Top Gear Live 2012 - The Official Showguide

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Britains top-selling car magazine, is packed with reviews of whats new from hot hatches to people carriers, exclusive world-fi rst features, the fastest super cars, road tests and essential price guides. The unique blend of information and the cheeky wit of Richard Hammond, James May and Jeremy Clarkson make Top Gear the must-have magazine for all your motoring needs.

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10WelcomeTop Gear Live is the loudest, fastest, brashest show on wheels. If youre looking for a luggage rack for your caravan, youre in the wrong place.

14shoW timesWhats happening when. Make sure you dont miss a moment of the action.

18shoW mapTheres masses for the whole family to see and do at Top Gear Live. Find out whats on and where.

21camera, lights and actionA visual taster of whats in store. See how were bringing the worlds most watched TV show to life.

27star in a reasonably priced car A host of hand-picked celebs do battle in the mighty (yet reasonably priced) Kia Ceed

33deadly 720Top Gear goes after a new world record in a death-defying double loop-the-loop

40hot hatch grudge matchFord, Renault, Vauxhall and Volkswagen battle it out to be crowned king of the hot hatches

46aston martin one-77Aston Martins new 1.2m hypercar is put through its paces in a desert test-drive

59japspeed drifters If you see smoke - dont panic; burning rubber is the name of the game in this power-slide extravaganza

CONTENTS

65supercar paddockSome of the worlds rarest, fastest, most expensive automobiles together in one place

71star driverWe meet speed demon and pro driving veteran Niki Faulkner to see what it takes to be a Top Gear star driver

76a day at the mascar racesThey might be small, but reaching speeds of 140mph. MASCAR is an extreme motorsport not to be missed.

Editor / Matthew CarterContributing Editor / gemma taylor

HEad of dEsign / Hiren ChandaranalEad dEsignEr / ashley lewis

ProjECt ManagEr / sam biss

ProduCtion ManagEr / fiona fenwickProduCtion assistant / Hugo Wheatley

adVErtising ManagEr / Zainab talati

finanCE dirECtor / Elton Hopkins

Managing dirECtor / Eren Ellwood

Published for top gear live by

t: +44 (0)20 7987 4320rwmg.co.uk

reproduction without prior permission is strictly prohibited.

all details correct at time of going to press and may be subject to change.

80ferrari f12 berlinettaThe fastest Ferrari ever made on the banked circuit at Monza? Its the stuff Tifosi dreams are made of...

89top gear live exhibition

91exhibition listings

96exhibition map

Fuel consumption for the Civic 1.8 i-VTEC Ti Manual in mpg (l/100km): Urban Cycle 38.7 (7.3), Ex t ra Urban 57.6 (4.9), Combined 48.7 (5.8). CO2 emissions 137g/km.

RepResentative example: 1.8 i-vteC ti Annual Mileage 10,000 Credit Acceptance Fee 125.00

47 Monthly Payments (duration 48 months) 290.00 Total Amount of Credit 17,205.00 Total Amount Payable 19,733.91

On The Road Price (cash price) 17,495.00 Final Payment (inc. Option to Purchase Fee) 5,813.91 Interest Rate per Annum 4.38%

Customer Deposit 290.00 Option to Purchase Fee 65.00 Representative APR 4.90%

model shown: Civic 1.8 i-VTEC Ti Manual in Alabaster Silver at 17,495. terms and Conditions: New retail Civic Ti registrations from 19 September 2012 to 31 December 2012. Subject to model and colour availability. Offers applicable at participating dealers and are at the promoters absolute discretion. Honda aspirations (pCp): Example shown based on annual mileage of 10,000. Excess mileage charge: 5p per mile. You do not have to pay the Final Payment if you return the car at the end of the agreement and you have paid all other amounts due, the vehicle is in good condition and has been serviced in accordance with the Honda service book and the maximum annual mileage of 10,000 has not been exceeded. Indemnities may be required in certain circumstances. Finance is only available to persons aged 18 or over, subject to status. All figures are correct at time of publication but may be subject to change. Credit provided by Honda Finance Europe Plc. 470 London Road, Slough, Berkshire SL3 8QY.

290 deposit. 290 a month.4.9% apR Representative.

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TOP GEAR LIVE 2012WELCOME TO

Were back, BIGGER, bolder and badder than ever!

So you like watching Top Gear on your 50-inch flatscreen TV and listening to its V8 (and V10 and V12) soundtrack through a pumped up surround sound system? Well, prepare to be amazed.

Top Gear Live is too big to be captured on a TV screen. Its larger and louder than life and this year goes beyond the boundaries weve set before. This is going to be the best yet.

Since Top Gear Live started in 2008, it has entertained more than 1.5 million visitors in 18 different cities all over the globe. Now were back at the NEC and, as ever, Clarkson, Hammond, May and The Stig will be on hand to amuse and amaze.

With accurate recreations of the Top Gear studio and Cool Wall, Top Gear Live brings the TV show alive. All the familiar features are here, from the dodgy leather seats to the engine coffee table. Theres a special display of some of the, er, unusual challenge cars weve featured over the years. Theyre usually on display at the National Motor Museum down at Beaulieu, but weve nicked them back for Top Gear Live.

Naturally weve got supercars, everything from track specials such as the Ariel Atom and BAC Mono, to some genuine mouth-wateringly rare beasts such as the Bugatti Veyron, Gumpert Apollo, Aston Zagato, Koenigsegg CX and the Shelby Ultimate Aero. When was the last time you saw one

of those in captivity, let alone in the flesh?Together, they must be worth, ooh, at least 2,000 (thats what

weve told our insurers to keep the premium down, so please dont try to steal one. Thanks).

Theres plenty of other new metal to look at and masses of live action. As usual, the action will encompass the Arena and the Top Gear Live track, where our team of daredevil drivers will perform incredible stunts including a new twist on the Deadly 720, a gravity-defying double loop-the-loop.

Weve got some evocative World Rally Champion machinery from the 1990s Subaru Imprezas, Lancia Integrales, Mitsubishi Evos and so on and a series of spectacular grudge matches with, for example, top-class drifters fighting for honours.

Weve even borrowed an idea from the Olympics. Remember the omnium races in the velodrome? That was where the bike at the back was eliminated after each lap a sort of mechanised musical chairs. Well were doing the same thing with NASCAR-style racers

And there will be celebrities wherever you look. Jeremy, Richard and James will, of course, be joined by racer Tiff Needell and The Stig (or Tig and The Stiff as someone called them) as well as famous faces from Star in a Reasonably Priced Car all hoping to be the fastest driver around the track.

Whats guaranteed is action, laughs, cock-ups and cacophony. And we apologise that when you get back to your 50-inch flatscreen it wont seem quite as dynamic as it does today.

Top Gear Live 2012 11

TOP GEAR LIVEwould like to thank

Top Gear MaGazine The UKs top-selling car magazine is packed with the hottest reviews, world-firsts, road tests and motoring essentials. Its an incredible mix of in-depth information combined with the wit of Clarkson, Hammond and May.

TopGear.coM With over five million visitors every month, TopGear.com is the digital home for all things Top Gear. Every day we bring you the best car news, first drives, games, videos, exclusive behind-the-scenes access and all the latest from the three presenters. twitter: twitter.com/BBC_TopGearFacebook: www.facebook.com/topgearFacebook: www.facebook.com/TheStig

Beaulieu At Beaulieu, discover the many delights of this world-famous motor museum. Containing over 250 vehicles, it houses exhibitions such as Bond in Motion, displaying 50 James Bond vehicles and the World of Top Gear. Visit historic Palace House, Beaulieu Abbey and its beautiful gardens. Rides include the high-level Monorail and Veteran Bus. Website : www.beaulieu.co.uk Facebook: www.facebook.com/beaulieu.co.uk

london MoTor MuseuM Being the only motor museum in London with a collection of the rarest cars in the world, the London Motor Museum is an ideal attraction for families, petrolheads and everything in between. The museum houses cars such as the Batmobile, 67 Gt 500 and Gumpert Apollo to name but a few. The museum is only a stones throw away from Heathrow airport and 12 minutes from Paddington Station.Website: www.londonmotormuseum.co.uk Facebook: www.facebook.com/lmmfans

aBsoluTe radio This national radio station for fans of real music, comedy and football is wrapped up with lashings of personality and mischief from DJs such as Christian OConnell, Frank Skinner, Dave Gorman, Geoff Lloyd, Ronnie Wood and Ian Wright, who say what they think and tell it like it is. For more information log on to www.absoluteradio.co.uk or tune in on 105.8FM in London and the South East, nationally on DAB, or 1215AM as well as mobile apps and digital TV.

Brscc With over 50 race meetings and 25 championships run by the BRSCC annually, the club plays a leading role in British motorsport, organising domestic meetings and FIA sanctioned international events.twitter: twitter.com/BrsccHQ Facebook: www.facebook.com/pages/BRSCC/137872516304232

Fuel consumption figures for the Jazz 1.4 i-VTEC Si Manual in mpg (l/100km): Urban 42.2 (6.7), Ex t ra Urban 57.7 (4.9), Combined 50.4 (5.6). CO2 emissions: 129g/km.

Model shown: Jazz 1.4 i-VTEC Si Manual in White Orchid Pearl at 15,000. Terms and Conditions: New retail Jazz Si registrations from 19 September 2012 to 31 December 2012. Subject to model and colour availability. Offers applicable at participating dealers and are at the promoters absolute discretion. Honda Aspirations (PCP): *159 per month example shown based on Jazz 1.4 Si Manual with 3 years 0% APR with 27% deposit. Annual mileage of 10,000. Excess mileage charge 3p per mile. You do not have to pay the Final Payment if you return the car at the end of the agreement and you have paid all other amounts due, the vehicle is in good condition and has been serviced in accordance with the Honda service book and the maximum annual mileage of 10,000 has not been exceeded. Indemnities may be required in certain circumstances. Finance is only available to persons aged 18 or over, subject to status. All figures are correct at time of publication but may be subject to change. Credit provided by Honda Finance Europe Plc. 470 London Road, Slough, Berkshire SL3 8QY.

159 a month*.0% APR Representative.

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Thursday25 october

10.00am Show opens

12.15pm Live performance


5.30pm exhibition closes

whats onat Top Gear Live 2012

The biggest thing about Top Gear Live is - youve guessed it - the track and live arena show. This year, the live action is so extreme that we can barely contain it all.

Presenters Jeremy Clarkson, Richard Hammond, James May and The Stig will be on hand to provide the usual razor sharp banter and organised chaos, while celebrities from TV stars to Olympic champions, including Johnny Vaughan and Max Whitlock, will be putting their fears aside to try and outdo one another in a Kia. Plus see world records set in our ground-breaking double loop-the-loop, and find out once and for all who will be crowned king of the hatchbacks.

As if that werent enough, the wheel-to-wheel action of MASCAR will be sure to get your adrenaline pumping, and the Japspeed drifters will be hot on their heels to keep your pulses racing. So buckle up and get your cameras out, because you wont want to miss a moment.*

14 show times

14 top Gear Live 2012

*Live show content may be subject to change

Friday26 october

10.00am Show opens

12:15pmLive performance


2.00pm (approx.)Forza Horizon #escapetheGrid race ends at top Gear LiveStand: 1230


Saturday27 october

10.00am Show opens

12:15pm Live performance

3.45pmLive performance


7.00pmexhibition closes

Sunday28 october

10.00amShow opens

12:15pmLive performance

3.45pmLive performance


16 show times

16 Top Gear Live 2012

www.absoluteradio.co.uk

LISTEN ON105.8FM, 1215AM, ON YOUR MOBILE,

DIGITAL AND ONLINE.

MK1 1QY

You are about to behold the organised chaos, thecacophony, the sheer creative carnage that is Top GearLive. And you might think all the arguing, the shouting, theburn-outs and the mishaps are performed just for yourviewing pleasure. But youd be wrong. Please rememberthat Top Gear is in the Guinness Book Of Records as theworlds most widely watched factual TV programme.Prepare to be educated as well as entertained!

Youve seen the TV programme, youve read the magazine but nows the time for you to witness Top Gear as it comes alive. Be

prepared for an assault on all of your senses: mayhem awaits!

AND ACTION!

CAMERA, LIGHTS

TOp GeAr LIve 2012 21

Clarkson, May and HaMMondThose of a certain age will remember a popular beat combo from the late 1960s called Cream. Clapton, Bruce and Baker were known as the ultimate power trio but Cream is history. Todays ultimate power trio is Clarkson, May and Hammond. Amazingly its been ten years since Top Gear started in its current format. Ten years of fun and madness, of unbelievable stunts and exceptional television entertainment. Thanks guys.

superCarsIf you want to see lots of supercars together in the same place, that usually means

youd need to go to an exotic, far-off, place like Monte Carlo or Dubai. Not this week. Top Gear Live has pulled out all the stops to ensure some of the worlds

rarest, fastest and most expensive cars are all here at the NEC. Bugatti Veyron? Check. Gumpert Apollo? Check. Koenigsiginssegiesgsegg? Cheeeeeeck.

the StigWho is The Stig? We dont know much about him, but according to the Top Gear website he was born on 3 January 1969 and that his native tongue is martian. Inside that white suit perhaps hes really a little green space invader, and when he goes back home hell be able to take the Mars Rover on some hot laps of the red planet. In the meantime, hes here on earth to put some of our most potent machinery to the test..

SEE THE STIG

Stage SetIn the history of TV stage sets, its far from the most lavish or indeed expensive but it is one of the best known. A well padded if slightly tired leather bench seat from the back of an old British classic is the perch for Hammond and May while Jeremys in the driving seat. Between them sits a piece of glass on top of an engine block that serves as a coffee table. Just your average bit of Top Gear motoring ingenuity.

Top GEar LIvE 2012 23

deadly 720Sometimes, Top Gear Live surprises itself by getting something right. That happened in South Africa earlier this year when the teams incredibly talented driving team pulled off a stunt that got them into the Guinness Book of World Records. It was called the Deadly 720 and saw a buggy defying gravity by doing not one, but two loop-the-loops in quick succession. Were doing it again here at the NEC. Only not with a buggy.

hot hatchesYoure a petrolhead. Youd love a two-seater,

something quick like a Porsche or the new Jaguar F-type. But youve got a family, kids

and all that that entails. The good news is that you can still have your motoring fun

thanks to the current crop of mightily effective hot hatchbacks. But which

is the best? A Top Gear Live grudge match will give you

the answer: watch as Ford, Renault, Vauxhall and

Volkswagen prepare to do battle.

driftingThere are a few things you might not know about Shane Lynch. At the age of 14 he was the Portuguese BMX champion. He almost won the 2003 British GT Championship. In 2006, he appeared as Prince Charming in Cinderella at the Tameside Hippodrome. In 1999, his band Boyzone was knocked off the top spot in the charts by B*Witched featuring his twin sisters Keavy and Edele. And, today, hes no mean drifter.


CM

Y

CM

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Meet the celebrities who will be parking their microphones and picking up a helmet to battle it out in the mightyer....Kia Ceed.

Nothing gets famous people more competitive, ruthless and red in the face than racing each other in a reasonably priced car.

Throughout Top Gear Live, a succession of TV, movie and sports stars will strap themselves into

the Top Gear Kia Ceed and race around the track, hoping to top the leaderboard.

Just like the TV show, theyll have advice from The Stig but unlike

the TV show, the weather wont intervene. With identical racing conditions, by the end of Top Gear Live, we will know which of these stars could give up their day job to be the next Lewis Hamilton. Whos your money on?

& DRIVESHUT U

PTop Gear Live 2012 27

Anthony JoshuA

More accustomed to dealing with uppercuts than under steer, gold medal-winning Anthony Joshua is the London 2012 Olympic super-heavyweight boxing champion. Victorious at London 2012 and now number one in the world, Joshua has secured his reputation in the ring, but he show the same speed and agility on the track? The sprightly 22-year-old came to boxing comparatively late in life, starting when he was 18,

and has already achieved plenty in a short career.

He has put in dramatic performances in

front of hostile crowds in

Azerbaijan as well as held up under the pressure of boxing on his home turf. A naturally gifted sportsman, helped no doubt by his impressive six foot six inches stature, boxing is not the only sport he has turned his hand to. He regularly ran the 100m sprint in less than 11 seconds as a teenager, making him a bit of an all-rounder, so it will be interesting to see if hes as naturally gifted behind the wheel. Anthony turned down some pretty lucrative offers to turn pro, choosing instead to keep his amateur status, saying that he competes for medals not for money. Time will tell whether this desire to always clinch the gold medal position will lead him to victory on the track.

Johnny VAughAn

Notorious radio presenter Johnny Vaughan has been blasting out

of thousands of car windows for the last eight years. Always armed with a quick-witted response, Johnny is used to the pressures of live entertainment. But how will he cope with the pressures of the track? Only time will tell whether the roar of the crowd and the confines of the car will make or break Johnny, who is a bit of self-professed petrol head. Although were confident that he wont be replacing The Stig any time soon, he will definitely give the other stars a run for their money. He presented Car of the Year 2008 on Dave and has owned a fair few supercars of his own, the lucky devil. However, no matter how well he does in the arena, we doubt The Stig will have too many kind words to say about him. This is due to an infamous incident some of you might remember, when he broke Top Gears beloved Reasonably Priced Car during a particularly enthusiastic appearance. Racing with ex Big Breakfast co-host Denise Van Outen, they scored a lap time of

Anthony JoshuA

Johnny VAughAn

1:53.4, which Clarkson moved up to 1:53.2 because there were two people in the car, generosity we can promise wont be repeated here. This time Johnny is hoping to complete his lap without leaving a trail of wreckage left behind him. Stand well back.

Johnny Vegas

Stand-up comedy legend Johnny Vegas was probably the first Top Gear star guest not to have a driving licence and possibly the first who has ever wanted to be a priest. Nevertheless, in spite of his lack of driving expertise he managed to navigate the Reasonably Priced Car around our track with far fewer bumps and bruises than some. Well known for his angry rants, surreal style of comedy, portly figure and high husky voice, his performances on stage have heralded many prizes following his enormous boom of success

in the 90s. These days, he is less likely to be found sinking a considerable number of pints while on stage, and more likely to be seen dispensing his occasionally dubious pearls of wisdom on popular panel shows such as QI and 8 out of 10 Cats.His latest exploits have seen him join the cast of the upcoming BBC adaptation of David Walliams childrens novel Mr Stink, where he plays the role of the dad of 12-year-old Chloe, who hides a tramp in her garden shed. In addition to his winning performances on the small screen, lets see if he can come up with a top quality performance on the track.

Mark Foster

Former Olympic swimmer Mark Foster has won 47 international medals, making him one of Britains most successful short course swimmers ever. His top level performances, coupled with his habit of repeatedly

beating athletes half his age, led to him being called a genetic freak, which to be honest is hardly the most offensive insult weve heard. At six foot six inches, the average height of a sprint swimmer, Mark has the perfect physique for the sport and has described his muscles as fast-twitch fibres. But does he have the body and mind to outperform competitors when he is taken out of the water and put on the race track? Although he is no longer a swimmer, Mark kept his competitive streak alive in the sixth series of Strictly Come Dancing. The sequins, glitter and fake tan were quite a departure from the swimming pool, a transition that didnt seem to faze Mark. In fact some would argue that he took to the glamorous atmosphere rather well. Trained by professional dancer Hayley Holt, he won week five with a show-stopping Samba to the Spice Girls Spice Up Your Life. Could driving be the next talent to add to his impressively extensive list?


Johnny Vegas

Mark Foster

Max Whitlock

At only 19-years-old Max Whitlock is already a gymnastic Olympic medal winner. Training a minimum of seven hours a day, five days a week, its little surprise this teenager scored a massive 15.600 on the pommel horse, which landed him a bronze in the event at London 2012. Max is keen to try and upgrade his bronze in Rio, but before he does so, hes going to have to prove his worth in a reasonably priced car. Citing a Lamborghini Murcilago as his dream car, Max is clearly not one to set his sights low, which seems to have worked out pretty well for him so far. Having passed his driving test with flying colours on his first attempt two years ago, it will be interesting to see if youth will win over experience. Fingers crossed this gymnast will turn out to be a bit of a boy racer, and triumph over his more practiced

rivals. Max is understandably excited about meeting his heroes Jeremy Clarkson, Richard Hammond, James May and The Stig at Top Gear Live. Its going to be an amazing experience, he said. Hopefully he will be able to contain his excitement, and perform with the same precision and cool headedness that he showed during his outstanding Olympic performance.

PaUl hollYWooD

As a witty and occasionally acerbic judge on BBC2s award-winning The Great British Bake off, Paul is a formidable food critic who knows a thing or two about baking. As head baker of some of the most exclusive hotels in the country, including The Dorchester and Chester Grosvenor, Paul is no stranger to stress. He also runs his own artisan bakery business with products stocked in top stores all over the country. The almond and Roquefort sourdough bread that Paul

created is said to be the most expensive it Britain, retailing at 15 per loaf, and described by the man himself as the Rolls Royce of loaves - showing that Paul is a man who likes being at the top of his game. He clearly knows the difference between macaroon and a millefeuille, but does he know anything about driving? When quizzed about appearing on Top Gear Live, he said, Ive always looked forward to Top Gear - my son and I are totally hooked, so Im extremely excited. Also, as a fellow Aston fan, Im very excited about meeting the legend that is Jeremy! But will his enthusiasm be enough to replicate his culinary success on the track? Lets find out!


Plus look out for

more celebrity special guests

Max Whitlock

PaUl hollYWooD

[email protected]

T: 01733 380687

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It was one of those moments when 17,000 people all held their breath at the same time. Earlier this year, the Top Gear Live Stunt Team claimed their place in the Guinness World Record books in front of a sell-out crowd in Durban, South Africa, to become the first in the world to complete a spectacular double loop-the-loop on four wheels.

Dubbed the Deadly 720, the huge double loop is a life-sized version of the toy car tracks you used to have as a kid. But this was no game.

As one of the most technically challenging stunts ever performed by the Top Gear Live team, some very careful calculations had to be made if the driver of the specially prepared buggy was to successfully defy gravity not once, but twice.

With no room for error, the buggy had to enter each loop at between 24mph and 26mph. Too slow and it might have fallen from the top of the loop. Too fast and there was a real chance the G-forces might

DOUBLETOPTop Gear Live goes looking for another world record

TOp GEar LivE 2012 33

have caused the driver to black out. Importantly, the buggy had to leave the first loop at just the right speed to enter the second.

For that reason the buggy had hand controls, as the extreme G-forces would have caused the driver to bury a conventional throttle into the floor, resulting in way too much speed.

The stunt was tried three times in practice. And three times it failed. But when it really mattered, in front of the Top Gear Live crowd, the team pulled it off. Dont worry, during the practice runs a remote controlled buggy was used, just in case.

Indeed, when attempting the first single loop record, two remote controlled buggies were destroyed when the suspension bottomed out as the buggy hit the loop. The resulting loss of speed caused the buggies to fall to the ground.

It was quite remarkable, said Jeremy Clarkson. Im just glad no-one asked me to do it.

Here at Birminghams NEC, the team is going to try it again. The same loops have been set up giant steel rings just eight metres apart but this

The Deadly 720 at Top Gear Live Festival, Moses Mabhida Stadium, Durban

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time theres another twist. The Top Gear Live motto could well be, Been there, done that now lets try something even more audacious.

So, after becoming the first team in the world to complete a single loop indoors and the first team to do the double on four wheels, the plan for the NEC is to become the first people in the world to do the double on two wheels.

Our weapon of choice is well known in motocross circles. Its the very orange KTM 250 SX-F, the bike which has won the last five MX2 World Championship titles on the trot. For the new season, its powered by a completely new single cylinder 250cc engine while the chassis

has even greater reserves against bottoming out a potential problem when bike and rider hit the vertical element of our loops. Mind you, as anyone whos seen top class motocross in action will know, the bikes spend more time in mid air than in contact with terra firma, so the Top Gear Live stunt team will need to make sure it stays glued to the loop at all times.

Dangerous? You bet after all, there are no seat belts or safety harnesses to keep man and machine together when upside down at the top of the loops. Get ready to hold your breath. Again.

Each loop is eight metres tall and comprises 16 tons of steel Unfurled, the length of the track would be 58 metres 28 tons of ballast weight is used to ensure the loops do not move

during the stunt It takes less than a second to go vertical once the loop has been

entered The YouTube video of the South African Deadly 720 (http://www.

topgear.com/uk/car-news/top-gear-live-world-record-double-loop-2012-6-15) has already had more than 2 million hits

a few facts and figures

The World Champ

ionship-winning KT

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Top Gear Lives Matthew Carter previews the hot hatches on display in our live action grudge match

the fab4

Happiness is a warm gun sung The Beatles all those years ago. They were wrong. Happiness is a hot hatch.And the choice has never been greater. A hot

hatch is the answer to many a petrolheads dreams: theres the element of practicality needed to ferry a young family around, but this is more than matched by a sharper chassis and power levels that were considered sufficient for a Ferrari not so many years ago the 308 GTB from the 1980s had 255 bhp and we all thought wow.

One of the most important jobs of the hot hatch is its halo role. Produce a performance that everyone wants and even the most cooking diesel version will be blessed by association.

And thats why car makers go racing and rallying. We all know that the Renault engine in the back of a Red Bull F1 racer has got precious little to do with the French companys road cars but the association is huge. Same with Citroens DS3 WBRC (that world beating rally car). Dodge your Clio or C1 in and out of traffic around the Place de lEtoile in Paris and you could be Sebastien Vettel or Loeb. Almost.

Little wonder then that almost every car maker has a hot hatch in its line-up, but which is best? Top Gear Live is the place to find out. Were staging a live grudge match on our track, pitting them against one another. Oh, and getting The Stig to do the thrash er, driving.

So weve rounded the top names in the game for your viewing pleasure. In alphabetical order they are the Ford Focus ST, Renault Megane RS, Vauxhall Astra VXR and, the grand-daddy of them all, the Volkswagen Golf GTi.

And at the same time as finding out which comes top of the grudge match, we can have a little national rivalry going on at the same time. Yes, France (Renault) takes on Germany, er, Germany and Germany. While the Vauxhall and Ford might have British and American names such as the VW they have been designed and produced in the Fatherland.

On paper, they are all very similar. They all have front wheel drive and are all powered by turbocharged 2.0-litre four cylinder engines. Power outputs vary between 232bhp (Golf) to 276 bhp (Astra) and by the time youve ticked a few options boxes, all are around the 30k mark.


tHIS IS

A tRUE

GRUDGE

MAtCH AND

tHERE CAN

ONLY BE ONE

WINNER

Actually thats not quite true as the Ford is something of a bargain with a 22k base price tag which means that even if you opt for every possible extra, youll struggle to pay more than 28,000, while the other three jump the 30,000 barrier with some ease.

On the road they are remarkably evenly matched. There might be nearly 45bhp between the least and most powerful but in the squirt from roundabout to roundabout or the B-road overtake they all do the job exceptionally well.

They all have their own characters and quirks. The Astras big turbo generates a little more lag than the others but the car is quick. Despite its comparatively low power output, the Golfs super slick gear-shift means it is wonderfully involving. But then so is the race track raw Megane which feels lighter than the Vauxhall and Volkswagen, er, because it is.

And the Ford? So well sorted, so easy to drive and yet so responsive that you can forgive the touch of torque steer from the front end when you give it some welly.

All four are fun, even the rather grown-up Volkswagen, and all four have enough to differentiate them from the 1.2-litre diesel versions: fancy exhausts, drilled pedals, body kits, fancy wheels, sports seats and spoilers.

If you want serious practicality youll need to go for the Ford or Volkswagen that are both available with five doors (in fact, the Ford is only available as a five door or an estate), but if you prefer coup lines itll be the Vauxhall or Renault.

You could make a good argument for any one of the quartet and whichever you chose will sit proudly on the drive and annoy the neighbours.

But lets not talk compromise here. Which is the best of the best? Theres only one way to find out, so sit back and watch with awe as our star drivers thrash each one to within an inch of its life. Oh yes, this is a true grudge match and there can be only one winner. So does it begin with an F, and R or a V?

And if you cant afford 30K? Weve thought of that and have also brought along two tiddlers to join in the live grudge match action: the remarkable Skoda Fabia vRS, a 1.4-litre 180 bhp pocket rocket that costs less than 17,000 and one of our favourites, the limited edition Citron DS3 Racing.

SPECS

ENGINE POWER TORQUEBHP/ TON WEIGHT

BASE PRICE

Ford Focus ST

4 cylinder 2.0-litre turbo 247 bhp 250 lb ft 181 1326kg 21,995

RenaultSportMegane 265 Cup

4 cylinder 2.0-litre turbo 261 bhp 265 lb ft 189 1379kg 24,480

Vauxhall Astra VXR 4 cylinder 2.0-litre turbo 276 bhp 295 lb ft 187 1475kg 26,995

Volkswagen Golf GTi 4 cylinder 2.0-litre turbo 232 bhp 221 lb ft 166 1401kg 25,650

vs.


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ADVERTISEMENT FEATURE

The art of travelStyle and performance are two things that work together perfectly and Vredesteins Ultrac Vorti range of tyres is a great example of how

Its a simple truth that you dont see many ugly supercars. As a rule, something that is designed to perform to the maximum is just as likely to be very easy on the eye, too. The Ferrari California is a great example but this is a maxim that applies to a lot of design. Like an Apple Mac computer, a Rolex watch or Bianchi racing bike. All could be considered to be design classics, combining a unique

aesthetic beauty with real design and performance purpose. Its a concept that Vredestein have embraced in the design of the latest Ultrac Vorti tyre. Developed to handle speeds in excess of 180mph (Ultrac Vorti is (Y)300kph+ rated), this is a tyre that is regularly specifi ed by owners of cars such as the California, AMG Mercedes-Benz or models from the Aston Martin range, for example. Performance is of crucial importance but in this

market, so is the way a tyre looks and Ultrac Vorti has all the style to match its dynamic capabilitiesBut nothing has been left to chance in this regard. Since 1997, the legendary Italian designer, Giorgetto Giugiaro, has worked alongside Vredestein to help create a ultra-high performance tyre that also stand out from the crowd. Wherever you look on an Ultrac Vorti tyre, the evidence of this attention to detail is apparent. Every groove and channel of the tread pattern is

there to serve a very real performance purpose, but these vital design details just look so good. A great example of how Giugiaro has managed to blend style and function can be seen in the grooves that carry round into the tyre sidewall. This is a unique characteristic that improves water dispersion in wet conditions but manages to look terrifi c, too.Ultrac Vorti real works

of art, you could say, but art thats meant to be used to the maximum, too!

VREDESTEIN_III_A5.indd 1 11/10/2012 14:59

Aston Martin One-77

Ghost riderAston said no journalist would drive its 1.2 million hypercar. Problem is, someone forgot to tell TopGear...Words: T OM FOR D PhotograPhy: j usT i n l eigh T On

Motors, with a white One-77 that he has purchased so that we can drive it. And, yes, you did read that right. Mr Al Ketbi had pledged to editor-in-chief Turner that we could drive his previous One-77 some months ago, but promptly had an offer he couldnt refuse for the car. In order to satisfy honour, he subsequently went out and bought another one at well over a million quid so that TopGear could have a go. Mr Al Ketbi, it seems, takes his promises very seriously indeed.

Interesting, then, that the first time I drive the near-mythical One-77 is to back it gingerly off an uncovered low-loader into a dusty side road in the desert outside Dubai. But, hey, Ill take what I can get. Push the glass and aluminium lozenge of a key (Aston calls it an ECU, or Emotional Control Unit, but such pretension escapes me) into the dash slot, pause, and hear the fuel pumps prime with a whirr. Next comes the high-pitched grunt of the starter motor, and then a click and metallic bark of V12 finally getting some air into its robot lungs. It sounds fast and vital, loud on start-up before settling back into that kind of slightly raspy, businesslike burr that you get from racing engines. But its also uncanny in its smoothness and closeness, the exhaust running as it does through the sill by your hips instead of underneath the car. Hit the R button on the dashtop, and reverse with extreme caution, aware that several people including the owner Mr Al Ketbi are watching intently. Probably because very few people have actually seen a One-77 out in the wild.

Unfortunately, I cant drive it properly just yet, because photos have to be taken, lest this whole endeavour become a featureless novella. So I pop the door and step out to take a closer look. Which proves to be a mistake. The issue, for those of you unfamiliar with Dubai in July, is the weather. Its roughly one oclock in the afternoon, and the sun isnt so much shining as jackhammering out of the sky like a dirty orange laser. Step from the ubiquitous icy aircon of any car or building, and it hits with weight and severity. The atmosphere trying to beat you to death with a hot felt mallet. Its humid, too, filling your lungs with cotton wool and making it hard to commit to any sort of open-air industry. We havent even really started, and Justin already looks part-roasted. He is

Aston Martin One-77

heres probably something profound to say here, but I cant for the life of me think

what it is. Theres an empty road stretching out in front to some

unseen event horizon, arrow-straight and unflinching, a thick black

stripe slicked through the view and shimmery-indistinct in the distance. The

desert frames it, bare and indifferent, fretted shallow and sinuous by a coarse wind that tastes of

dust and ancient things, but the metaphor remains slippery and indistinct. So I do what I must, push hard on the throttle of this Aston Martin One-77 and bury lack of revelation in an avalanche of V12 noise and fury. A second later, Im not so short of inspiration. Im hanging on for dear life.

Up until about an hour ago, despite having flown to Dubai in the company of editor-in-chief Charlie Turner and photographer Justin Leighton, nobody was entirely convinced this was going to happen. Of course, in theory, anyone can drive the Aston Martin One-77 supercar. The only stumbling block being that youd have to buy one first, and the list price for entry to the 77-strong club comes in around a not- insubstantial 1.2-million quid, depending on exchange rates. Which neatly purges the option for all but the platinum rich, or the obscenely well-connected. Usually, TopGear gets to sidestep the necessary requirements, despite not being wealthy or the right kind of popular, but not this time. Aston Martin decreed that no journalist would drive a One-77 in any official capacity, the experience being for owners only, an exclusive adventure unsullied by description in the popular press, lest potential clients be discouraged from purchase. And yet, with all One-77s sold, Aston still wouldnt let anyone without an Amex Black bottomless credit rating get anywhere near it.

Which to TopGear is provocation and pure challenge. Thus, after a year of negotiation, extravagant pitches, slightly iffy plans and false dawns, we finally find ourselves on the Arabian Peninsula in the company of a man called Abdulla Al Ketbi, owner of ultra-high-end dealership Al Ain Class

TOne-77 measures

1,999.5mm wide excluding mirrors.

Be very careful

Rear suspension features adjustable racing-car-style spool valves

wearing a large hat, a green cravat and some sort of close-fitting long-sleeved black undershirt that he insists will wick sweat away from his body. Charlie and I, skin puckering and crispy in T-shirts and shorts, are convinced he is going to die.

No time to waste, though now we have a One-77, we shall have a story, even if we have to parboil friends to get it. Luckily, this most extreme of Astons isnt short of angles, or detail. The internal brief was to create an Aston Martin that pushed the boundaries of what the public knows of the brand, to create a car closer to art than the automobile, according to its designer and Astons director of design Marek Reichman. To create the fastest, most extreme and technically advanced Aston to date, and to poke around the edges of technology and design that might influence future models. The conceit wasnt taken lightly. Up close, the One-77 is blatantly exotic, but strangely familiar, the Aston Martin meme threaded through something bigger and more aggressive than were used to, though strip the badges off, and youd still be in no doubt as to its lineage. The bonnet is very long, the stance cab-rearward, the shoulders broad and powerful. At a hairs breadth under two metres, excluding those sticky-out mirrors, its ever so slightly wider than a Bugatti Veyron, but carries its visual bulk more gracefully. The Bug has a stolid, engineered look to it, while the Aston, with its flared nostrils, wasp waist and bunched rear wheelarches looks bred. More organic.

Inside, its again Aston familiar and yet re-proportioned, the usual visual cues allowed extremity and deeper breath. The forms are stretched and elegant, every single metal piece milled from billet. I dont know why you can tell, but you can, part of your brain picking up subconsciously on the temperature and texture of the little metal rings and trim pieces around the huge centre console. The seats are wide, comfortable and cobra-headed, navy blue with white stitching to match the rest of the interior, the doors bare carbon, hung with door furniture that looks like a robotic dinosaurs foot. Theres a matching piece between the two seats, and its easy

to spend a long time just looking at the various bits and wondering which would make the best piece of abstract art.

Its a very similar story underneath, because although there are recognisable elements in the One-77 architecture, theyve been accelerated into exceptional areas for Aston. The underlying monocoque, for instance, may have been created with knowledge gained from AMs aluminium VH (vertical/horizontal) platform, but is formed from carbon fibre and built in conjunction with composite specialist Multimatic of Canada. It is then clothed with handcrafted aluminium panels, making it light, strong and, presumably, a complete bugger to repair. The engine is a 7.3-litre, naturally aspirated V12, repurposed by tuning legends Cosworth, that produces 750bhp and 553 lb ft of torque, making it despite the arrival of the Ferrari F12 (see p120) the most powerful naturally aspirated production car engine in the world. And, yes, the engines basic structure is the same as the DBSs V12, but with 80 per cent new bits and a 15 per cent weight reduction to just 260kg, the filial comparison becomes a little stretched. Quick? Well, all that unprocessed urge should be enough to power a car that weighs just 1,630kg, despite its considerable physical footprint. And it is. The results are spectacular on paper, with 062mph coming up in around 3.7 seconds and a top speed past 220mph.

Poking around it, you cant help feeling theres very little visual or physical flab on the One-77. Stood here, resplendent in pearl-white paint and shockingly bright against a desert background, it looks almost projected. The strakes behind the front wheels cast stark shadows, the scallops and stretched feature lines in the bonnet like tendons in a predators throat as it bites. Gather up enough time to absorb this car (say, about a year), and its like figuring out a 3D Magic Eye mosaic. Theres always something new to pick at. For instance, theres a line born on the rear surface of the headlight that runs down the side of the car, swoops entirely around the back over the top of the stretched C shape of the rear light bar and back

Aston Martin One-77

theres very little visual or physical flab here

Feels more like a monster GT than a hypercar very comfy in here

Price: 1.2 million (depending on local taxes/exchange rates)engine: 7312cc V12, front-mid-mounted, six-speed automated manual gearbox, RWD, 750bhp, 553lb ft, 062mph in under 3.7 seconds, 220+mph top speed, 572g/km of CO2 Weight: 1630kg

SPECS

around the beltline to finally die at the opposing headlight. It feels like an indulgent bit of surfacing as does that Frisbee of a rear light cluster but entirely in keeping. Appropriate excess. The proportions, too, are cracking. Low, wide and gloriously GT-ish. This is a car that makes a great visual play of not going down the usual hypercar route of having the engine in the middle. Except of course, it has. Technically, anyway. Despite those GT proportions you sit way back near the rear axle, gazing out over a huge plain of bonnet the One-77 is counted as a front-mid-mounted configuration. Meaning that although the engine sits ahead of the driver, the entire block sits behind the centre line of the front axle, 100mm lower than in any other Aston, and entirely within the wheelbase. So the engine is in the middle of the car its just that you actually sit towards the back.

The suspension is traditional double-wishbones made exotic with inboard pushrod-actuated coil springs and racing-car-spec dynamic spool valve dampers. In fact, the engineering of the One-77 seems to push its way up and through its skin you can see the rear suspension through the back window, and the front springs and fully adjustable dampers are front and centre in the engine bay, just forward of an engine that looks good enough to be displayed on some sort of plinth. Chief engineer Chris Porritt says that AM took inspiration from the most technically advanced front-engined, rear-drive racers on the planet: DTM cars. You can see the allegories wrought in the packaging. But enough already. Ive now considered the big Aston from every angle except directly underneath, and I really, really need to drive it. Justin is panting like a labrador having a small but important coronary event and is noticeably thinner than this morning. Charlie has been standing on a sand dune in summer footwear essentially submerging his feet in semi-molten glass wearing only flip-flops. Change of scenery.

Time to drive. In the first few miles, the only thing I can think is that

the One-77 simply doesnt feel as heavy as it looks. Like a block of titanium, the heft you expect from looking at the physical volume never actually arrives. Its light at the

wheel and keen to turn with just three turns from lock to lock though, until you get used to the sensations, it does feel like those front wheels are some distance away. You also get a keen sense of the traction available, sitting as you do so close to the rear wheels, a good thing on tarmac rendered part-slick with windblown sand. The engine is brawny without being overbearing at low revs, and the suspension is surprisingly indulgent for a car so committed. Shift up to a more than respectable speed, watch the vestigial-looking spoiler rise up in the rear-view mirror at around 80mph, and concentration is deployed in force.

Not the Astons fault: the roads around here may be dead straight, but endless trawls by traffic with much narrower tyres and track have left grooves in the part-molten tarmac. Not a problem for a less substantially shod vehicle, but the One-77 is running 20-inch forged alloy wheels with 335-section tyres at the rear (255-section on the front), and the ruts cause the car to buck and weave, yanking around through the wheel. In fact, the One-77 cant physically settle unless positioned in the middle of the road, white lines sighted in the centre of the bonnet, whipping through the middle of the two pairs of bonnet-mounted louvres. Which seems appropriate somehow. And the noise. Oh, my goodness, the noise. Active bypass valves open in the stainless exhaust at around 4,000rpm, and what was a very respectable V12 bellow becomes an all- out heart-piercing scream further up. A pure note, too. This is what people tell you supercars should sound like, and it makes your heart pump faster with every millisecond of your foot on that throttle. The shove is relentless, pressing you back into those seats well into generous speeds and beyond, without significant pause. Howling out of the dipping sun and reflecting the orange glow, the white One-77 looks like a supersonic ember spat from a horizon-wide bonfire. Not just a car, this. Not here. Not now.

Theres a but coming, though, and its a fairly big one. After a little further, I start to suspect why Aston Martin might not have wanted journalists to drive the One-77 before the allocation was safely sold out. Because the six-speed automated manual gearbox is compared with the best in

the noise.oh, my goodness, the noise. it screams

Attention to detail is millimetric

even the quilting under the bonnet

These adjustable braces sit inside the rear hatch on adjustable gimbals

Aston Martin One-77

Aston Martin One-77

the sector rubbish. This is not something I say lightly. But the rear-mid-mounted Select Shift Manual and its Auto Shift counterpart really are not in keeping with a car of this price, or pretence to the technological cutting edge. Even when you take into account the One-77s official release date. Aston says that a double-clutch box wasnt on the cards for a variety of reasons, mainly that they tend towards the expensive, big and heavy, and that, given the time frame for One-77 development, one would be impossible to engineer quickly enough. Not forgetting the issues regarding cost versus benefit for such low-volume production. But this gearbox, extrapolated and strengthened as it is from the paddle-operated version youll find in a regular DB9, albeit driving through a magnesium-alloy torque tube and with a carbon-fibre propeller shaft, just cant do the rest of the One-77 justice. After just three or four gentle three-point turns, the car started pinging warning lights about an overheating clutch. It slurs between ratios with huge head-nods between ratios in virtually any gear although especially in the lower ranges and, compared with what were used to, lacks finesse or fine control.

As with all of these single-clutch efforts, you can mitigate most of the effects by driving carefully, a judicious lift of the throttle and well-timed pull of the paddle helps enormously, but the slow-speed refinement is not up to scratch. Its not as if the problems are a trade-off, either. Where other robotised

manuals exchange slow-speed clunkiness for lightning responses when revving hard, the One-77 slithers between ratios, no matter what you do. Its better going fast, no doubt, but its never impressive, and always feels faintly fragile. Of course, you could say that we have an odd car, but I dont think so. I recognise the unacceptable elements of this Astons behaviour, and, unfortunately, the last time I felt anything like it was on early paddle-shift Vanquishes. The first versions of that car allegedly dropped clutches every 4,000 miles.

Its a shame, because, otherwise, the rest of the One-77 is a genuine joy. The engine feels down on power, but considering the outside temperature is nudging 50C, Id expect a little loss of breath on a car that forgoes the easy bang-for-your-buck that comes with forced induction. It doesnt rev quite as hard as I thought it might, but the way it makes power is a long and liquid experience, a smooth-surfaced torrent rather than the sudden gush of a turbocharged car, and the soundtrack is worth the price of admission on its own. Joyously, I really do get to experience it. Mr Al Ketbi is inordinately relaxed and simply allows us to take the car out unaccompanied into the wild, and the desert is a fine stage for this Aston Martin V12. In fact, I get so wrapped up in the Zen-like featurelessness of the landscape that I realise with a start I havent really driven around many corners. Which suddenly becomes an almost all-consuming worry. Oops.

the way it makes power is a long, liquid experience

Aston Martin One-77Now, its wise to remember that the One-77 is ordered

pretty much completely bespoke in terms of set-up. Were you to have stumped up for one, you could specify left- or right-hand drive and have the suspension tailored specifically to your requirements, from street cruiser to track mauler. Our car number 10 feels comforting and supple, so Im keen to find out just how well this thing can feed itself around a curve. Except theres a distinct lack of anything but junctions or mile-long arcs for the foreseeable future. Without significant natural obstacles to steer around, road-planners in the desert obviously become unimaginatively practical.

Luckily, we are with Mr Al Ketbi, for whom very little is impossible. Soon, Im faced with a bare mile of freshly laid tarmac that winds through a series of excellent corners. Second and third gear, and I can almost forget about the gearbox, because the big Aston comes alive. It is not, however, the kind of experience you might expect, because the One-77 doesnt necessarily act like a mid-engined car capable of this pace. Its much more relaxed and less knife-edged, easier to understand and clearer in its messages. Turn into a corner and power through, and theres a remarkable lack of lean but no slack. The brakes, huge carbon-ceramics all-round, stop with feel and vengeance, scrubbing speed quickly and without drama. Push a bit harder, and the nose starts to gently, almost gracefully, push wide. Do daft stuff like lift mid-corner, and the One-77 merely tucks up and tightens where a traditionally mid-engined car would give you a warning wriggle at the very least. And, of course, hit the throttle mid-corner with the traction off, and you can have oversteer on a pivot, but being honest I only did this once and got so terrified of crashing that I switched the traction back on and immediately retreated for a quiet moment on my own. Despite the genial appearances, this is still a 750bhp, rear-wheel-drive hypercar. One would be wise to respect that.

In what feels like ba

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Top Gear Live 2012 - The Official Showguide