680 kg on the scales, with 2,000 hp available in production form, this will result in some very brutal acceleration, and amazing road-holding capabilities with active vectoring and aerodynamics added to the production version.

Enjoy Top Gear’s video on the track test below:

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May 9, 2021 / Comments Off

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Check Out an Exclusive Clip Top Gear Series 30 Premiere Episode!

It’s been a few weeks since we gave you a peek into the 30th season of BBC’s Top Gear with an action-packed trailer full of sentiment and screaming exhausts. That trailer gave car enthusiasts worldwide another thing to look forward to and I’m glad to bring you another exclusive clip from Top Gear’s premiere episode airing this Sunday, April 25th, 2021.

Sunday’s episode takes a trip down memory lane for presenters Andrew “Freddie” Flintoff, Chris Harris, and Paddy McGuinness as they are serving up a full-blown plate of pure nostalgia by taking their dads’ cars out but instead of being in the backseat like they once did, they are now taking the wheel. Sunday’s episode you’ll join them on a trip packed with motorsport and of course lots of dad-related shenanigans.

Freddie picked up a Ford Cortina, Paddy got a Ford Fiesta, and Chris chose a BMW 323i – all cars their dads drove.

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In this clip, the trio can be seen in Top Gear fashion with a drag race on an airstrip with their dads’ cars to see who could come closest to maxing out their respective speedometers. Though the trio wasn’t aiming for the fastest dad car, it’s comforting to see the E21 BMW cross the line first.

Later on, in Sunday’s episode, the guys participate in a time trial around a rally course competing against The Stig’s dad and then race to catch the ferry to Windermere. Chris Harris will also be taking on the Lamborghini Sian – the Italian supercar company’s most powerful supercar – and answering the question of “What does a ‘supercapacitor’ do?”.

Sunday will be sure to bring lots of nostalgia, dad jokes, and bleats of Lamb-orghini’s!

April 21, 2021 / Comments Off

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2022 Porsche 911 GT3: Video Review Roundup

Porsche 911 GT3 Reviews

About 2 months have passed since the 2022 Porsche 911 GT3 was unveiled via digital livestream on Youtube. While the Porsche brass were by all means generous with providing the important details regarding their latest 992-generation model, the next move was to get the car into the hands of mainstream journalists; their respective megaphones would be used to propagate the message that the new GT3 is everything Porsche described it to be, and more.

Well, after being afforded ample time to become intimate with the car, that moment is now upon us. Today, some of the most renown and respected automotive media outlets published their findings for global audiences to digest.

Here’s what they had to say.

Top Gear

“It’s more apparent than ever that the 911 GT3 is part of a famous motorsport bloodline. Another phenomenal car.”

Click to read full article

Motortrend

“What’s now the only naturally aspirated 911 was worth the wait.”

Click to read full article

RoadShow (CNET)

“Porsche’s newest 911 is exactly what a GT3 should be.”

Click to read full article

motor1.com

April 20, 2021 / Comments Off

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BBC America Announces Top Gear’s Return Date!

Chris Harris, Freddie Flintoff, and Paddy McGuinness will be on BBC’s Top Gear as they will be premiering the show’s 30th season on April 25th. A trailer of the expected mayhem to come was recently released in the form of a minute-long video.

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The presenter trio will be entering their fourth year and will be will behind the wheel for four action-packed episodes for the 2021 season. The trailer released gave a glimpse into the high-speed, jet-packed, James Bond tributed, and good times to be had this season.

Though this season’s challenges heavily revolved around the global pandemic the Top Gear crew has committed to releasing quality content as they always have.

The first episode of the 2021 Top Gear series will be very calm in fashion as they all drive cars that their fathers drove. This episode will be filled with great laughs and heart-warming nostalgia.

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Amongst the action-packed insanity that typically takes place on Top Gear, the trio will also be giving reviews on the Toyota GR Yaris, Ferrari Roma, and Lamborghini Sian. This ensures viewers will be able to learn about the latest and greatest cars while being glued to screens as the trio pushes the limits to give viewers a great show.

You can catch the first and following episodes on BBC America or AMC+ starting Sunday, April 25th 2021.

March 11, 2021 / Comments Off

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Chris Harris Gives His Take on BMW’s New M3

Top Gear UK’s, Chris Harris recently reviewed the 2021 BMW M3 Competition. His thoughts came from his experience with the M3 on a closed track.

The new 2021 BMW M3 comes with a fresh redesign that been talked about for the past few months prior to its release. BMW has been getting teased about the massive grille on the front of the car – these comments are coming from everyone including BMW enthusiasts.

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Chris Harris was not only puzzled about the animated and obnoxious grille affixed to the new M3 but also the lack of fitment and stance of the car. He compared the new G80 M3 to the previous generation (F80) and his comments were spot on. He pointed out that the previous generation looked perfect in almost every way especially how the body appeared to have been “wrapped” around the wheels. This was not the case for BMW’s new M3 – it lacks wheel fitment, fancy-looking mirrors, and an attractive front end.

The G80 M3 comes with a twin-turbo inline-six capable of 510 horsepower and 480lb-ft of torque. It also comes sporting a ZF automatic transmission instead of the previous generations’ DCT (Dual Clutch Transmission). Harris felt there was a bit of transmission lag during his time on the track but surprisingly mentioned there was virtually no turbo lag.

Looks aside, Chris Harris thought the new M3 was fantastic. The chassis was nice and tight, the handling and steering inputs were precise, and the carbon fiber seats were absolutely perfect. The news M3’s steering wheel looks to be packed with buttons resembling a calculator but now we’re getting picky.

The BMW R&D team appears to be fans of arcade games as they have incorporated an “M drift analyzer” into the car giving the driver statistics on distance, time, and speed of drift. This sounds like fun until you get busted for attempting to beat your “high score” on your way home from the race track.

Chris was impressed overall with BMW’s new M car but felt it was less “raw and angry” than that of previous generations. But BMW did not miss the mark, they just changed its destination with the new G80 M3.

March 10, 2021 / Comments Off

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