BBC Top Gear

The overrun Small but perfectly formed reviews. The best of the rest from this month’s drives 55 10 10 FIAT 500 It’s here to ease the transition to MERCEDES-BENZ Merc claims 44 miles of electric MHEV the all-electric 500e, but that’s A250E running, but the A250e will do an no excuse for the lazy attempt honest 35, which is actually very £14,230 at hybridisation. The only £32,980 good. Pity it’s messy to drive – addition to the weedy 1.2-litre the 1.3-litre petrol engine is FOR Cutesy looks remain, combustion engine is a 12V FOR Efficient plug-in powertrain, thrashy and unrefined at higher still a decent city car battery under the passenger fast charging revs, but range is good enough AGAINST The mildest of mild seat, which means no EV-only AGAINST Reedy motor, springy that those with average length hybrids, outdated interior range. Instead the 500 flashes brakes & unpredictable regen commutes will seldom need it up an ‘N’ when it wants you to if they can top up the battery 1.2 3cyl 69 13.8 P CO2 shift into neutral and coast 1.3T 4cyl 215 6.6 P CO2 at home/work. Charging at 7kW + emotor bhp secs 53.3 below 18mph. Oh, and Fiat + emotor bhp secs 257 means this takes less than two mpg 89 hasn’t updated the interior, mpg 24 hours. Elsewhere the brakes are g/km which now feels ancient. GP g/km springy and the ride is odd. TH 68 10 10 AUDI A6 50 This is Audi playing catchup, as RANGE ROVER This type of PHEV sometimes TFSI E S-LINE plug-in versions of the 5-Series EVOQUE P300 E SE works well, sometimes not. and E-Class have been around Sometimes they’re clunky and £55,735 for a while. A6 gets a 2.0-litre £47,980 less economical than you’d hope, four and e-motor integrated into and suffer mushy brakes. This FOR Well-made, quiet and the 7spd DCT. A 14.1kWh battery FOR Versatile and refined one isn’t like that. It’s sweet to pretty efficient offers a claimed 34 miles of powertrain, smart car drive, the two power sources AGAINST Ride is way too firm, range; we saw 25 miles on a AGAINST Obvs, you have to feeling neatly integrated. It’s also unpredictable braking quick-ish cross-country drive. plug it in to get the economy barely heavier than a diesel 4x4, Problems? The ride is too firm, and satisfactorily quick. You’ll get 2.0T 4cyl 295 6.2 P CO2 you can’t spec air suspension, 1.5 3cyl 309 6.4 P CO2 good economy from commuting + emotor bhp secs 177 plus the clever ‘Efficiency Assist’ + emotor bhp secs 141.3 because the 15kWh battery’s a mpg 36 system means lifting off the gas mpg 44 decent size, and it’ll still act like a g/km is somewhat unpredictable. TH g/km 4x4 in fields and snow. PH T O P G E A R . C O M › J A N U A R Y 2 0 2 1 051

Two American giants collide, and it’s the old-timer muscling in on the start-up’s patch... WORDS PAT DEVEREUX PHOTOGRAPHY JAMIE LIPMAN CIVIL 052 J A N U A R Y 2 0 2 1 › T O P G E A R . C O M

MACH-E vs MODEL Y WAR T O P G E A R . C O M › J A N U A R Y 2 0 2 1 053

A As punch ups go this is right up there with David and Goliath The irony being that Ford is the challenger and Tesla is the giant in this ring Tesla’s value recently topped billion a staggering times that of the Ford Motor Company It has achieved this by cracking the electric car code creating its own charging infrastructure rather than relying on existing networks And ironically by flogging its zero emission credits to the traditional car companies helping them avoid regulatory emissions fines around the world Ford has big plans to electrify its entire range of cars and trucks but it’s clearly got some catching up to do Here’s the first step on the long and winding road How the Mach E fares here will give us a good idea how it should do in the months and years to come In the red corner we have the Tesla Model Y Elon’s mid sized SUV crossover in top specification Performance trim packing bhp and weighing just over kg It tips the financial scales at In the blue corner stands the new Ford Mustang Mach E This is a flagship First Edition fitted with the twin motor bhp drivetrain and weighs in at an identical In the UK it’s Both are family SUVs cool enough to be seen in practical enough to cope The Ford hits that mark reasonably predictably nothing controversial a hint of mean streets of Mustang meets cutesy Disney The Tesla is an MPV remember them? It wouldn’t be cool if anyone else did it Seconds out it’s time for round one ROUND 1 The first round of this hour electric grudge match in Los Angeles the world epicentre of electron powered cars starts with both cars on an identical per cent charge We do what we do with all new cars head for the canyons and curves in the mountains above the city I have a secret route honed over many years which within fewer than miles can tell you pretty much everything you need to know about a car’s ride handling 054 J A N U A R Y 2 0 2 1 › T O P G E A R . C O M

MACH-E vs MODEL Y “AS PUNCH-UPS GO, THIS IS RIGHT UP THERE WITH DAVID AND GOLIATH” T O P G E A R . C O M › J A N U A R Y 2 0 2 1 055

Not quite your traditional Mustang, and that’s before you’ve seen under the bonnet 056 J A N U A R Y 2 0 2 1 › T O P G E A R . C O M

MACH-E vs MODEL Y Can’t be just us who thinks these two wouldn’t look out of place in Disney’s Cars franchise... “IT’S THE TESLA acceleration and braking It’s our own private Nordschleife or Isle THAT IS THE MORE of Man and not far o as demanding ENJOYABLE, THE We are expecting the Mustang despite its power deficit in this MORE ATHLETIC spec to be the star performer here given all its sports car heritage OF THE TWO” and much hyped handling Plus it’s got the benefit of being developed against the known Tesla package I mean that’s almost like putting This is the moment Pat wishes weights in your boxing gloves he’d checked exactly what the insurance covered But when we get to the top of the mountain we agree that it’s the Tesla that is the more enjoyable the more athletic of the two It’s noticeably lighter on its wheels feels much more incisive and quick reacting turning into corners Admittedly there’s little steering feel but overall the lower centre of gravity and higher grip help boost confidence and allow you to use all of the Tesla’s considerable power Power that Tesla claims can get it to mph in seconds almost two whole seconds ahead of the Ford Somehow it’s more rewarding and enjoyable to drive not only than the Mach E but also previous Model saloons we have driven We suspect that’s down to the Y’s inch wheels and slightly lowered suspension A set up that does make the ride a bit harsh Depending on where you put your driving priorities that might make the Ford a better bet The Mach E’s inch wheels give a much smoother plusher ride than the Tesla on all surfaces Road noise is lower and the car is calmer But the Mach E is heavy in comparison the steering weight especially in Unbridled the most open of the three performance modes feels synthetic and the car takes a moment longer to respond to inputs than the Y It’s not a car that likes to be thrown around or rewards you for doing so It’s best kept within its modest grip boundaries manage the weight by turning in more gradually and you can still rocket out the other side of a corner in a very satisfying way And it’s easily quick enough for an SUV Despite being kg heavier mash the throttle in any mode and its lb ft of torque arrive instantly with a Blade Runner esque soundtrack booming out of the speakers The Tesla has the more complete electric drivetrain its transition from acceleration to regen braking is superb You can make deceptively quick progress without once touching the stop pedal just relaxing the throttle to get the car to turn in It sounds alien but all it takes is a couple of corners for it to be second nature and fun ROUND 2 Both cars enter the next round with about per cent of battery charge remaining having regen’ed several per cent on the run back down the T O P G E A R . C O M › J A N U A R Y 2 0 2 1 057

MACH-E vs MODEL Y mountain Try doing that in your regular pony car That’s still 058 J A N U A R Y 2 0 2 1 › T O P G E A R . C O M plenty to do a day of city driving So there’s no range panic yet This round is all about how each vehicle stacks up when it comes to moving people and their baggage Since we have a photographer and his assistant with us we have no shortage of awkward sized cases bags and strange unreasonable requests for pictures in hard to get to places Ford claims the Mach E’s interior draws on mid century modern design themes of clean lines and floating details like the central control screen to achieve a sense of openness and space I wish they didn’t I live in a Fifties MCM house so it’s quite simple to compare and I’m not seeing it Don’t get me wrong it’s a nice interior The full width textile covered dashboard looks feels and indeed is a B&O speaker the pillar box info screen is unobtrusive and crystal clear while the vast portrait central screen is great to use and behold Plus its seats are instantly softer and more compliant than the Tesla’s and the driving position can be tailored more easily thanks to a telescopic steering column But it’s more conventional in here Ford has left switchgear littered around presumably unwilling to risk alienating current Ford owners The Model Y by comparison is minimalist heaven You have a wood topped dash a landscape screen and no zero buttons other than the toggles on the steering wheel That’s it Spec it in white if you dare and have a cleaner on speed dial and it feels like you are in some kind of other worldly space ship A feeling which is only added to when you start to explore the technology on o er The Mach E has Ford’s excellent Co Pilot suite of anti crash safety bells and whistles But the Model Y’s Autopilot and other features are on an altogether di erent planet of sophistication The car is near sentient monitoring tra c pedestrians and road furniture It even reminds you when the tra c lights have turned green in case you are lost in thought Rather than being annoying you can turn o pretty much all the noises if you want it simply feels more evolved and smarter than the Mach E Both cars can shape shift their interiors very quickly to adapt to di ering loads of human and other baggage They share low rear load decks quick folding split rear seats and small but useful frunks Rear passengers said they preferred the Model Y’s higher more airy seating position compared with the Mach E’s lower slung high beltline seating but there were no serious complaints After several hours of stop go and swerve through the now dimly lit third world downtown streets we declared this round a draw If you like your tech on the bleeding edge and your furniture minimal the Y is the choice But if you just want to drive an electric car that keeps you safe and doesn’t try and dazzle you the Mach E is on point It’s the less demanding easier to interact with car ROUND 3 From inside to out this penultimate session comes down to the physical kerb appeal of the two vehicles This is not a round you score yourself it’s all about what the general public and other road users think And on that basis there might as well have been only one car in this test the Mach E Everyone we met moving and static was mesmerised by the Grabber Blue Ford while the red Tesla was all but invisible

Elon seems to be winning his one-man war against buttons Joke’s over, people, let’s get back to normal- sized screens. Please? T O P G E A R . C O M › J A N U A R Y 2 0 2 1 059

Endlessly harking back to long lost glory days? Doesn’t sound like the US at all 060 J A N U A R Y 2 0 2 1 › T O P G E A R . C O M

MACH-E vs MODEL Y “EVERYONE WE MET WAS MESMERISED BY THE GRABBER BLUE FORD” T O P G E A R . C O M › J A N U A R Y 2 0 2 1 061

WHAT’S IT LIKE IN RAINY OLD BLIGHTY? WORDS OLLIE MARRIAGE PHOTOGRAPHY ROWAN HORNCASTLE It’s yet another dank day. Cold, too. Anti- a plain, humming V6. The driving modes (Active, Californian, then. But the Mach-E doesn’t Whisper and Untamed for the UK) don’t really seem to mind. Each kilowatt-hour of battery do much except sharpen the throttle and brakes. power is taking me more than three miles, No adaptive dampers here. and I’m enjoying every one of them. There’s something about the way it goes down a British Enjoy driving? You’ll get something out of this. road that’s quietly satisfying. The Mach-E rides with reasonable dexterity. It’s a bit springy at the rear if we’re being picky, and It doesn’t have a great deal of grip on the high on the firm side at low speeds, but pick up the profile tyres, and it’s nothing like as fast as a Tesla. pace a touch and it levels out, taut enough to But why do you need so much speed? This is as maintain control and support the heavy frame quick to accelerate as a V8 Mustang, but more through corners. importantly feels the right amount of power for the chassis to cope with. And that means the handling has a little bit of an edge to it as well. There’s no steering feel If you’re not bothered about driving, you’ll find whatsoever, but that passive suspension does a the Mach-E easy to get on with. Twist the gear reasonable job of communicating what’s happening selector and off you go. It’s silent, smooth, your at road level, and there’s actual poise and dexterity. inputs are obediently translated and it does It’s not a car you chuck about, it’s uncomfortable at nothing untoward. Rear visibility’s not great, but more than 7/10ths effort, but boot it at the apex and elsewhere it is. Good turning circle, too. Engage power goes to the back, so the Mach-E exits briskly with it a bit more, and you’ll find the fuss-free one- and neutrally. It gives at least a passing nod to the pedal mode and the ‘propulsion sound’, apparently Mustang badge – and to cars such as the regular inspired by ‘Eighties sci-fi cinema’. Actually more like smooth-handling Focus and Fiesta. 062 J A N U A R Y 2 0 2 1 › T O P G E A R . C O M

MACH-E vs MODEL Y Tesla adds another billion to its value faster than you can fill up with juice Unwanted attention in your ’Stang? Move to the UK and order one in grey, you’ll blend right in to them Many didn’t even bother to check out the Y just believing it was an X or perhaps a Tesla’s design hasn’t really evolved at all But everyone wanted to know more about the Mach E There’s been a lot of chat about use of the Mustang name being close to abuse of the hallowed brand But we couldn’t find anyone including serial owners of petrol powered Mustangs who had anything but good things to say about it Would they buy one? “Hell yeah!” was the common response So mark that one down as a win for the Blue Oval if you buy a car to get noticed And to Tesla if you enjoy moving around anonymously ROUND 4 With charge levels now down to per cent ish and both vehicles needing to be returned the next day with full batteries this final round was all about charging Tesla obviously lands the first uppercut by having a relatively mature widespread Supercharger network It’s impressive in Europe but in California it’s close to faultless So we came up with a challenge We asked each car for its suggested charging options and surprisingly they both came back with the same location a shopping centre six miles away Arriving at the mall the T O P G E A R . C O M › J A N U A R Y 2 0 2 1 063

MFIAACTHG-REOvUsPMSOTDAESLHY TESLA MODEL Y MUSTANG MACH-E PERFORMANCE FIRST EDITION Price: $61,000 Price: $61,000 (UK price TBC) £58,080 in the UK Engine: Dual motor, Engine: Dual motor, 75kWh, 451bhp, 471lb ft 99kWh, 346bhp, 428lb ft Transmission: Transmission: Single-speed, AWD Single-speed, AWD Range: 298 miles (WLTP) Range: 336 miles (WLTP) Performance: Performance: 0–62mph in 3.5secs 0–62mph in 5.8secs Top speed: 150mph Top speed: 111mph Weight: 2,003kg Weight: 2,218kg “BOTH DO THE JOB difference could not have been more pronounced. While the rather OF BEING A FAMILY tatty regular chargers were just bolted into a couple of stalls on a SUV AT LEAST AS low-level floor, their cables slung like knotted clothes lines over the WELL AS ANYTHING boxes, the sleek, clean Tesla Superchargers occupied a full quarter WITH AN ENGINE” of the top floor of the car park. When we plugged the Mach-E in, the charger informed us it would take 20 hours to fill. The Tesla? Just 45 minutes. This has nothing to do with the cars themselves, but highlights that the public charging network – both in Europe and the US – is five years behind Tesla’s. Superchargers, which are still faster than the fastest offered by Ford’s network, almost completely remove the whole range anxiety thing. It’s just so easy to use Tesla’s network away from home. Plot a long journey and the Model Y will tell you where to stop, how long you’ll need to be there and redirect you if that Supercharger is occupied before you get there. Ford’s onboard system isn’t too far behind, able to find fast chargers, plot routes and so on, but it isn’t yet quite as cohesive. What to make of the two cars overall? Well both do the job of being a family SUV at least as well as anything with an internal combustion engine. No, the Mustang is not a Mustang as we know and love it, but it is a highly competent and moderately engaging first step on Ford’s path to electrification. But despite the clearly apparent investment Ford has put in, our winner is the Tesla Model Y. Not because of its speed and handling, but because it feels the fresher, more forward looking product. It wins on points, but given this is Ford’s first attempt, it’s a very solid one indeed. Tesla worth 16 times Ford? Could soon be time to back the Blue Oval instead. 064 J A N U A R Y 2 0 2 1 › T O P G E A R . C O M

USATG’S ROUGH GUIDE TO AMERICA TG ROUGH GUIDE TO AMERICA Supersized insights on the state of this nation... from the TG experts T O P G E A R . C O M › J A N U A R Y 2 0 2 1 065

HOW TO ROADTRIP TRULY TERRIBLE AMERICAN CARS The need to know before you go – the laws, that is – plus our essential road snack breakdown to keep you fuelled They tried to sell over here WORDS SAM BURNETT AMC Pacer (1975) WEIRD CAR LAWS Powered by a 95bhp 3.8-litre In Alabama it’s It’s illegal to travel In Utah, birds have It’s illegal to drive straight-six that managed forbidden to drive down the road in right of way on with a dog on the 18mpg, the chunky Pacer’s wearing a blindfold Arizona in reverse all highways roof in Alaska RHD conversion involved the UK importer running a chain You mustn’t frown In California, women Leaving mud on the In Maine it’s illegal at a police officer can’t drive in road will get you a to buy a car on behind the dash in New Jersey dressing gowns fine in Minnesota a Sunday Chrysler PT Cruiser (2002) KNOW YOUR ROAD SNACKS So ‘novelty hearse chic’ wasn't as much of a draw as Chrysler thought it was. The two-door convertible version of the car was a particular lowlight Cadillac BLS (2006) GM platform sharing saw Cadillacs officially coming to the UK in the early Noughties. Sadly those platforms were shared with the Vauxhall Vectra BEEF JERKY TRAIL MIX CANDY GAS STATION SODA Hummer H2 (2007) Someone looked at this Chew away the miles Invented as the perfect You get vaguely familiar You’ve not lived until 2.2-tonne beast and its with a stash of cured snack food for a hike, chews and odd boiled you’ve had the twitchy, 3.5-litre straight-five and dehydrated cow. What’s but a roadtrip needs sweets with flavours like diabetic pleasure of a thought, “You know who’d it been cured of? Best slow release energy too, blue raspberry, but 40oz cup of luminous not to ask. Tear off a right? You’ll find varying candy corn’s the thing to carbonated syrup love this? The Brits.” chunk, get your elbow blends of dried fruit, go for – no discernible coursing through you. Well that was wrong up on the open window nuts, seeds and a nutritional value but as Getting a 1.4-litre cup is and away you go. dash of chocolate. addictive as crack. basically the law. Chrysler Sebring convertible (2008) This folding hard-top convertible had room for four, if you could find three other people who didn’t mind being seen in it. Keenly priced 066 J A N U A R Y 2 0 2 1 › T O P G E A R . C O M

TG ROUGH GUIDE TO AMERICA 1 If you want to 2 The twistiest road in 3 Mountains or sea? 4 Alaska. It’s hard to 5 Start at the top of go really fast in America is reputed You could ascend get to and there’s Mt Lee Drive. You’ll America, you don’t want to be the Tail of the Pikes Peak or the lesser not many people there know you’re in the right to be on a road at all. Dragon (US-129) south of known Mt Washington. when you do. The place because there’s Go to the Bonneville Knoxville in Tennessee. Both are renowned question is what to do a giant Hollywood sign Salt Flats and be Packing 318 corners into hillclimb venues with while you’re there. Two next to you. The trouble mesmerised. But if it’s 11 miles, you might have spectacular views. But options, do what we did is, you’ll be on foot as high speed tarmac you heard of it. The trouble they’re not spectacular and drive the Dalton you can’t drive to the crave, then the world’s is so has everyone else. long-range driving Highway across the top. So walk down, fastest production cars And the law enforcement events. For that we entire height of the hop in your Bentley have settled on a that takes a particularly recommend the state from Anchorage Conti GT convertible seven-mile stretch of dim view of anyone 1,500-mile long US-101. to Prudhoe Bay on the (important to look the Highway 160 between crossing the central The famous bit is known Arctic coast. Bear in part here), and head Pahrump (a name surely double yellow lines. as the Pacific Coast mind it’s only semi- south west, past the inspired by a brass So give it a miss. Head Highway and runs from paved and closed in Hollywood Bowl and band) and Las Vegas. It’s instead 200 miles LA to San Francisco. winter. But then so are into boulevard land and where Koenigsegg sent north-east to US-421, Ignore it, too many most roads in Alaska. names you’ll know from its Agera RS in 2017 and the Snake Road. Just as tourists. Instead take Option two is Route 5, films: Wilshire, Sunset, did 277.9mph and was good to drive, but much your rental and keep known as the Top of the Rodeo, Mulholland. more recently visited by quieter. There’s a loop driving north, past the World highway. Grab They’re all here and the SSC Tuatara which of roads in the area that coastal forests full of your passport, go to within a few blocks of went... well, no one’s criss-cross Virginia, giant Redwoods and Chicken (yep, that’s the each other. Welcome quite sure. Want to do it North Carolina and on into Oregon and town) and point yourself to Beverly Hills. Just yourself? You’ll have to Tennessee, allowing you Washington. Endless east towards Canada. don’t expect to enjoy the get permission and pay to imagine you’re beaches to one side, We’d recommend a big driving – this experience to have the road closed. running moonshine even huge trees to the other truck – a Dodge Ram is all about soaking up But why not head there though you’ve turned up and a finish at one of or Ford F150. Rugged, the atmosphere. When in Hennessey’s new in something highly America’s best kept blends in and serves you’re bored of that, Venom F5 and see if you inappropriate. We secrets, Olympic as a decent viewing head the 15 miles to can’t thrash ‘em all? suggest an Ariel Atom. National Park. platform. Heaven. Tuna Canyon Road. TO GO TO GO TO WITNESS FOR A SENSE TO LOOK FAST IN A ROUND SOME INCREDIBLE OF COMPLETE LIKE A STRAIGHT LINE CURVES VIEWS ISOLATION MOVIE STAR PRIME US TARMAC So much to explore, so how do you know where to head? Well, we've hit the road more times than Jack Kerouac WORDS OLLIE MARRIAGE T O P G E A R . C O M › J A N U A R Y 2 0 2 1 067

TG ROUGH GUIDE TO AMERICA MUSCLE MEMORY 2020 MEDALLION MEN A brief history of the muscle car in Ford Mustang America from 1964 to the modern day Shelby GT500 Evolution of the NY yellow cab WORDS OLLIE KEW 2018 Samuel's Electric Carriage 1970 and Wagon Company 1964 Plymouth Road Dodge Demon NYC’s first taxi cab company Runner Superbird A decade on from the began operating in 1897. It Oldsmobile Challenger’s debut, expanded healthily before 4-4-2 Proof that even in a depot fire and economic ‘Murica, there’s such Dodge morphed it crash in 1907 killed it off 1964 into a 840bhp drag a thing as too big, Checker Model Y Pontiac GTO too much, and too strip hero. It’s not Dominated the taxi scene The muscle car’s golden bad taste. Originally here for the 0–60 in through much of the 20th shunned, nowadays 2.3secs or trans brake century, with its five seats age begins here, with these change hands though. We love it putting it in pole position John DeLorean’s 352bhp for over $220,000. when NYC introduced the for the wheelies. ‘medallion’ permit system version of the Pontiac Le Mans. Executives 2012 Checker Series A expected to sell 5,000 per Probably the quintessential Big year, but over 32,000 were Chevrolet Yellow Taxi, the Series A stayed shifted as Americans Camaro ZL1 lapped up the GTO recipe. in production from 1959–1982, 2008 complete with an optional 1964 1969 Dodge Challenger 2017 Chevy V8 engine. Just what you After the post-oil need for Times Square traffic Ford Ford Mustang crisis wilderness, Chevrolet Thunderbolt Mach 1 Ford kickstarted a Camaro ZL1 1LE Ford Crown Victoria Over 1.5m of these V8- 1968 1968 new muscle car age powered saloons were with the retro Mustang built between 1991 and Dodge 2011, with many serving Super Bee in 2004. Dodge soon first as police squad cars followed suit with this and then as NYC cabs cool 425bhp ‘Hemi’ Nissan NV200 V8 Challenger. Dumpy van was supposed to be the ‘Taxi of Tomorrow’, with 1949 2013 13,000 ruling the Big Apple’s streets for decades. However, Oldsmobile Ford Shelby 1977 Ford Shelby GT500 it’s been rudely usurped by Rocket 88 Cobra GT500 KR The last ‘Stang to Toyota’s Camry and Prius Plus While the ‘Stang was Pontiac Probably the first the original ‘pony Firebird retain a live rear axle muscle car, thanks to car’, Shelby’s ‘King of Trans-Am entrusted its 19th a 5.0-litre, 135bhp V8 the Road’ soon put it in a (relatively) small into muscle car lore. 1971 century suspension GT500s rolled off with a supercharged body. The Rocket the line with at least Plymouth remained a dominant Barracuda 662bhp. 200mph in NASCAR race winner 435bhp. Yee-ha! a factory Mustang? until the early Fifties. Carroll would’ve been proud. 068 J A N U A R Y 2 0 2 1 › T O P G E A R . C O M

A BITE TO EAT HOTDOGS ACC ENTS GUYS KEN YOUSE FRIED CHIC Y’ALL YOU GUYS TACOS BURGERS It's no place for nuance... understand the United States in six simple maps WORDS SAM BURNETT GEOGRAPHY MOTORSPORT INIBREAK DRAG RACING MONSTER TRUCKS HOLLYWOOD HILL CLIMB AR DESERT M NASC DISNEYLAND TRACTOR PULLING THE US IN STEREOTYPES TOO HOT WAY TOO HOT LAR VEHICLES SALOONS R FI PI CKUP TRUCKS WET NE WEATHE MOST POPU 069

INDIANAPOLIS COTA LAGUNA SECA BRISTOL MOTOR SPEEDWAY ROAD ATLANTA Home of the 500, the One of the newest Famous for the Corkscrew, It’s only a little over A circuit that’s brilliant third oldest race track circuits in America, the a six-storey drop off a half a mile long, and to drive. Whether it’s the and biggest capacity 3.426-mile Circuit of the blind crest, but there’s the lap record stands sweeps through turns 2, stadium on the planet. Americas near Austin so much more to Laguna at 12.7 seconds, but if 3 and 4 near the start Originally built as a car in Texas was purpose Seca than that. Packing you want to witness a of the 2.54-mile lap, the testing as well as racing built to host Formula 11 turns into 2.238 miles, racing spectacle, look uphill esses just after venue for the area’s One. Designed by the this is a track that no further than this that, the heavy- burgeoning horseless oft-criticised Hermann doesn’t give you a short track oval in compression dip on carriage industry in 1909, Tilke in conjunction with moment to breathe – and Tennessee. With the back straight (known Indianapolis Motor ex-bike racer Kevin the scariest part isn’t the 30-degree banking as the ‘gravity cavity’ Speedway hosted the Schwantz. Drivers love Corkscrew at all, but the making for high speeds before it was flattened first 500 in 1911. Originally COTA, especially the flat, blind, cresting kink (it claims to be the out) or the blind entry made from compacted first sector of the of Turn 1. Built in 1957 on ‘world’s fastest half balls-of-steel sweep stone, less than two circuit, which climbs the outskirts of Monterey mile’) and continuous through Turn 12 onto the months and several at a steep 11 degrees in California, it hosted seating for over 160,000 short start/finish straight, accidents later the from the grid and then Can-Am, Formula 5000 all the way round, it has Road Atlanta in Georgia 2.5-mile, four-turn oval descends through fast and Indy car races. Also the feel of gladiatorial is an epic that takes a lot was repaved with 3.2 sweepers. Raced by witnessed one of the arena rather than a of learning. Built at the million bricks, a surface both F1 and Moto GP, the best racing moves racetrack – 40 NASCAR dawn of Can-Am racing it retained until 1961. bike lap record stands ever during a 1996 CART racers going around in 1970, Road Atlanta The lap record of at 2mins 02.135secs race, when TG hero Alex a four-turn oval only has witnessed mighty 37.9secs was set by (Marc Marquez, 2015), the Zanardi passed Bryan twice the length of moments. Most famously Arie Luyendyk at an car at 1min 32.029secs Herta on the inside of an athletics track is Yannick Dalmas’ backflip average over 237mph. (Valtteri Bottas, 2019). the Corkscrew. something to behold. in the 911 GT1 in 1998. THE TRACKS It's not all ovals, you know – America is home to a range of great circuits too WORDS OLLIE MARRIAGE 070 J A N U A R Y 2 0 2 1 › T O P G E A R . C O M

TG ROUGH GUIDE TO AMERICA HOW TO BE A NASCAR FAN THE ICONS Want to fit in at the local There’s good drivers, and then there’s great drivers, oval track? Follow our five and this lot deserve their place in the US hall of fame simple steps and you'll WORDS OLLIE KEW be off to a rolling start Grow a mullet This one will take some time, but a lank draping of hair across the neck is the perfect sun protection, while your MAGA hat covers the head Perfect your accent Phil Hill Dan Gurney Mario Andretti Richard Petty You’ll want a southern drawl that’s somewhere between 1927–2008 1931–2018 1940–PRESENT 1937–PRESENT southern belle and Forrest Gump. The slurring is easier 1 The only American- 2 The strapping New 3 European-born 4 ‘The King’ was the after a few beers (see below) born driver to win Yorker invented the Andretti is the first NASCAR driver the F1 championship ‘Gurney flap’ aero only F1 world champion to win the Cup Series Get a truck (for Ferrari, in 1961), Hill’s device as used across (achieved in 1978) to championship seven Your pick-up’s size is in direct victory was bittersweet motorsport to this day, have also claimed the times. Petty holds the proportion to your manliness. as his German teammate and began the tradition Daytona and Indy record for Daytona 500 So something gigantic you'd Wolfgang von Trips was of spraying champagne 500s, yet he’s also won wins (seven) and career expect pulling a supermarket killed in a horrific crash on the podium after NASCAR races and taken race wins (200), which with two races left to run. winning the 1967 Le Mans a Le Mans class victory. pales in comparison box trailer in the UK, then Hill took 16 F1 podiums, 24 Hours. He found time Since 1978, no American with his career highlight three Sebring endurance to compete – and win – – of Italian heritage or of voicing a veteran wins and won the Le in F1, Trans-Am, Can-Am, otherwise – has won racecar in Disney’s Mans 24hrs three times. Indy Car and NASCAR. an F1 grand prix. Cars movie franchise. WORDS: SAM BURNETT Buy a coolbox Craig Breedlove AJ Foyt Dale Earnhardt Jimmie Johnson A coolbox has two benefits – it keeps your many beers 1937–PRESENT 1935–PRESENT 1951–2001 1975–PRESENT chilled (as bland as possible, preferably in a small bottle) 5 The first man to 6 The Indy 500, the 7 ‘Mr Intimidator’ was 8 The other seven- and offers somewhere to sit pass 400mph, Daytona 500, the one of NASCAR’s time Winston Cup 500mph and 600mph 24 Hours of Daytona, love/hate characters, winner, California-born Lose the shirt is an impressive and the Le Mans 24 famed for his ‘bump ’n’ Johnson retired in 2020. Feel the sun on your beer gut five-time land-speed Hours. Foyt is the only run’ driving style. A As per Lewis Hamilton, record holder who driver ever to win all of seven-time Winston arguments now rage and show off that full-size pioneered the use of them. He also holds the Cup winner, he won the over whether he’s the Jimmie Johnson tattoo on your turbojet-powered LSR endurance triple crown Daytona 500 at the 20th GOAT or not – especially back. Cover up with a military cars. Breedlove crashed (Sebring, Daytona and attempt in 1998. He was among the fans of Jeff surplus gilet if self-conscious his most recent Spirit of Le Mans). He won Le killed on the final lap of Gordon and David America car at 675mph Mans on his first and the 2001 race. His son Pearson, both of whom back in 1996. He’ll be only attempt, driving Dale Jnr is a two-time won more races overall, back for another go... a Ford GT40 in 1967. Daytona 500 winner. but scored fewer titles. T O P G E A R . C O M › J A N U A R Y 2 0 2 1 071

072 J A N U A R Y 2 0 2 1 › T O P G E A R . C O M Remember when 500bhp made a supercar, 700bhp was potty and 1,000bhp unthinkable? That’s chicken feed to these two. If the combustion engine’s days are really numbered, then it’s going out with a bang WORDS JACK RIX & ROWAN HORNCASTLE PHOTOGRAPHY MARK RICCIONI & PHILIPP RUPPRECHT

VENOM vs BOLIDE T O P G E A R . C O M › J A N U A R Y 2 0 2 1 073

VENOM vs BOLIDE

“If we had one target, one car we tried to emulate, it was the Mclaren F1. This is our opportunity to build a Texas version of the F1.” John Hennessey isn’t the shy and retiring type but even by single clutch semi auto with paddle shift although given his standards the claim’s a bold one Thing is I’m standing next to the first production prototype of the Hennessey the unholy grunt to grip ratio available power is carefully Venom F in a photo studio in Bedfordshire and he might be on to something There’s the F name for starters derived managed especially in the first four gears otherwise you’d from the Fujita tornado intensity scale F being the most er intense with wind speeds of up to mph a number be spinning your tyres all the way to mph and beyond that will come into sharp focus in a few paragraphs’ time Early simulations predict a modest mph time of No it doesn’t have the F ’s trident seat arrangement but both are fairly low key supercar designs putting function seconds followed by fireworks mph in secs and before form prioritising simplicity and weight reduction Both are rear drive dominated by their mid mounted engines and mph in secs That last figure? More than twice as have head swivelling top speeds And both are the product of one man’s passion singular visions inextricably linked to their fast as a Bugatti Chiron and over seven secs quicker than a creators In the F ’s case a moustachioed former Formula One engineer from Surrey in the F ’s corner it’s Mr Texas Koenigsegg Regera the current mph champ Target himself nursing an unhealthy addiction to horsepower top speed is mph kph the theoretical top speed Ready for some numbers? Warning you might want to give your brain a hard reboot before taking this lot in The F ’s taking into account the rpm limiter and gear ratios is engine is a litre twin turbo V called Fury that produces around mph although the true drag limited top speed bhp at rpm and lb ft of torque at rpm making it until Bugatti commits to a production run of lies somewhere between those two numbers It’ll cost m Bolides the most powerful road car engine in the world Thanks to its bespoke carbon tub carbon panels and not a lot only will be built starting from next year and based else it weighs kg dry just kg more than a Ferrari F Tributo yet it has over bhp more Power to weight ratio on starting and idling the engine in the studio until my is bhp per tonne I’ll let that one marinate for a moment eardrums were buzzing and eyes watering uncontrollably Although based on GM’s classic LS pushrod V everything from the dry sump to the cast iron block it’ll sound like the inside of an avalanche titanium intake valves dustbin lid turbos sprinkler sized fuel injectors two per cylinder and engine management For anyone struggling to place John Hennessey he’s the system is bespoke and adapted from the world of drag racing which isn’t surprising when you’re producing as much power man who’s spent years modifying trucks muscle cars and as seven and a half Golf GTIs The gearbox is a seven speed supercars to bursting point culminating in the Lotus Exige based Venom GT which grabbed the world’s fastest car gong back in with a mph run “The idea of the F came along after the Venom GT had achieved a level of success but we knew we wouldn’t get the credit we deserved until we built our own car ” John explains “We didn’t want a one hit top speed wonder we wanted a car with a proper amount of balance and downforce at mph but one that could still be driven on a B road in the UK or a circuit ” We’ll see about that but the fundamentals appear right The tub weighs just kg and surpasses the Chiron for torsional rigidity The dampers are manually not electronically adjustable to save weight the brakes are Brembo carbon ceramics the wheels are forged aluminium s at the front s at the back and the tyres aren’t bespoke T O P G E A R . C O M › J A N U A R Y 2 0 2 1 075

Like most of the TG staffers, Is this the speedo, the Venom’s seats have or an A-level maths padding in all the right places exam question? Did we mention the dedication to weight saving yet? Not even a full steering wheel in here 076 J A N U A R Y 2 0 2 1 › T O P G E A R . C O M

VENOM vs BOLIDE “THE VENOM IS ABOUT AS DELICATE AS A WRECKING BALL TO THE FACE” unicorns they’re o the shelf Michelin Pilot Sport Cup s Even Swing open the butterfly doors nod in appreciation at the slimline sills and then marvel at an interior that’s brilliantly so John is confident they’ll hold up at mph and beyond thought out The chopped steering wheel and target graphics on the instrument cluster are obvious fighter references “because at “We will be able to measure each tyre as the car goes past kph you’re less of a driver more of a pilot ” apparently but in and starts inching towards mph We will know the load fact losing the top of the wheel means a perfect view straight ahead temperature and pressure at each corner if anywhere along the The seats are skeletal carbon layered with just enough padded leather to make roadtrips feasible if you can cram your pants and way we don’t feel the car should go beyond a certain point we may toothbrushes behind the seats into the glovebox in the passenger footwell or into one of the cubby holes carved into the carbon sills limit the car But we don’t want to do that we don’t intend to ” and central spine There’s an immensely satisfying snap to the paddles a central screen for all your Apple CarPlay/Android Auto And the F ’s first high speed test is already set for spring needs a physical dial for aircon and a handful of switches on the centre console The rest headlights wipers engine start driving on the shuttle landing strip at Kennedy Space Center in Florida modes are all crammed onto the wheel in front of your face “Whatever car we do the testing with there will be nothing Three of those five modes Wet Sport Track do what you’d expect gradually cranking up/loosening o the ESC ABS and special about it the power delivery the calibration the tyres the throttle response while the other two are a bit more involved Drag is about taming the power to get the best launch o the line setting will be exactly the same as for all customer cars That but also using the hydraulic nose lift system to tip the weight back and improve traction at the rear F Vmax will be the only mode runway is miles long so we can run on wide open throttle for where the full bhp is unleashed but to unlock it you’ll need to complete a day of driver training with Hennessey “Just pitching miles then we need that final mile to slow down What speeds owners the keys would be irresponsible ” says John smiling can we hit in that distance? It might run in the realm of mph The Texan McLaren F ? Sure why not It’s about as delicate as a wrecking ball to the face and we’ll have to drive it before maybe a little below maybe a little above ” Not bad bearing in we can tell you whether it moves the game on in ways other than that monumental top speed but as an expression of the mid mind that it’s working in roughly half the distance the Bugatti engine supercar taken to previously unimaginable places as a perfect encapsulation of an excess all areas approach it looks Super Sport had at Ehra Lessien for its mph record untouchable Only in America in Back to John “What about kph? We’ll need to find a public road somewhere ideally I’d like to do it here in Texas ” To keep drag to a minimum but maintain enough stability to stay the right way up at these stratospheric speeds you’ll notice there’s no ironing board rear wing or jutting front spoiler However if downforce is more your thing Hennessey will sell you both of those to bolt on as part of a track pack Personally? I’d keep it clean slippery the way it was intended It’s not like there’s zero scope for peacocking Around the back you can show o your toothy di user machined carbon fibre mesh and quad stainless steel exhausts surrounded by a panel sprayed in a heat resistant ceramic coating the same stu used to line the inside of guns You can take the boy out of Texas T O P G E A R . C O M › J A N U A R Y 2 0 2 1 077

PUB WHICH WINS IN A DRAG RACE? AMMO DEPLOY THE TOPGEAR MATHS... Bugatti has access to roomfuls of supercomputers that will But the Bolide is in a different dimension from its brother. ingest the entirety of a still-unbuilt car’s physical characteristics It’s more powerful and lighter even than the Hennessey. and spit out, to the nearest tenth, a Nordschleife lap time. It has more torque. Critically, it runs on slicks and has AWD. Hennessey has any amount of experience in engineering turbo V8s up to and beyond their physical limits. Plus limitless So the Bolide will squirt away from rest in what’s a brutal Texan swagger. TopGear has, well, TopGear maths: a blotchy gut-punch for its driver: 0–62 in 2.2 seconds, according fountain pen and the back of an envelope. But for what it’s to Bug’s supercomputer. In doing that sprint the F5 is worth, here are some comparisons. constraining its power in low gears to avoid melting the tyres and possibly twisting the driveshafts, so it’s back at 2.6secs. Both of them push the borders of insanity. The slower Then the Bug stays in front: a second ahead even at 186mph. of this pair would get from rest to 250mph in just half the Pause and ponder that these cars get from 125mph to time it takes a Bugatti Chiron. Which means that it’s a lot 186mph in the same time as a ‘normal’ supercar does 0–62. less than half the distance. The Bugatti keeps a high-speed lead because it has Which is why Hennessey thinks it can get close to 300mph variable wings and can keep drag low for this high-speed from a standstill using just the 3.1 miles of NASA’s Space Shuttle straight line work. Hennessey avoided active aero. landing runway. Bugatti’s 305mph run in the Super Sport 300+ version of the Chiron was done at Ehra Lessien, which has a Another thing that holds back the F5: it is fitted with road 5.6-mile straight that you join, not from a standing start, but tyres, numberplates and a hi-fi. The Bolide is track-only. from a 125mph banked corner. You know, like an F1 car. Comparisons are interesting, but not strictly fair. Paul Horrell 078 J A N U A R Y 2 0 2 1 › T O P G E A R . C O M

VENOM vs BOLIDE HENNESSEY BUGATTI VENOM F5 BOLIDE £1.9m PRICE £n/a 6.6-litre twin-turbo V8 ENGINE 8.0-litre quad-turbo W16 1,792bhp POWER 1,824bhp 1,192lb ft TORQUE 1,364lb ft TRANSMISSION 7spd twin-clutch auto 7spd single-clutch auto 0–62mph 2.2secs 2.6secs 0–125mph 4.4secs 4.7secs 0–186mph 7.4secs 8.4secs 0–249mph 12.1secs 15.5secs TOP SPEED 311mph+ 311mph+ WEIGHT (DRY) 1,240kg 1,360kg T O P G E A R . C O M › J A N U A R Y 2 0 2 1 079

VENOM vs BOLIDE What would happen if Bugatti made an extreme track-only, lightweight hypercar? Possibly for Kylo Ren Well wonder no more The Bugatti Bolide is Molsheim’s bhp kg downforce tastic love letter to bleeding edge engineering and organ bruising lap times It’s no one trick pony though In a low downforce setting Bugatti claims the Bolide could also do more than mph And there are even more strings to its bow thanks to all wheel drive allowing it to shoot from mph in seconds and complete an utterly potty mph time in seconds So no matter how you like your fast served the Bolide will dish it up We just hope you’re hungry Unlike the Texan F the Bolide follows on from the current vogue for high end can’t drive on the road can’t race in a 080 J A N U A R Y 2 0 2 1 › T O P G E A R . C O M

championship hypercar track toys Y’know things like Aston recognisable as a Bugatti But from there back everything is taut Martin’s Valkyrie McLaren’s Senna GTR the Mercedes Project and swept back as holes punctuate all parts of the car cutting into One and Ferrari FXXK Just like them it uses a modern racecar’s the bodywork inboard of the front wheels to release the pressure recipe of minimal weight and maximum downforce But then holes that become a framework to see the gorgeous front double takes the concept of a track only hypercar to another level wishbone pushrod suspension and horizontal dampers by pairing those ingredients with a juggernaut of an engine Hopping over the snorkel you’re greeted by a dorsal fin Nestled snugly in the heart of a carbon fibre monocoque is the to stabilise the car at high speed that then spreads into an same litre quad turbo W unit we’ve come to know and love outrageous full width rear wing assembly Looking at it from from Bugatti But whereas it comes with bhp in a standard dead behind is a menacing prospect That giant ‘X’ LED signature Chiron the Bolide boots the doors down with bhp and looks like two lightsabers clashing and draws your attention to lb ft of torque thanks to octane racing fuel and four four double stacked exhausts and a whopper of a blue tipped new turbochargers with optimised blades It’s also got a lot less di user As you may have noticed the ‘X’ shape is used weight to push around Thanks to a fighter jet inspired design relentlessly throughout the design This isn’t a happy accident wrapped around a skeletal structure it only weighs kg rather a nod to the Bell X flown by Chuck Yeager in the kg lighter than a Porsche Cayman GT first person to break the sound barrier The good thing about the And check out the way it looks It’s like a cosmic LMP ‘X’ shape though is that it allows room for more holeyness so you car with all that wild minimalist bare carbon bodywork and can not only see the rear suspension but it also acts as a gully to extrusions that help deflect air to the right places to keep things channel air e ciently not too dissimilar from the Lotus Evija cool and/or plunge them into the ground Right at the front But it’s the diet that Bugatti has put its track racer on that you’ve got the iconic horseshoe grille making it instantly really makes you think Not since Christian Bale in The Machinist T O P G E A R . C O M › J A N U A R Y 2 0 2 1 081

Seatbelts made by 3B? *checks notes* Not even sure who that is... Lovely in here, but we’d quite like to see a walnut trim option 082 J A N U A R Y 2 0 2 1 › T O P G E A R . C O M

VENOM vs BOLIDE has anyone lost so much chunk for a dedicated role In total the runs mm at the front and mm at the rear With all this Bolide has lost kg the same as throwing an original Mini grip we’re told you can expect up to g Or what people in with a set of dumb bells in the boot into the bin Where weight LA call a ‘cheap facelift’ could be saved it has So the driveline was gutted for grammes Standing at only millimetres tall the same height carbon fibre bodywork was kept to a minimum any screw or as an original Bugatti Type or just less than those giant fastening device made out of titanium and where possible D Toblerones you get in airports drivers have to slot themselves printed aerospace titanium alloy was used Just like the original in through gullwing doors before dropping into the arse down Type that had a hollow bored and forged front axle any weight feet up race driving position with the pedals moving towards you that could then be scooped out of a component was This all adds Inside there’s just enough room for you and someone to scare up The brake calipers for example only weigh kg each The senseless It may not be as luxurious as a standard Chiron but front forged magnesium rims kg The rears kg meaning decked out in Alcantara and fitted with a dashboard and door even weaklings like us could curl them in the gym There’s pulls it’s the Ritz in comparison with other racecars Safe more Aerospace alloys that give crazy levels of sti ness too with all the features the FIA likes to see HANS device newtons per square millimetre are present but also compatibility an automatic fire extinguishing system towing traditional elements that have been honed for purpose Take device pressure refuelling with fuel bladder central locks for the the rear frame It’s made of welded high strength stainless wheels lightweight polycarbonate windows six point harness steel but the walls are only mm thick There’s also a morphable system and air jacks for a quick tyre change skin on the intake scoop on the roof which depending on the The stats that Bugatti claims for the Bolide are immense in situation will deform to optimise airflow anyone’s books A mins secs Nordschleife lap just o the Now in case you hadn’t guessed downforce is also present Porsche Evo’s record and a Le Mans lap time of good The Bolide has more than any other Bugatti that’s come before enough for it to snatch pole at this year’s race by eight seconds At mph kg of force is sat on the rear wing and kg Obviously like the F these times are all currently simulated at the front The suspension is rated to take tonnes of force Whether we’ll ever actually see the camouflaged Bugatti Bolide or nearly two Chirons If that’s not enough to keep you planted that’s been testing at Paul Ricard driven in anger remains to be to the tarmac there are also Michelin racing slicks stickier than seen But Bugatti has gone and answered the question we’ve a Kellogg’s Fruit Winder that’s been stuck in a lunchbox on a all asked but never thought we’d get answered what would summer’s day They’re thick too mm on the front axle and happen if Bugatti made an extreme track only lightweight millimetres on the rear Just for context a boggo Chiron hypercar? Now we know “THE BOLIDE HAS MORE DOWNFORCE THAN ANY BUGATTI THAT’S COME BEFORE” T O P G E A R . C O M › J A N U A R Y 2 0 2 1 083

084 J A N U A R Y 2 0 2 1 › T O P G E A R . C O M

CITROEN AMI HIP TO BE SQUARE Is the Citroen Ami the mobility object we’ve been waiting for, or would we prefer just to walk? WORDS TOM FORD PHOTOGRAPHY GREG PAJO T O P G E A R . C O M › J A N U A R Y 2 0 2 1 085

I’m so sorry my man I’ve scu ed up yer motor wiv my the UK without a licence and from the age of It is also cheap ring innit ” says a jolly human unpicking himself from the cumbersome wreckage of his Boris Bike as he holds aloft Or it could be Although Citroen hasn’t said that it will definitely a bejewelled signet ring that would give the Star of Africa diamond profound anxiety “But it’s no problem just a scu be imported to the UK in France the Ami will cost I was trying to take a picture yeah? And I fell o ” to buy outright or a deposit and a month Unperturbed by the fact that I might actually be angry at Or you can subscribe to a car sharing app pay a month him for crashing into the back of my stationary car at a set of inner London tra c lights it’s impossible to to be grumpy subscription and rent one as you need for p a minute a at someone who is basically force feeding the world cheeky cheerfulness It’s like being faced with a nuclear reactor full pay as you go option that would suit car sharing urbanites of chutzpah “Are you alright?” I ask dipping my head to get my mouth level with the window flap “Yeah ’course!” says the When you pay for a co ee most days that’s not so much Bearer of the Ring “Wicked looking ’fing that tho’ Got to go!” he says before casually picking up the bike and equally casually You can have one delivered and even pick one up in certain ignoring the red light and wobbling across a six lane crossroad without a care in the world Or a helmet for that matter French supermarkets along with the weekly shop And you get I’m not particularly worried about the car One because to keep your luggage safe your hair dry and your face unsweaty it’s made pretty much entirely of tough unpainted plastic and secondly because this is not a car This four wheeled two seat Does it make sense? Yes But in very specific circumstances ultra urban Tamagotchi is actually a pretty little plastic paradox When is a car not a car? When it’s an electric quadricycle called Which is why I found myself in central London being crashed a Citroen Ami A car so weird and cute you’d think it would be Japanese kei but is actually the product of French micro urban into by cheerful people with giant finger diamonds So what’s design Now Citroen is making no bones about the Ami’s lack of adult automobilehood referring to it as an ‘urban mobility this little thing about then? Well the first thing you’ll notice is object’ rather than a car A carlet You can see the company’s point there’s a kWh battery under the ‘front’ the reason for that the Ami is tiny and as plush as a park bench as in it isn’t the parenthesis will become apparent later along with a tiny exactly dripping with comfort because simplicity is the trick kW electric motor either of which would probably be more suited to an overpowered electric toothbrush It’s under m the key and the magic of the Ami It looks weird because its wide and under two and a half long Only the front wheels are powered top speed is on the underside of mph and ease of manufacture helps with the cheapness the Ami is acceleration is possible Although not urgent and not long lasting Range is roughly best case miles Which should symmetrical Glass can be switched side to side and front to give EV range anxiety fetishists something to froth over back panels similarly mirrored The front is the back and the But that’s also not the point of the Ami This is a notcar that’s supposed to be resolutely intra urban replacing the likes of the back is the front the doors reflections the front wings the rear bus or Tube a bike ‘e’ or otherwise Or even an electric scooter It’s illegal to drive on bigger A roads that top speed is to blame wings as seen reversed Yep it took me a little staring time to and because of its classification you can drive on the road in figure all that out as well It makes for a weird almost cube styled to be as cute as a kids’ cartoon character inflated into real life The doors open suicide style for the driver normally on the passenger side they have di erent doorhandles but the same hinges and even though the car is left hand drive it makes “THE FIRST THING YOU NOTICE IS THE AMI IS TINY, AND AS PLUSH AS A PARK BENCH” 086 J A N U A R Y 2 0 2 1 › T O P G E A R . C O M

CITROEN AMI In aInt’sAslfoacfihresta, pSathbaint thfearetuvreersibnugtstternesmoar ins jaustttaachcreadctkointhgesoduansdh In an Alfa first, Sabin features buttt remain attached to the dash It’s an urban mobility solution, but what was the question again? Ami is so hip it comes with a Like & Subscribe button as standard T O P G E A R . C O M › J A N U A R Y 2 0 2 1 087

CITROEN AMI Price: 6,000 (TBA if it comes to UK) Engine: 5.5kWh battery, 6kW motor (8bhp) Transmission: 1spd, FWD Range: 47 miles (70km) Performance: 0–62mph in never Top speed: 28mph absolutely no di erence seeing as the Ami is so narrow that you’ll feel it clump through your spine until it snaps your teeth making it right hand drive would be a question of re engineering together the half inch thick seat and back pad barely disguising the car to move the wheel about a foot In fact it’s actually the thin plastic spoon of the seat itself There isn’t much comfort remarkably spacious for two with luggage stowed either in a in an Ami But that’s kind of accepted at this point cubby behind the driver’s seat or to the left of the passenger’s legs although it’s safe to say that it’s more for a single bag of It’s also where the Ami starts to be charming I know if you shopping or a work backpack than a trip to IKEA The view dig a little deeper you’ll see basic box section chassis legs and is utterly bizarre too stretched both sideways and vertically welding that looks like I did it this is not a compliment but thanks to a panoramic glass roof and front side windows there’s something absolutely life a rming about wicking a tiny it’s a bit like staring out through your own personal aquarium car with no power around a city Danger is low there’s not a And there isn’t much to get used to there’s a dock for your lot of mass to start or stop kg including batteries and one smartphone a USB for charging and a sum total of three dash suspects that the worst that will happen if you hit something buttons Yep three One for the hazards one for the blower else is that you’ll have to apologise And while the Ami isn’t which sounds exactly like a hairdryer and one for the heated ‘fun’ in any way sports car drivers will recognise there’s laughter rear windscreen Complicated it ain’t and smiles to be had For everybody in fact because while sometimes in tiny cars you feel a bit vulnerable the Ami seems After that you simply select drive reverse or park from to feel robust a little bubble And everybody loves it I’ve had the buttons on the left of the driver’s seat and o you go As much less positive attention in most supercars in fact this is previously mentioned acceleration is modest hinted at rather whatever the opposite of over compensation is People will than enforced suspension available but largely not very assume you are very secure in yourself interested Grip is rudimentary with steering slow enough to keep breakaway unthreatened even if you absolutely throw the Of course we’ve seen pure electric microcars/quadricycles Ami at something the narrow section tyres scu ng surfaces before the appalling Reva G Wiz being one but the Ami seems rather than digging at them Hit a pothole or manhole cover and much better judged more of its time In several hours of driving albeit all in town I only managed to use about miles of range RIVALS TUBE (TFL) BUS 088 J A N U A R Y 2 0 2 1 › T O P G E A R . C O M Cost: £14.40 daily TfL Cost: £1.50 per journey/£4.50 per day travelcard (as many journeys as required) Good: lots of routes, affordable Good: lots of routes, dry. Affordable Bad: can be slow. High chance Bad: subject to traffic problems, have of armpits other people on them

CITROEN AMI Really nowhere to hide if you see anyone you know “THE AMI IS A could fit a lot more Amis on any given road than ‘proper’ cars TERRIBLE CAR, BUT and making those very urban stop/start journeys pure electric AN INCREDIBLY might make a di erence There’s probably going to be a decent CHARMING OBJECT” market for these within city centre exclusion zones plugged into car share schemes where you pick one up like a Boris Bike for a so I reckon it will realistically do about miles on a charge at specific journey and leave it somewhere near your destination which point it needs plugging in to a domestic socket for a couple No mess no fuss or complication no worrying about where to of hours There’s a tethered cable in the passenger door by the park or charge a little bit of lighthearted feelgood along the way Which means you have to leave it open to charge it so it’s way And that’s what this little French thing seems to be very a good thing the only thing in it to nick from inside is whatever good at charm and quirk all wrapped up in a wee package you don’t take with you of specific practicality So what’s the conclusion? Relatively easy the Ami is a terrible ‘Ami’ in French literally translates as ‘friend’ And that’s car but an incredibly charming object It is flawed and its usage exactly what this little slice of Citroen eccentricity feels like profile narrow But it’s also fun and priced properly could be It has flaws and problems and shortcomings But you love it a brilliant commuting option when compared to a bus or Tube anyway Because that’s what friends do journey Don’t forget it wouldn’t solve congestion but you EBIKE ESCOOTER WALKING Cost: £1,200–£6,000 Cost: £200–£2,500 Cost: £0 Good: keeps you fit, fast in traffic, Good: fun, environmentally Good: keeps you fit. Cheap. environmentally friendly friendly, convenient Environmentally exceptional Bad:bikesgetnicked,yougetcold/sweaty, Bad: still illegal in most places, Bad: you’ll get wet if it rains, biking in London is a high-risk sport falling off hurts and possibly mugged. Slow T O P G E A R . C O M › J A N U A R Y 2 0 2 1 089

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GENTSUKI MDRAECAHMINES Welcome to the inside of a car designer’s head, a place littered with what-ifs, schemes and stuff like this: the 10 greatest cars Porsche never made... WORDS JASON BARLOW PHOTOGRAPHY GETTY & PORSCHE

ÜÜber morgen Not the greeting a Kreuzberg hipster gives their Priusdriver as they head to work tweaking a disruptive new algorithmautomotive one Usually though we only get to see the stu they want us to see which is why this new Porsche publication and No we’re talking about the ‘day after tomorrow’ in Porsche’s the images seen here are so fascinating This isn’t the visual back story to the cars the company has made This is a history of a whole Weissach design studio although this time travelling might even load of stu Porsche explored but didn’t make and as such levers open a priceless window into the creative process But why now? extend as far as January Beyond über morgen then “I’ve been thinking about this for about two years ” Mauer Concept cars we know are generally reverse engineered out of admits “Car companies prefer to keep concept studies like this as secret as possible So it took a while to convince the powers that be upcoming new product to whet consumer appetite or prepare the that it’s a good way to spell out the vision I have for Porsche which is that it’s the coolest car brand on the planet I’d say the products ground for a potentially challenging new direction The windscreen that are already out in the field are pretty cool but still if you give people the opportunity to look behind the scenes they might realise might be rakishly fast the wheels invariably cartoonishly large in that the way we handle things and the amount of freedom Porsche’s designers have can alter the perception of the brand ” diameter and there’ll be some madcap piece of recycled marine Mauer also believes that this energetic conceptualising also waste inside but the essence of the real thing is usually there galvanises his colleagues “When they see what we’ve been doing they are more willing to rethink and recalibrate ” he suggests Porsche does this too but a new book entitled Porsche Unseen It’s also worth noting that Porsche concentrates all its design confirms that a good percentage of its strong design team is e orts into just one studio in Weissach Although Mauer himself worked for Mercedes in its Tokyo outpost he believes that it’s the also busily popping the brave pills and pushing the company’s visual people not the place that makes the di erence “We have people from Asia America from the UK the Porsche design centre is template to the limit Perhaps even shredding it just to see what a good place to be ” he says It’s also next door to the company’s engineering corps a proximity which helps And the museum in happens Given that this is the same oufit that has evolved the ’s Zu enhausen is just down the road Plenty of physical inspiration in there The result acknowledges and integrates Porsche’s history silhouette with such forensic attention to detail for years such with some serious future gazing But what fate awaits this treasure? creative anarchy comes as something of a surprise As is the news “Some of these might hit the road Some will be scrapped ” Mauer says “Design details on others might influence or inspire that CEO Oliver Blume allocates the design studio a healthy annual di erent projects But the main target is to keep your mind open always be thinking about new concepts and scenarios As a brand budget to let his people get their freak on That’s confidence for you you become more flexible because you will discover answers to questions that so far nobody else has asked ” “Yes we have a budget to explore the future ” head of design Indeed Like this one shall we do a van? Michael Mauer patiently explains “It’s not like Mr Blume gives us money in January and we show him a car in December I try to make sure he is part of the journey I believe that if you go into this world the day after tomorrow without any restrictions whether they are related to time or what you are allowed to do legally you can work much more freely Working like this changes your perspective and the way you approach other projects When you return from this place it provides an opportunity to keep your design language very fresh You look again at portfolio options through di erent eyes ” TG has visited virtually every major car design studio and many of the regional satellites over the years in Tokyo Shanghai Stuttgart San Francisco and beyond It’s always worth checking out the mood boards designers use to corral their inspiration to see how the worlds of fashion furniture movies and computer games cross pollinate the 092 J A N U A R Y 2 0 2 1 › T O P G E A R . C O M

Interning anywhere else SECRET PORSCHES means fetching the coffee – at Porsche you get to do this VISION 916 (2016) VISION SAFARI (2012) Inspired by a 1971 prototype Porsche copped a lot of flak when the Cayenne arrived, nicknamed Brutus but actually it was doing SUVs in the Seventies. This one that dropped a references the ’78 911 SC driven by Bjorn Waldegård and 2.9-litre 911 RSR Vic Preston in the East African Safari Rally (as well as the race engine into 959 Paris-Dakar car). Based on the 991, the concept has the VW/Porsche a raised chassis, stripped out cockpit, and there’s a co-pro 914, and helmet rack on the fan wheel behind the seats to keep added a fixed things cool. “It demonstrates the 911’s bandwidth,” Mauer roof instead of the says. Build this one, Porsche! standard targa panel. It never made production and neither will this, as pretty as it is. It’s the work of a design intern, and uses an electric powertrain with four wheel hub motors, a solution that Ferdinand Porsche himself devised on the Lohner-Porsche in 1900. The Rover Streetwise might have got there first, but we like the look of this 911 T O P G E A R . C O M › J A N U A R Y 2 0 2 1 093

VISION Now all we need is SPIDER to bring James Dean (2019) back to life as well Riffs strongly on VISION 920 (2016) the 550 Spyder that raced in What happens when you exit the WEC and leave Le the 1954 Carrera Mans? Mauer and the design team weren’t ready to Panamericana abandon ship, and the Vision 920 was conceived as a road race. Aero “Super Sports Car for the road or a possible racing car screen and for customer motorsport based on the LMP1”. Takes the skeletal roof roll- rear lightbar graphic to the max and pushes the idea of hoop look great, how a Porsche should look to the limit. “From time to as does the time, we intentionally leave everything behind us, even minimalist rear light very typical design Porsche cues. Could we go this far? bar. Shades of 919 It’s a great way of explaining the philosophy behind in the front wings, these design studies,” Mauer explains. too. Mauer: “We’re playing with the volumes here... as designers it’s a thing we try to do. There’s a strong 3D surface treatment. You come to a limit when you get to production, but this influenced the body sides on the Taycan.”

SECRET PORSCHES Anything that declares itself ‘Street’ is immediately uncool. Here, we’ll make an exception 919 STREET (2017) Fancy the idea of a road legal version of the LMP car? Of course you do Three times a winner at Le Mans and the car Timo Bernhard stormed round the ’Ring in to set a new lap record of mins secs Mauer and his team set themselves a big challenge with this one ie could they turn the erm unconventionally attractive race car into something sexy? “These hyper sports cars are driven almost entirely by technology and aerodynamics They’re almost holes on wheels air in air out Could we establish a surface treatment? Is there enough surface remaining to create a design identity?” The Street used the same bhp litre V hybrid powertrain and had identical dimensions to the race car Check out the unbelievable rear end Ultimately it was just too complex to work outside of a competition environment T O P G E A R . C O M › J A N U A R Y 2 0 2 1 095

TOYOTA CENTURY Not your ordinary delivery van – this thing is Postman Pat meets Derek Bell VISION RENNDIENST (2018) Renndienst means ‘race service’ and back in the day Porsche’s racing exploits were ably supported by converted VW vans But how about an actual Porsche one? It’s electric and features a central driving position and modular interior Note the Sport Tourer badge and ‘lightbar’ on the rear door A cousin for VW’s I D Buzz? Mauer certainly approves “I would love to have this one I could put my mountain bikes in it We asked ourselves how much could we stretch the Porsche design language? We defined from our point of view the most challenging proportion this mono volume space concept It’s so far from what people expect from Porsche but everybody likes it and I would love to see it on the road I’m keeping my fingers crossed that this symbol of what we can do with the design language could make it into production ” 096 J A N U A R Y 2 0 2 1 › T O P G E A R . C O M

TOYOTA CENTURY After decades of conservative designs, the new 911 was quite the plot twist T O P G E A R . C O M › J A N U A R Y 2 0 2 1 097

We don’t want to state the obvious, but... it’s not quite a ‘living’ legend, Porsche 904 LIVING Volkswagen’s XL1 was LEGEND (2015) limited to 200 units. The one that ‘borrowed’ the carbon chassis from VW’s XL and This thing’s rarer still accidentally ended up referencing ’s lissom Could have had a high revving V motorbike engine “The living legends obviously have a strong source of inspiration If you have a history as potent as Porsche’s you have to ask yourself would you really leave everything behind and start with a new design language? Or is the task more about keeping the connections while sending a clear sign this is a new world? One of our designers mentioned the VW XL he’d seen it on the road and was struck by how small it was how di erent it looked I was surprised that this car ended up with proportions so similar to the We weren’t thinking about the engine to be honest We never did a deep dive on what it would have really meant to use that chassis ” 098 J A N U A R Y 2 0 2 1 › T O P G E A R . C O M

SECRET PORSCHES A vision of the future, or a blast from the past? We’ll let you decide 906 LIVING LEGEND (2016) “It was conceived themselves. as a super sports Also a chance car with BEV for Porsche’s technology, but as designers to we worked on the divorce themselves sketches it had from the existing some similarities brand identity, with the 906, so it while working up a got that label,” says new light signature Mauer. The original for its electric won the 1966 Targa production cars. Florio, and was “That’s why the one of the first headlights have Porsche racing become futuristic cars to be tested light sources in air in a wind tunnel. inlets,” Mauer says. This is another “When we were one whose form looking for a language is way to develop defined as much a special identity by the spaces for our electric in between the models, we physical parts returned yet again as the parts to these designs.” VISION E (2019) MACAN VISION SAFARI (2019) Audi and BMW have quit, but Porsche is still fully committed to “We thought it would be interesting to take the Macan, which is more Formula E. While the 911 is arguably the most prolific racing car ever, this Vision E posits a future customer single-seater that uses of a crossover, and see how much we could take it into the world of FE tech. It has our full attention. hardcore off-roaders,” Mauer says. Three-door body, roll cage, wheelarch extensions... works for us. T O P G E A R . C O M › J A N U A R Y 2 0 2 1 099

Aston Martin vs Bentley vs Lamborghini vs Porsche... but not in a traditional supercar shoot-out, this is an off-road super-SUV skirmish WORDS OLLIE MARRIAGE PHOTOGRAPHY MARK RICCIONI FILTHY RICH 100 J A N U A R Y 2 0 2 1 › T O P G E A R . C O M