Innholdsfortegnelse for February 2019 i TopGear Malaysia

Supercars exemplify humankind’s drive to push the boundaries of automotive technology. From their sleek body shells to the powerful engines that mobilise them, every component is crucial from engineering to application. This applies to all road vehicles. And of the tens of thousands of components that make up a car, only the tyres have direct contact with the road surface. Realising the importance of tyres and how they are required to keep up with the fast-changing technologies modern cars, Toyo has developed the Proxes Sport tyre specifically for enthusiastic drivers who desire tyres befitting their high-performance vehicles. At the core of the Proxes Sport are Toyo Tires’ proprietary technologies which include T-Mode and Nano Balance Technology. T-Mode consist of two simulation technologies, Tyre simulation for tyre analysis and Driving simulation…

Williams F1 has announced Robert Kubica will partner rookie George Russell for the 2019 Formula One World Championship season. Kubica made his F1 debut towards the end of 2006 with BMW Sauber. The first Polish driver to ever compete in F1, he scored his first podium in only his third race. To date, he has achieved 12 podium finishes and one win. The 33-year-old hasn’t raced in F1 for eight years, after sustaining serious injuries in a rallying crash in Italy in 2011 where his right arm was partially severed. But after years of rehabilitation and recovery, Kubica tested for Williams in 2017, and was named its reserve and development driver for the 2018 season. He said getting back into F1 was “one of the greatest achievements of [his] life”,…

I passed my test third time. I didn’t have to buy my first car, because Lancashire [County Cricket Club] had a deal with Lookers Rover and you paid one per cent of the car’s value per month on a rent, so it was like £150 per month, and another £33 for insurance. But they wouldn’t give you a 220 Turbo. So I had 216 Coupe, in blue. At 17 years old. I was the nuts. I didn’t drink, so I used to take my mates home and I’d get stopped by the police in Preston every night without fail. Because in Preston, that car, a 1.6 Rover, was the equivalent of driving a McLaren in Chelsea. I swapped it for a Cabrio, but they’d sent the wrong car – it…

Mercedes-Benz A250 AMG Line RM263,888 WE SAY: TAKING ON A FRESH APPROACH, MERC’S ALL-NEW OFFERING IS NOW ONE STELLAR ACT Ever wondered how the three-pointed star shook off its ‘old money’ image? Well, you need not look further than the W176 generation A-Class hatchback. In effect, the reborn A-Class, as well as its CLA and GLA offshoots, proved critical in keeping the marque relevant with the times. With that in mind, it’s easy to understand why many were eager to see how its replacement, the W177, would take things further. From what our editor Daryl Loy experienced in Croatia last year during the model’s global press drive, there was much to savour and marvel in, and that note resonates again once we got behind its wheel recently. Featured here is…

BMW 330i £37,660 WE SAY: THERE’S A REASON WHY THE 3-SERIES IS A HARDY PERENNIAL The 3-Series is one of the great oaks in the automotive woodland. You can name them: Golf, 911, Range Rover, S-Class. And 3-Series. They mature but don’t change; they define the landscape. So if you’re BMW, you don’t cock about with the 3. Sure enough, after 40 years this new generation declines to ambush us with any great surprises. Yet its component parts are basically all new. Pretty much all that’s been handed on from before are the engines and transmissions. But we defy you to find much wrong with that particular inheritance. One of the aims for the designers was, ‘Don’t make it look like a 5-Series’, which is good because when I saw…

Porsche Macan £46,344 WE SAY: SMALL, CLEVER TWEAKS TO THE MACAN PROVE HOW RIGHT PORSCHE GOT IT FIRST TIME Not an all-new Porsche Macan, this, but one with a wraparound tailgate striplight to pay homage to the latest 911’s XXL lightsaber. A few fresh colours (be brave – ditch monochrome and pay £1,676 for Miami Blue) and a 12.3-inch version of the Cayenne’s snappy, sharp, slightly fiddly touchscreen. But thankfully no touch-sensitive centre console. So, eyes-free operation of the heater, sports exhaust or suspension-altering buttons isn’t a feverish, fingerprint-ridden struggle. The hardest task for the facelifted Macan is cushioning the blow of Dieselgate’s fallout. You can’t buy a diesel-powered Porsche at all any more. The Macan is the bestselling Porsche in Britain, and would you care to guess which version…

Vespa Primavera 150 ABS RM15,600 (Base) WE SAY: CHANGES IN THIS UPDATED MODEL HAVE DEFINITELY UPPED ITS STREET-CRED… celebrating its 51st anniversary this year, Vespa’s signature Primavera model is one that’s loved the world over. It may have evolved significantly through the ages, but one thing’s certain, this Italian icon is never out of style. Upping the ante is this 2018 offering that debuted locally last year. Having sampled it over the course of a week recently, we’re certain that the various small changes and updates it now boasts over its predecessor have indeed made it an even more desirable proposition. On the surface, it’s hard to spot the mild aesthetic changes, unless you’re a true Vespa enthusiast. For the benefit of the uninitiated, the redesigned ‘tie’ and chrome wheel…

Vivo have just given their premiumspec Nex smartphone an upgrade unlike any other. The Chinese smartphone masters have aptly primed their newly christened Nex Dual Display Edition device with an industry-first dual display setup, along with a sleuth of top-flight hardware and features to match. The dual display design consists firstly with a 6.39-inch, 19.5:9 aspect ratio Super AMOLED screen that dominates the phone’s front, granting it an impressive 84.7% screen-to-body ratio and pleasing Full HD+ visuals. Supplementing that is a smaller 5.49-inch, 16:9 Super AMOLED panel that sits on the back underneath the phone’s three cameras. The rear screen isn’t just limited to select task as it enables you to use the phone on either way around. Adding to the eye candy here is the adoption of the Android…

New Range Rover Evoque // £31,600–£44,750 + Brand-new, relatively frugal, ultra-modern interior - You can’t get one for a bit, then they’ll be everywhere Interesting one, this, seeing as the new Evoque has gone a little bit mini-Velar (especially on the inside) and thus feels much more modern. It’s also on a revised version of the ‘D8’ platform, and a bit bigger – and therefore roomier – than before. But the fact remains that this is one of Land Rover’s biggest-selling cars because it’s more reasonably priced. The fact that it now essentially looks like a clone of the much more expensive, upmarket older brother is just a bonus. Prices have just been released, and while a boggo Evoque with standard kit will set you back a surprisingly reasonable £31,600, it’s…

In 2015, Giugiaro swapped the sprawling industrial modernism of Italdesign’s HQ for the classical Villa Cantamerla in the hills above Moncalieri, and set up Giugiaro Architettura. He’s 80 now but still works, still rides his trials bike regularly, and looks as spry and stylish as you’d hope. Giugiaro also only speaks Italian, in a curiously compelling high register. But you listen, and you listen hard. “Italy is a long country, with different types of weather, a mixture of different cultures, a meeting point of different experiences, so perhaps this was an advantage for the atmosphere of the post-war period… it allowed the beauty to grow,” he says, when I ask whether there was something in the water back in the day. He’s also rather more pragmatic than I’d expected, charting…

The Ötztal Pass is one of many wondrous European mountain roads that isn’t the quickest way anywhere. Unless you’ve got skis strapped to the roof. That means it operates opening hours, and despite my obsessive checking of its webcams and timings, as we pull up to its toll booths after two days of driving from London, their barriers are all down, red Xs illuminated above them, with not a member of staff in sight to explain why. An ominous sign when it’s pass number one in an outrageously ambitious Three Peaks adventure I’ve concocted to put some proper miles on our i30N long-termer, to see if it really is as much of an upset to the establishment as we think. It seems to have duffed up every hot hatch bar…

In 2016, Mercedes-Benz Malaysia (MBM) formally launched its current SUV catalogue to the theme of ‘Hungry for Adventure’. Over the years, those three words accompanied every initiative that shone the spotlight on the German carmaker’s more versatile offerings, ranging from mountain treks to beach escapades within the region. The latest instalment of Hungry for Adventure took us to Indonesia’s Central Java region, where a host of challenging activities in the great tropical outdoors designed to awaken the rugged adventurer within awaited us. Yet, the biggest challenge of all was having to wake up at 4 a.m. for two consecutive mornings – once to catch our flight to Semarang and again to witness sunrise from the top of Borobudur. We made it on both occasions, but it wasn’t the spiritual magnetism…

Perodua kick-started 2019 for the automotive industry with the first new car of the year, the Perodua Aruz. The Aruz is essentially a Perodua-badged version of the recently-launched Toyota Rush, a compact SUV boasting seven seats and a 1.5-litre petrol engine. The four-pot 2NR-VE mill in question develops 105PS and 136Nm, which is then sent to the rear wheels via a four-speed automatic gearbox. It may not sound like much for a seven-seater, but Perodua claims the Aruz will do 15.6km per litre, which is good enough to be granted EEV (Energy Efficient Vehicle) status by the government. Two variants are available, namely the 1.5X which starts at RM72,900 and the 1.5AV that tops things out at RM77,900 – the most affordable Toyota Rush has an estimated price of RM93,000.…

Bermaz Motor has announced that new Mazda vehicles registered from 1 January 2019 onwards will get five years free maintenance (three years previously) to bolster the five-year manufacturer warranty. This new term is for all vehicles sold by Bermaz, with the exception of the BT-50 pick-up. The free maintenance package includes free scheduled maintenance inclusive of labour, parts and lubricants. Both manufacturer warranty and free maintenance have a coverage period of five years and a mileage limit of 100,000km whichever comes first. The 24-hour Mazda roadside assistance is still part of the after-sales package, while the Mazda Privilege Card can be enjoyed with a tax-exempted RM100 payment and gives the cardholder extra privileges namely 15 per cent discount on genuine Mazda parts, 5 per cent on labour, and 15 per…

McLaren is back in Malaysia. The British marque has been somewhat inactive here for the past couple of years after Sime Darby Auto Britannia ceased its sales operations – we u nderstand that an aftersales facility is still active in Glenmarie, Shah Alam. But it now has a new brand custodian here. We can’t divulge any details at t ime of writing, but you’ll know soon enough. To celebrate McLaren’s comeback, we celebrate the Speedtail. The spiritual successor to the McLaren F1, at least i n terms of i ts seating arrangement, is the cover star of this month’s issue. But there’s more to this issue than a 1 ,036bhp hybrid hypercar that will do 403kph. While on the topic of British cars, our colleagues over in the UK have…

For those who reckon the regular GT R isn’t quite tough enough, you’re mad, but also this one’s for you – the new range-topping Mercedes-AMG GT R Pro. While it uses the same 577bhp twin-turbo V8 as the GT R, there are standard carbon-ceramic brakes, lightweight forged wheels and redesigned aero, much of its addenda crafted from carbon fibre. There’s even a carbon roof. Note the dive planes integrated into the front splitter, the rear spoiler’s new Gurney flap and the freshly louvred front wheelarches, à la Porsche 911 GT3 RS. Indeed, it’s easiest to think of the Pro as a GT3 RS rival, where the regular GT R battles the standard GT3. New coilover suspension can be adjusted every which way by clicking its dials (no toolkit needed) and…

Porsche Cayenne RM929,540, as tested WE SAY: THE CAYENNE IS STILL WHY THERE’S ‘SPORT’ IN THE SPORT UTILITY SEGMENT The new Porsche Cayenne is available in Malaysia in two variants, with the baseline model starting at RM795,000. Mind you, this is before one inevitably goes through the options list. One tick in the list leads to another and before you know it the price is remarkably different from the one you started with. BPQ 881, for example, will strike your bank account with a RM929,540 hit, approximately RM134,540 extra on top of the showroom floor price tag. Two things to note – first: that’s a big amount. Second: given the chance, you’ll probably do the same; or roughly similar. The rear-axle steering is useful, so that’s RM9,500, and LED headlights…

Renowned as a robust and elegant chronograph movement, the Calibre 321 from Omega has been a fan favourite since the 1940s. The fact that it remains highly sought-after by collectors worldwide to this day stands as a testament to that. Now, more than 50 years after the last Calibre 321 was produced, Omega is bringing the iconic movement back. The original Calibre 321 was the first movement ever used in the Omega Speedmaster in 1957. It had, in fact, been previously used in some of Omega’s other chronographs, namely those in the Seamaster collection. The movement stands out for its use of a monobloc column-wheel, a feature that is machined from a single piece, thus adding technical value. Generally, column-wheel movements warrant very careful precision in design and build, which…

Fresh from the success of their last initiative with BMW Motorrad Auto Bavaria, premier Swiss watches marque Tissot decided to end 2018 with a bang by partnering RocX Enduro Malaysia at their official launch on Dec 23.. The RocX Enduro Malaysia off-road park is located in Kemensah, just outside Hulu Kelang, Selangor. Coordinated by Skills On Wheels, Tissot RocX 2018 hosted over 200 guests, mostly active members from the ever-growing local off-road motorcycling community. The launch also served as yet another avenue for Tissot Malaysia’s on-going initiative towards rider safety. This means avid local motocross and enduro bike riders can now visit RocX Enduro Malaysia for their dirt-busting needs. The park consists of several trails of varying difficulty levels cutting across some of the Kemensah valley’s lush forest, which in…

New Audi R8 V10 Performance // £141,200 + Naturally aspirated V10, solid-not-scary handling traits, price, reliability - One of the subtlest supercars, which is both good and bad Recently rebranded, refettled and generally sharpened both stylistically and technically, the Audi R8 remains one the greatest underrated supercars in the world. With 564bhp for the ‘standard’ model, up to 613 for the Performance, the R8 is full of 5.2-litre V10 charm. It really is a joy to drive, without the feeling that it’ll a) spit you off into the nearest hard thing, or b) explode at any second. These are good things. And at £141,200 for that top model, it’s actually a fairly savvy buy for the brilliance. You get calming Audi quality and reliability with mental Lamborghini performance (it shares…

New BMW 320d // £33,610–£38,710 + Frugal, decent to drive, inoffensively stylish, easy to sell on - Not a particularly creative choice, the new one isn’t the prettiest, spec-sensitive For years, a BMW 320d has been the go-to-choice for an all-rounder. A decent-to-drive, well-built, covers-mostbases small saloon, and the newest iteration is as rational and brilliant as it always was. A lot of motoring journalists recommend them, and there’s a reason for that. It’ll deal with everything, never embarrass you, and be competent in most areas. There’s also always a market, even with all the diesel malarkey. But with a 320d Sport looking like it’ll be weighing in at around £35,000 on-the-road direct from BMW (without any options), there’s a little super-saloon niggle that might make your mind wander. OR…

Modern life is filthy. Not in the adverts, of course – there, the kitchen work surfaces gleam, and your hair always looks like you’ve just stepped out of the salon. Similarly, there’s never been a car advert that showed ancient apple cores rolling out from under the back seats, what mucky football kit actually does to a boot carpet or what happens if, having just waded back to a Discovery Sport through thick sludge, you climb in and thoughtlessly, vigorously, knock your boots together… Family cars have it tough. And we expect a lot of them: seven seats, phone connectivity, a big boot, relaxed road manners, comprehensive infotainment, low ownership costs. The last thing we probably expect is for them to be good off-road. So we tested that and, predictably,…

Often the approach roads are better than the money-shot mountain roads, the Stelvio Pass being a prime example. Once we arrive on the tight, blind and strangely busy Bonette, the same appears to ring true. It’s a road for stopping and taking in the views – and reaching Europe’s third-highest piece of tarmac – not driving like a modern-day McRae. Lee’s delighted, of course, and the area’s glorious tranquillity is soon punctuated by the clicks and beeps of drone assembly. Our second peak is just 27m off our first and yet it feels a world away, a mix of luscious greens, oranges and yellows. If I had watercolours I’d whip them out and paint while Lee takes his pictures. We’re barely halfway up, mind, and as we ascend further, seeking…

Another month, another SUV. This time it’s Honda coming good with the facelift of the HR-V, which surprisingly includes a Hybrid i-DCD variant. According to Honda Malaysia (HMSB), Malaysia is the only country outside Japan which gets the hybrid. The introduction of the HR-V with i-DCD powertrain makes it the sole hybrid compact SUV. As in the City and Jazz Hybrid, the engine is a direct-injected 1.5-litre DOHC i-VTEC engine which when combined with the battery-powered electric motor produces a total output of 152PS and 190Nm. Drive is channelled to the front tyres through the seven-speed dual-clutch gearbox. Hybrid-exclusive features include the 3D Illuminated Meter Cluster Multi Information Display, Shift by Wire and Sport Mode. However the headlights are halogen with bulb for front fog lights. Basically we can say…

2018 is the fifth consecutive record year for Mercedes-Benz Malaysia (MBM) with 13,079 vehicles sold, translating into a 9 per cent overall growth. Capturing a 2.4 per cent market share (as of November 2018), the achievement cements Mercedes-Benz as the undisputed luxury brand in Malaysia. In 2018, MBM’s performance was spearheaded by the locally produced limousines, which recorded 7,910 units sold. Following closely were the Mercedes-Benz SUVs with 2,613 units sold, particularly by the locally produced Mercedes-Benz GLC 200 and GLC 250. The German marque expects continued positive demand for this segment. The Mercedes-Benz compact cars recorded a total of 1,875 units sold, while the Mercedes-Benz Dream Cars, recorded a total of 662 units sold, a 77 per cent growth for the three-pointed star’s brand shapers. The company had 20…

Say what you like about its predecessors, the fact that the Toyota Vios continues to swell in numbers on our roads over the years is proof enough of its desirability, especially to the many 20- to 30-something Malaysian car buyers. After what seemed like an eternity, Toyota has finally rolled out a ‘brand new’ version. We sampled it recently during a press drive down to Desaru, Johor, ahead of its launch where we got to size it up briefly. Having done so, Toyota looks poised to retake its crown in this segment with this pint-sized fighter. On the surface, there’s an all-new styling approach that we reckon will divide opinions.. Taking plenty of cues from its bigger crossover cousin the C-HR, Toyota has made sharp new styling all around. Most…

There have been many fast Fords, but the Racing Puma may be the oddest of the bunch. It never technically raced, for starters, and while its body was significantly pumped up over standard, it used the same 1.7-litre engine as standard Pumas, with only the lightest of upgrades. It also didn’t sell particularly well. Ford planned to make 1,000, cut that to 500, then still had to sell some of those internally to make sure every Racing Puma found a home. The reason? A £23k asking price. That would seem extortionate for a 153bhp hot hatch now, never mind in 1999. Especially when a 30bhp-lighter Puma 1.7 sold for £10k less. Now, the price difference is even more stark. While you can pick up a scruffy but usable Puma 1.7…

What: Italdesign Zerouno Where: Moncalieri, Italy As Jason soon discovered, the Zerouno made him irresistible to the opposite sex Who: Thoriq Azmi Where: In a Toyota Vios High property prices force our Senior Writer into exploring other alternatives Who: Deni Ute fans Where: Deniliquin, Australia Tinder not working out for you? 21st century not your thing? You should go to deepest Australia… What: Koenigsegg memento Where: Manama, Bahrain When you don’t get to do the record run, a s igned plaque’s the next best thing What: Porsche wing mirror Where: Somewhere, Bahrain Rough t ranslation: ‘Objects i n the mirror may have access to vastly cheaper fuel than you ever will’ Who: Jason Barlow & Charles Leclerc Where: Yas Marina, Abu Dhabi Having trouble with your Stelvio? Jason knows just…

Porsche has (official industry term here) ‘done a Zonda’. In the Oxford Dictionary, that’s “building ever more extreme versions of your old sports car while forging ahead with a new one”. So, while building the new 992-gen 911 and making sure collectors get their hands on the 935 special and 991 Speedster, Porsche has also found time to turn the current 911 GT2 RS into a track-only monster. Meet the Clubsport. Only 200 will be made. The singleseater keeps the same 691bhp, 3.8-litre bi-turbo flat-six and seven-speed PDK as the road car. It’s also rear-wheel drive, but shod in 310mm-wide slicks. It has a gargantuan wing and weighs 155kg less, all for a heavyweight £357,000.…

This is the Kia Soul EV, and, no, you don’t have to have it in lurid green. The liquid-cooled, 64 kWh lithium-ion battery pack comes from the bigger e-Niro crossover. It’s DC fast-charge compatible and gives a total of 201bhp and 400Nm. Kia says it’s still testing to see how far the new Soul can go on a single charge, but it ought to be close to the Niro’s claimed 484-km range. Either way, the Soul will go much further than the old Soul EV, which had a 249-km range on the less realistic NEDC cycle, thanks to a much smaller 30kWh battery.…

Another motor show, another Audi e-tron. Audi’s been churning them out recently – not just the e-tron SUV and e-tron Sportback, but the PB18 e-tron supercar and the self-driving Aicon. The message from the carmaker is clear – it’s going hard on electric and getting in there before rivals. Except Tesla. Saturating the automotive airwaves with product means BMW and Mercedes have to work hard to make themselves heard. The chatter isn’t going to subside anytime soon. Between now and 2025, Audi will add 12 all-electric cars, giving it across-the-board presence in a diverse range of shapes and sizes. Last year, Audi sold over 1.8 million cars. In seven years’ time it reckons a third, some 600,000, will be electric. If that’s the case, we’re in for a turnaround of…

Audi e-tron £71,495 WE SAY: AN ELECTRIC SUV FOR FUTUREFRIENDLY FAMILIES This is a very conventional Audi. That’s probably the first thing to note about the e-tron. It’s an electric car that doesn’t seek to blur boundaries or act radically, but simply persuade regular SUV buyers to make the jump. It’s Q7-sized (but only seats five) and uses a heavily modified version of that car’s MLB Evo platform. There’s an electric motor on each axle, the rear slightly more powerful than the front, for a total of 402bhp and 490lb ft, and in between a 700kg, 95kWh battery pack. Surprised it’s not a bespoke electric platform? That’s in the pipeline, a joint project with Porsche known internally as PPE. That will form the base for the VW Group’s larger electric…

Renault Megane RS 300 Trophy £32,000 (tbc) WE SAY: RENAULT SAVES YOU THE EFFORT OF TICKING THE BOXES Take one Renault Megane RS, add all the good bits of the options list, a fruitier exhaust and power bump to 296-ish (up 20bhp) thanks to a new ceramic-ball-bearing turbo, and you have the Trophy. Basically a handy aggregation of RS goodness without all the box-ticking. For four grand more than the stock 280, you get the Cup chassis (usually a £1,500 option), which includes stiffer springs (30 per cent), dampers (25 per cent) and anti-roll bars (10 per cent), the lighter bi-material braking system (saving nearly 2kg per corner and usually £900), 19in wheels (a £950 option) and some other desirable bits. Then there are optional Trophyspecific items like some even…

Mercedes-Benz C300 AMG Line RM304,888 WE SAY: FACELIFTED C300 PICKS UP WHERE THE C350E LEFT OFF, BRINGING BACK PETROL-POWERED FUN WITH A FEW GOODIES THROWN IN Mercedes-Benz Malaysia’s discontinued pursuit of plugin hybrids has paved the way for its good old 300-numbered sedans to return. It started last year when the E300 made a comeback to replace the E350e at the top of the W213 range, AMGs aside. The trend continued when the W205 C-Class facelift was formally introduced here a few months ago with no PHEV variant in sight. If you’ve got RM300k to splash on a German exec, the C300 AMG Line is where the money’s at now. The decision to revert to a petrol-only flagship is accompanied by the irony that is the facelifted C-Class’s ‘Never Stop…

Basics. You might want a sporty two-seater, but if you have kids and a dog, it’s going to be either impractical or incredibly illegal. Do you really need an SUV when a more efficient and fun-to-drive estate would make more sense? Do you have to streetpark regularly and live in town, where having a tiny car would make every day that little bit more relaxing? Do you live up a mountain and need diff locks? If you do, a secondhand BMW M3 Competition is not going to cut it. Don’t get worried about the two days every three years we have snow and buy an expensive high-spec 4x4 for that ephemeral 48hrs of smug – it doesn’t make sense. A set of winter tyres will likely see you through more…

HARRIS SAYS “In the Alpine, you envy nothing. I love 997s, but the A110 is superb” This sector throws up a whole host of temptation, but don’t believe the old chestnut you can drive an older supercar for the same outlay as something more prosaic. It’s not true. But sporty and rear/mid-engined, you say? Stylish, interesting and with a name you can happily drop during car-heavy conversations? RWD and tipped heavily towards a smile that might split your head clean in two? We might have an answer for that… New Renault Alpine A110 // £46,500–£52,000 + Super-light, looks great, goes like stink, remarkably good at the boring stuff - Little luggage space to speak of, punchy new price A brand-new 250bhp Renault Alpine A110 lists at around £46.5k for the…

New Jaguar I-Pace // £63,495 + New, slightly exotic, looks great and drives very well indeed, AWD - Costly, not as practical as a combustionengined car until you get used to charging According to the Jaguar website, £63,495 will drop you into a new, slickly brilliant I-Pace with up to 292 miles of WLTP range, 0–100kph in 4.5 seconds and up-to-theminute environmental street cred. It’s comfortable, great to drive, has a suitably upscale cabin, and has recently won a TopGear Award for being the best EV in the 2018 crop. With a bit of orientation and planning, running an EV like this really does have huge advantages. But that’s still a lot of cash. OR Pre-loved Tesla Model S // £55,000–£70,000 + Ludicrous mode actually is. Barf. Seven-seat possibility. AWD…

New Bentley Conti GT // £159,100 + It’s fast, comfortable, brilliantly made and super-charismatic. Now with added technology - Eats fuel if you push on, it isn’t even remotely subtle, costs a lot A brand-new Continental GT will set you back a not-insignificant £159,100, and that’s even before you’ve delved into the Bentley personalisation programme or fiddled with your granite veneers. For that basic price, you get an old-school British handcrafted vibe, backed up by decidedly new-school technology, making a genuinely exciting and fun car to tool about in, and probably one of the best moneyed dailies out there. There’s all-wheeldrive security and subtle tech married to handmade deliciousness. You just can’t argue with it. OR Pre-loved R-R Phantom Coupe // £168,990 + Monster presence, monster engine, actually quite startling…

“THREE SEATS, STRATOSPHERIC TOP SPEED AND A PRICE TAG THAT’S SIMILARLY OUT OF THIS WORLD” Sleek, isn’t it? Long and low and lean and, well, sleek. A streamliner. This is it, the McLaren Speedtail, the car formerly known as BP23 and likely forever known as the spiritual successor to the F1. Three seats, stratospheric top Facts, though, have been in short supply. And when we’re starved of facts, we feed off myths. The rumour mill spooled up with tales of a 300mph target, of Chiron-beating power, and, to be fair, all we did was fan the flames. Let’s rein in hyperbole and exaggeration right now, because here’s what we do know. The McLaren Speedtail will, when deliveries start in early 2020, have cost each of its 106 owners north of…

Even if you could draw a rear end as complicated as the one on the Zerouno, it would surely be impossible to manufacture. But Italdesign, 50 years old in 2018 with a back catalogue that makes it the Beatles of car design, has managed to do both. It’s not quite a Möbius strip, folding in on itself in a mathematically unorientable way, but it’s fantastically over-the-top. It’s also fully functional, conceived to hustle fastmoving air into suckering the car to the ground and cooling hot componentry, but as this is one of just five ‘pieces’, it’s an abstract sculpture too. And the entire engine cover comes off, doubling as a superhero shield/portable wing. It really works, too. The road we’ve headed along takes us up above the clouds towards Moncenisio,…

No camping beyond this sign, reads the least necessary warning in the history of mankind. I move in for a closer look – no quad biking or motocross either. Fortunately, neither Mark nor I fancy sleeping under canvas or breaking out the fast, flammable toys, given we’re parked in the middle of an oil and natural gas field, surrounded by flare stacks the size of rockets, a swarm of pipes and a landscape that looks like a pilot run for Elon’s Mars colonisation plan. Every few minutes, a truck of quizzical looks trundles past. It feels distinctly like we shouldn’t be here, but apparently clueless strangers roaming around large-scale industrial facilities in a 671bhp hybrid Porsche are perfectly acceptable in Bahrain. Better engage stealth mode, just to be sure. We’re…

After weeks of chasing and being passed from one contact to another, we’ve been given the all clear to visit the biggest private supercar collection in Bahrain. First, we’re given a general area to head to, a short drive from the capital, Manama, then told to wait for a dropped pin detailing the exact location. We’re eating a burger when the message comes through… I half expect it to self-destruct after reading. I can understand the owner’s caution. If you had £100 million worth of unicorns stashed in your garage you would be, too. We’re not even allowed to mention his name, which is curious given you can follow him on Instagram @the_collection1. Still, his cars, his rules. I’m just happy to be here, and can’t stop grinning like a…

It’d be easy to assume us Brits aren’t big fans of Europe if you don’t dig much beyond headlines (or four per cent vote swings), but every yard and minute of this journey has been a glorious reminder of what a wonderful continent it is. Well, until we reach the most seethingly angry Spanish man I’ll likely ever encounter as we home in on our third and final peak. We’re already nearly 3,000m above the sea, having sailed up most of our highest climb with the kind of carefree swagger that’s only ever followed by comeuppance. Upon establishing our high-vis, hard-hatted enemigo speaks even less English than we do Spanish, I reach for a translation app and politely ask, if he wouldn’t mind, explaining why we shall not pass. “CORTADO,…