Well, the new series has kicked off and the legendary Top Gear has returned to our screens for series 18! I’ve no doubt that if you’re reading this blog then you have an interest in cars and thus Top Gear is a regular on your tv or computer. So, what did you make of episode 1 of the new series? Imola, supercars and three seemingly very happy presenters on the top of their game makes me a very happy TG fan indeed… Discussion as always is welcome in the comments section below.

I’ve spoken before about the McLaren MP4-12C. It is an engineering marvel and proper supercar with the potent abilities to make a hugely successful GT car. That’s why I thought I’d share with you all the Top Gear review. Granted, Clarkson may profess that the Ferrari 458 Italia is the motor that touches him more, you can’t disagree with the lap time that this monster from Surrey set on the track.

There’s little else to say to round up 2011 than to cap it off with an aspirational supercar, review courtesy of Top Gear. In our lifetimes, very few of us will own one. It’s like owning a piece of art or an extremely expensive house. For most, it simply doesn’t happen. It remains something that fascinates and amazes by equal measure. Something we hold up as an avatar to say “yes, that is the ultimate in driving”.

In the real world, I wouldn’t want to drive a race car on the road. We have road traffic laws for a reason. Whilst race cars are ideal for the track, A supercar should be simply sublime on the road. This is where the Lamborghini Aventador comes in. It looks, sounds and drives the part. Enjoy the video.

Top Gear has announced the winners of their traditional award ceremony. Here are a selection of the winners:

Top Gear Magazine Car of the Year 2011
Range Rover Evoque

Top Gear Magazine Family Car of the Year 2011
Citroen DS5

Top Gear Magazine Estate Car of the Year 2011
Ferrari FF

Top Gear Magazine Cabriolet Car of the Year 2011
Ferrari 458 Spider

Find out more about the awards at Topgear.com. Top Gear also has an inaugural advent calendar featuring superb motors for you to lust after.

Well done to all winners and my particular favourite is the Evoque. An extremely worthy winner capable of handling just about anything and featuring modern looks. Well done Land Rover!

If you’re currently watching the US version of Top Gear showing on the Beeb, I’d love to know what you think. At first I must say I was rather less impressed than I was hoping, however, as time has gone by I’m actually quite warming to the American trio that is Tanner Foust, Rutledge Wood and Adam Ferrara.

They each bring something to the table and whilst their challenges are arguably less exciting there is, at times, more focus on the cars involved. The dynamic is probably less interesting to the average viewer but I’ve definitely been won over, especially by the all round nice guy that Rutledge seems to be.

Highlight of the show so far? Definitely the Lamborghini focus where they tested three awesome raging bulls. Am I still watching? Yeah, I watch it every week actually and it’s another car show to enjoy. Given the amount of time we spend in our vehicles another show can’t hurt and especially as this offers a different flavour it’s on my ‘record’ list.

According to the latest report from The Mail Online, that is certainly not the case.  In one particular case quoted, shots of Clarkson smashing around a wet track in a Lambo are interspersed with external (extremely quick) sideways moments.  Clarkson has driven all manner of powerful machinery, so there’s no reason why he couldn’t have the ability to drive fast.  But on a track that’s wet?  Well, that’s why there’s a rumour (likely true) that an F3 driver was actually responsible.  Remember, Clarkson, Hammond and May are television presenters first and drivers second.  Take what you see and hear with a pinch of salt and you can’t go wrong.

Here Top Gear tests the 458 Italia against the might of one of the most distinguished cars of our time, the Ferrari 430. Naturally the new car is faster – but my what a difference a few years makes! I’m not surprised that the 458 Italia is the new poster boy for the upcoming Forza Motorsport 4 game for the Xbox 360.

The final episode of the latest series of Top Gear has played out – as per Jeremy Clarkson’s reference in order to allow us all to watch ‘The X Factor’ drivel without interruption. If you saw it, I’d like to just put out there the question of what you made of the electric vehicle feature. For me, it really highlighted where we are with the technology.

Put simply, it’s a really nice idea but the issues around battery life and vehicle range are just too great to ignore. Aside from the fact that various precious (and hard to achieve) metals are used in the construction of these batteries, they’ll frequently only complete 100 miles on a charge. Couple that to long charge times and a battery that has a maximum life span of 10 years (realistically probably half that) and a replacement cost of £7,000 in today’s money and they simply don’t make a lot of sense.

As the lads on the show suggested, a VW Golf Bluemotion makes rather more sense.

It’s well known that James May has a motorcycle licence. He is, much like myself, an enthusiast for all things with wheels and an engine (the exception I make that proves the rule are planes, for which I have no desire to become competent in use!). As such, it’s worth a read of the latest from Visor Down, which has a Q and A with the man himself.

I might be a little behind the times given that it was way back on Sunday, but I’ve only just gotten around to watching the new episode of Top Gear. Frankly, I was not at all disappointed. The Skoda Yeti review was superb and showed just how damn good the small van/4×4/people carrier/capable urban car is, the V8 Ariel Atom that James drove looked devine and the banter between the hosts was as usual top notch.

What did you all think of it? Return to form? Not as good as the last series? The Stig too ‘last season’ for you? Answers in the comments box…