Autoblog

McLaren P1 goes around Top Gear test track

Seyth Miersma — Tue, 19 Mar 2013 12:33:00 EST

Filed under: Motorsports, Videos, McLaren

Think that the new McLaren P1 supercar seems pretty tremendous after following its launch in Geneva this year? We do, too. And now, after seeing the reaction the ultra-performance Mac has gotten from McLaren Formula One driver Checo (Sergio) Perez, we're even more excited for our chance at some seat time.

In this new video, Perez takes a few hot laps of the famous Top Gear test track at the Dunsfold Aerodrome in England. (Let the new Stig rumors commence.) The P1 in the film manages to look pretty lovely, even in full-body camouflage and, more importantly, draws some rave reviews from a driver that knows from quick cars. Follow on below for the full video.

Continue reading McLaren P1 goes around Top Gear test track

McLaren P1 goes around Top Gear test track originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 19 Mar 2013 12:33:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Pagani Huayra sets new Top Gear Test Track record in season premiere

John Neff — Mon, 28 Jan 2013 12:33:00 EST

Filed under: Videos

The season premiere of Top Gear aired last night in the UK, and did so in typical Top Gear fashion. We've yet to see the episode for ourselves (it's available via Final Gear on bittorrent, and as we reported earlier, will air on BBC America in the US just a week from now on February 4), but reports are coming in that a new record was set on the Top Gear Test Track by the Pagani Huayra.

Piloted by The Stig, the Huayra reportedly posted a time of just 1:13.8. It's remarkable, really, given that the car it displaced atop the rankings was the Ariel Atom V8 500, which it beat by a full 1.3 seconds.

Scroll below to watch the power lap performed by The Stig for yourself. The lap starts at the end of the first video and continues at the beginning of the second. Hurry up and click play, though, as we don't except these to be up on YouTube for much longer.

Continue reading Pagani Huayra sets new Top Gear Test Track record in season premiere

Pagani Huayra sets new Top Gear Test Track record in season premiere originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 28 Jan 2013 12:33:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Infographic: Top Gear Test Track data going back to 2002

John Neff — Fri, 08 Jun 2012 08:44:00 EST

Filed under: Etc., Celebrities

We've found an infographic for those who want to know everything there is to know about the Top Gear Test Track. The visualized data set comes courtesy of Boost Labs, which is a design and technology firm that has a passion for cars embedded deep within its corporate culture. Since Top Gear is the most common talk around the water cooler, the Boost Labs offices turned their formidable design and technology talent to Clarkson and Co.'s private playground.

The main wheel of the infographic breaks down information such as Power Lap times, weather conditions and episode data for every car that's tackled the Test Track going back to 2002. Farther down we have a breakdown of the 10 most affordable cars to be tested and how their performance capabilities stack up, a bit of eduction on the Stig and the track itself, and then an awards presentation for the superlative performers in categories like lightest, fastest, most powerful and easiest on the bank account.

Scroll down to view the infographic yourself (click it to enlarge for easier viewing). You should also check out Boost Labs' interactive version of the infographic's main information wheel. We dig this company's work and hope they forget client projects and keep their minds on anything auto-related where it belongs.

Continue reading Infographic: Top Gear Test Track data going back to 2002

Infographic: Top Gear Test Track data going back to 2002 originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 08 Jun 2012 08:44:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Rowan Atkinson checks in with Top Gear, shows off V16-powered Rolls-Royce Phantom

Jeff Glucker — Mon, 18 Jul 2011 19:58:00 EST

Filed under: Etc., Videos, Rolls-Royce, UK, Celebrities

Rowan Atkinson takes on the Top Gear Test Track - Click above to watch video after the jump

Before you get angry at us in the comments, we're using the first line of this post to issue a spoiler alert.

Rowan Atkinson is best known to American audiences as Mr. Bean. He's a hilarious comedian with a lengthy career comprising works on both the silver and small screen. If you weren't already aware, he's also completely infatuated with cars. You've got to be if you wind up putting a McLaren F1 in your garage, and then tack over 37,000 kilometers on the odometer. Recognizing this passion for speed, it's no surprise that Atkinson wound up on the Top Gear guest couch staring down Jeremy Clarkson.

Rowan brought along a prop car from his upcoming film Johnny English Reborn. What appears to be a standard Rolls-Royce Phantom from the outside actually hides a rather large secret under the hood. According to Atkinson, Rolls flirted with the idea of building a 9.0-liter V16-powered Phantom, but ultimately scrapped the idea. Still, the British car maker wound up producing three or four of the mega mills, and Atkinson asked to use one for his new film. The engineers at Rolls obliged, and his Phantom is now a truly exotic luxury coupe.

Rowan wasn't there simply to talk about his movie and the Phantom. He is a star, and the Reasonably Priced Car was on the track waiting for him. How'd he do? Click past the jump to find out.

Continue reading Rowan Atkinson checks in with Top Gear, shows off V16-powered Rolls-Royce Phantom

Rowan Atkinson checks in with Top Gear, shows off V16-powered Rolls-Royce Phantom originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 18 Jul 2011 19:58:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Top Gear USA Season 2 Preview, with bonus Stig lap [w/video]

Jeff Glucker — Thu, 14 Jul 2011 19:57:00 EST

Filed under: Etc., Videos, Celebrities

America's very own version of Top Gear is set to hit airwaves for its second season. A new round of hijinks on the History Channel begins July 24. Seeing as the Top Gear Test Track sits just 15 minutes from your author's house, we thought it might be nice to pop in and pay the guys a visit. We wound up getting more than we bargained for, however, because The Stig was also on set... armed with the keys to a Lotus Evora S.

"Shotgun!"

The hosts could wait, because we had a date with a man/woman/robot known as The Stig. The Top Gear Test Track was clear, our butts were belted into the passenger seat and a solitary thumbs up from the man in white was our clue that this was go time.

Keep reading to learn more about our lap, and the upcoming season of Top Gear.

Continue reading Top Gear USA Season 2 Preview, with bonus Stig lap [w/video]

Top Gear USA Season 2 Preview, with bonus Stig lap [w/video] originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 14 Jul 2011 19:57:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Prince Harry poised to drive Top Gear Reasonably Priced Car?

Jeff Glucker — Fri, 11 Mar 2011 15:31:00 EST

Filed under: Etc., Kia, UK, Celebrities, Russia

Top Gear could be set to welcome royalty into the driver's seat of its reasonably priced Kia Cee'd. Prince Harry is reportedly eager to get behind the wheel and tackle the Top Gear test track in the next series of the popular BBC franchise, where he will attempt to best the 1:44.2 lap time set by Tom Cruise.

Prince Harry is used to handling high-speed machines, but they're typically of the airborne variety. He recently completed military training that qualifies him to fly Apache helicopters. The top speed of an Apache is listed at 182 miles per hour - a few ticks quicker than the Kia.

[Source: Metro.co.uk | Image: Clive Mason/Getty]

Prince Harry poised to drive Top Gear Reasonably Priced Car? originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 11 Mar 2011 15:31:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Are you the Top Gear USA test track?

Noah Joseph — Tue, 26 Oct 2010 10:28:00 EST

Filed under: Spy Photos, Etc.

Spinning off shows from British television into American programs are all the rage these days. Just ask anyone who watches The Office, American Idol, The Shield or Life on Mars. But the one we're most excited about, of course, is the U.S. version of Top Gear. A long time coming, the pilot is set to air on the History Channel in about a month. And as the date approaches, details have been trickling in. The latest covers the test track that will be the show's playground.

Like its original British counterpart, the Top Gear test track has reportedly been converted from an old military air base: in this case the Marine Corp's former facility at El Toro in Orange County, California - the same location the NBC project was to use.

The track combines north/south and east/west runways from the former air field. Disused airport runways make great circuits, but there's one downside: no elevation changes, the likes of which make tracks like Spa and Laguna Seca the legends they are. The El Toro configuration ameliorates the situation, however, with a ten-foot drop and subsequent climb through an off-track loop on the right side of the map pictured above, giving it what most runway tracks - like Silverstone and the original Top Gear track in England - don't have.

[Source: Jalopnik]

Are you the Top Gear USA test track? originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 26 Oct 2010 10:28:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Top Gear cheats on GT5, teams with Forza on Stig's Garage collection

Jeff Glucker — Sat, 02 Oct 2010 15:37:00 EST

Filed under: Etc., Technology, Videos, Toys/Games

Top Gear defects to Forza Motorsport - Click above for video after the jump

It seems everyone is losing their patience waiting for Gran Turismo 5 to arrive in November. Apparently, that includes Top Gear, which is now lending its name to special features in the upcoming Forza Motorsports 3 Ultimate Collection edition that's due in stores this month.

The new content includes the Mercedes-Benz SLS AMG, Koenigsegg CCX and Lexus LF-A, which make up a pack called Stig's Garage. (What, no Toyota Aygo?) There's also a free 90-minute video compilation produced exclusively for Forza and an Xbox LIVE premium dashboard theme. The makers of Forza Motorsport also say that future collaborations with Top Gear are also planned.

In addition to the Top Gear content, the Ultimate Collection includes every previously released Forza 3 add-on pack, plus seven new cars:

It's almost enough to make a guy want to ditch his PS3. Hurry, Gran Turismo...

Want to see how the two games stack up? Take a look after the jump for videos of each.

Gallery: Gran Turismo 5: Screen Shots

Gallery: Forza Motorsport 3

[Source: Forza Motorsport, YouTube]

Continue reading Top Gear cheats on GT5, teams with Forza on Stig's Garage collection

Top Gear cheats on GT5, teams with Forza on Stig's Garage collection originally appeared on Autoblog on Sat, 02 Oct 2010 15:37:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Video: GT5 around the Top Gear test track

Jonathon Ramsey — Sun, 04 Jul 2010 18:31:00 EST

Filed under: Videos, Toys/Games

Doing laps of the Top Gear test track in ~~Duke Nukem Forever~~ GT5 - Click above to watch video

We'd heard that Polyphony had the rights to in-game representations of the Top Gear test track, and here we have the evidence in moving images. In the next installment of Gran Turismo 5, said to be let loose in November in 3D (we'll wait while you grab that grain of salt), you'll be able to do everything the Stig can do, with all the cars in which he does it. Except, most likely, you won't go anywhere near as fast. Follow the jump for the video, and get those 3D goggles ordered already! Thanks to David for the tip

[Source: Top Gear]

Continue reading Video: GT5 around the Top Gear test track

Video: GT5 around the Top Gear test track originally appeared on Autoblog on Sun, 04 Jul 2010 18:31:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Stig gives a lesson on the Top Gear test track

Zach Bowman — Mon, 24 May 2010 17:58:00 EST

Filed under: Motorsports, UK, Celebrities

It's time to do your homework, kids. The blokes at Top Gear have built a virtual representation of the Stig's personal playground. If you've got some time to kill, head on over to the site for a turn-by-turn breakdown of the UK show's test track, including the elusive history of each corner's name. The virtual track will even let you in on which gear you should be in for each section should you ever find yourself as a star in a reasonably priced car.

Even if you don't see your acting career thrusting you the public consciousness anytime soon, there's still a chance you'll be able to have your way with the track. A rumor dusted up last month that claimed Polyphony Digital now holds the rights to test ground's in-game representation, which means that should Gran Turismo 5 ever decide to drop into stores, the PlayStation universe will be breathing down the Stig's neck.

TG's virtual track also features a couple of other neat tricks, including a "Stig's Eye View" that allows you see what the perfect line should look like. You can even pick whether you want to view the track through the windshield of an econobox or a genuine supercar.

[Source: Top Gear]

Stig gives a lesson on the Top Gear test track originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 24 May 2010 17:58:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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VIDEO: Ultima claims Top Gear track record without show's authorization

Jeremy Korzeniewski — Fri, 23 Oct 2009 13:59:00 EST

Filed under: Motorsports, Coupe, Performance, Videos, Ferrari, Specialty

Ultima GTR720 around the Top Gear test track - Click above to watch the video after the break

Automotive records can be funny things. While everyone seems to be interested in knowing what vehicle is the quickest, fastest, most expensive or rarest, there always seems to be plenty of dissent when one automaker claims its product takes the coveted prize away from another. Such is the case with the Ultima GTR720.

There's no doubting that both the Ferrari FXX and the Ultima GTR are fast cars. Which car is actually faster around a race track, though, is currently up for debate. The track in question is the Dunsfold aerodrome circuit, better known to many as the Top Gear test track. Not long ago, the crew from TG invited one Stig impersonator by the name of Michael Schumacher in the super high-test Ferrari racer to take a lap around its circuit, and the tame racing driver managed to set a new record at one minute 10.7 seconds.

Here's where the mine-is-bigger-than-yours part comes in. Ultima reportedly contacted Top Gear to let them know its car could go 'round the track faster than the aforementioned Prancing Horse, but the show apparently never responded. Taking matters into its own hands, then, Ultima borrowed the track for itself and is claiming to have completed a lap in one minute 9.9 seconds - less than one full tick quicker than the Ferrari, but quicker nonetheless. Plus, Ultima says, the GTR720 was both cheaper and fully road legal while the £1 million FXX is a track-only proposition.

Wanna see it all go down on video? Click past the break to watch for yourself.

[Source: EVO]

Continue reading VIDEO: Ultima claims Top Gear track record without show's authorization

VIDEO: Ultima claims Top Gear track record without show's authorization originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 23 Oct 2009 13:59:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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