Challenges How hard could it be? Top Gear Series 18

Top Gear: Series 18, Episode 4

  • James goes to the USA and drives the Fisker Karma.
  • The boys each build a cheap mobility scooter that can be used offroad.
  • Jeremy tests the Ferrari FF & Bentley Continental V8 at a test track in the Arctic Circle.
  • Star in a Reasonably Priced Car: Michael Fassbender.

Episode Guide

Watch this episode on Amazon Instant Video

Review: James May travels to Florida to test the latest sports hybrid car, the Fisker Karma; however, during his review, he visits AC/DC front man Brian Johnson and ends up driving his 1928 Bentley Vanden Plas LeMans Tourer. Johnson and May end up creating an “old cars vs. new cars” drag race, which May wins by a long distance.

Feature: Clarkson visits Arjeplog in Northern Sweden, where he pits the Ferrari FF against the Bentley Continental GT in a race on an ice replica of the Silverstone test track. While he likes the Ferrari’s performance, he couldn’t work out why Ferrari had gone to great lengths creating a 4WD system that shuts off in or above fifth gear – hence making its handling ‘twitchy’ -, while the Bentley offers a better control on slippery surface, especially with the normal automatic gearbox. He also criticizes the styling of the FF, with May declaring it ‘not their [Ferrari’s] finest effort’ and Clarkson suggesting that it should be called the Ferrari ‘India Special’ (referring to the TopGear India Special, which ended up in chaos on the media.) The Stig arrives in a hovercraft to test both cars, and around the ‘Icy Silverstone’, the Continental V8 is 13 seconds faster than the more powerful and lighter FF.

Challenge: The trio are tasked with creating their own off-road mobility scooters for rambling in the Welsh countryside. They begin by testing their scooters in Abergavenny town centre, which results in James May crashing inside a branch of Greggs; Hammond ruining a stand of merchandise in a branch of Waterstones and then racing a woman down the high street; and Clarkson annoying buyers in an indoor market hall. The task ends with a race in the countryside against three wounded soldiers. Only Hammond manages to finish the race, with Clarkson’s scooter falling down a hill into a set of trees, and May aborting the mission and getting stuck outside a pub near Crickhowell.

Star In A Reasonably Priced Car: Michael Fassbender laps in 1:42.8 on ice, becoming the equal third fastest time ever.

Some say…

“He’s not the Stig’s alpine cousin, he’s just the Stig.”

Star in a Reasonably Priced Car

Michael Fassbender
1:42.80 (ice)

Music

Fisker Karma Review:
00:53 – 01:38 – Phil Collins – In the Air Tonight
01:39 – 02:18 – The Charlatans – Patrol (Chemical Brothers Mix)
02:27 – 02:41 – Danger Mouse & Daniele Luppi – Roman Blue
02:42 – 02:58 – Hans Zimmer – The Kraken
03:14 – 03:54 – John Murphy – Mercado Nuevo
04:53 – 06:01 – Holy Fuck – Milkshake
06:03 – 06:19 – Danger Mouse & Daniele Luppi – Problem Queen
06:44 – 07:42 – Doves – At the Tower (Instrumental Edit)
08:08 – 08:21 – SBTRKT – Heatwave
08:21 – 08:42 – John Ottman – Dead Men
08:42 – 09:12 – John Debney – Rhodey Dons Suit

Ferrari FF vs. Bentley Continental GT:
17:22 – 18:00 – Roy Budd – Manhunt
18:10 – 18:33 – The Chemical Brothers – Bahnhof Rumble
18:30 – 20:24 – Massive Attack – One Thought at a Time
20:58 – 21:14 – Thomas Newman – Ghost Station
21:25 – 21:28 – ?
21:25 – 21:45 – Ilan Eshkeri – Yvaine
21:45 – 21:51 – Harry Gregson-Williams & David Buckley – Nuns With Guns
21:51 – 22:33 – Harry Gregson-Williams & David Buckley – The Wreath
22:34 – 23:22 – The Chemical Brothers – Escape 700
23:22 – 23:43 – Massive Attack – Paradise Circus
23:43 – 24:00 – Clint Mansell – Meltdown (Winter)
24:18 – 24:31 – Kasabian – Let’s Roll Just Like We Used To
24:33 – 24:49 – ?
24:58 – 25:42 – The Chemical Brothers – Hanna vs Marissa
25:42 – 25:48 – The Dust Brothers – Medulla Oblongata
25:48 – 26:53 – Craig Armstrong – Opening from ‘Elizabeth: The Golden Age’
27:18 – 27:34 – ABBA – Super Trouper
27:41 – 27:57 – U.N.K.L.E – Ablivion (Instrumental)
28:22 – 28:44 – ?
28:59 – 29:44 – The Chemical Brothers – Car Chase (Arp Worship)
29:56 – 30:48 – Dario Marianelli – Half Killed

Off-Road Scooter Challenge:
43:08 – 43:20 – ?
45:10 – 45:27 – ?
46:50 – 47:23 – The Beat – Mirror in the Bathroom
49:22 – 49:52 – Kasabian – Man of Simple Pleasures (Instrumental)
50:14 – 50:24 – Blur – On The Way To The Club
50:46 – 51:11 – U.N.K.L.E – Black Mass
51:56 – 52:06 – Thomas Newman – Permission to Fire
52:06 – 52:17 – Harry Gregson-Williams – Wall Breached
52:17 – 52:26 – Nick Phoenix & Thomas J. Bergersen – Hellraiser Brigade
52:29 – 53:01 – Harry Gregson-Williams – You Can Save Her
53:06 – 53:14 – Harry Gregson-Williams – You Can Save Her
53:31 – 53:37 – Elbow – High Ideals (Instrumental)
54:00 – 54:41 – Thomas Newman – Full Chemical Gear
54:50 – 55:04 – Lisa Gerrard & Pieter Bourke – The Subordinate
55:32 – 56:02 – Corner Stone Cues – Black Widow
56:19 – 56:32 – ?
56:40 – 56:50 – Lisa Gerrard & Pieter Bourke – The Subordinate
56:59 – 57:12 – Lisa Gerrard & Pieter Bourke – The Subordinate
57:36 – 58:16 – Alex Heffes – This is What We Live For
58:24 – 58:38 – Roy Budd & Jack Fishman – The Plant
58:53 – 59:40 – Harry Gregson-Williams – You Can Save Her
59:40 – 59:49 – ?

Screenshots

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3 comments

Mark Ealey August 23, 2023 at 6:12 am

Streamed this on Prime in 2023. Did not include Michael Fassbender segment. Leaving me confused when they mention his lap time in subsequent episodes. Where in the program does his segment originally appear?

Reply
Shane Fell May 18, 2014 at 4:58 am

Wait a minute, Clarkson and May are complaining about the electric steering in the new 911 and Hammond didn’t mind it that much, but when May drove it on the show, cut to the studio and Hammond is complaining about losing the steering feel, May doesn’t mind it and Clarkson just doesn’t care at all.

Reply
Till Grossmann August 16, 2014 at 5:10 pm

exaclty what i noticed.

Reply

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