Innholdsfortegnelse for December 2025 i BBC Top Gear Magazine

@jack_rix @rixjack jack.rix@bbctopgearmagazine.com We’ve been talking about it for a while now, but the chasm is beginning to widen. This idea that EVs will become the catch all solution for everyday driving, getting from A to B, family trips etc, and combustion engines will become the preserve of enthusiasts who are prepared to stomach rising fuel costs and taxation. Total separation is yet to occur of course, there are still plenty of excellent petrol and diesel (remember that?) cars out there, and a handful of EVs aimed at speed freaks, but I’m sensing an acceptance that this is how the future will be. It’s a phenomenon brought into relief by our Performance Car of the Year test and the recent Munich motor show where 98 per cent of the new…

TG’S EDITOR-IN-CHIEF BELIEVES FERRARI CAN DO IT Predictably, the online love for an electric Ferrari is lower than its CoG… and I sympathise to an extent. A Ferrari without an engine is like a 99 without a Flake - frankly what's the point? But there are currently 14 separate Ferrari models you can buy with combustion engines, so if you're not an EV fan, you're not exactly short on choice. As engineering exercises go, finding out whether Ferrari can find a way to inject excitement into the electric experience is fascinating - and it's clearly getting creative in plugging the 'engagement' gaps left by the lack of noise and gears. I think the haters are in for a shock. “Ferrari is getting creative in plugging the gaps” THE EV AFICIONADO…

What is it? A red flag. No, really. Hongqi, the luxury offshoot of the state-owned ‘China First Automotive Works Corp’ translates into English as ‘red flag’. To them, it’s a sign of good luck, not a warning. Hongqi mainly shills wannabe Bentley barges, but in 2021 it promised a hypercar designed by Audi R8 scribbler Walter de Silva. Did they actually build any? So far… no. In 2023 a model popped up at a posh Italian concours event. The pure electric setup had been apparently binned off, for a 1,400bhp hybrid V8 good for 0–60 in 1.9secs and 250mph flat out. With that agreed, the price was set with 99 units, for a million quid a pop. Where are they now? Hongqi is still churning out the plutocratmobiles, but there’s…

What is it? A front engined, rear wheel drive coupe. Much like an Aston Vantage. Both are immense fun to drive. But one doesn’t cost an arm and leg to buy and insure. Why are we interested? Essentially you’ve got a similar recipe, but the GT86 has half the cylinders, nearly a third the power and two thirds the weight. So… it’s the same but not? It is. But a new V8 Vantage is £165k. A really nice GT86 can be had for sub-£15k. And you’ll get more driving thrills. What should I buy? The GT86s were all 2.0-litre boxers, so there’s just trim choices and condition. We’d look for a 2013 version with under 60k miles on the clock.…

CLOWN SHOE The BMW Z3 M Coupe is objectively a pretty ugly car. Its weird long bonnet and bloated rear end are all kinds of wrong and sawit christened the Clown Shoe. And yet, we love it. Apparently, it was a bit of a skunkworks project by BMW engineers and the board took some convincing. SCREAMING CHICKEN No, we're not talking about those annoying squeaky dog toys. The Screaming Chicken was the colloquial name given to the massive decal on the bonnet of the Pontiac Firebird Trans Am. It was so popular that other manufacturers introduced their own versions… THE HAMMER With a full name like Mercedes-Benz 300E 5.6 AMG, it's no surprise this bonkers pre-merger AMG was given a nickname. What a moniker it was though, with Hammer referring…

PCOTY, OFTEN REFERRED TO AS ‘THE BEST WEEK OF THE YEAR’, IS MERELY the cherry on top of a dense gateau of organisation. I shan’t bore you with the details, but Ben Pulman was last seen disappearing under an avalanche of insurance waivers. We’re hoping to dig him out before Christmas. Huge thanks to the staff at the Portimão circuit for having us, the loan of the pallet truck for transporting The Stig, and letting us establish on your kart track that Charlie Rose weighs less than a bag of sugar. The big track is simply the ultimate arena for a test like this – wide, fast, bathed in perfect weather and home to a couple of terrifying blind corners you could spend a lifetime trying to perfect. Hats off…

TOPGEAR.COM “Sudow-san has been ferrying commuters around for 18 years. He was once a bricklayer, but quit when the economy boomed and there was more cash to be made in cabbing. He passed his map exam first time and has since taken around a hundred thousand fares. But his window on the world hasn’t turned him into some prowling, mohawked De Niro. Instead, he’s risen through the taxi ranks to become a Mr Miyagi, a grand master recognised by an official ‘A’ rating and tutor to young students of the trade. He teaches road manners inspired by Buddhism, and appears to have invented some sort of Zen roadcraft. “He sits comfortably with his legs apart, resting one hand on his knee, the other on the wheel. A booster seat helps…

£53,530 OTR/£58,590 as tested/£682 pcm WHY IT’S HERE: To see if the S3 finally delivers as a driver’s car DRIVER: JETHRO BOVINGDON A TRIP TO NORTH WALES beckoned. I took the twistiest route possible and it’s a pretty epic drive, with at least half of the three hour journey on brilliant and mostly deserted roads. In wet conditions the S3 is unbelievably secure, very quick and enjoyable, too. But with its four wheel drive system and the trick new torque vectoring rear differential, it’s a very different sort of hot hatch. The aggressive, super pointy setup of old is replaced with a slightly more relaxed front end coupled to a greater emphasis on a neutral balance under power. The S3 wants to feel more rear driven. And if you get…

GO TO TOPGEAR.COM FOR EX TENDED TG GARAGE REPORTS, AND TO EXPLORE THE ARCHIVE £37,260 OTR/£39,850 as tested/£615 pcm WHY IT’S HERE: Does the EX30 deserve all the accolades? DRIVER: VIJAY PATTNI MEET MOOSE. MOOSE IS AN 11 WEEK OLD GOLDEN retriever, and was recently privy to a ride in the Volvo EX30, because vet, and therefore had the opportunity to experience – literally for the first time in his little life! – the eerily silent acceleration offered up by the single motor, RWD hatchback. We’ve long passed the point where manufacturers treated an EV’s accelerator like an on/off switch, and the EX30’s pedal is nicely modulated. It rides really nicely too. It’s not Citroen spongy, but feels polished and well damped. Does this mean it’s a boring car? On the…

GO TO TOPGEAR.COM FOR EX TENDED TG GARAGE REPORTS, AND TO EXPLORE THE ARCHIVE £29,100 OTR/£39,700 as tested/£695 pcm WHY IT’S HERE: Is the largest Mini ever overinflated or a big success? DRIVER: ESTHERNEVE SORRY BUT THE TIME HAS COME to discuss the things that get my goat about the Countryman. First – I’m not a fan of the looks. To me the previous generation looked far more svelte and appealing. This one is just too chunky and flabby, it has lost the cuteness the old one had. Second – those eight thrilling experience modes… seriously, what is the point of them? How many people actually swap and change between them? Third – the warning bongs drive me to distraction. And yes, I do know that this criticism is not exclusive…

£254,200 OTR/£282,000 as tested/£5,077 pcm WHY IT’S HERE: What has a hybrid makeover – and Mulliner buffing – added to the world’s best GT? DRIVER: OLLIE KEW IT’S FAIR TO SAY THIS BENTLEY’S spec hasn’t met with universal approval – including from me. However, there’s historical interest at play here. The paintwork is called Bedford Grey, weirdly. Bentley was founded in Cricklewood, north London and has been headquartered in Crewe, Cheshire since World War Two. So the reference is lost on me. It’ll also set you back £18,775. The moody Mulliner Blackline specification deletes almost all of the chrome adornments – a shame in my personal opinion – but this is one of the most popular options in Europe, the US and beyond. The Oxblood Red heritage leather isn’t your…

“I love the idea, but I’m not persuaded by the execution” £54,995 OTR/£55,540 as tested/£970 pcm WHY IT’S HERE: Because it’s quite simply the only purely electric sports car in the world (for now…) DRIVER: OLLIE KEW I LIVED WITH AN MG CYBERSTER for six months, averaging over 1,000 miles a month. I have drawn two conclusions from this. Should you buy this car? In its current form, no. Should MG have made this car, and should it continue to develop it? Absolutely. Essentially, I love the idea, but I’m not persuaded by the MkI Cyberster’s execution. So, this brings me to my Cyberster conclusion. Like I said, right now this isn’t the finished article. But there’s potential here. The to do list? It’s unlikely to come back a Cayman…

CITY CARS TG TIP Entry level Red trim is all the Panda you really need – and it comes on cool white steel wheels 1 FIAT GRANDE PANDA PRICE: £20,975–£23,975 The Panda was distinctly endangered for a while there (though you can still buy the old petrol one in Italy), but it’s been given a new lease of life with an electric powertrain. It’s cheap, sure, but it’s really well thought out and plenty stylish Aimed at: dolce vitas OR YOU COULD HAVE ONE OF THESE… 2 KIA PICANTO PRICE: £16,065–£19,615 Fizzy, frugal and fun to drive, the tiny Picanto has really evolved over its three generations. The latest version is stylish and surprisingly well kitted out too Aimed at: learners 3 DACIA SPRING PRICE: £14,995–£16,995 This is the cheapest electric car…

Dear TopGear, I’ve just bought a massive house and my sensible family estate just looks too tiny next to it on the expansive driveway. Can you suggest something suitably enormous with room for four that will look a bit more proportional? Karen, Oxfordshire This isn’t really a problem any of us at TopGear necessarily have, Karen, but we must admit that we love a good car buying conundrum. And here it’s certainly a case of go big and go home, but with the added benefit of a shorter walk. We’re assuming you enjoy the use of a ridiculously oversized turning circle on your driveway, otherwise it’s going to be a bit of a nightmare getting any of our shortlisted behemoths in and out of the front garden. We did consider…

Rolls-Royce Phantom From £440,000 Is this big enough? The wheels are the same height as the average UK man and if you park a Rolls Phantom in the same place long enough you actually have to apply for planning permission. You’ll need a driver, too Land Rover Defender 130 OUR WINNER From £84,070 The Defender 130 is one of the longest mainstream cars on sale in the UK at 5.4m - it's 0.4m shorter than a Phantom though, but it does have the benefit of being more affordable (!), usable and practical RC Motorhomes RC12M From £650,000 This absolute monster is based on a Volvo lorry and weighs in at 12 tonnes, more than a match for your mansion. It has four slide out elements and is great for guests…

CITROEN 2CV. FIAT 500. MINI. VW BEETLE. DACIA HIPSTER. Wait… what? Before you get too excited, the Hipster is officially still just a concept. But it’s got our attention, for all the size of it. It’s 3m long and 1.5m wide yet there’s room for four adults inside, and the boot can swallow up to 500 litres. It’s 20 per cent lighter than Dacia’s electric tiddler, the Spring, and aims to halve the carbon footprint over its life cycle compared to the best EVs currently on sale. The Hipster also acknowledges another important issue: even cheap electric cars are still too expensive to work as mass mobility solutions. Hence the allusion to those, yes, iconic ‘people’s cars’ mentioned at the start. It’s time for another paradigm shift. Dacia says it…

BLOW THE BUDGET BY THE START OF THE 20TH century Germany was making millions of clocks and watches, making it one of the biggest producers in the world. But with the minor inconvenience of two world wars, the Germans saw their watch industry crumble. The Swiss meanwhile went from strength to strength, helped of course by staying neutral and making watches for both sides. Germany’s postwar economic miracle is well known, but the watch industry was largely left out. Recently though, German watchmakers have started carving out a little niche for themselves. Many small independents are springing up around Germany. And while most of them still need to lean heavily on the Swiss for parts, many are starting to do a lot more by themselves. Kudoke is a good example.…

Q: IS LANCIA OVERDUE A TRIUMPHANT RALLY RETURN? There must be a term that describes precisely how I, and I assume the majority of the population, feel about professional rally drivers. An oxymoronic combination of having the utmost respect for them, but also harbouring a nagging suspicion that there were a few components left on the counter when their brains were being wired up. The Germans almost certainly have a word for it. I love modern rallying, and Rally Monte Carlo specifically is an annual non-negotiable in terms of my household television privileges. But much like you never forget your first kiss, or the first time you tasted a sticky toffee pudding, you never forget the first rally car you fell in love with. For me it was the Lancia…

SCAN HERE FOR FULL REVIEWS OF EVERY NEW CAR CHEVROLET CORVETTE E-RAY £153,440 IT’S AN ELECTRIFIED, 4WD Corvette with its engine in the middle and its steering wheel on the right. Yikes! The end result is good though, almighty in straights and trustworthy in corners – just beware its lively front end sniffing out camber on a tumultuous B road. It’s a small blip in a car that otherwise monsters British lanes with more insouciance than you’d dare imagine. SD CHANGAN DEEPAL 07 £39,925 “A SENSE OF FUN” CLAIMS Changan. Well, it has a great stereo, its interior and exterior LEDs twinkle cheerily, and with ex-VW designer Klaus Zykoria helming Changan’s CAD, it looks crisper than many of its kind. But mostly it’s left brain: good safety ratings, space for…

£68,500/£73,612/£855 WHY IT’S HERE: Is the basic Macan the best Macan? DRIVER: BEN PULMAN “I’M A BIG FAN OF ELECTRIC cars, actually – I’ve got an electric Porsche Macan, which I love.” So said Rob Dickinson, founder and executive chairman of Singer, during TG’s ‘Boss Chat’ with Christian von Koenigssegg and Mate Rimac. We first met in late 2014, when Singer had a mere handful of cars to its name. Times have changed, Singer has grown exponentially, and Rob’s the last person I expected to be an EV proponent. “It’s been an interesting ownership experience, actually – it’s our first electric vehicle. It was a no brainer that we went to Porsche really. I’m lucky enough to have what is perhaps the ultimate two car modern Porsche garage – I’ve…

Your eyes do not deceive you. I repeat, your eyes are not deceiving you. Pictured here is an actual engine for my R34 GT-R Skyline – one with a crank, working pistons the lot. And I’ve seen and photographed it myself, otherwise you’d be forgiven in thinking this build was AI generated vapourware. The excitement is also very real. There is some fear obviously – not the fact that I want to try and run it at 1,000bhp – but more the fact the setup here cost more than what I paid for the R34 GT-R back in 2018. And they weren’t exactly dirt cheap then either. But there’s a very good reason for sinking a good car payment into an engine build. This isn’t the first engine rebuild I’ve…

£24,995/£26,700/£114 WHY IT’S HERE: Value motoring for a decently sized SUV. But is the Bigster bigster value or just cheap? DRIVER: TOM FORD IT’S BEEN A BIG MONTH FOR THE Bigster, some 3,200 miles in the past four weeks. Obviously this isn’t a mega distance cruiser, but it’s been really very good. Space in the boot is good but not epic (although hallelujah, the Bigster comes with a space saver spare wheel which eats some of the underfloor), rear legroom excellent. The seats could be more supportive for larger frames, especially on the base, there are a couple of small trim squeaks that need some smoothing in the dash and I’ve already fitted some liners to the cupholders and door bins, and the reversing camera is low enough resolution that…

SONIC RACING CROSSWORLDS £50, Playstation/Xbox/Switch/PC Typically, cars and hedgehogs don't mix well, but that hasn't stopped Sega producing racing games starring its spiny mascot, of which Sonic Racing Crossworlds is the latest. What next, Sonic the Hedgehog Bonfire Nesting Simulator? In spite of the deranged premise, Sonic Racing Crossworlds is great. That's partly down to the titular Crossworlds mechanic, where the second lap of every race takes place on a completely different track. If you include the Crossworlds tracks there's a total of 39 circuits and they are all visually arresting and well designed. The game is tricky for younger kids, and the balanced distribution of power ups you get in Mario Kart isn't as deftly implemented here, meaning those lagging behind are likely to remain there. If you're prepared…

MINIATURE EXPLOSIONS VERSUS BOTTLED LIGHTNING. Valvetrains and cogs pitted against copper windings and code, barbecue versus microwave. Piano versus synthesiser. However you want to frame it, modern performance cars are changing. Have already changed – manuals are rare, sophisticated traction and stability controls ubiquitous. And engines are optional. Some things are the same though, and track driving when you don’t really know the circuit is still a shell game of memory and nerve, no matter if you’re in a new, resolutely petrol powered BMW M2 CS or an equally box fresh Hyundai Ioniq 6 N. But I’ve got it now. I think. Aim for the third light post as the car lollops over the rise, zero g stomach as you unweight the suspension into the big dip, rollercoastering over the…

Regular readers will be familiar with the Ring brothers, the ‘just the right amount of mad’ Wisconsin based tuners who started out as (and still run) an auto body shop… and then turned their attention to churning out the most unreal bespoke restomod builds. We’ve been to visit them in their hometown of Spring Green before, but this time we intercepted one half of the duo, Mike Ring, at the Quail – a staple of Monterey Car Week – where they were unwittingly making Skoda’s lawyers a bit twitchy. “We’ve combined the ferocity of American muscle with the stiff upper lip of English sophistication and motoring,” said Mike. “Octavia is beyond anything we’ve built before.” Welcome to the wildest incarnation of Aston Martin’s 1970s superhero. And not a medium sized…

£81,500 OTR/£93,800 as tested/£879 pcm WHY IT’S HERE: Is the designate Polestar 3 an EV with real character? DRIVER: JASON BARLOW NEWS JUST IN: THE POLESTAR 3 is getting a big upgrade for 2026. Out goes the current Nvidia Xavier processor, incoming is the Orin, which ramps up the processing power from 30 to 254 trillion operations per second. Polestar says the upgrade will mean faster, more intelligent management of active safety systems, battery performance and sensor data. Other changes include ‘software refinement’ for the steering. And it will be offered to existing Polestar owners as a complimentary ‘retrofit’. This constant, almost real time evolution of EVs is one of the trademarks of the emerging automotive era, and it’s something tech types get all frothy about. Yet bizarrely it also…

GO TO TOPGEAR.COM FOR EX TENDED TG GARAGE REPORTS, AND TO EXPLORE THE ARCHIVE £65,870 OTR/£69,335 as tested/£609 pcm WHY IT’S HERE: Is living with a cartoonishly rugged American icon in the UK charmingly adventurous or just a recipe for discomfort? DRIVER: ROWAN HORNCASTLE A QUID PRO QUO OF RUNNING THE Jeep Wrangler was that we could modify it. Which isn’t just music to our ears, but also makes complete sense. Why? Because it’s a Wrangler. The last of its breed, a car that still believes the Earth is flat and that traction should be earned, not programmed. If you scroll through the #Wrangler hashtag on Instagram, you’ll see that – in the US especially – you’re pretty much in the minority if you don’t have a modified one. Either a…