You may want to check out the pictures that are now available on the Top Gear website of the new series. Apparently, series 15 is coming this summer, which is good news for us – especially when the rumour was that the current format was to be axed due to viewer numbers declining (despite the fact that it still brings in millions more than other shows at the time of day it is shown).

Skoda Superb Estate

The excellent Skoda Superb estate is now on sale at your local Skoda dealership! The car took the Top Gear magazine for ‘Luxury Car of the Year’ (which tells you all you need to know really) and is the most luxurious and practical car to wear the Skoda badge to date.

The Skoda Superb estate features a chrome-framed grille and distinctive headlights, a subtly curved, coupe-like roofline and a design that balances road presence with elegance.

Trim levels and engine choices will mirror those of the Superb hatchback with S, SE and Elegance models available along with the same range of three petrol and three diesel engines. All engines, from 1.4 TSI to 3.6 V6 are equipped with direct fuel injection for optimum fuel efficiency, performance and low emissions. With a choice of manual or twin-clutch DSG gearboxes linked to either front- or four-wheel drive, there’s a Superb Estate to suit everyone’s needs.

Prices start from £17,715. Visit www.skoda.co.uk/ for more information.

Some car manufacturers are more than just that, they are marques. A manufacturer becomes a marque by having history, producing iconic cars and quite often being involved in motorsport. Alfa Romeo is considered just such a marque and is known for creating some beautiful automotive creations, that unfortunately used to suffer from reliability issues. This, according to Top Gear, produces ‘character’. Me? I’m not so convinced when I have to drive 42 miles every day to get to work and back.

Some Alfa Romeos are more reliable than others and the 147 is meant to be ok. However, for most versions of this hatchback I don’t have too much interest. The GTA however is a bit different. Chuck a 3.2 litre V6 engine in a small front wheel drive car and you have – well… it’s madness! Just watch the review to see. Would I own this car though? Hmmm, it’s tough one. I’m going towards a yes on this – especially with the lovely leather interior, beautiful alloys and Italian flair. In fact, I’ve almost convinced myself… Time to look on Auto Trader!

The Top Gear Presenters

I read today that it’s possible that Top Gear is coming to an end. Were the worst to happen and it left our screen, I’d be genuinely gutted. It is more inventive, more entertaining and perhaps more insightful than 90% of other TV on at the moment. It’s also not a soap, ‘reality TV’, self serving or full of crap storytelling (the storytelling on Top Gear is actually very well put together, but more on that later).

Whether you’re 12 or 112, Top Gear has something for you. Each of the three lads has a very strong personality, despite (perhaps) at times coming close to caricature. They play off each other and it forms an excellent piece of TV entertainment every Sunday evening.

A the risk of sounding like a certain James May, I don’t watch much TV as I find it insufferable. Yet, on Sunday evenings, I’m riveted, waiting for 8pm (or thereabouts) to arrive. Even the challenges that aren’t really about cars are huge fun to watch and you can see that they genuinely love what they do.

I understand where the quotes from Andy Wilman are coming from – they’ve recently lost some viewers (but still have a huge number) and some episodes haven’t rung quite true for me. Others however have, and I’d hate to think that a retweak was out of the question.

I guess my question is whether they can look at the formula again and pare it back to what it should be – or whether there’s room in the ‘busy’ (see crap) schedule for this type of entertainment show. Frankly, it’s one of the few car shows on the beeb (and TV in general) so no; I’d be incredibly unimpressed if it went.

Ultimately, it would be like three good friends leaving never to return, if the worst happened. I’m sure I’m not the only one that feels this way. As long as it is on, I promise I’ll never miss and episode. In fact guys, I’ll probably be watching a few times again on Dave…

Richard Hammond is one lucky fella, taking the Porsche Boxster S round the track as well as the BMW Z4M. Both great looking fun sports cars – but which would you have? The Porsche arguably has the badge but the Z4 for me has the looks (four exhausts, huge air intakes etc). And what’s that about a 3.2 litre straight six? Yum.

Ford Fiesta ECOnetic and Ford Focus RS

Ford has won two BBC Top Gear awards this year for two extraordinary cars. The first, the Ford Fiesta ECOnetic, is Ford’s lowest CO2 emitting model, producing only 98g/km, snapping up the “Green Car of the Year” Award. Of course, that’s not the only reason that it took the prize. It’s a nimble, attractive piece of automotive engineering that a world away from something like the grotesque G-Wiz.

The other winner was Ford’s newest hot hatch, the simply staggering Ford Focus RS. I can tell you right now that “Muscle Car of the Year” prize is thoroughly deserved, as it packs a huge punch under the bonnet. It’s a hugely fun car that is capable every day too, making even a simple run to the shops put a smile on your face.

Well done to everyone at Ford.

Jools Holland

Jools Holland is one of the celebs who has taken part in the Fastest Lap Times competition on Top Gear, in a Suzuki Liana. On a recent visit to the National Motor Museum, Beaulieu, Holland cheekily snatched his lap time to gain a more favourable position over the other celebs!

See the famous Lap Times board, cars from Top Gear and much more at the World of Top Gear exhibit at the National Motor Museum. If you’ve never been before you should definitely go, it’s a great place to visit.

World of Top Gear can be viewed as part of a visit to the whole Beaulieu attraction including the National Motor Museum with its collection of over 250 vehicles, Palace House, home of the Montagu family since 1538 and the 13th century Beaulieu Abbey, plus rides, and drives for all the family. Open every day, except Christmas Day, from 10am.

Family tickets cost £45.50 for two adults and up to 3 children or £16.75 each per adult.  

For more information Tel: 01590 612345 or visit www.beaulieu.co.uk

There’s no doubt that this is one of the best Top Gear reviews ever. The Ariel Atom is simply a fantastic car (one which I should be driving on my next track day) and Clarkson is clearly enjoying the ride.

From the second most recent series of Top Gear, here’s the classic review of the new Ford Fiesta by Jeremy Clarkson. It’s bizzare but no doubt brought a smile to everyone’s face when they first saw it – there’s nothing like a couple of cars tearing around a mall/shopping centre on a Sunday evening to make you feel good. I hope it brings a smile to your face as you watch it again.

Here, James May is driving one of my favourite cars of all time. It’s the Pagani Zonda F. Whilst the Veyron may have mullered it in a straight line, the Zonda demonstrates the advantage of having a lightweight car around a track – managing an ultimately faster time. Laugh whilst May spins the car, but marvel at the glory of the thing when he gets it right. It’s a shame I don’t have a spare £900,000…