Challenges How hard could it be? Top Gear Series 8

Top Gear: Series 8, Episode 4

  • Richard power tests the BMW Z4 M.
  • Jeremy tests the Mercedes-Benz S500.
  • Richard races a Porsche Cayenne against a parachutist.
  • Jeremy designs and builds his own “luxury” version of a Mercedes S-Class, which is then tested by Richard and James.
  • Star in a Reasonably Priced Car: Ewan McGregor.

Episode Guide

Watch this episode on Amazon Instant Video

Review: Richard drives the BMW Z4 M and finds it faster and better looking than its closest rival, the Porshe Boxster. However, he finds the Boxster much more refined through corners. It was praised by Hammond for thrilling in the most primeval way. Clarkson continues to bash the Z4, and calls the coupe version “incredibly ugly.” The Stig does a Power Lap of 1:26 flat – faster than the Porsche Cayman, the Ferrari 575, and the Aston Martin Vanquish.

The News: The BMW Z4 coupe is £1,700 less than the soft top version. Lexus have launched a new hybrid. Jeremy is left behind by his wife at a party. The presenters talk about banned license plates which include AA55 HOL”, “MI BUM”, and “HA06 MAS.” They also talk about eBay item 4639771121 and a wristband that prevents you from falling asleep.

Review: Clarkson tests the new Mercedes-Benz S-Class both as a review and to show what features most new cars will have in ten years (as has historically happened). In this case, it means radar-guided cruise control, infrared night vision, and digital TV. Clarkson praises the ease of use of the car and its features.

Star In A Reasonably Priced Car: Ewan McGregor discusses his manhood, filming the Star Wars prequels, his love of motorcycles, and his car history. Lap time of 1:48:00.

Challenge: Hammond races a British army parachuter in Cyprus with a Porsche Cayenne Turbo S. The parachuter won. After the race, Hammond crashes the Cayenne into the film crew’s car.

Preview: Responding to another viewer complaint that Top Gear doesn’t feature enough reasonably priced cars, Richard and James present the Caparo T1 in the studio. It does 33 mpg, has a 2.4 supercharged V8 that generates 480bhp and can propel the car to 200mph. Priced at £190,000 it is a bargain when compared to something like the Pagani Zonda.

Challenge: Clarkson designed his own interior of a car. He bought an old 1996 Mercedes-Benz S-Class and designed his perfect interior based upon his house. The car, dubbed “Anne Hathaway’s Cottage”, featured a wood-burning stove, kitchen chairs, a flagstone floor over a concrete base, and plastered insides of the doors. James May and Richard Hammond then tested the car. No seatbelts and unsecured seats meant they went flying at first, however eventually, with May holding Hammond’s seat, a 0-60 time of 35.4 seconds was established.

Power Lap (take two): The Koenigsegg CCX is back from Sweden (now equipped with a rear spoiler) and is taken around the track by The Stig, who sets a new lap time of 1:17.6; overthrowing the Zonda F as the fastest car to date. The presenters were so proud, they stated that not only do they present the show, but they are also designing the cars (due to the addition of the Koenigsegg’s spoiler). In reality, Koenigsegg claims that the spoiler was useless for the slow speeds on the Top Gear test track and that the improved time was due to a more sorted suspension.

Some say…

“Some say his ears have a paisley lining, and that he’s been banned from the Chelsea Flower Show. All we know is he’s called the Stig.”

Stig Power Laps

BMW Z4 M
1:26.00

Star in a Reasonably Priced Car

Ewan McGregor
1:48.00

Music

Porsche Boxster S Review:
00:48 – 01:53 – Hybrid – Just for Today
01:59 – 02:18 – David Arnold – Stargate Overture
02:18 – 02:41 – Daniel Lanois – Agave
02:53 – 03:09 – Harry Gregson-Williams – Wall Breached
03:14 – 03:32 – Daniel Lanois – Two Worlds
03:33 – 04:06 – XXN1927 – Rap Instrumental #9
04:09 – 04:23 – Amon Tobin – El Cargo
04:24 – 04:42 – Nacho Sotomayor – Remember You
04:43 – 04:54 – Daniel Lanois – Transmitter
05:04 – 05:57 – Hybrid – Just for Today
06:46 – 07:08 – Sonic Adventure Project – Waters in Motion

Mercedes S-Class Review:
13:57 – 14:12 – Hybrid – Blackout
14:12 – 14:29 – Colder – On My Mind
14:30 – 14:48 – Layo & Bushwacka! – Me and You
14:49 – 14:53 – Emanuel/Taylor – Sub-Mission
14:53 – 15:38 – Layo & Bushwacka! – Me and You
15:38 – 16:29 – Massive Attack – Red Light Means Go
16:29 – 16:33 – Emanuel/Taylor – Sub-Mission
16:34 – 16:53 – Colder – Losing Myself
16:53 – 16:58 – Massive Attack – Atta Boy
17:11 – 17:17 – Engineers – Peter Street
17:17 – 17:21 – Emanuel/Taylor – Sub-Mission
17:22 – 18:08 – Engineers – Peter Street
18:08 – 18:12 – Emanuel/Taylor – Sub-Mission
18:12 – 18:25 – Brian Eno – Going Unconscious
18:22 – 18:25 – Faultline – Closer Colder
18:25 – 18:33 – Faultline – Salt AND Tiny Consumer
18:33 – 19:01 – Brian Eno – Going Unconscious
19:02 – 19:10 – Faultline – Salt AND Tiny Consumer
19:09 – 19:49 – Air – The Word ‘Hurricane’
19:50 – 19:55 – Emanuel/Taylor – Sub-Mission
19:56 – 20:32 – Craig Armstrong – Weather Storm (Piano Works)
20:33 – 20:38 – Emanuel/Taylor – Sub-Mission
20:41 – 20:55 – George S. Clinton – Zoom
20:56 – 21:29 – Dario Marianelli – Evey Reborn

Porsche Cayenne Challenge:
32:33 – 32:59 – City of Prague Philharmonic – Ripley’s Rescue
33:00 – 33:16 – Amon Tobin – Theme from Battery
33:16 – 34:05 – Rob Dougan – Born Yesterday (Instrumental)
34:05 – 34:26 – Amon Tobin – Theme from Battery
34:32 – 35:05 – City of Prague Philharmonic – Forth Eorlingas/ Isengard Unleashed
35:05 – 35:20 – Aphex Twin – Come to Daddy (Pappy Mix)
35:19 – 36:01 – U.N.K.L.E – Safe in Mind (Instrumental)
36:04 – 36:44 – Amon Tobin – Rosies
36:48 – 37:43 – Don Davis, Juno Reactor – Navras
37:43 – 38:44 – City of Prague Philharmonic – A Knife in the Dark
38:44 – 39:59 – Don Davis, Juno Reactor – Tetsujin
39:59 – 40:51 – City of Prague Philharmonic – A Knife in the Dark

Car Interior Design:
44:06 – 44:26 – Klazz Brothers & Cuba Percussion – Air
44:26 – 44:47 – Eurythmics – Sweet Dreams
44:48 – 45:07 – The Lithium Project – Majik Kiosk
45:45 – 45:58 – The Lithium Project – Majik Kiosk
45:59 – 46:35 – City of Prague Philharmonic – Monty Python’s Flying Circus
46:47 – 47:46 – Booker T & the MG’s – Green Onions
48:05 – 48:27 – City of Prague Philharmonic – Hawaii Five-0
48:45 – 49:11 – Cross Section – Hi Heel Sneakers
49:13 – 49:39 – City of Prague Philharmonic – Thunderbirds
49:45 – 50:19 – City of Prague Philharmonic – The Time Tunnel
51:12 – 51:30 – Quincy Jones feat. Ashford & Simpson – Stuff Like That
51:56 – 52:35 – Tony Hatch – Theme from Crossroads
52:41 – 52:46 – Alan Tew – The Detectives
53:17 – 53:25 – Johnny Pearson – Heavy Action
53:28 – 54:26 – Craig Armstrong – Ball

Screenshots

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1 comment

BFT's March 7, 2014 at 4:20 pm

the first car ever to have a three-point seatbelt was the Volvo Amazon not the S-class as mentionned @3:40 part2.

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