The Rover James was a modified version of the Fiat Multipla designed and built by Jeremy Clarkson and Richard Hammond, specifically for elderly people. It was featured in the fifth episode of Top Gear's nineteeth series as part of a challenge in which Clarkson and Hammond attempt to build the perfect car for old people.
Modifications[]
- The front bumper was extended.
- It was painted beige, the same colour as a hearing aid provided at a hardware store by Clarkson and Hammond.
- A pet cage was mounted on the roof.
- It had simpler dashboard controls, including:
- A simplified satnav system that can navigate the driver to one of four points of interest: home, bingo, the post office, Peggy's house.
- A radio that only plays "A Musical Joke", the theme to the BBC's Horse of the Year Show.
- It had a huge magnifying glass.
- It had a speedometer with a maximum speed of 20 mph.
- It had larger mirrors.
- A squeaky ball was placed below the brake pedal.
- The backseats were replaced with Shackletons High Seats (Which according to an advert, are so easy to get in and out of, you know.)
- It had flares and a balloon operated by a remote control, making it easier to find in a carpark.
- It had a rear parking sensor which sets off an airbag if the car is too close to an obstacle.
- The car exploded if it was driven the wrong way for too long on a one-way road.
Testing[]
The Rover James' self-destruct feature
To test the Rover James, Clarkson and Hammond drove around the town of Christchurch in Dorset before inviting three elderly pensioners for a day trip around town: Miriam, Betty, and Barbara. During the test, the presenters discovered numerous flaws with their creation; firstly, the Rover James leaked in the rain (Caused by the holes drilled on the roof) and got one of the elderly passengers wet. Secondly, the pet cage on the roof was not safe enough and resulted in the death of Tiddles the cat.
Finally, the radio, which they nicknamed the "irresistible clapping machine", was distracting to the driver of the car and the Shackleton chairs were extremely difficult to get in and out of. Lastly, the "self-destruct" feature installed by Clarkson rendered the car useless and unable to go anywhere, infuriating Hammond.
Trivia[]
- The satnav's is voiced by the late Richard Briers.
- Although a seemingly random connection at first, Rover badging on a Fiat may very well have been a reality in the early '00s, as the former were poised to base a compact car on the running gear of the Stilo, although these plans eventually fell through in favour of the RDX60, an in-house proposal which never materialised.
- The Rover James is possibly named after presenter James May because he lives like an elderly person, despite being younger than Clarkson, the oldest presenter of the trio. May is absent from the car's segment, but a picture of him is displayed in the mood room.
Gallery[]
