The mid-70’s were an optimistic time for British transport. We got the Triumph TR7 and Rover SD1, the Intercity 125 took us across the country at 125mph, and the thunderous Concorde took us over Mach 2. Britain was proving it could still do amazing engineering. Then there was the Lotus Esprit, turning heads with its crisp, folded lines and supercar styling. By using a tiny engine, it would go on to have the largest power output per litre of any car. And it would clean up so effectively in American motor racing that it was effectively banned from competition. It’s been a Bond car, twice in its amazing 28-year long production run, and Lotus keeps tantalising us with glimpses of what it will be in the future. Big Car
Checking out the brand new Lamborghini Countach LPI 800-4 plus racing his classic Pearl white Countach Anniversary edition around Laguna Seca raceway – Monterey Car Week 2021 recap.
So how’s this one going to play out? The tuned cars look EPIC, but do they have what it takes to beat an F1 car?! There’s only one way to find out… LET’S RACE!
TheSmokingTire – The Porsche 718 Cayman T combines the best chassis, cosmetic, and interior bits from the high-up ‘GTS’ model, with the base 2.0L Turbo engine making 300 horsepower. It’s one of the lightest cars Porsche makes, bar none, but also one of the least powerful. All of this would be great, except that it’s also rather expensive – just over $77,000 as tested. While the 991.2 Carrera T was our favorite ‘non-GT’ 911 of the last generation, does the Cayman T live in that same realm? Or is it just too expensive for not enough performance?
TheSmokingTire – We know the C8 Corvette has what it takes to be great: a torquey, powerful engine mounted low and in the middle, quick, accurate steering, a brilliant ride, lots of features, and the performance of a $150,000 Porsche 911 for around half that. Plus, even in the regular “coupe” the targa roof is, (and for the last 50 years or so has been) removable; a true “best of both worlds” scenario. For that reason, enthusiasts, and even Corvette owners as I formerly was, look down on the Convertibles. Historically, the soft top not only changes the fabulous coupe lines, but also prevents you from attending some track days – cementing the “old guy having a crisis” image. Now, taking a page *directly* from the Ferrari 458 Playbook, the Corvette Convertible features a well-insulated power-retractable hardtop that looks great raised, looks even better lowered, and – get this – doesn’t intrude on the rear trunk space in any way. Remember 2021 – it was the year the Corvette Convertible finally got cool.
Top Gear – It was the Countach that properly established Lamborghini as the world’s number one purveyor of supercar otherworldliness. Yes yes, the Miura was technically revolutionary (mid-engined) and intriguing (transversally disposed V12), and most of all heart-stoppingly beautiful. But the Countach was – and remains – something else. So using a gorgeous 1974 Countach LP400 Periscopo, let Top Gear Magazine’s Jack Rix show you in eight ways why this wedge is one to rule them all.
Bloomberg Quicktake – Starting in 1908, Henry Ford sold his novel Model T cars as the first to be really accessible to the masses. What’s more, he marketed them as easy to handle for casual drivers and (gasp!) women since they started with a button rather than a crank. Thing is, those old Model Ts were still pretty complicated to drive. Bloomberg Pursuits’ Hannah Elliott took a 1914 Model T for a spin but first she needed a driving lesson.
Top Gear can exclusively reveal that Shelby SuperCars (SSC) North America has set a new production car top speed record, hitting a VMAX of 331mph and setting a two-way average of 316.11mph on a seven-mile stretch of closed road just outside of Las Vegas, Nevada. Climb on board for the outrageous 0-331mph run as Top Gear is granted exclusive footage from the guys that are making the full feature-length documentary of this epic endeavour, landing later in the year. For the full story on this wild new world record and just how SSC stole Bugatti’s crown
