Clarkson Takes Forza By Storm

2005 Ford GT (Forza Motorsport 4)

If you're a genuine Jeremy Clarkson fan, you might wanna put Forza Motorsport 4 and an Xbox 360 (if you don't have one) on your christmas wish list. Remember yesterday when I said that Clarkson was going to narrate his take on some cars in the game? I wasn't kidding. InsideSimRacing.tv just posted a pre-release video of Clarkson giving his take on the Ford GT, the only car of which he really loved. Unlike those boring monotone voices that you get in DiRT 3, Jeremy's voice is very real and provides the same doctrine that he's done with the cars on Top Gear. So, Gran Turismo, you might wanna think about hiring him in your next installment, cuz Forza already have. Take a look at the video below to see what I'm talking about.

Need For Speed World: Porsche 959 Madness

1986 Porsche 959 "Year One" Edition (Need For Speed World)

One of the most anticipated cars of Need For Speed World is here: the Porsche 959. With it's 2.8-liter Twin-Turbocharged Flat-6 engine producing 444 horsepower and all-wheel drive, it did 0 to 60 in 3.7 seconds with a top speed of 197 MPH. In the 80's, it was the fastest road car ever built, until Ferrari came with the F40, of course. Nonetheless, in the game, this car may frighten the Murcielago owners. It's just as fast and just as grippy as the Lambo Cop Car that I tested a couple months ago, meaning it should be good fun messing with other racers, including the obnoxious cheaters with M3 GTRs. An interesting fact about this car: even though the NFS dev team created the vinyl and performance, the car itself was not touched by any of them. In fact, this car was created by an 18-year old Russian named Svyatoslav Gampel. He entered contest about a year ago to see who could create the perfect 959. During that time, Need For Speed partnered up with Porsche to find the true 959. Gampel certainly feels honored to have one of his cars in this game, though it's nothing new to him. He's been in the 3D business for 4 years already.  Anyway, I've made two videos showcasing the car's greatness. Check them out below and see if the car suits you in the game.

One expensive Repair Bill

Fender Bender Maybach 57

If you have a Maybach, and this happens, you'll be paying $24,000 just to fix it. Don't believe me? That's what happened in Monaco when a blonde girl in a Bentley Azure scraped a Ferrari F430, tussled a Mercedes S550, damaged an Aston Martin Rapide, and dented a Porsche 911 Carrera. There were many words that were exchanged during that whole debacle, but in the end, the woman took full responsibility of her actions. I hope she can pay the bill for her Bentley, cuz if she had that Maybach, she might be out of a job.

Spot the Dev

2011 Lotus Exige (Courtesy of Nfscars.net) [Need For Speed World]

Unfortunately, I wasn't available to go online and chase Marc de Vellis around in my Porsche 959, but my fellow NFS World friends have managed to find a few devs racing around Palmont City.  Marc, of all people, was driving the car you see above you: the Lotus Exige. If you found a dev and grabbed a screenshot of him, you're eligible for a drawing in which 30 of them will be given out next Friday. What does this mean? It means that the Exige is the newest addition to World, a new video by me is coming soon, and all of you Elise owners are gonna feel scared once you see this thing pass by. The Exige is one of the fastest cars that Lotus makes now. The one that you see here is the Exige Cup 260, which is a race spec version of the car for the streets. With a 1.8-liter Supercharged Inline-4 engine, it will do 0 to 60 in 4.0 seconds on its way to a top speed of 152 MPH. Plus, if you tune that car in World, you'll be putting Elise's, Silvia's, Cayman's, and maybe A1's to shame. Let's find out next week.

Clarkson gets Techy

Jeremy Clarkson

If you plan on picking up a copy of Forza Motorsport 4 when it comes out in October, don't be surprised to hear a strange old man's voice narrating the specs and details on the cars you admire. Reports have come out that Top Gear's own Jeremy Clarkson will be narrating the AutoVista mode of the Microsoft Sim Game in which he will provide his commentary on some of the specific cars you choose. What to expect? Well, you'll most likely hear him prattling on about how dull and hateful the VW Beetle was, he might make some funny expressions of how short Richard Hammond is, and he might even use his famous "...in the world" catchphrase in order to excite racers. Stay tuned for that!

Hidden Porsche?

2011 Porsche 911 GT3 RS (Need For Speed World) 

Black Box Studios might wanna think twice before they patch their Online Racing game. It looks like during the patching, when they were going to release the 959, some files were left hidden. Unfortunately, some players managed to hack into those files and bring some hidden goodies out that the team had in store for release in the later weeks. One of them was this Porsche 911 GT3 RS from Need For Speed: Hot Pursuit (Criterion Games). So Marc de Vellis & Company, if you're reading this, you might wanna put some heavy encryption on your files when you're updating lest you get some files in the wrong hands.

Happy Birthday Need For Speed World!

1986 Porsche 959 1-Year Anniversary (Need For Speed World)

Celebrate one year of NFS World greatness with one of the greatest supercars of the 80's: the Porsche 959. This car was specially made by an NFS Community member known as Gampel Svetoslav who was chosen by both Black Box Studios and Porsche for making the most accurate 3D modeled 959 ever. Now, his creation will be in your hands. In the rear of this technological marvel is a 2.8-liter 444 horsepower Twin-Turbocharged Flat-6 engine. Mix this with a lightened body and Porsche All-wheel drive, it will do 0 to 60 in 3.5 seconds and hit a top speed of 197 MPH. The 959 has been in NFS games since the beginning. It's last NFS game was NFS 5: Porsche Unleashed were it was one of the fastest cars in that game. Now, that it's in this game, does it have a chance against the Lamborghini Murcielago, BMW M3 E46 GTR, BMW Z4 GT3, or Porsche 911 Turbo? I'm going to find out! I'm test driving this car tonight!

Sunday Night on Top Gear...

Lotus T125

...Jeremy gets his neck ripped off by a Lotus...

Top Gear Demolition (Courtesy of Grant Falvey)

...James organizes demolition...

Top Gear w/ the Jensen Interceptor 

...Richard wears a mustache...

Women in an Interceptor

...and there are some girls in Jeremy's Interceptor. All new, last Sunday night on Top Gear. The episode is available below.

Top Gear Season 17 Episode 5

Fastest Caddy in the World?

2012 Hennessey V1000 Twin Turbo

It could be! If Mercedes-Benz ever hands their new C63 AMG Black Series (or even the regular C63 AMG Coupe) to Brabus, they might as well fit in a 7.0-liter twin-turbo V12 with 800 horsepower in order to compete with what Hennessey is cooking up. Basically, Cadillac sent their CTS-V Coupe over to them. With the car in their garage, they replaced the brilliant 6.2-liter 556 horsepower LSA V8 engine with a insane 427 cid 7.0-liter 1000 horsepower Twin-Turbocharged V8 engine with 950 lb.-ft. of torque. They suspect the car to do 0 to 60 in 3.5 seconds and hit a top speed of 230 MPH, making it the fastest Cadillac in the World. Let's not forget that the regular CTS-V only costs $63,660 but will do up to 200 MPH if you give it a long enough runway. Even those upgrades are about 2% of the complete conversion of the car from a performance coupe to a Twin-Turbo supercar. Here's the complete list:

Power:
• 1,000 bhp @ 6,400 rpm
• 950 lb-ft torque @ 4,000 rpm

Acceleration:
• 0-60 mph: 3.5 seconds
• 1/4 Mile: 10.9 @ 136 mph
• Top Speed: 230 mph

V1000 Twin Turbo Upgrade Includes:
• 427 cid LS V8 Engine
• Forged Low Compression Pistons
• Forged Steel Connecting Rods
• Callies 4340 Forged Steel Crank
• Balanced and Blueprinted Rotating Assembly
• ARP Main Studs & Head Bolts
• High Flow Cylinder Heads
• Hennessey V1000 Camshaft
• Upgraded Fuel Injectors
• Upgraded Fuel System (Includes Lines, Rails & Pump)
• Twin Ball Bearing Turbochargers
• Dual Wastegates
• Electronic Boost Controller
• Stainless Steel Piping and Exhaust
• Air-to-Air Intercooler
• High-Flow K&N Air Filter
• 160 Degree Thermostat
• Professional Installation
• HPE Engine Management Calibration
• Dyno Tuning & Road Testing
• Hennessey Exterior Badging
• Serial-Numbered Dash & Engine Plaques
• 1 Year / 12,000 Mile Limited Warranty

REQUIRED TRANSMISSION UPGRADE:
• Manual: Centerforce Dual Friction Clutch Upgrade
• Automatic: Performance Build & Torque Converter Upgrade

Braking:
• Brembo Carbon Ceramic Brake Upgrade
• 15.1 inch Carbon Ceramic Rotors (Front & Rear)
• Calipers: 8-Piston (Front); 6-Piston (Rear)

Wheels & Tires:
• Hennessey Monoblock Wheels
• 20x10 inch (Front); 20x13 inch (Rear)
• Michelin Pilot Super Sport Tires
• 275/30YR-20 (Front); 345/30YR-20 (Rear)

Suspension:
• Lowered 1" (Front & Rear)
• Factory Magnetic Ride Control Tuned by John Heinricy

Body:
• CarbonAero CTS-V Widebody Upgrade
• Carbon Fiber Front Splitter
• Carbon Fiber Rear Diffuser
• Carbon Fiber Front Fenders
• Carbon Fiber Extractor Hood
• Carbon Fiber Rear Fender Flares

Interior:
• Alcantara Headliner
• Carbon Fiber Door Sills
• Upgraded Leather & Stitching
• Hennessey Embroidered Heardrests
• Hennessey Premium Floormats

And that's the list. Pretty long, isn't it? That's why Hennessey is only building 12 of these in real life, each costing way over $100,000. So if you're mad, and want one of these, you better call up Hennessey now!

Black Merc

2012 Mercedes-Benz C63 AMG Black Series Coupe

For a while now, I've described the Mercedes-Benz C63 AMG (coupe or sedan) as one of the sickest performance vehicles to ever come out of the skunkworks at AMG. So, if that's true, then the more powerful, much faster, C63 AMG Black Series, must be ultimately sick. Well, when I say that, I mean angry. That 6.2-liter AMG V8 produces 510 horsepower and will do 0 to 60 in just 4.2 seconds. That's as fast as a Jaguar XKR-S. Top speed: some sites say the car is limited to 155 MPH, but in reality, this car will do over 190 MPH. What makes this car better than the Jag is that it looks so much cooler, even though it looks mad, it uses less power but is faster than the Jag which should be good at the pumps, and it'll be less expensive than the Jag when it goes on sale early next year. So it might be a little greener than the Jag, but that doesn't mean it isn't at all angry. Below is the sound capture done by Road & Track of the car taken at the Nürburgring when it was first unveiled. Just by listening to the heavy 6.2-liter V8, you'll be certain that this car will eat Toyota Prius's, Honda Insights, G-Wizs, or any other slow electrical nonsense that it could come across.

German Flexing

2011 BMW 135i "Flexor" Edition (NFS World)

So, NFS World is celebrating their 1-year anniversary with some fancy new things for all of us eager racers. First up, there's the new BMW 135i "Flexor" Edition, a car which has been requested by millions of drivers to finally come out of the so-called "Rental Jail". I've taken the car out for a spin and was quite pleased with the results. Of course, the car isn't heavier or faster than an M3 E92 or an M3 E46 GTR, but for a Tier 2 German exotic, it gives the Elises and the Z4 Ms a run for their money. Not to mention, it is fantastically designed with the custom 20" iForged Rims, underbody neons, custom bodykit, BMW-patent-pended angel-eye xenon lights, and a very colorful vinyl. You can get it now for 3200 speedboost, which should be affordable for most people since they get a 1000 speedboost bump in honor of the 1-year anniversary. Also, a new car has turned up on the streets which is also German. At long last, the Porsche 959 is here and its ready to break some records. Pics and videos to come, but for now, enjoy my review of the recently unlocked BMW 135i.

How Not to Disguise Your New Cars

2012 Porsche 911 (911) (Courtesy of AutoBlog)

Honestly, Porsche; not the best way to hide your new 911, cuz that looks so weird? Anyway, this is the redesigned 911 which will be unveiled in September at the Frankfurt Motor Show, well when I say redesigned, I mean facelifted. The car will feature a new 3.4-liter 350 horsepower Flat-6 engine as a base, and the new 7-speed manual gearbox may come as an option in later, but as for now, this is much 911 as you'll get til September comes. As for me, honestly speaking, they could've just put opaque plastic over it. That way the car wouldn't look like a disoriented bug as it does now.

H.F.H.V

2011 Ford Fiesta Gymkhana 4 H.F.H.V

So, if you've heard the chatter around Ken Block's Facebook Page and his main rally website, you've probably heard of Ken Block's newest project: the Hybrid Function Hooning Vehicle, or H.F.H.V for short. Basically, Ken takes a two-door Ford Fiesta rally car, but instead setting up for one main discipline like Gymkhana, he uses it for three different disciplines like Gymkhana, RallyCross, and Rally. One car, three ways to race, new awesome! So far, Ken's given his new car a public show by hooning it around his Los Angeles stop on his Gymkhana World Tour. So far, no info has been given on what this new 3-in-1 monster packs under its bonnet, but Ken says it will be released along with a new video tomorrow.

The Italian Menace

2011 Ferrari 458 Italia Grand Am

It seems that Ferrari just won't give in to failure or exclusion when it comes to racing. Their latest supercar, the 458 Italia has already been involved in the FIA GT2 and the inner Ferrari Challenge circuits, but it looks like the mighty Grand Am's want to see if the car is really "all that". For racing reasons, the traditional 562 horsepower 4.5-liter Ferrari V8 engine has been detuned to 500 horsepower to keep the car between the lines of the other race cars in its class. So, it might be slower than the actual road car, but nevertheless. Ferrari always have a way of tuning their race cars to perfection. So, this detune might be forging a path something big hidden in this racer. Let's see how it does on the track. 

You Spoke. They Listened

2011 BMW 135i "Flexor" (Need For Speed World)

I've been out and about the NFS World Facebook page and the NFS forums recently. The thing I've heard players wanting the most out of Black Box Studios were some rental cars that have been in the rental garage for almost a year. Well, if you're an NFS World player and you've wanted this car for as long as you have thumbs or feet, Black Box have finally granted your wish. The BMW 135i is one the second of 4 cars that have been released for speedboost due to high demand and an excess amount of time as a rental. This brand new "Flexor" features some BMW Art Car inspired vinyls, custom rims, custom neon, and a custom bodykit for a much cooler look. You can buy it now off of the NFS store for 3,200 speedboost. I'll test drive the car to see if it's any good. Stay tuned for that.

The Veyron Killer? I Don't Think So.

2012 Shelby Supercars Tuatara (Courtesy of Jason Tang)

We might've lost the Women's World Cup to Japan (who actually needed the win), but we're determined to be the #1 country of speed. You may remember the last time Shelby and Bugatti faced off. Back then, it was the Veyron and the Ultimate Aero. While Veyron only made due with 252 MPH, the Ultimate Aero soared off with 256 MPH making it the fastest car in the world, even though it was much uglier than the Veyron. Now, it's the Veyron Super Sport vs. Shelby's newest creation, the Tuatara. The one thing I like about this car is that it looks like it will go very fast. If you look at it from a side angle, like so...

Side Angle (Courtesy of Jason Tang)

...it looks like a streamlined jet. And the front looks much better than that oblong mess that was here when the Veyron 16.4 was still around. But, as the new worldwide king of speed, I'd give it a thumbs down. I know Shelby have tried, but if I see that they've implied some science and pure engineering into building this car, I don't think they have what it takes to beat the Veyron Super Sport. And then there's the name: Tuatara. It might've come from a New Zealand lizard, or from their finest craft brewery, but it doesn't sound like a strong name that you would give to a hyper car (no offense to New Zealand of course). For example, Ferrari have the Enzo which sounds dashing and that's because the car is such a pantomime thing. Lamborghini have the Murcielago which is the name of a Spanish bull, and that name fits with that car. It's fast, it's dangerous, it's a screamer, it's mean, it's intimidating, and it demands a known presence: everything that a real bull does. Bugatti, obviously, have the Veyron, which is actually the last name to olden French racer Pierre Veyron, who was the fastest french man round the French circuit back in the day. That name fits with this car. The Veyron is undoubtedly the fastest car in the world leaving all of its competitors in Quad-Turbocharged dust. Shelby, on the other hand, had a whole book of names to choose from, even the "Ultimate Aero III", but instead they went for Tuatara, which is a New Zealand lizard. That name is neither intimidating or manly at all. Anyway, my point is, why settle for a car named after a reptile or a beer shop when you can go for a car named after one fast old french man. I'd go with that.

Tonight on Top Gear...

Jeremy Clarkson in the 2012 Nissan GT-R

Godzilla attempts to rip Jeremy's face off...

Jaguar Sport Train

...the gang try to improve locomotive transport...

Rowan Atkinson in the Cee Apostrophe D

...and Rowan Atkinson ditches his McLaren for a Kia. All tonight on Top Gear. Check out the episode below.

Top Gear Season 17 Episode 4

XKR-S vs. GT-R?

Nissan GT-R vs. Jaguar XKR-S on Top Gear Set

You better believe it! I, on the other hand, don't know how the Jag will keep up with the Nissan given it's acceleration time and grip advantage, but it should be something exciting to look forward to. Also, Mr. Bean, Johnny English, and McLaren enthusiast Rowan Atkinson will be the Star in the Reasonably Priced Car. Not to mention the team try to make train travel better by hitching carriages on the backs of cars. The new episode airs this Sunday at 8 PM on BBC HD and BBC 2.

P.S: Rumors have been running around forums and wiki sites that Mr. Big Brit, Simon Cowell, will be returning to Top Gear. Legend has it that he's posted one the fastest laps in both the Liana and the Lacetti. So expect him reaching the top in the Cee Apostrophe D, dethroning the Liverpool comedian, John Bishop. Also, it's official: Jeremy Clarkson will be driving the Jaguar XKR-S and the Nissan GT-R, but you can still vote and tell everyone who you want to be reviewing the cars.

Kitty Meets Stiggy

2012 Jaguar XKR-S

Jaguar has just confirmed that this Sunday's Top Gear will feature the new Jaguar XKR-S. The car is still the most powerful Jag to date with a 5.0-liter 550 horsepower Supercharged V8 engine. The XJ220 only had 542. It will do 0 to 60 in 4.2 seconds and hit a limited top speed of 186 MPH, but, with the limiter off, it will go much faster. So, we already know that The STIG will get his hands, or paws, or whatever he has, on the new Jag, but who'll review it? Obviously not James May since this car, quite frankly, is too fast for a man from 1949. Jezza could do it, but he just did a review on the brilliant McLaren MP4-12C. So, since Hammond hasn't done a review of a car on the track yet, it's most likely that he'll do it, but I may be wrong. What do you think? Check the poll on my Facebook page and vote.

DTM Revival (Part 2)

2012 Audi A5 DTM (Rendering)

More DTM madness out of Germany. Now that BMW's back in the sport, Audi figured it was time to show them who they were messing with. So, they released these renderings of the new A5 DTM. Built to replace the already steady A4 DTM, Audi says that this car will house a 456 horsepower 4.2-liter V8 engine, which is also being used in the A4 DTM. The renderings resemble the car before its facelift, but Audi says that come production time at the Frankfurt Motor Show, the model will closely resemble the new A5 which was revealed a couple days ago.

DTM Revival

2012 BMW M3 DTM Concept 

I honestly haven't heard the term DTM in a very long time. If you've never heard of this term ever, it stands for Deutsche Tourenwagen Masters which is German for German Touring Car Championship. In the recent years, the cars used were mostly the Mercedes-Benz C-Class, the Audi TT, the Opel Astra, and the Audi A4. But, back then, when the sport was really big, BMW and Alfa Romeo were in the mix with the M3 and the 156 making the sport exciting and breathtaking. Well, BMW wants to bring the excitement back as they've recently unveiled the all new M3 E92 DTM Concept Racer. The car harnesses the same 4.0-liter 480 horsepower V8 engine used in the ALMS racing M3 GT and the FIA GT3 racing Z4. The top speed is believed to be at 186 MPH with a 0 to 60 of 3 seconds flat. It would be interesting to see how it stacks up against it's competitors from Audi and Mercedes-Benz. The drivers of this car? A Brit (Andy Priaulx) and a Brazilian (Augusto Farfus). The 2012 season of DTM should be quite exciting now.

Cobra Stays Supercharged

2013 Ford Shelby GT500 (Courtesy of Brenda Priddy & Company)

It looks like the Cobra will remain supercharged after all. In recent rumors and reports, the big, bad GT500 will hold on to its Supercharger. But, with that intercooler also under the bonnet, expect this car to produce as much horsepower than the already menacing Camaro ZL1, which could receive 570 horsepower from its 6.2-liter LSA Supercharged V8. The current snake produces 550 horsepower, and in recent reports, the car will come with somewhat of a 20 horsepower power bump in 2014. In that same year though, a new Mustang will come forth as a 2015 model. Specifics are unclear as for now, but when I get something, I'll make sure you'll hear it from me first.

Audi Nip/Tucks Their Sport Coupe

2012 Audi S5

If you're an S5 lover, you'll pleased when I say that Audi have updated the car with a more futuristic look. Unfortunately, the handsome 4.2-liter FSI V8 has been replaced with a fuel-saving 3.0-liter TFSI Supercharged V6. So, it's not the most powerful S model in their line (333 horsepower) and because it's a heavy sport coupe, it won't be much faster, but Audi does say that they've lightened it so you'll still get power and more fuel, which should be brilliant. As for the design, the lines stay the same. Only the front and tail lights are different. The LED "jeweled eyes" seem to have been taken from the A1, though I maybe wrong. The tail lights, however, are definitely from the A8. Everything else on the car is exactly the same: same luxurious commodities, same sport-tuned suspension, same R-tronic transmission. Now, here's the catch. Audi says that the model that you see here won't be coming to America, yet. So, the bold 4.2-liter FSI V8 S5 with the be-spoke LED "Jeweled eyes" is here to stay for a couple of years. So, if you're in Europe and miss the V8 engine, you might wanna look into the American market, cuz it's here to stay!

2012 BMW 650i Convertible: First Drive

2012 BMW 650i Convertible

So, summer's hit full swing. Temperatures are reaching the 100s and above and there's no end to the heatwave in sight, that is, until September or October arrive. So, if you're the business type with millions of dollars at your disposal and you're looking into a comfortable and fast sports car, what do you do? Well, luckily for you, I'm here to help, with a little something from BMW.

Car Meets Art

I'm probably one of the youngest ever to test drive a $100,000 convertible, and fortunately for the company and myself, that's never happening again. Anyway, this is the 650i Convertible, a redesigned, re-shaped, sports convertible for those who love just spending money and driving something relaxing. I got my first look into it at Open Road BMW in Edison. Even in the pictures you see here, you can tell that BMW has done a very good job with it. It, quite frankly, looks absolutely fantastic. What's even better is that it doesn't use as much fuel as the old 650i. The old one had a 4.8-liter 360 horsepower V8 that inhaled fuel ever quarter-inch. This one uses a much smaller 4.4-liter 400 horsepower Twin-Turbo V8 engine from the new 7-Series sedan. And, since it's a smaller engine with more power, it won't need as much fuel as the big 4.8, however I would advise you to bring a $100 bill if you're buying gas with this car, just in case. It will do 0 to 60 in 4.8 seconds and hit a limited top speed of 155 MPH. Now, you would imagine a big V8 like this one would sound like something out of a Chevy Camaro SS or, more relatively, the BMW M3 since it uses a non-turbo version of the same V8. But, strangely, it doesn't! It actually sounds like a Ferrari weirdly. I guess it's because the car features two turbos and a Ferrari sized engine.

Just Glorious

As a driver's car, this thing is fantastic. BMW has really spent some time working with the suspension and body to make this car as comfortable as anything. With the top down, this car is exciting. If you're a man, this is the perfect car to take your girly-friend out for a drive. As for technology, it borrows some from the Range Rover. For example, the new Range Rover line (including the Evoque) have cameras all around the car so that the driver can see if he's close to hitting a rock when he's off-roading. The 650i has this same system, only it's a bit different. There are two cameras on each side of the front bumper, a camera on each side mirror, and the traditional rear-view camera hidden behind the BMW badge at the back. Inside the car, you press a button allowing you to see what's coming out on each side of the road in the event that you're in a blind intersection. What's next? A car that uses cruise control, line radars, and bumper radars so that it basically drive itself? Yeah, I believe Mercedes is already working on that.

Glistening in the Sun

So, it handles well, it rides comfortable, has technology from the future, and looks beautiful. Any car with all these features must be quite expensive: and it is. The base price of this car stands at $90,500. The one I drove was available for $108,650. So, if you're a businessman or businesswoman, and like to get to places in a hurry, comfortably, and with the top down, the 650i Convertible is the car for you. Unfortunately, this is my last test drive of the summer, but don't worry. My next test drive: the new Ford Mustang GT 5.0.

The Prince of the Top Gear Test Track

2012 McLaren MP4-12C

You guys remember that rumor of the McLaren going almost a second faster than the king of the Top Gear test track, the Ariel Atom 500 V8? Well, it's not true. But, don't count McLaren out for a second. It might not be faster than an Atom 500 or more exciting than its rival, the 458 Italia. But, it's more comfortable, more scientific, more powerful, and, in a straight line, faster than both of them. On the track, new STIG took the MP4-12C and set a valid time of 1:16.2, just 1.1 seconds more than the Atom 500. So it really isn't an Atom Smasher as I've described it before. But, it is a Ferrari killer as it was proved to run almost 3 seconds faster than it. Well done McLaren. Anyway, the other exciting things that happened on Top Gear...

2011 Land Rover Range Rover Evoque 3-Door

...James does some proper Rovering in the new Rover Evoque...

Sebastien Vettel and The STIG

...the X1 Xpert, Sebastien Vettel, breaks more records in the Reasonably Priced Liana...

Hamster and Jezza in the Countryside

...and Richard and Jezza spend some time talking to elderly people, all here on Top Gear.

Watch the episode below and tell me what you think of it.

No More Manuals

2011 Lamborghini Gallardo LP550-2 Valentino Balboni (Need For Speed: Hot Pursuit)

Take a good virtual look at it, cuz this is the last Lamborghini you'll ever see with a manual stick. Motor Trend recently sat down with Lamborghini's R&D Director Maurizio Reggiani and he told them that the manual stick doesn't seem to fit the future of Lamborghini.

"Basically, we want our cars to be fast, and the best way to deliver this is to remove the human element from the gearchange equation." - Maurizio Reggiani, Lamborghini R&D Director

The Gallardo's replacement, the Cabrera, is expected next year and will only be available with a 6 or 7-speed E-Gear similarly used in the Aventador LP700-4. So, with Lamborghini officially out of the manual business, does this mean the end for the hairy-chested stick shift? Not yet, at least that's what Porsche thinks. 

Porsche's 7-Speed Manual Stick

This is their new 7-Speed manual stick which will be available in the new 2013 Porsche 911 (991). They still believe the stick is alive, but that's just them. BMW's new M5 F10 will have a 6-speed stick as an option, but they'd prefer if customers bought it with the new 7-speed Dual-Clutch Transmission. Whatever the case may be, it seems that science has overtaken raw power when it comes to gearshifts and speed.

Ubisoft Makes a Racing Game?

1978 Lamborghini Countach LP400S

You've probably seen trailers and gameplay videos involving this particular creation from Ubisoft and Reflections Studios, but I'm gonna tell you about this game anyway. Driver: San Francisco is a massive free-roam driving game where you play as the protagonist, Detective John Tanner, who does whatever it takes to takedown the antagonist, Jericho, for putting a bullet through his body. With Tanner under an induced coma, we travel to his head where we try to solve the mystery behind Jericho and his escape from prison. As you might've already guessed, the game takes place in San Francisco. But, it's not your normal Midtown Madness 2, Test Drive Overdrive, Need For Speed: The Run San Francisco. We're talking about the real San Francisco: all 208 miles of it. From the back alleys, to the staircase roads, to the iconic Golden Gate Bridge: it's all there. And to make things much better, Ubisoft and Reflections provide you with 120 fully licensed vehicles from all around the world, including, my favorite, the Aston Martin Rapide, the Alfa Romeo 8C Competizione, the Pagani Zonda Cinque, even the Lamborghini Countach LP400S that you see above you. I think this game is going to be the racing game of the year, and here's why. Need For Speed: The Run looks beautiful with lots of cars and action to keep you on your toes. But, you can't cruise around in the cities by yourself and I don't think there are any "just the car" races since you now have to do some stuff on foot. It's just one big movie that needs you to operate the controls. Driver: San Francisco on the other hand, is like a movie. But, instead of having some on foot gameplay, most of the stuff you do is in a car. Also, you have all 208 miles of San Francisco to yourself, so you can do just about anything there. With 120 licensed vehicles at your disposal, combined with real-world driving physics, beautiful vehicle damage, and the ability to shift from one car to another, you'll have an endless amount of fun switching between a Lamborghini and a Maserati in order to catch a culprit. I think this racing game is a must buy, even though I haven't played it yet. Anyway, more news on the game coming soon.

P.S.: Did I mention that they have the new Land Rover Range Rover Sport Supercharged in the game as well? And since the graphics and detailing of the cars are exquisite, expect the Rover to look virtually beautiful. So excited!!!

Back in Black

2012 Mercedes-Benz C63 AMG Black Series

First there was the CLK63 AMG Black Series, which Jeremy Clarkson liked very much. Then, the crater-smashing SL65 AMG Black Series came along, which Jeremy liked as well, except for its ride and price. Now, there's this: the 2012 Mercedes-Benz C63 AMG Black Series, and this is as good as it gets. Will Jezza like this one? Well, rumor has it that the car produces 517 horsepower out of its updated 6.2-liter AMG V8 engine. It also will do 0 to 60 in, say, 4.0 seconds and hit a top speed of 190 MPH. So, it has more power than the CLK63, accelerates almost as fast as the SL65, but, as for top speed, it's right in the middle. As you may recall, Jezza drove the standard C63 AMG Sedan in Spain while comparing it to the BMW M3 E92 and the Audi RS4. That car came in second. Now, with this new Black-ified version of the AMG coupe, it's rivals include the Cadillac CTS-V Coupe, Audi RS5, and, once again, the BMW M3 E92. Will it do better? Let's find out.

Last Sunday on Top Gear...

2012 Aston Martin Virage

James refines the Sports Car in the new Aston Martin....

Jeremy Clarkson and Bernie Ecclestone

...Jezza attempts to impress Master Ecclestone in the DS3 Racing Hatch...

2011 Fiat 500C Abarth

...Richard Squeals like a mouse in the Fiat 500C Abarth...

Ross Noble

...and Ross Noble tries to make the Reasonably Priced Car a bit funny. So far, I can't find all parts to the episode, but when I do find it, I'll upload it right away!

Update: I Found It!!

Camaro Automation

2012 Chevy Camaro ZL1 (Courtesy of Camaro5.com)

A friend once said to me "Automatic transmissions are for tools", and, I hate to say it, but I agree with her. I am one for the Dual-Clutch transmission because it's faster, more powerful, and more fuel efficient than the manual stick, but let's be honest. Automatic transmissions are for the chickens who don't know how to drive a stick shift. So, if you are a real tool, you should be pleased to here that Chevy's most powerful Camaro to date, the ZL1 will be offering an automatic transmission, and here's a picture of the first one. Be warned though! The ZL1 with a manual stick will do 197 to 200 MPH, while the automatic will be stuck at a miserable 190 MPH. Not to mention the manual is less expensive than the automatic. But, whichever one you choose, you still get the King of Camaros. This kingship includes a 6.2-liter LSA Supercharged V8 engine producing 550 horsepower, about as much as the CTS-V. It will do 0 to 60 in 3.7 seconds (~ 3.9 seconds with the automatic) with the heart and soul of a true American Muscle. The ZL1 is slated for production start on New Year's Day next year.

The Teenage TransHelper

2008 Mercedes-Benz CLK63 AMG Black Series

You see this? This is a rather beautiful Mercedes-Benz CLK63 AMG Black Series. This was one of Jeremy Clarkson's favorite cars because of the power, the balance, and the looks. This could even be the official Teenage Transporter car if we can help out. You see, Claudia Hefner, the owner of the car, was recently divorced with her daughter sick in the hospital. Now, she's throwing away all of her husband's belongings. She read my blog and thought maybe I can help purchase this rather magnificent Merc. She wants to sell it to me for $19,993 and she wants me to act fast. I really want to help, because she wants to use the money for the car to save her daughter who has come down with some disease in which she can't describe. We gotta help her out! If we can, I promise I'll provide something extra special for everyone! Maybe a free upcoming racing game? Or some Mercedes-Benz swag from Mercedes-Benz themselves? Anything! We just need to help her out! Please press the yellow button on the top and donate! She will be very grateful!

Zagato Greatness

2012 Aston Martin V12 Zagato Concept

It seems that the V12 Zagato has attracted some aspiring Aston Martin fans. Of course, Aston Martin intended for this car to be a Nürburgring Endurance racer, in which it was. Both cars that ran during the 24 Hour event managed to finish without faults. Aston Martin was very pleased with this that they've decided to create 150 examples, each for £330,000. This will make it twice as much as the DBS, and almost three times as much as the V12 Vantage, even though all three have the same 6.0-liter 510 horsepower V12 engine. As a matter of fact, with the correct conversions, you might have one here in America for $500,000. That's quite expensive for an Italian V12 Vantage, so let's see how this plays out.

Pièce de Résistance

2012 Bugatti Veyron Grand Sport L 'Or Blanc

The Veyron hardtop maybe gone, but they Veyron glass top is still with us. And, to show that the Grand Sport keeps the tradition, elegance, speed, and science of the hardtop Veyron, Bugatti recently unveiled this artistic Grand Sport L 'Or Blanc. Basically it's the Veyron Grand Sport with some porcelain bits on it since it was built in conjunction with Germany's Köngliche Porzellan-Manufaktur (Royal Porcelain Manufactory Berlin). So it's got some Porcelain on the exterior, interior, wheels, and filler caps. Who cares? It's still got the brilliant 8.0-liter Quad-Turbocharged 1001 horsepower W16 engine that will do 0 to 60 in 2.5 seconds and hit a top speed of...you guessed it...252 MPH. The only difference is that the body looks like a reflective mass thanks to the strange Vinyl work. Anyway, if you have $2.37 Million and want a seriously fast car with some porcelain on it, then there you are: the Bugatti Veyron Grand Sport L 'Or Blanc (or GLOB as Top Gear calls it). Oh, and did I mention that this is a one-off? There's bound to be someone crazy enough to buy it.