Top Gear's Christmas Special Cars go on Display at the World of Top Gear Exhibition in the UK

This year’s Top Gear Christmas Special saw Jeremy Clarkson, Richard Hammond and James May embark on their most dangerous challenge yet: following the path of the three wise men, which took them on a 1,200 mile (1,932 km) journey, from Iraq to Bethlehem. In classic Top Gear fashion, the TV show hosts completed the trip in a trio of specially modified cars. These vehicles are now on display in the World of Top Gear exhibition at Beaulieu, UK.

Jeremy Clarkson bet his money on a Mazda MX5 that featured a unique “car of many colors” paintjob, an “axle of evil” and body full of holes, as a testimony to a “bulletproofing” plan gone wrong. An oversized bullbar and hookah pipe were also installed, but the latter fell off at some point in the journey.

James May went for an Afrika Korps and Luftwaffe themed BMW Z3, complete with a shovel and pickaxe mounted on the bonnet, plus a gas canister on the left fender.

Richard Hammond used a Fiat Barchetta, which, surprisingly, proved to be quite reliable. Special touches applied included actual “bits” of desert glued to the front of the car and parts of a Bedouin tent strapped to the rear.

World of Top Gear features a collection of cars used over the years in different challenges by the cast of the TV show and it also includes the “Enormodrome”, a recreation of the actual studio where the show is filmed.

“We like to keep the exhibition as up to date as we possibly can and what could be better than for fans to see the show on TV and then the cars just a few days later”, said Stephen Munn, Commercial Director at the National Motor Museum.

For more information visit www.beaulieu.co.uk.

By Csaba Daradics

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G-Power Transfers BMW M5 Hurricane RR Supercharger Tech to the E85 Z4 Roadster

German tuner G-Power has decided to share some of the technology found on the 800-horsepower M5 Hurricane RR and M6 Hurricane RR with the masses by offering a modified version of the supercharger system on the [previous generation] E85 BMW Z4 as well as the E46 Series with the 3.0-liter straight-six engine. On both models, the redesigned SK Plus supercharger system replaces the previous ASA TM3 supercharger.

The geometry of the compressor has been modified as has the housing, resulting in a more efficient build-up of boost in the middle rev-range. With a 0.3 bar pressure boost, the SK Plus kit increases output by 55 ponies, to 286 hp and 345 Nm (255 lb-ft). Thanks to the extra oomph, the tuned Z4 accelerates from standstill to 100 km/h (62 mph) in 5.4 seconds.

To be able to wring out every bit of performance delivered through force induction, the German tuner recommends customers to specify their cars with a 9-way adjustable coil-over sport suspension. 20-inch multi-spoke Silverstone Diamond alloys, wrapped around in 245/30 front and 285/25 rear Michelin tires, can be ordered, too. For a more ferocious roar, G-Power can provide a new, hand-built rear silencer, with matching tail pipes.

Granted, these changes don’t transform the Z4 SK Plus into a Hurricane killer, but the tuner charges only €2.500 (VAT excluded) for the performance upgrade, which as we mentioned previously, is also available for the E46 BMW 3 Series.

By Csaba Daradics

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