- James goes to Germany to take the Bugatti Veyron to it’s top speed.
- The boys compare the Audi TT, Mazda RX-8 and Alfa Romeo Brera.
- Star in a Reasonably Priced Car: Hugh Grant.
Episode Guide
Review: May takes the Bugatti Veyron to its top speed of 407 km/h (253 mph) on Volkswagen’s Ehra-Lessien test track. He described how smoothly the car behaved at those speeds and how disorienting the speed can be. He remarked that as he was coming to a stop at the end of his run, he wanted to open the door, but “fortunately I looked at the speedometer and I was still doing 70.”
The News: Clarkson, Hammond and May discuss Porsche’s new Cayenne as well as its official press release photo. A party, called the “Thunderball,” is going to be held for workers laid off from TVR’s factory in Blackpool – complete with a buffet and band. Clarkson shares an unflattering (or very flattering, depending on your point of view) photo of Renault’s F1 racing drivers standing next to a Clio R27. Jeremy also shares a list of ridiculous driving offences that can get you jail time in the U.K. The boys discuss their best and worst drives of the last six months: Clarkson was impressed with the Lexus GS hybrid and disappointed with the Volkswagen Golf GT (1.4 litre supercharged and turbocharged), calling it “as smooth as falling down stairs while wearing leg calipers.” Hammond was impressed with the Volvo C30 T5 and disappointed with the ugly Subaru B9 Tribeca. May was impressed with Suzuki Swift Sport and disappointed with the sporty Bentley Arnage T. Finally, Jaguar has produced a concept car that is claims will be the next S-type.
Challenge: The guys were set the challenge of finding the best stylish coupés: Clarkson chose the revised Audi TT, Hammond chose the old Mazda RX-8, and May chose the new Alfa Romeo Brera. After taking them to a golf course in Scotland (they were asked to leave after the 3rd hole because they were too slow), they took them to the Scottish National Gallery of Modern Art to get expert opinions. Each of the presenters had two minutes to persuade a panel of three art professors that their car deserved a place in the museum. The professors opted for the Brera. Hammond decided that they were wrong and that the argument would be settled by determining which one was the fastest. After the Stig drove them round the track, the Audi TT came in at 1.31.4, the Mazda RX-8 in 1.32.0 and the Brera in 1.36.9. When Clarkson noticed that he had won, he said that he preferred the Brera all along, and the others concurred. But, as it is an Alfa, none of the three could recommend it. Clarkson closed by saying, “The best car here, is the worst!” This episode’s Stig intro (by Clarkson): “Some say that he once had a vicious knife fight with Anthea Turner and that he is in no way implicated in the cash for honour scandal. All we know is, he’s called Lord Stig!”
Star In A Reasonably Priced Car: Hugh Grant stops by to talk about his car history, “Golf ball,” road rage, and getting old. His lap time: 1.47.7.
Some say…
“Some say that he once had a vicious knife fight with Anthea Turner, and that he is in no way implicated in the Cash for Honours scandal. All we know is he’s called Lord Stig.”
Stig Power Laps
Audi TT
1:31.40
Alfa Romeo Brera
1:36.90
Mazda RX-8
1:32.00
Star in a Reasonably Priced Car
Hugh Grant
1:47.70
Music
Bugatti Veyron Speed Test:
01:04 – 01:23 – Wojciech Kilar – The Storm
01:24 – 01:41 – Danny Elfman – Descent into Mystery
01:51 – 02:23 – The Gasman – Cenlax
02:32 – 02:48 – Wojciech Kilar – Dracula-The Beginning
02:48 – 03:04 – Wojciech Kilar – Ascension
03:04 – 03:24 – Matmos – Always Three Words
03:24 – 03:57 – The Future Sound of London – My Kingdom (2006 Edit)
03:57 – 03:59 – The Gasman – Cenlax
03:57 – 04:02 – Nine Inch Nails – A Warm Place
04:02 – 04:05 – Datach’i – Evolving As One
04:05 – 04:24 – Speedranch^Janskynoise – There Are Questions We Don’t Even Know to Ask of Yet
04:24 – 04:27 – Datach’i – Evolving As One
04:27 – 04:37 – Speedranch^Janskynoise – There Are Questions We Don’t Even Know to Ask of Yet
04:37 – 04:42 – Harry-Gregson Williams – Main Title (Man on Fire)
04:48 – 05:26 – The Gasman – Cenlax
05:25 – 06:23 – John Williams – Duel of the Fates
06:23 – 06:52 – David Arnold – Fall of a House in Venice
06:52 – 07:21 – David Arnold – The End of an Aston Martin
07:21 – 07:54 – Wojciech Kilar – Dracula-The Beginning
08:00 – 08:16 – Wojciech Kilar – Dracula-The Beginning
08:16 – 08:44 – Wojciech Kilar – Ascension
Audi vs. Alfa vs. Mazda Review, Pt. 1:
18:00 – 18:21 – Craig Armstrong – Death in the Square
18:18 – 19:01 – Brian Tyler, Klaus Badelt – Constantine End Titles
19:29 – 19:59 – Soulsavers – Cabin Fever
20:03 – 20:21 – The Future Sound of London – Papua New Guinea (12″ Version)
20:21 – 20:44 – John Powell – Whirlpool of Love
20:44 – 21:12 – Layo & Bushwacka! – Isn’t This A Lovely Day
21:13 – 21:42 – Craig Armstrong – This Love
21:38 – 21:59 – Antonio Pinto – Consequences and Loss
21:59 – 22:15 – Brian Eno – Mountain of Needles
22:52 – 23:20 – Tomoyasu Hotei – Space Cowboy
23:20 – 23:48 – The Future Sound of London – Expander (12″ Version)
23:48 – 24:25 – The Future Sound of London – The Lovers
24:36 – 24:53 – Aphex Twin – Schottkey 7th Path
24:53 – 25:08 – Coldcut – Everything is Under Control (Instrumental)
25:08 – 25:23 – John Ottman – Redfoot
25:23 – 25:37 – Average White Band – Pick Up the Pieces
26:15 – 26:35 – Arthur Lyman – Caravan
26:35 – 27:01 – Gert Wilden & Orchestra – Schulmaedchen Report (Title Theme)
27:23 – 27:33 – Serge Gainsbourg – Couleur Cafe
28:01 – 28:13 – Manitoba – Tits & Ass: The Great Canadian Weekend
Audi vs. Alfa vs. Mazda Review, Pt. 2:
40:10 – 40:55 – Hybrid – Dream Stalker
40:56 – 41:37 – Jamie Jones – Amazon
41:56 – 42:04 – Ron Goodwin – Reitsch’s Flight
42:04 – 42:32 – Arthur Lyman – Caravan
42:32 – 42:53 – David Holmes – Lyman Zerga
42:53 – 43:04 – Primal Scream – Trainspotting
43:34 – 43:54 – Chopin – Waltz in D flat major, No. 1 – ‘Minute’
44:03 – 44:13 – Chopin – Waltz in D flat major, No. 1 – ‘Minute’
44:18 – 44:30 – Cyril Stapleton & His Orchestra – The Persuaders
44:50 – 45:15 – David Holmes – The Real Story
45:15 – 45:37 – Serge Gainsbourg – Couleur Café
45:44 – 45:49 – James Horner – End Credits (Braveheart)
45:55 – 47:06 – Trevor Rabin – Demands
47:22 – 47:39 – Brian Eno – Force Marker
48:15 – 48:30 – James Horner – End Credits (Braveheart)
4 comments
tut, tut. Jeremy didn’t keep his promise about cutting his leg off and beating himself to death with it. lol
jeremy is the best
i like top gear
poweeeer