Top Gear Magazine #179 was the issue of the magazine cover-dated June 2008. Published by BBC Worldwide, it contained 306 pages and was edited by the magazine's second editor-in-chief, Michael Harvey.
Cover[]
Celebrating the launch of Ferrari's upcoming grand tourer convertible, the California, Issue #179 prominently displays a yellow example of the Italian roadster, with an Abarth-tuned Fiat 500 to its right (the cover's left). Dubbed the "Hairy Chest Special", this issue of the magazine features no credits for the cover photography.
Contents[]
Features[]
- The New Ferrari - You will remember today. When you come to look back on your life, there won't be too many brand new Ferrarl unveilings to reminisce about. And this car truly is special - a front-englned, compact 2+2 GT with a trick roof. See it here first.
- Women drivers! - Girls can't drive. No use arguing - it's a fact confirmed by all men. But something confusing has happened. Danica Patrick (who is a girl) has won a major IRL race, averaging nearly 165mph and beating a grid full of blokes. What on earth is going on?
- M3 drivers! - Chances are there's one behind you right now, getting a tow, filling your mirrors, having a look etc. We know what he's wearing, what's clipped to his ear, what's in his top pocket, the lot. He's an M3 driver, and now there's a new car for him to inhabit - the M3 convertible. Wicked.
- Boxes, tricks etc - The new M3 convertible is the first BMW to get the extremely clever seven-speed gearbox, complete with the paddles Clarkson hates so much. Is he right to hate them? Are all paddle-shift boxes the same? We sort them all out, with diagrams.
- Fiat 500 Abarth - We like the Fiat 500 - It's a very sassy little car, if you happen to be a girl. But there was an old geezer called Carlo Abarth who understood that for blokes to love a car, it's got to have balls. And here's the answer that bears his name, snapped up close for the first time. Mamma mia.
- C5 vs Accord vs A4 - You've seen Citroën's campaign for the new, 'unmistakeably German' C5. Sheer desperation or a sign of change? And don't get us started on the new Accord. As Harry Hill might say. there's only one way to sort this out: Fight!
- DeLorean lives - Thanks to its dodgy playboy owner, outrageous looks and a starring role in Back to the Future, DeLorean (the car and the company) died in infamy. Fine, except for one thing - it's not quite dead yet. We track down the reborn DMC.
- X-Bow on track - Any sceptics out there who had this mad-looking road racer from bike outfit KTM marked down as pie in the sky, look away now. It lives - and we watch in amazement as it blows the opposition out of the water in its very first track outing at Sllverstone. Next stop: your street.
- Aeromax drive - This is the first drive of a car that exists only because a bloke called Prince Eric, a descendant of the Moldavian royal family, told Morgan he fancied a coupé version of the Aero 8. We are not making this up. And just look at this car...
Metal[]
- Vauxhall Insignia - Sit down quick, before you faint - we have exclusive pictures of a, wait for it, stylish Vauxhall. No lie.
- Audi Q5 - Q7 just too big, and VW Tiguan just too downmarket? This way, gentle reader.
- BMW M1 - Now that Audi's got in on the supercar game, BMW's making noises about a return for its Seventies wild child.
- XSR 48 Speedboat - Fill your pipe with some smooth shag - this boat is seriously smokin'.
- Lords of the Ring - A mad mix of cars line up to prove themselves at the Nürburgring.
- Sneaky Rozzers - More ways for the filth to fleece you.
Faces[]
- Clarkson - Would like to see Lewis Hamilton shagging Kimi Räikkönen's missus.
- James May - Meets ASIMO. Then adopts him.
- Paul Horrell - Gets angry with car manufacturers. Bigger isn't always better, you know.
- Jamie Kitman - Is waiting for the next big scandal.
- The Rodfather - Crazy-looking Swedish guy makes a Volvo that's as bonkers as he is.
- Cars and Art - Lexus develops goatee and strokes It repeatedly before using long words.
- Motorworld - The dark world of the car salesman.
Drives[]
- Car of the Month: Volkswagen Passat CC - No, it's not a convertible hard-top. Idiot.
Also in Drives this month:[]
- Seat Ibiza
- Mercedes CLC
- Mercedes CLS
- Renault Laguna GT
- BMW 120i Convertible
- Skoda Superb
- Porsche Boxster RS60 Spyder
- Peugeot 308 SW
- Peugeot 308 GT
- Audi TTS
- Fiat 500 Diesel
- Mazda6 Estate
TopGear[]
Vette'd - A scale replica of the great Dale Earnhardt's Vette. Plus more stuff.
Regulars[]
- Our leader - Always begins the writing process by holding his pen aloft and cryng 'By the power of Grayskull!'
- Letters - You write 'em, we print 'em. That's how it works around here.
- How to... - ...skateboard across Austrata. Of course. I mean, why wouldn't you?
- Subscriptions - The big crash is coming. Time to make that all-important saving.
- Camrrad - The reason they invented the word 'grizzled' - it's the 'reelsmith' racing driver icon, Steve McQueen.