Watch: rappers destroy £279,095 Maybach

Jay Zed and his friend Mae West needed a new motorcar for their latest hiphopora video. So they got a standard Maybach 57, some power tools and a welding torch, and created this. We're calling it the Jayzach.

It has no roof. It has colossal Brabus-style wheelarches. It hasn't got doors. Which makes the girls' laissez-faire approach to seatbelt decorum even more reckless.

The song - titled Otis and an ode to the late, great Otis Redding - doesn't include any technical specification, but we assume it's still running the 550bhp V12 (or 630 if it's the S version) and five-speed auto ‘box.

But before you skitter off to bust a caps-lock up a homeperson, please tell us this - do you think the 125000-mile warranty is still valid?

Now watch Richard drive a Maybach 62.

Video: what happened at this month’s cover shoot

Before you watch the video below, a few words from Editor-In-Chief Charlie Turner on this month’s Top Gear Magazine

In this job, pinching yourself is pretty standard operating procedure. Lucky doesn’t cover it, and it’s worth taking time to realise that as often as possible. But as I stand sheltering in the back of a support truck with the rest of the TG crew, rain lashing down outside across the world’s most expensively populated car park, pinching isn’t quite doing it.

“Someone punch me in the face – life isn’t going to get better than this.” After three epic journeys in the greatest performance cars currently on sale, here they are, sat at the top of Italy’s finest road. And I have the keys to every one of them in my hand.

This year’s collective has a combined value of £3,718,090, 6,071bhp and 24 driven wheels between them. Ok, so the Veyron (the first one ever to be loaned for a performance-car showdown) skews things a bit with its 1,187bhp and £1.8m pricetag, but, as it sits surrounded by a BMW 1-Series M, a Zonda F and everything else in between, it’s clear that we’ve managed to assemble one of the greatest sets of cars ever to do battle.

And battle they will: sat inert and skulking in the McLaren MP4-12C is the Stig, waiting to prove unscientifically (sorry, Ron) how good Woking’s finest really is.

Over the staggering five days we spend in the company of these truly epic cars, all will shine, some more than others.

But what becomes clear as I stare across the rainswept fantasy car park is that there’s not a loser among them. We live in extraordinary times: performance cars have never been so diverse, capable or accessible.

Time to scramble the Stig into action. I tap on the window, he winds it down and promptly punches me in the face. Welcome, then, to his supercar showdown...

Stig’s Supercar Showdown is on sale in all the usual reputable vendors right now. Watch the video below for a small taste, then head out and get your own copy…And look out for more videos in the coming weeks.

 

2012 Honda Civic gets cleaner diesel

Honda has revised its diesel engine in the next generation Civic hatchback. It's now cleaner and more powerful.

Wake up! This is lightly important news because the CO2 in the 2.2-litre i-DTEC engine drops from 129g/km to 110g/km, making a showroom-fresh 2012 Honda Civic tax-free for the first year and just £20 a year from then on.

Along with this drop in CO2, it's also been treated to a tiny dollop of power too. The revised unit now produces 148bhp, up from the old four-pot's 138bhp. And this adheres to an oft-quoted TG truism: more is better.

These increments, that make it slightly cleaner and more powerful than a 2.0-litre TDCI Ford Focus, have been made possible using subtle forms of engine witchcraft: the oil flow through the engine has been ‘managed' to reduce circulation loss, engine materials have been revised for less friction and Honda has installed start/stop technology. The Civic was also blasted extensively in the wind tunnel to improve the car's aero, reducing drag and refining high speed stability.

Katsushi Watanabe, dev lead for the new engine said: "Reducing the emissions was our key target and we're proud to say that we have achieved this without compromising the high performance character of the engine.

"We want our customers to have fun when they drive this car", he added.

The new Civic - the ninth generation of Honda's hatch - will make its worldwide debut at the Frankfurt motor show next month, ahead of an ‘early 2012' UK on sale date. Hopefully with a slightly more visually pleasing body than the one you see above.

Excited by this clean, cuddly news?

Video: this month\'s cover shoot

Before you watch the video below, a few words from Editor-In-Chief Charlie Turner on this month’s Top Gear Magazine

In this job, pinching yourself is pretty standard operating procedure. Lucky doesn’t cover it, and it’s worth taking time to realise that as often as possible. But as I stand sheltering in the back of a support truck with the rest of the TG crew, rain lashing down outside across the world’s most expensively populated car park, pinching isn’t quite doing it.

“Someone punch me in the face – life isn’t going to get better than this.” After three epic journeys in the greatest performance cars currently on sale, here they are, sat at the top of Italy’s finest road. And I have the keys to every one of them in my hand.

This year’s collective has a combined value of £3,718,090, 6,071bhp and 24 driven wheels between them. Ok, so the Veyron (the first one ever to be loaned for a performance-car showdown) skews things a bit with its 1,187bhp and £1.8m pricetag, but, as it sits surrounded by a BMW 1-Series M, a Zonda F and everything else in between, it’s clear that we’ve managed to assemble one of the greatest sets of cars ever to do battle.

And battle they will: sat inert and skulking in the McLaren MP4-12C is the Stig, waiting to prove unscientifically (sorry, Ron) how good Woking’s finest really is.

Over the staggering five days we spend in the company of these truly epic cars, all will shine, some more than others.

But what becomes clear as I stare across the rainswept fantasy car park is that there’s not a loser among them. We live in extraordinary times: performance cars have never been so diverse, capable or accessible.

Time to scramble the Stig into action. I tap on the window, he winds it down and promptly punches me in the face. Welcome, then, to his supercar showdown...

Stig’s Supercar Showdown is on sale in all the usual reputable vendors right now. Watch the video below for a small taste, then head out and get your own copy…And look out for more videos in the coming weeks.

 

Schumacher: “I’m the problem”

Veteran German finally concedes poor performance and ponders long-term future…

Michael Schumacher: “I’m the problem”

Veteran German finally concedes poor performance and ponders long-term future…

Bentley to build SUV

Bentley has begun work on a four-wheel-drive SUV model scheduled to hit the automotive shelf in 2014. You heard it right, a Bentley off-roader.

Company CEO Wolfgang Durheimer confirmed to Top Gear that an SUV is already in development, and will be based on the architecture of the next generation Audi Q7, Volkswagen Touareg and Porsche Cayenne; an architecture dubbed ‘MLB'.

If you need some reassuring - and we suspect you might - Durheimer has previous form. He was formerly R&D director at Porsche and worked on the development of the Cayenne. And controversial though it might be, there's no denying the 4x4 Porker is good to drive.

The Bentley SUV will be more of a crossover - a ‘shooting brake' - and will likely feature the range-topping 6.0-litre 621bhp W12 petrol engine from the Continental Supersports (pictured above), as well as a version of the 6.0-litre V12 diesel engine from the Audi Q7. In that application, the engine develops 737lb ft of torque and accelerates from 0-62mph in 5.5 seconds.

Top Gear drives the Bentley Continental Supersports

Although the Bentley SUV is still waiting to be signed off officially by the VW board, insiders expect it to get the green light very soon indeed.

Is this something that tickles a part of your cerebrum?

Can a MotoGP champ drive a DTM car?

Nicky Hayden is the 2006 MotoGP world champion, suggesting that on two wheels at least, he possesses an immodest level of skill and proficiency.

He recently paid a visit to Mercedes-Benz's DTM team to see if he could transpose these immodest skills into a racing C-Class AMG; an AMG with a very wide track, a very shiny body, a very loud 470bhp V8 and a very low tolerance of failure.

David Coulthard was on hand to show him a few laps, and then Nicky was left to discover what an oversteery Merc feels like on full attack mode. You can see how he fared in the video below...

Gallery: Mercedes SLS AMG GT3 and the SEL 300 6.3 AMG

Watch: man does donuts in front room

There's not a huge amount to say about this - German man has an AC Cobra, empty front room, video camera and desire to ruin his hardwood floor. So he does some burnouts. Indoors.

We'll let the video do the talking. And once you've watched it, check out Jeremy in the equally burnoutable VXR8.

Hyundai’s new i30: first pic

What you're looking at is the next Hyundai i30, revealed ahead of its Frankfurt motor show world premiere.

That is of course, if you're looking at the picture directly above and not the image of a man at the top. That is a ‘Jeremy Clarkson'.

No, this is the company's second stab at executing its ‘fluidic sculpture' design theme, the first being the ix-onic concept revealed at the 2009 Geneva motor show. According to Hyundai's chief designer Thomas Bürkle, the ambition was to create a car "which looks athletic while exuding a sense of constant motion, even when stationary", and a car that allies itself closely to the new i40.

"We want people to recognise the Hyundai design on those two models", Mr Bürkle added. And that rather splendid body was designed and engineered at the company's technical centre in Rüsselsheim, Germany.

No word on engines as yet but the i30's mechanical undergarments are based on the Kia c-apostrophe-dee, a car Top Gear is intimately knowledgeable about. And we like our little Cee'd.

We'll bring you more as it drops, but for now, why not nibble on the digital cracker Hyundai has given us, and tell us what it tastes like. Ritz, or generic own brand?

Meet the new Suzuki Swift Sport

This is the new Suzuki Swift Sport, unveiled today ahead of its Frankfurt motor show world debut.

The second iteration of one of Top Gear's favourite budget hatches gets its first full makeover since 2006, complete with a new 1.6-litre engine producing 134bhp (up from 123bhp) and 118lb ft of torque. This is many horsepowers and many torques for something with an expected weight of just over 1,000kg, all sent to the front wheels via a Swift-Sport-only six-speed manual gearbox.

Suzuki reckons the new Sport provides "excitement" via better cornering stability and more responsive handling thanks to struts with internal rebound springs, and an "exclusive rear suspension design". This performance is also quoted as "environmentally responsible", not something we imagine the Swift Sport was happy about complying too. It probably responded by peeing on the carpet...

The base-spec Swift - which we drove earlier this year - is a cracker. With more power this one promises some proper fireworks, much like the last one. We are officially excited.

Audi reveals Urban Concept

Behold the Audi Urban Concept, a miniscule electric two-seater that'll go on display at the 2011 Frankfurt motor show in September. Or rather some very pretty sketches of it.

Ingolstadt's strangely butch lightweight UC gets two electric E-Tron motors, which are funded by enough lithium-ion batteries to propel it for, as Audi says, "extended city tours".

See more pics of the Urban Concept here

You embark on said tours by entering a slightly ridiculous LMP1-style cockpit. But you don't get doors - the entire roof section slithers back to reveal staggered 1+1 seating. The passenger's chair is a few inches astern - your knees are alongside the driver's hip if you're shotgun.

Once installed, you'll notice that it's all a bit minimalist and scaffoldy. There's a display screen above the Flight of the Navigator-spec steering wheel, some boisterously red air vents but not a great deal else.

Unsurprisingly, it's not based on any models in the firm's current lineup - it's been built as an exemplar of the manufacturer's ultra-lightweight philosophy, which sees every ounce of unnecessary mass removed. Which explains why the entire monocoquepit's made from carbon fibre-reinforced polymer.

We rather like its non-femme approach to urban eco-cardom, but what do you think?

Subaru teaser XV ahead of launch

This is a picture of a wheel. And a headlight. And a bit of a bumper. From which, we're expected to deduce what Subaru's Qashqai rival will look like.

Thankfully, it follows the very ready-looking concept we saw at this year's Shanghai show, which you can stare at whimsically by clicking on these blue words.

The actual production XV will be fully unsheathed on September 13 during this year's Frankfurt motor show, confirmed today by parent company Fuji Heavy Industries.

So, what else do we know? The XV moniker doesn't allude to anything in particular - it's a five-seater, it'll go on sale in 2012, it's got four-wheel drive and, according to Subaru, it'll "combine the latest distinctive Subaru elements with the commanding silhouette expected of a crossover." Fancy.

It adds: "Subaru also expects the XV will bring a new type of customer to the brand, people who are confident in the knowledge of the company's AWD and engineering expertise and who are also looking for the flexibility and lifestyle statement that owning a crossover brings."

What lifestyle statement do you think owning a crossover SUV makes, TopGear.commers?

Subaru teases XV ahead of launch

This is a picture of a wheel. And a headlight. And a bit of a bumper. From which, we're expected to deduce what Subaru's Qashqai rival will look like.

Thankfully, it follows the very ready-looking concept we saw at this year's Shanghai show, which you can stare at whimsically by clicking on these blue words.

The actual production XV will be fully unsheathed on September 13 during this year's Frankfurt motor show, confirmed today by parent company Fuji Heavy Industries.

So, what else do we know? The XV moniker doesn't allude to anything in particular - it's a five-seater, it'll go on sale in 2012, it's got four-wheel drive and, according to Subaru, it'll "combine the latest distinctive Subaru elements with the commanding silhouette expected of a crossover." Fancy.

It adds: "Subaru also expects the XV will bring a new type of customer to the brand, people who are confident in the knowledge of the company's AWD and engineering expertise and who are also looking for the flexibility and lifestyle statement that owning a crossover brings."

What lifestyle statement do you think owning a crossover SUV makes, TopGear.commers?

Watch Aston’s secret One-77 video

This is Aston-Martin's secret(ish) video of the bonkers One-77. And it sounds incredible. Sadly, the Jazz-flute funk soundtrack doesn't.

You'll also have to excuse a softly Bond-like intro sequence and a particularly violent slap-bass solo. But, luckily, the car's exhaust note and colossal density of awesome more than makes up for the musical trespasses.

The £1.2m hypercar wears a 7.3-litre naturally aspirated V12 which produces a planet-spinning 750bhp. Don't believe us? Watch it try and destroy a rolling road here

Now check out some cheesy One-77 goodness.

Retro-inspired Nitronic Rush game causes argument

Remember the maddening horror of racing games in the eighties and nineties? The covers promised so much - rich, galloping vistas, infinitesimally detailed cars and gameplay so absorbing you'd punch yourself in the genitals just to control your excitment.

Then, after blowing sharply into cartridge and console, you realized you'd been had. The vistas were neither rich nor galloping. The cars looked like they were made from Lego. It was pixilated disappointment.

So imagine our excitement when we saw Nitronic Rush, a new retro game being developed by a group of students at the DigiPen Institute of Technology (trailer below). Finally, after all these years, it looks like we'll finally get to explore the world of retro game art.

Which is all very well, but a perfunctory office survey revealed that we remember slightly rubbish racing games with alarming fondness. And we've just had a very loud argument about which was best.

We exchanged tantrums, violence and very rude words. But we've still not settled on an indubitable winner. Which is why we need YOU.

We want to compile the ultimate retro racing game top ten. Click on THESE BIG BLUE WORDS and have a look at the current rankings. Please agree, disagree or suggest games we've missed out in the handy box below.

Next Ford Focus RS to get 380bhp?

The next Ford Focus RS will get more than 350bhp and retain its front-wheel-drive layout, according to reports.

Speaking to the Sydney Morning Herald, Gunnar Herrmann, head of Ford's global C-segment platform, said the third iteration of the Essex barnstormer was already in the works and would feature more power than ever before.

He said: "I think more power for the next RS is sustainable. With the limited edition RS500 we went up to 350bhp, and some of our development units, we have them up to 380bhp. We even moved torque upwards."

Gallery: the Ford Focus RS500

He noted some concerns over engine durability but said: "the car can handle it." The new RS would also keep the two-wheel-drive, ‘RevoKnuckle' setup too, with Herrmann saying: "I think we stay with our two-wheel-drive strategy, which I think was well executed".

To give some perspective, this man is in charge of a Ford platform responsible for delivering more than two million units worldwide. Quite a big deal, then.

Earlier this year he said: "Sure, it's a tremendous responsibility but I've spent my entire career at Ford in C-cars and I know them down to their DNA. They develop and grow like your children."

And we're expecting more details on another one of his kids at the upcoming Frankfurt motor show, the next Ford Focus ST. So far, all we know is that it'll sport a 2.0-litre turbocharged four-pot producing around 245bhp, and that it will pack some fireworks...

Gallery: the new Ford Focus ST

Tempted by a 350bhp+ Focus RS? Or is this simply too much power - no matter how strong a RevoKnuckle is - for one hatch to handle?

Lambo to reveal new \'super sports car\'

Lamborghini has revealed it intends to debut a new ‘super sports car' at the upcoming Frankfurt motor show. And we have no idea what it is.

The Italian automaker has hinted that the new supercar will be red, while simultaneously - and mysteriously - releasing some information from last weekend's Spa-Francorchamps Blancpain Super Trofeo series; the fastest one-make racing series in the world.

See pics of the mystery red racing Lamborghini Gallardo at Spa

At Spa, one of the 17 Lamborghini race cars - car #1 Automobili Lamborghini VIP - was coloured up in a new red livery, which ‘surprised both drivers and race fans'.

And Lamborghini CEO Stephan Winkelmann himself noted: "Lamborghini always aims to surprise and excite. Red is the colour of race cars in Italy: we are celebrating 150 years of Italian unity in our Super Trofeo series..."

The smart money is on Lamborghini, whose motor show form has been astonishing of late, debuting a very hardcore, bone-breaking, road-going race-bred Gallardo. That model is reported to be nearing the end of it's life cycle anyway. Or, as an outside bet, could it finally be the production version of the spectacular and rather stupendous Sesto Elemento concept we saw last year?

Gallery: a history of Lamborghini V12s

Your thoughts, please. And since Lamborghini is being a bit coy, why not use the Internet space below to tell us what kind of Lamborghini you'd like to see at Frankfurt.

*Note: ‘first comment' isn't a Lamborghini.

Watch a V8 Transit van go drifting

We are almost three per cent certain this video of a Transit van will put a smile across your miserable, Monday-blues chops.

It is no ordinary van; the orange and black livery should tell you that much at least. No, this is no ordinary van because underneath that striking exterior sits a V8. And not just an ordinary V8: a loud V8.

Having performed some rudimentary research using Top Gear's shoddy and 1990s-spec Internet, the Ford Transit ‘Drift Bus' uses an engine from an old BMW M5, a six-speed sequential ZF gearbox, runs on Bilstein suspension and sends drive to the rear wheels.

Now, something magical happens when the V8's power overwhelms the rear tyres. Something slidey. Something smoky. Obviously, nothing will ever beat Hammond's XJ220-engined Transit, but hey, it's a van getting sideways!

Anne Hathaway as Catwoman: first pic

Warner Bros has released an official image of the Catwoman from next year's Batman film, The Dark Knight Rises.

Played by Anne Hathaway, the image tells us nothing of her role in the new movie, other than the fact she appears to have borrowed/stolen Batman's prized bike, she will don a tight black leather costume, and, erm, she is Catwoman.

Gotham City SWAT van snapped in London

No doubt we'll be drip fed more information leading up to its July 2012 release date, but we'd like to take this opportunity to discuss a couple of points.

First, should there even be a Catwoman in this film? Director Christopher Nolan has a habit of cramming his Batman films with as many characters from his back story as possible. 2005's Batman Begins had Ra's Al Ghul, The Scarecrow, Henri Ducard, Carmine Falcone and even Rutger Hauer's evil boss Earle, while The Dark Knight had the Joker, Two-Face, Lau, Maroni and the Scarecrow (again). Too many?

And more importantly, we noticed earlier this year that Bruce Wayne appears to have gotten himself a Lamborghini Aventador. Is this the correct choice for our favourite billionaire vigilante?

As always, leave your considered and insightful ramblings in the handy space provided below.

 

American football coach sells Benz for £12

Humanity. This will restore your faith in it: during his last day as a coach for the Pittsburgh Steelers, Ray Horton surprised a petrolheaded cook at the team's cafeteria by selling him his '99 Mercedes SL500 for £12.

According to the Pittsburgh Post Gazette, the cook, Maurice 'Mo' Matthews had always admired the car, and when Horton was saying his goodbyes he asked him: OHow much money have you got in your pocket?' Matthews said: "I got $20." Horton took the money and said: "Sold for $20" before handing him the keys.

Matthews then drove Horton to the airport so he could sign the 64,000-mile SL's title (equivalent to a V5C in Blighty).

Matthews told the PPG: "I'm still in shock. I don't think it has hit me yet. I still pinch myself. I look out the window when I bring it to work and I just go, 'Man, that's mine.'"

Warms the cockles, doesn't it?

(Picture for reference only)

Lamborghini announces new sports car

Lamborghini has revealed it intends to debut a new ‘super sports car' at the upcoming Frankfurt motor show. And we have no idea what it is.

The Italian automaker has hinted that the new supercar will be red, while simultaneously - and mysteriously - releasing some information from last weekend's Spa-Francorchamps Blancpain Super Trofeo series; the fastest one-make racing series in the world.

See pics of the mystery red racing Lamborghini Gallardo at Spa

At Spa, one of the 17 Lamborghini race cars - car #1 Automobili Lamborghini VIP - was coloured up in a new red livery, which ‘surprised both drivers and race fans'.

And Lamborghini CEO Stephan Winkelmann himself noted: "Lamborghini always aims to surprise and excite. Red is the colour of race cars in Italy: we are celebrating 150 years of Italian unity in our Super Trofeo series..."

The smart money is on Lamborghini, whose motor show form has been astonishing of late, debuting a very hardcore, bone-breaking, road-going race-bred Gallardo. That model is reported to be nearing the end of it's life cycle anyway. Or, as an outside bet, could it finally be the production version of the spectacular and rather stupendous Sesto Elemento concept we saw last year?

Gallery: a history of Lamborghini V12s

Your thoughts, please. And since Lamborghini is being a bit coy, why not use the Internet space below to tell us what kind of Lamborghini you'd like to see at Frankfurt.

*Note: ‘first comment' isn't a Lamborghini.

Lamborghini to reveal new sports car

Lamborghini has revealed it intends to debut a new ‘super sports car' at the upcoming Frankfurt motor show. And we have no idea what it is.

The Italian automaker has hinted that the new supercar will be red, while simultaneously - and mysteriously - releasing some information from last weekend's Spa-Francorchamps Blancpain Super Trofeo series; the fastest one-make racing series in the world.

See pics of the mystery red racing Lamborghini Gallardo at Spa

At Spa, one of the 17 Lamborghini race cars - car #1 Automobili Lamborghini VIP - was coloured up in a new red livery, which ‘surprised both drivers and race fans'.

And Lamborghini CEO Stephan Winkelmann himself noted: "Lamborghini always aims to surprise and excite. Red is the colour of race cars in Italy: we are celebrating 150 years of Italian unity in our Super Trofeo series..."

The smart money is on Lamborghini, whose motor show form has been astonishing of late, debuting a very hardcore, bone-breaking, road-going race-bred Gallardo. That model is reported to be nearing the end of it's life cycle anyway. Or, as an outside bet, could it finally be the production version of the spectacular and rather stupendous Sesto Elemento concept we saw last year?

Gallery: a history of Lamborghini V12s

Your thoughts, please. And since Lamborghini is being a bit coy, why not use the Internet space below to tell us what kind of Lamborghini you'd like to see at Frankfurt.

*Note: ‘first comment' isn't a Lamborghini.

Lamborghini to reveal new \'super sports car\'

Lamborghini has revealed it intends to debut a new ‘super sports car' at the upcoming Frankfurt motor show. And we have no idea what it is.

The Italian automaker has hinted that the new supercar will be red, while simultaneously - and mysteriously - releasing some information from last weekend's Spa-Francorchamps Blancpain Super Trofeo series; the fastest one-make racing series in the world.

See pics of the mystery red racing Lamborghini Gallardo at Spa

At Spa, one of the 17 Lamborghini race cars - car #1 Automobili Lamborghini VIP - was coloured up in a new red livery, which ‘surprised both drivers and race fans'.

And Lamborghini CEO Stephan Winkelmann himself noted: "Lamborghini always aims to surprise and excite. Red is the colour of race cars in Italy: we are celebrating 150 years of Italian unity in our Super Trofeo series..."

The smart money is on Lamborghini, whose motor show form has been astonishing of late, debuting a very hardcore, bone-breaking, road-going race-bred Gallardo. That model is reported to be nearing the end of it's life cycle anyway. Or, as an outside bet, could it finally be the production version of the spectacular and rather stupendous Sesto Elemento concept we saw last year?

Gallery: a history of Lamborghini V12s

Your thoughts, please. And since Lamborghini is being a bit coy, why not use the Internet space below to tell us what kind of Lamborghini you'd like to see at Frankfurt.

*Note: ‘first comment' isn't a Lamborghini.

NFL coach sells Benz for £12

Humanity. This will restore your faith in it: during his last day as a coach for the Pittsburgh Steelers, Ray Horton surprised a petrolheaded cook at the team's cafeteria by selling him his '99 Mercedes SL500 for £12.

According to the Pittsburgh Post Gazette, the cook, Maurice 'Mo' Matthews had always admired the car, and when Horton was saying his goodbyes he asked him: OHow much money have you got in your pocket?' Matthews said: "I got $20." Horton took the money and said: "Sold for $20" before handing him the keys.

Matthews then drove Horton to the airport so he could sign the 64,000-mile SL's title (equivalent to a V5C in Blighty).

Matthews told the PPG: "I'm still in shock. I don't think it has hit me yet. I still pinch myself. I look out the window when I bring it to work and I just go, 'Man, that's mine.'"

Warms the cockles, doesn't it?

(Picture for reference only)

Nissan to install EV charge points in Lincoln

As you may remember, when Jeremy and James went to Lincoln in electric vehicles they had spot of bother finding a charge point.

No longer. Following the show, Nissan has leapt to the rescue of EV owners in the East Midlands and funded the installation of Lincoln's first public charging point. And it's been dedicated to the boys.

Nissan says: "Should the presenters choose to attempt the journey again in future, they will discover a newly-installed PodPoint charging unit dedicated to them. With two sockets, it would allow both Jeremy and James to recharge their batteries at the same time. Charging will be free of charge to electric vehicle owners."

Councillor Fay Smith, Portfolio Holder for Environmental Services and Public Protection at the City of Lincoln Council, said: "The Top Gear program highlighted the fact that Lincoln does not currently provide for electric cars and we're really pleased that Nissan is now funding a charging point. We're committed to reducing the city's carbon footprint, but know that we can't do it alone, so it's great that private businesses like Nissan are getting behind this and putting in the infrastructure."

Top Gear's Executive Producer, Andy Wilman says: "This is excellent news for the electric car community of Lincoln. If the charging point had existed when Top Gear were there, James wouldn't now be walking around with Jeremy's name tattooed on his bottom. Still, better late than never."

Rowan Atkinson involved in F1 crash

Good news first - Rowan Atkinson has emerged relatively unharmed after he was involved in a car accident in his McLaren F1 last night.

Bad news - the McLaren F1 hit a lamppost and caught fire.

Top Gear's fastest Star in a Reasonably Priced Car reportedly spun the £600,000 hypercar several times along the A605 at Haddon near Peterborough, before hitting said lamppost and becoming a bit on fire.

Thankfully, Atkinson was able to climb out of the Macca unaided and waited with a passing motorist until the emergency services arrived.

It's not the first time he's crashed the 627bhp, BMW V12-engined, CFRP-bodied masterpiece though. Soon after buying it, he had a collision with a Rover Metro.

His condition was this morning reported as stable, only suffering a minor shoulder injury. No reports on the condition of his beloved F1 though; the same F1 he very graciously lent to Top Gear when Hammond went to the desert to size up the Bugatti Veyron's many horsepowers and many torques.

And just a few weeks back, the famous petrolhead and part-time racer came down to Top Gear's rather shabby headquarters to give our Kia ceeapostrophe-dee the ride of its life, setting a scorching lap time of 1m 42.2 seconds and thus taking the prize of the fastest SIARPC. Also, he proved quite emphatically that he is the only man in the history of the universe to say ‘airbag' and ‘Bob' and make it funny.

Exclusive gallery: Rowan Atkinson comes to Top Gear

 

More from the Armed Forces rally teams

If you watched the show on Sunday (click here UK readers if you missed it) you'll remember the astonishing team of off-road-racing soldiers that suffered massive injuries in Afghanistan.

They're taking on the fearsome Dakar rally to help focus their recovery from major war wounds, which include bi-lateral amputations and the loss of both femoral arteries.

We've had a lot of correspondence in the last few days asking us how they're getting on, so TopGear.com caught up with one of the competitors to get the low-down on what lies ahead.

Tony Harris, the driver on Sunday's show that suffered a below-knee amputation during service as an Infantry Officer for the Royal Fusiliers says: "We're pretty excited about it. We're in a great car - Wildcats are really successful in the Dakar - but there are a few uncertainties.

"We just don't know how the desert is going to affect those of us with amputations. Because my prosthetic is effectively a pirate's leg I shouldn't have too much to worry about. But Tom [the co-driver featured on Sunday's show] has electric legs with moving parts and we're not sure how it'll function in the desert.

And they'll be spending plenty of time in the sand. Covering more than 5,500 miles in just 15 days, the route charges through Argentina and Chile at speeds of up to 120mph (not through Dakar in Senegal, as you might expect: the branded rally has changed location). Not everyone manages to finish the race - just 40% - but using a 4-litre V8-powered QT Wildcat stacks the odds favourably - 60% of them cross the line.

"We're excited more than anything. But we're not out there to win. From Tom and I's perspective, it's pretty unlikely we'll ever do anything like walk up a mountain, but when we're in a car we're on a level playing field with everyone else."

If you read our post-show blog, you might have noticed that there were links to two different websites. Shortly after filming, Tony Harris and Tom Neathway - the Project Mobility driver and co-driver of the Wildcat - developed the UK's second disabled rally team, Race2Recovery.

Both off-road teams share a noble goal - to race in the gruelling Dakar Rally Raid. Project Mobility aims to compete in 2014 while Race2Recovery's planning on 2013.

But before the wounded soldiers head to South America, both teams have a punishing motorsport schedule ahead of them. Race2Recovery's gathering experience with a V6 Freelander on the British Cross Country Championship (BCCC), heading to North Africa for the Tuareg Rallye and driving between Moscow and Sochi for the Silk Way Rally.

Project Mobility aims to participate in the National B Circuit rally, achieve its Class A (International) license and start racing abroad in 2013 before the Dakar a year later.

Want to show your support? Join Race2Recovery's Facebook page here, follow them on Twitter here, watch the YouTube channel here and visit the website here. Join Project Mobility's Facebook page here, follow them on Twitter here and visit the website here.

Best of luck to you guys, and we're looking forward to hearing more.

Heidfeld’s Renault F1 fire due to ‘cracked exhaust’

Renault has blamed a cracked exhaust for Nick Heidfeld's fiery exit from last weekend's Hungarian GP.

The German driver was forced to abandon his car after it spontaneously combusted on his exit from the pit lane. Leaping to safety, the car then exploded - onto the leg of a track marshal - and smothered the circuit in debris.

Renault's technical director James Allison said: "We ran a slightly different engine mapping strategy in qualifying, which produced hotter than normal exhausts. This elevated temperature and caused a preliminary crack in the exhaust pipe.

"The crack then propagated during the laps to the pitstop - which wasn't evident to us as we believe the failure occurred upstream of the place where we have a temp sensor - which meant Nick came in with a partially failed exhaust.

"This pitstop took longer than normal and the engine was left at high rpm for 6.3 seconds, waiting for the tyre change. Under these conditions, a lot of excess fuel always ends up in the exhausts and their temperature rises at around 100C per second. This rise in temp was enough to finish off the partially failed pipe and start a moderate fire."

Classifying the incident as "highly undesirable", Renault is in touch with the FIA to provide a full incident report. You can watch the fiery drama unfold below, in that handy rectangular portal for viewing moving images.

Elsewhere, both Hamilton and Button have not given up the hunt on Sebastian Vettel's nearly-in-the-bag 2011 championship, Hamilton himself saying "There are 200 points up for grabs and I enter all of the races believing I can win them".

Can he, or anyone else for that matter, do it? Or does Vettel simply have to post the rest of his race victories in?

Heidfeld’s F1 fire due to ‘cracked exhaust’

Renault has blamed a cracked exhaust for Nick Heidfeld's fiery exit from last weekend's Hungarian GP.

The German driver was forced to abandon his car after it spontaneously combusted on his exit from the pit lane. Leaping to safety, the car then exploded - onto the leg of a track marshal - and smothered the circuit in debris.

Renault's technical director James Allison said: "We ran a slightly different engine mapping strategy in qualifying, which produced hotter than normal exhausts. This elevated temperature and caused a preliminary crack in the exhaust pipe.

"The crack then propagated during the laps to the pitstop - which wasn't evident to us as we believe the failure occurred upstream of the place where we have a temp sensor - which meant Nick came in with a partially failed exhaust.

"This pitstop took longer than normal and the engine was left at high rpm for 6.3 seconds, waiting for the tyre change. Under these conditions, a lot of excess fuel always ends up in the exhausts and their temperature rises at around 100C per second. This rise in temp was enough to finish off the partially failed pipe and start a moderate fire."

Classifying the incident as "highly undesirable", Renault is in touch with the FIA to provide a full incident report. You can watch the fiery drama unfold below, in that handy rectangular portal for viewing moving images.

Elsewhere, both Hamilton and Button have not given up the hunt on Sebastian Vettel's nearly-in-the-bag 2011 championship, Hamilton himself saying "There are 200 points up for grabs and I enter all of the races believing I can win them".

Can he, or anyone else for that matter, do it? Or does Vettel simply have to post the rest of his race victories in?

Watch: mayor crushes illegally parked car

‘It seems that a tank is the best solution.' This INFALLIBLE LOGIC comes from the brain of Lithuanian mayor, Arturas Zuokas.

He's at pains to stop luxury cars parking in cycle lanes of his municipality, Vilnius. To express his frustration, he ran over a scrap Mercedes W140 in a troop carrier.

The stunt was designed to demonstrate that, in Zuokas' words: "if you have a car and more money, [it] does not mean you can park it everywhere."

Presumably, It's perfectly legal to drive tanks in Lithuanian cycle lanes.

Mazda reveals the CX-5

Meet Kodo. Kodo is not, contrary to what you're thinking, the name of a cuddly 1980s sit-com alien. No, Kodo is Mazda's new design language, seen for the first time today on a production car, the new CX-5.

Revealed ahead of its Frankfurt motor show debut, the CX-5 is a compact crossover SUV in the mould of the Volkswagen Tiguan and Ford Kuga, first seen in concept form a few months back as the ‘Minagi' concept car.

See more pics of the new Mazda CX-5

The all-new CX-5 will aim to add a little voodoo sauce to Mazda's stylistic repertoire, as well as featuring the company's new range of environmentally snuggly engine and chassis technology, under the umbrella term ‘SkyActiv'.

Two engines will be on offer for the UK, a 2.0-litre petrol engine and a 2.2-litre diesel. In fact, Mazda claims that 2.2-lire diesel CX-5 with a manual transmission and start/stop achieves CO2 emissions of under 120g/km. The petrol engine has also been tuned to offer a compression ratio of 14:1; higher compression ratios force the air and fuel mixture to work harder and therefore aid fuel economy. Or so we think...

And then there's our friend Kodo, the design language first debuted on the sensational Shinari saloon concept, which in the CX-5's case, manifests via a bolder Mazda face, dramatic lines and taut bodyshape. More will be revealed at the Frankfurt motor show, along with the facelifted Mazda 3.

Until it debuts on 13 September, entertain us with your thoughts on this new member of the Mazda family. What say ye, enlightened computerisers? Yay or nay?

Mazda reveals the CX-5 crossover

Meet Kodo. Kodo is not, contrary to what you're thinking, the name of a cuddly 1980s sit-com alien. No, Kodo is Mazda's new design language, seen for the first time today on a production car, the new CX-5.

Revealed ahead of its Frankfurt motor show debut, the CX-5 is a compact crossover SUV in the mould of the Volkswagen Tiguan and Ford Kuga, first seen in concept form a few months back as the ‘Minagi' concept car.

See more pics of the new Mazda CX-5

The all-new CX-5 will aim to add a little voodoo sauce to Mazda's stylistic repertoire, as well as featuring the company's new range of environmentally snuggly engine and chassis technology, under the umbrella term ‘SkyActiv'.

Two engines will be on offer for the UK, a 2.0-litre petrol engine and a 2.2-litre diesel. In fact, Mazda claims that 2.2-lire diesel CX-5 with a manual transmission and start/stop achieves CO2 emissions of under 120g/km. The petrol engine has also been tuned to offer a compression ratio of 14:1; higher compression ratios force the air and fuel mixture to work harder and therefore aid fuel economy. Or so we think...

And then there's our friend Kodo, the design language first debuted on the sensational Shinari saloon concept, which in the CX-5's case, manifests via a bolder Mazda face, dramatic lines and taut bodyshape. More will be revealed at the Frankfurt motor show, along with the facelifted Mazda 3.

Until it debuts on 13 September, entertain us with your thoughts on this new member of the Mazda family. What say ye, enlightened computerisers? Yay or nay?

BMW reveals new 1-series prices

£19,375. That's the minimum you'll need to part with for the new 1-Series, which lands on September 17.

The all-new, all-bloated five-door waddles into the fray with a choice of two petrol and three diesel engines. The most humble of which - a 136bhp 116i - starts at £19,375 going up to £23,490 for the 184bhp 120d.

See more pics of the new 1-Series here 

So, what d'you get for your extra £1345 (the current model starts at £18,030)? 30 more litres of luggage space, 17mm more girth, 85mm more length and a cabin feng-shui'd to give 21mm of extra leg room.

Like the old ‘un, all are rear-wheel drive - and BMW's adamant that this sets it apart in the portly-hatch sector - and the choice of gearboxes includes a six-speed manual and eight-speed automatic.

After you've looked at all the pretty pictures, read more about the new 1-series here.

Does it sound like sufficient bang for your buck?

Watch: first motorcross front flip

This is a man called Jackson nailing the first ever front flip seen in a motocross competition. It is ridiculous.

Australian rider, Jackson Strong, landed the first anti-clockwise flip at the 17th X Games extreme sports competition on Thursday, winning himself a gold medal in the Moto X Best Trick class. As you can see, he's quite pleased.

Anybody else notice the commentator fail...?

 

Watch: first motocross front flip

This is a man called Jackson nailing the first ever front flip seen in a motocross competition. It is ridiculous.

Australian rider, Jackson Strong, landed the first anti-clockwise flip at the 17th X Games extreme sports competition on Thursday, winning himself a gold medal in the Moto X Best Trick class. As you can see, he's quite pleased.

Anybody else notice the commentator fail...?

 

Mugen CR-Z RR won’t get built

Sad times. The CR-Z Mugen RR hybrid concept won't reach production lines, which is bad news for the velocity-fond with an eco-conscience. Or light wallet.

The prettier version of the CR-Z Mugen we drove in the August issue of Top Gear mag - also disappointingly absent from Honda's factory - features a similar amount of bespokeyness.
Its bonnet, passenger doors and tailgate are carbonfibre as well as a full-length under tray for added slipperiness.

Elsewhere, there's a twin central-exit exhaust, vented front bumpers and race-developed suspension. Standard brakes make way for orange four-piston monobloc calipers, which poke out behind forged 18-inch alloys.

There's also a dangerously clever race computer. It takes two laps to learn a track, then starts recording data from the chassis and engine in conjunction with its GPS before telling you that you're doing it all wrong. Think The Stig crossed with your Mum.

Performance details are sketchy for the JDM RR, but the one we drove produced some rather pleasing numbers. 50mpg in eco mode, 0-60 in 6.6 seconds, 197bhp, 158lb ft of torque and 1080kg curb weight.

But, alas, since the project's been canned we shan't find out.

Do you think the half-electric hot hatch concept has legs or was it just an interesting aside in hybrid history?