Fifth Gear (formerly
5th Gear) was a motoring
televisionTelevision is a widely used telecommunication medium for transmitting and receiving moving images, either monochromatic or color, usually accompanied by sound. "Television" may also refer specifically to a television set, television programming or television transmission...
magazine from the
United KingdomThe United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland is a sovereign state located off the northwestern coast of continental Europe. It is an island country, spanning an archipelago including Great Britain, the northeastern part of Ireland, and many small islands...
that aired from 2002-2009. The programme started its sixteenth series in June 2009. Originally shown on Five,
Fifth Gear has also aired on the
Speed ChannelSpeed, sometimes still referred to as the Speed Channel, is a cable and satellite television channel broadcast to various parts of North America, but primarily the United States...
in the USA for a short period in 2004 to early 2007. Repeats of
Fifth Gear also started airing on UKTV channel, Dave in April 2008.
Fifth Gear (formerly
5th Gear) was a motoring
televisionTelevision is a widely used telecommunication medium for transmitting and receiving moving images, either monochromatic or color, usually accompanied by sound. "Television" may also refer specifically to a television set, television programming or television transmission...
magazine from the
United KingdomThe United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland is a sovereign state located off the northwestern coast of continental Europe. It is an island country, spanning an archipelago including Great Britain, the northeastern part of Ireland, and many small islands...
that aired from 2002-2009. The programme started its sixteenth series in June 2009. Originally shown on Five,
Fifth Gear has also aired on the
Speed ChannelSpeed, sometimes still referred to as the Speed Channel, is a cable and satellite television channel broadcast to various parts of North America, but primarily the United States...
in the USA for a short period in 2004 to early 2007. Repeats of
Fifth Gear also started airing on UKTV channel, Dave in April 2008. In October 2009 it was announced that the show would end due to declining audience figures.
Fifth Gear first aired in 2002 as a continuation of the original incarnation of the
BBCThe British Broadcasting Corporation, usually referred to by its abbreviation as the "BBC", is the longest established and largest broadcaster in the world...
show
Top Gear, which was cancelled in 2001 due to low ratings. Five originally wanted to carry on using the
Top Gear name, but the BBC refused. Several of
Top Gear's ex-presenters, including
Quentin WillsonQuentin Willson is a British TV presenter and motoring expert, and perhaps most widely known as a presenter of the motoring programmes Top Gear, Britain's Worst Driver, and Fifth Gear.-Early years:...
,
Tiff NeedellTimothy "Tiff" Needell isa British racing driver and television presenter. He is best known as a former co-presenter of Top Gear and a current member of the Fifth Gear programme.-Biography:...
and
Vicki Butler-HendersonVictoria "Vicki" Butler-Henderson is a racing driver and television presenter.-Biography:Born into a racing family, her grandfather used to race a Frazer Nash at Brooklands, her father was in the British karting team and her brother Charlie is a racing driver. She has an older sister, Charlotte,...
were hired by Five to present
Fifth Gear.
Show format
The
original format consisted of a 31 minute programme, including approximately 7 minutes of adverts. The eighth series returned in the autumn of 2005 in a longer format of 45 minutes, and the ninth series (which went to a 13-week run) was increased to a one hour airtime slot (approximately 46 minutes excluding adverts).
Location
At the start of series 10 the show introduced between-feature links filmed at the Ace Cafe in London. In previous series these links were filmed at the production company offices in
BirminghamBirmingham is a city and metropolitan borough in the West Midlands county of England. Birmingham is the second-most populous British city, with a population of 1,006,500 ....
. Originally produced by
ChrysalisChrysalis Group is a UK media company. It was founded by Chris Wright, who remains chairman and was listed the 1,000th richest person in the UK in The Times Rich List 2009....
Television, the Birmingham offices were situated on the top floor of the headquarters of
100.7 Heart FMHeart West Midlands is a radio station based in Birmingham, as part of the Heart Network, with a regional license to broadcast to the West Midlands. It is aimed primarily at people aged 25 – 44, which makes the station just about enter the Hot AC format...
(also, at that time, a Chrysalis Radio company), near Birmingham's
Five WaysFive Ways is an area of Birmingham, England. It takes its name from a major road junction, now a busy roundabout to the south-west of the city centre which lies at the outward end of Broad Street, where the Birmingham Middle ring road crosses the start of the A456 .-History:The name of Five Ways...
area. The team moved out when Chrysalis sold their Television Division to
All3MediaAll3Media is a television production company which makes programmes under several different subsidiaries. The company was formed in 2003 following the acquisition of Chrysalis Group's television arm which was rebranded North One....
in September 2003 (the section which currently produces Fifth Gear is now known as North One Television, part of the All3Media group).
In series 14, a location change from the Ace Cafe meant link sequences were filmed instead at the Millbrook Proving Ground, along with some of the vehicle testing features.
Presenter Line-up
For series 10
Tim LovejoyTimothy Paul Lovejoy is a British television presenter, most famous for hosting Saturday morning football programme Soccer AM alongside Helen Chamberlain for over a decade. He has supported Chelsea F.C. since they became good, although he did support Watford F.C...
was introduced as a main presenter, this was short-lived when longtime presenter,
Tom FordTom Ford is a motoring journalist and television presenter sometimes referred to by the nickname Wookie. He is married with 2 children.Ford currently appears on Five's Fifth Gear where he was promoted to the co-host slot in Spring 2007....
replaced Lovejoy alongside
Vicki Butler-HendersonVictoria "Vicki" Butler-Henderson is a racing driver and television presenter.-Biography:Born into a racing family, her grandfather used to race a Frazer Nash at Brooklands, her father was in the British karting team and her brother Charlie is a racing driver. She has an older sister, Charlotte,...
for series 11 onwards. Ford and Butler-Henderson join regular presenters
Jason PlatoJason Plato is a British racing car driver. He was 2001 BTCC champion, and has finished in the top 5 in the championship 10 times.-Biography:Plato was educated at The King's School, Tynemouth....
,
Jonny SmithJonny Smith is a motoring journalist and television presenter born in Somerset, England. He is currently one of the presenters on motoring program Fifth Gear. He first worked for a custom and vintage VW magazine, becoming the editor after 3 years. He went on to work for magazine publisher EMAP,...
and
Tiff NeedellTimothy "Tiff" Needell isa British racing driver and television presenter. He is best known as a former co-presenter of Top Gear and a current member of the Fifth Gear programme.-Biography:...
. Needell and Plato are predominantly used in performance car features where Smith and Ford cover lifestyle and general motoring. Previous presenters have included ex-
Top Gear presenters
Quentin WillsonQuentin Willson is a British TV presenter and motoring expert, and perhaps most widely known as a presenter of the motoring programmes Top Gear, Britain's Worst Driver, and Fifth Gear.-Early years:...
and Adrian Simpson as well as ex-
Top Gear editor (and
Fifth Gear producer)
Jon BentleyJon Bentley is a British journalist and television presenter, educated at Oriel College, Oxford.He has specialized in television production and journalism in the field of motoring. Between 1987 and 1999, he was producer and editor of BBC2's Top Gear and was series producer of Fifth Gear from 2002...
who presented safety and scientific features.
Tim ShawTim Shaw is a British radio DJ and TV Presenter. He has two children with his wife Hayley. He claims to be ranked third in a list of the world's most controversial broadcasters of all time...
was added to the line-up for the 14 series starting in the August 2008.
Canadian version
Fifth Gear started Canadian broadcast on
Discovery Channel CanadaDiscovery Channel is a Canadian English language cable television specialty channel devoted to nature, adventure, science and technology programming. Discovery Channel is currently owned by CTV Speciality Television Inc...
in 2008, began with 2006 series. This version ran in half-hour format.
Series List
| Series | Episodes | Originally aired |
|---|
|
1 |
9 |
8 April 2002 - 3 June 2002 |
|
2 |
8 |
7 October 2002 - 25 November 2002 |
|
3 |
9 |
12 March 2003 - 21 May 2003 |
|
4 |
10 + Special |
26 September 2003 - 15 December 2003 |
|
5 |
10 |
29 March 2004 - 31 May 2004 |
|
6 |
10 |
11 October 2004 - 13 December 2004 |
|
7 |
10 |
21 March 2005 - 23 May 2005 |
|
8 |
10 |
10 October 2005 - 19 December 2005 |
|
9 |
13 |
10 April 2006 - 24 July 2006 |
|
10 |
13 |
25 September 2006 - 18 December 2006 |
|
11 |
10 |
30 April 2007 - 2 August 2007 |
|
12 |
8 |
3 September 2007 - 22 October 2007 |
|
13 |
10 |
21 January 2008 - 24 March 2008 |
|
14 |
8 |
11 August 2008 - 29 September 2008 |
|
15 |
8 |
5 January 2009 - 23 February 2009 |
|
16 |
8 |
8 June 2009 - 27 July 2009 |
Accidents
During
Series 12 Episode 7 two accidents took place during filming.
- Tom Ford broke his foot and several toes when he crashed a modified Bedford Rascal
The Bedford Rascal , also built as the Suzuki Supercarry is a microvan that was developed as a joint venture between General Motors and Suzuki. It was sold under GM's British-based Bedford marque as well as in Suzuki form...
van. Ford was recording a piece about driftingDrifting refers to a driving technique and to a motor sport where the driver intentionally oversteers, causing loss of traction in the rear wheels through turns, while preserving vehicle control and a high exit speed...
. He and co-host Jonny Smith were racing each other in a D1 Grand PrixThe , abbreviated as D1GP and subtitled Professional Drift, is a production car drifting series from Japan. After several years of hosting amateur drifting contests, Option Magazine & Tokyo Auto Salon founder Daijiro Inada, and drifting legend Keiichi Tsuchiya hosted a professional level drifting...
style around a private track. After winning the event, Ford was performing a victory drift that went wrong, put his van (painted to resemble the A-TeamThe A-Team is an American action adventure television series about a fictional group of ex-United States Army Special Forces who work as soldiers of fortune while being on the run from the military for a "crime they didn't commit". The A-Team was created by writers and producers Frank Lupo and...
GMC Van) up on two wheels and sent him into a safety barrier.
- BTCC driver Jason Plato suffered multiple burns when a Caparo T1
The Caparo T1 is a British mid-engine, rear-wheel drive, two-seat automobile built by Caparo Vehicle Technologies, founded by design director Ben Scott-Geddes and engineering director Graham Halstead, engineers formerly involved in the development of the McLaren F1. The T1 was inspired by Formula...
he was driving at Bruntingthorpe proving groundBruntingthorpe Aerodrome and Proving Ground is a privately owned airport in Leicestershire near the village of Bruntingthorpe. It was opened as RAF Bruntingthorpe in 1942.-Overview:...
burst into flames. The car, capable of , burst into flames at an estimated . Plato said: "There was a slight loss of power, I looked in the mirror and saw some smoke, there was a slight smell of oil and then suddenly there was this intense heat. The car spontaneously erupted into a ball of flames and I was sat in the middle of a fireball." The presenter was initially taken to Market Harborough and District Hospital by former BTCC driver Phil BennettPhil Bennett is an auto racing driver, born 6 October 1971.He started circuit racing in 1998 with a one make Rover 216GTi, racing in the BRSCC Super Coupe Cup - finishing 2nd. He then finished 3rd in the 1999 Renault Spider Cup. In 2001 he joined Team Egg Sport to race a Vauxhall Astra in the...
before being treated at Kettering General Hospital. He later received specialist burns treatment at Stoke Mandeville HospitalStoke Mandeville Hospital is a large hospital in Aylesbury, Buckinghamshire, England, it is one of three hospitals in the Buckinghamshire Hospitals NHS Trust. It is one of the largest hospitals in Europe and is able to boast the largest spinal injuries department in the world.The hospital started...
. The incident was mentioned during Top Gear's discussion of the Caparo T1 the next year.
2004
- Best small car – BMW 1-Series
- Best family car – Ford Focus
The Ford Focus is a small family car manufactured by Ford and marketed globally since its introduction in 1998 in Europe, 2000 in North America, and 2002 in Australia. First generation models continued in production in North America through 2007 and remain in production currently in South America...
- Best fast car – Porsche 911 Carrera S
- Car of the year – Volkswagen Golf GTI
2005
- Best small car – Ford Fiesta ST
The Ford Fiesta is a small front wheel drive supermini car designed by the Ford Motor Company and built in Europe, Brazil, Argentina, Mexico, Venezuela, China, India and South Africa...
- Best family car – Honda Civic
The Honda Civic is a line of compact cars developed and manufactured by Honda. In North America, the Civic is the second-longest continuously-running nameplate from a Japanese manufacturer; only the Toyota Corolla, introduced in 1968, has been in production longer...
- Best fast car – BMW M5
The BMW M5 is a high performance version of the BMW 5-Series automobile made by the M racing division of BMW. First introduced at the Amsterdam Motor Show in 1984, the first incarnation of the M5 was hand-built utilising the 535i chassis and a modified BMW M1 engine, being the fastest production...
- Car of the year – Porsche Boxster
The Porsche Boxster is a mid-engined roadster built by Porsche. The Boxster is Porsche's first vehicle designed by Harm Lagaay from the beginning as a roadster; all previous Porsche convertibles were based on hardtop coupes....
2006
- Best small car – MINI Cooper S
Mini is a British automotive brand owned by the BMW Group that has produced the successor of the original Mini in Oxford, England since April 2001...
- Best family car – Citroen C4 Picasso
The Citroën C4 is a small family car produced by French automaker Citroën since autumn 2004. The C4 was designed to be the successor to the Citroën Xsara.It is mechanically similar to the Peugeot 308, which was launched in 2007....
- Best fast car – Chevrolet Corvette Z06
The Chevrolet Corvette is a sports car manufactured in six generations by General Motors since 1953. The first Corvette was designed by Harley Earl and named by Myron Scott after the fast ship of the same name. Originally built in Flint, Michigan and St. Louis, Missouri, it is currently built at a...
- Car of the year – Audi TT
The Audi TT is a sports car manufactured by German automaker Audi AG since 1998 in Győr, Hungary. It is now in its second generation — and available as a 2+2 coupé or two-seater roadster.-Origins:...
2007
- Best small car – Fiat 500
The Fiat 500 is a city car built by Italian automaker Fiat since 2007. The car is currently produced in Tychy, Poland by Fiat Auto Poland alongside the Nuova Panda and second-generation Ford Ka, released in 2008, all using the same platform...
- Best family car – Ford Mondeo
- Best fast car – Audi R8
- Car of the year – Audi R8
Shoot outs
Fifth Gear claims to be 'world renowned' for their 'infamous' shoot outs, between similarly priced, similarly powerful cars, or, recently, cars versus bikes. These shoot outs take place at the
Anglesey CircuitThe Anglesey Circuit, or Trac Môn in Welsh is a motor racing circuit located in Aberffraw, Anglesey, Wales. It plays host to a variety of motorsport events, including rallycross...
on the Isle of
AngleseyThe Isle of Anglesey , is an island and county off the northwest coast of Wales, with a predominantly Welsh-speaking population. It is connected to the mainland by two bridges spanning the Menai Strait: the original Menai Suspension Bridge , designed by Thomas Telford in 1826; and the newer...
close to
AberffrawAberffraw is now a small village and community on the south west coast of the Isle of Anglesey , in Wales, by the west bank of the River Ffraw, at . The UK postcode begins LL63. Access by road is by way of the A4080 and the nearest rail station is Bodorgan. In the early Middle Ages Aberffraw was...
. During the refurbishment of Anglesey, shoot-outs were switched to
Castle Combe CircuitCastle Combe Circuit is a motor racing circuit in Wiltshire, England, approximately from Bristol. The circuit used to be the perimeter track of a World War II airfield, and opened to racing in 1950.- History :...
.
2002 (Series 1 and 2)
- Ford Focus
The Ford Focus is a small family car manufactured by Ford and marketed globally since its introduction in 1998 in Europe, 2000 in North America, and 2002 in Australia. First generation models continued in production in North America through 2007 and remain in production currently in South America...
RS vs. Honda CivicThe Honda Civic is a line of compact cars developed and manufactured by Honda. In North America, the Civic is the second-longest continuously-running nameplate from a Japanese manufacturer; only the Toyota Corolla, introduced in 1968, has been in production longer...
Type-R vs. SEAT LeónThe SEAT León is a small family car built by the Spanish car manufacturer SEAT since 1999. It uses the Volkswagen Group A platform and shares other components with the Volkswagen Golf, Volkswagen Jetta, Audi TT, Audi A3 and Škoda Octavia....
Cupra R
2003 (Series 3 and 4)
- BMW Z4
The BMW Z4 is a rear-wheel drive sports car by the German Car maker BMW. If follows a line of past BMW roadsters such as the BMW Z1, BMW 507, and the BMW Z3. The Z4 replaces the Z3. First generation production started in 2002 at BMW's Spartanburg, South Carolina plant, with production of both...
3.0i vs. Porsche BoxsterThe Porsche Boxster is a mid-engined roadster built by Porsche. The Boxster is Porsche's first vehicle designed by Harm Lagaay from the beginning as a roadster; all previous Porsche convertibles were based on hardtop coupes....
- Radical SR3 vs. Ariel Atom
The Ariel Atom is a high performance sports car made by the Ariel Motor Company based in Somerset, England. The car is also manufactured under license in the United States, originally by Brammo Motorsports, currently by TMI AutoTech Inc. There have been three Ariel Atom incarnations to date: Ariel...
- Nissan 350Z
The Nissan 350Z is a two seat sports car that was manufactured by Nissan Motor Co, LTD. The 350Z is the fifth generation of Nissan's Z-car line, originally introduced in 1969 as the Datsun 240Z. The 350Z entered production in late 2002 and was sold and marketed as a 2003 model...
vs. Audi TTThe Audi TT is a sports car manufactured by German automaker Audi AG since 1998 in Győr, Hungary. It is now in its second generation — and available as a 2+2 coupé or two-seater roadster.-Origins:...
3.2 Quattro
- BMW M3
The BMW M3 is a high-performance version of the BMW 3 Series compact car, developed by BMW's branch BMW M. M3 models have been derived from the E30, E36, E46 and E90/E92/E93 3-series, and sold with coupé, sedan and convertible body styles...
CSL vs. BMW M3The BMW M3 is a high-performance version of the BMW 3 Series compact car, developed by BMW's branch BMW M. M3 models have been derived from the E30, E36, E46 and E90/E92/E93 3-series, and sold with coupé, sedan and convertible body styles...
2004 (Series 5 and 6)
- Citroen C2
The Citroën C2 is a supermini-class car produced by the French manufacturer Citroën since autumn of 2003, replacing the Citroën Saxo. A different model, based on the Peugeot 206, is sold in China as the C2...
GT vs. Ford SportKa
- Ford Transit
The Ford Transit is a range of panel vans, minibuses and pickup trucks, produced by the Ford Motor Company in Europe.The Transit has been the best-selling light commercial vehicle in Europe for 40 years, and in some countries the term "Transit" has passed into common usage as a generic term...
125 T280 vs. Mercedes-Benz SprinterThe Mercedes-Benz Sprinter is a van, chassis cab and minibus built by Daimler AG of Düsseldorf, Germany and sold as a Mercedes model, except in North America where it is built from CKD kits and sold by Freightliner...
213CDI
- Skoda Fabia
The Škoda Fabia is a supermini produced by Czech manufacturer Škoda Auto since 1999. It was the successor to the Škoda Felicia, which was discontinued in 2001...
vRS TDi vs. MINI CooperMini is a British automotive brand owned by the BMW Group that has produced the successor of the original Mini in Oxford, England since April 2001...
- Lotus Elise
The Lotus Elise is a two seat, rear-wheel drive, mid-engined roadster conceived in early 1994 and released in September 1996 by the English manufacturer Lotus Cars. The car has a hand-finished fibreglass body shell atop its extruded aluminium and bonded chassis that provides a rigid platform for...
111R vs. Vauxhall VX220The Vauxhall VX220 is a British-built mid engined, targa-topped, 2-seater sports car introduced in the summer of 2000....
Turbo
2005 - Series 7
- Ducati 999
The Ducati 999 superseded the Massimo Tamburini designed Ducati 916, Ducati 996 and Ducati 998 range of superbikes in 2003, and was produced through 2006...
vs. Lamborghini GallardoThe Lamborghini Gallardo is a sports car built by Lamborghini. The Gallardo is Lamborghini's most-produced model to date, with over 5000 built in its first three years of production. Each car costs about $180,000 to $210,000....
- Honda Civic
The Honda Civic is a line of compact cars developed and manufactured by Honda. In North America, the Civic is the second-longest continuously-running nameplate from a Japanese manufacturer; only the Toyota Corolla, introduced in 1968, has been in production longer...
Type-R vs. Renaultsport Clio 182 CupThe Renault Clio is a supermini car produced by the French automobile manufacturer Renault. Originally launched in 1990, it is currently in its third generation...
- Vauxhall Monaro VXR vs. MG ZT
The MG ZT is a high-performance MG-branded version of the Rover 75 executive car, produced by MG Rover at their Longbridge plant in Birmingham. They also manufactured estate versions of the vehicle, referred to as the MG ZT-T. Styling is similar to the 75, although uprated springs and chassis...
260
- MINI Cooper
Mini is a British automotive brand owned by the BMW Group that has produced the successor of the original Mini in Oxford, England since April 2001...
S Convertible vs. Smart Brabus Roadster CoupeSmart, formerly Smart GmbH , an automotive brand of Daimler AG, is a manufacturer of microcars and superminis based in Böblingen, Germany, produced in Hambach ....
- Mosler MT900
The MT900 is a sports car built in the United States and the United Kingdom by Mosler. Three submodels have also been produced. The MT900R was a racing version of the MT900. The basic car was updated as the MT900S for 2005, with the MT900S Photon being its racing variant. The original MT900 was...
S vs. Ducati 999The Ducati 999 superseded the Massimo Tamburini designed Ducati 916, Ducati 996 and Ducati 998 range of superbikes in 2003, and was produced through 2006...
- Mercedes-Benz SL55 AMG
The Mercedes-Benz SL is a roadster manufactured by Mercedes since 1954. The designation SL derives from the German Sport Leicht, or Sport Light — and was first applied to the 300SL 'Gullwing' named also after its "gullwing" or upward-opening doors...
vs. Mercedes-Benz SLK55 AMGThe SLK is a compact roadster manufactured by Mercedes-Benz in two generations, R170 and R171, since 1997.As one of the first modern retractable hardtop convertibles, the SLK followed the 1995 Mitsubishi 3000GT Spyder and preceded other retractable hardtops such as the Peugeot 206cc, Lexus SC,...
- BMW X5
The BMW X5 is a mid-size crossover SUV sold by BMW since 1999, making it BMW's first SUV. It features all-wheel drive and is available with a range of gasoline inline-6s, V8s and a diesel powertrain is also available. All X5s worldwide are manufactured in Spartanburg, South Carolina...
4.8is vs. Porsche CayenneThe Porsche Cayenne is a five-seat mid-size luxury sport utility vehicle manufactured by the German automaker Porsche since 2002, with North American sales beginning in 2003. Its platform was developed and is shared with the Volkswagen Touareg. It is the first V8-engined vehicle built by Porsche...
S
- Noble M400
Noble Automotive Ltd., more commonly known simply as Noble, is a British sports car manufacturer.It was established in 1999 by Lee Noble in Barwell, Leicestershire, for producing high-speed sports cars with a rear mid-engine, rear-wheel drive layout. Lee Noble was the chief designer and owner of...
vs. Mitsubishi Lancer Evo VIII MR FQ-400
2005 - Series 8
- Porsche 911 Carrera S vs. Lotus Exige
The Lotus Exige is a two-door, two-seat sports car made by Lotus Cars. It is essentially a coupe version of the Lotus Elise, which is a roadster that is mid-engined and has been in production since 1996....
240R
- Mitsubishi Lancer Evo VI GSR vs. Mitsubishi Lancer Evo IX FQ-320
- Westfield XTR4 vs. Suzuki GSXR1000
- Ford Fiesta
The Ford Fiesta is a small front wheel drive supermini car designed by the Ford Motor Company and built in Europe, Brazil, Argentina, Mexico, Venezuela, China, India and South Africa...
ST150 vs. Mitsubishi ColtThe current Mitsubishi Colt is a supermini built by Mitsubishi Motors. They are manufactured in Japan at Okazaki and in Europe at their NedCar plant in the Netherlands, using the same underpinnings as its sister car, the now discontinued Smart Forfour...
CZT
- Mazda RX-8
The Mazda RX-8 is a sports car manufactured by Mazda Motor Corporation. It first appeared in 2001 at the North American International Auto Show. It is the successor to the RX-7 and, like its predecessors in the RX range, it is powered by a rotary engine...
vs. Alfa Romeo GTThe Alfa Romeo GT is a sports car produced by the Italian automaker Alfa Romeo since 2004. The GT was introduced in March 2003 Geneva Motor Show and it came for sale in Italian markets January 2004....
3.2 V6
- Nissan 350Z
The Nissan 350Z is a two seat sports car that was manufactured by Nissan Motor Co, LTD. The 350Z is the fifth generation of Nissan's Z-car line, originally introduced in 1969 as the Datsun 240Z. The 350Z entered production in late 2002 and was sold and marketed as a 2003 model...
vs. Audi TTThe Audi TT is a sports car manufactured by German automaker Audi AG since 1998 in Győr, Hungary. It is now in its second generation — and available as a 2+2 coupé or two-seater roadster.-Origins:...
Sport Quattro 240
- Mercedes-Benz CLS55 AMG vs. Jaguar XJR
The Jaguar XJ is a luxury saloon sold under the British Jaguar marque. The XJ was launched in 1968 and has served as the Jaguar flagship model for most of its production span which continues through to today...
- Subaru Legacy
The Subaru Legacy is a mid-size car built by Japanese manufacturer Subaru since 1989. Available as a wagon or sedan, the Legacy joined the smaller Leone and took over as Subaru's mainstay vehicle. The Legacy has been noted for its reliability and practicality , and many models have been commended...
3.0 R spec. B Sports Tourer vs. Volvo V50Volvo Cars introduced the Volvo V50 at the 2003 Bologna Motor Show as the station wagon version of the Volvo S40 small family car -- manufacturing both models at their facility in Ghent, Belgium....
T5 SE AWD
- Lancia Delta
The Lancia Delta is a small family car produced by Italian automaker Lancia with the first generation being produced between 1979 and 1994, the second generation running from 1993 until 1999, and the third generation Delta entering production in 2008. It was first shown inFrankfurt Motor Show in 1979...
Integrale vs. BMW M3The BMW M3 is a high-performance version of the BMW 3 Series compact car, developed by BMW's branch BMW M. M3 models have been derived from the E30, E36, E46 and E90/E92/E93 3-series, and sold with coupé, sedan and convertible body styles...
e30.
2006 - Series 9
- Mazda MX-5
The Mazda MX-5, also known as Miata in North America and Roadster in Japan, is a two-seater roadster sports car built by Mazda in Hiroshima, Japan – introduced in 1989 and now in its third generation.-Generations and overview:...
vs. Mazda MX-5The Mazda MX-5, also known as Miata in North America and Roadster in Japan, is a two-seater roadster sports car built by Mazda in Hiroshima, Japan – introduced in 1989 and now in its third generation.-Generations and overview:...
mk. I
- Subaru Impreza WRX STi
The Subaru Impreza STI is the highest standard-edition trim in the Subaru Impreza compact car line, produced by Japanese automaker Subaru....
Type-UK vs. Subaru ForesterThe Subaru Forester, is a tall, all-wheel drive Compact Sports Utility Vehicle manufactured since 1997 by Subaru — and is marketed as a compact crossover...
STi
- Vauxhall Astra
Astra is a model name which has been used by Vauxhall, the British subsidiary of General Motors , on their small family car ranges since 1979. Astras are technically essentially identical with similar vehicles offered by GM's German subsidiary Opel in most other European countries...
VXR vs. Ford FocusThe Ford Focus is a small family car manufactured by Ford and marketed globally since its introduction in 1998 in Europe, 2000 in North America, and 2002 in Australia. First generation models continued in production in North America through 2007 and remain in production currently in South America...
ST
- Mercedes-Benz A200T
The Mercedes-Benz A-Class is a luxury small car produced by the German automaker Mercedes-Benz. The first generation was introduced in 1997, and the all-new second generation model appeared in late 2004. It is available as a three or five-door hatchback...
vs. Toyota Corolla VersoThe Corolla is a line of subcompact/compact cars manufactured by the Japanese automaker Toyota, which has become very popular throughout the world since the nameplate was first introduced in 1966. In 1997, the Corolla became the best selling nameplate in the world, with over 35 million sold as of...
T180
- BMW M6
The BMW M6 is a high-performance version of the 6-Series automobile, designed by the motorsport division of the German manufacturer.-E24 M635CSi/"M6":...
vs. BMW M5The BMW M5 is a high performance version of the BMW 5-Series automobile made by the M racing division of BMW. First introduced at the Amsterdam Motor Show in 1984, the first incarnation of the M5 was hand-built utilising the 535i chassis and a modified BMW M1 engine, being the fastest production...
- Škoda Octavia
The Škoda Octavia is a small family car produced by Czech automaker Škoda Auto since 1996, its name revived from a model originally produced between 1959 and 1971. The current Octavia is available in five-door hatchback and estate body styles...
vRS vs. Volkswagen Golf GTI
- Volkswagen Golf R32 vs. BMW 130i M Sport
- Nissan Navara
Nissan Frontier is the name for the D22 and D40 generations of Nissan pickup trucks in the North, Central and South America and the Philippines. The line was started in 1998, and its immediate predecessor is the D21 series...
vs. Mitsubishi L200
2006 - Series 10
- Mitsubishi Lancer Evo IX MR FQ-360 vs. Stunt Plane
2007 - Series 11
- Week 5: Renaultsport Clio 197
The Renault Clio is a supermini car produced by the French automobile manufacturer Renault. Originally launched in 1990, it is currently in its third generation...
vs. Vauxhall Corsa VXRThe Opel Corsa is a supermini that has been produced by General Motors' European subsidiary Opel since 1982 and has also been sold under a variety of other brands , and also spawned various derivatives in different markets, all of which are listed in appropriate sections below...
- Week 6: MINI Cooper
Mini is a British automotive brand owned by the BMW Group that has produced the successor of the original Mini in Oxford, England since April 2001...
vs. Suzuki Swift SportThe Suzuki Swift is nameplate marketed by Suzuki carried by vehicles of three distinct derivations:* First, second and third generations: a supermini that began as an export nameplate of the Japanese domestic market Suzuki Cultus. See: Suzuki Cultus....
- Week 9: White van Megane shoot-out: Renaultsport Megane 230 F1 Team R26 vs. Ford Transit Connect X-press
The Ford Transit is a range of panel vans, minibuses and pickup trucks, produced by the Ford Motor Company in Europe.The Transit has been the best-selling light commercial vehicle in Europe for 40 years, and in some countries the term "Transit" has passed into common usage as a generic term...
- Week 10: Hire car shoot-out: Vauxhall Astra 1.6
Astra is a model name which has been used by Vauxhall, the British subsidiary of General Motors , on their small family car ranges since 1979. Astras are technically essentially identical with similar vehicles offered by GM's German subsidiary Opel in most other European countries...
vs. Ford Focus 1.6 ZetecThe Ford Focus is a small family car manufactured by Ford and marketed globally since its introduction in 1998 in Europe, 2000 in North America, and 2002 in Australia. First generation models continued in production in North America through 2007 and remain in production currently in South America...
2007 - Series 12
- Week 1: BMW 335i vs. Audi S5
- Week 3: Honda Civic Type R (UK specification) vs. Honda Civic Type R (Japanese specification)
- Week 5: Audi TT 2.0T S-tronic vs. Audi TT 2.0T manual
- Week 7: Ford Gran Torino vs. Dodge Charger
The General Lee is the automobile driven by the Duke cousins Bo and Luke in the television series The Dukes of Hazzard. It is known for the chases and stunts, especially high jumps, in almost every episode, and for having the doors welded up, leaving the Dukes to climb in and out through the windows...
2008 - Series 13
- Week 1: Lotus Exige S 240 vs. Caterham CSR 260 Superlight
- Week 2: Renaultsport Clio 197 vs. Rage Buggy R180RT
- Week 3: Vauxhall VXR8 vs. Lotus Carlton
The Lotus Carlton was a Vauxhall Carlton saloon upgraded by Lotus Cars to be a 177 mph sports car. Like all Lotus vehicles, it was given a type designation — Type 104 in this case...
- Week 4: VW Transporter Sportline vs. Mercedes-Benz Vito X
The Mercedes-Benz Vito is a light van produced by Mercedes-Benz in Vitoria, Spain. From the name of the city Vitoria came the name Vito....
- Week 5: Fiat Panda 100HP
The Fiat Panda is a city car from the Italian automotive manufacturer Fiat. The first Fiat Panda was made from 1980 to 2003 with only few changes, and is now sometimes referred to as the "old Panda"...
vs. Renault Twingo GTThe Renault Twingo is a city car built by French automaker Renault, first presented at the Paris Motor Show in September 1992 and sold in continental European markets beginning in 1993...
- Week 6: MINI One
Mini is a British automotive brand owned by the BMW Group that has produced the successor of the original Mini in Oxford, England since April 2001...
vs. Fiat 500 1.4The Fiat 500 is a city car built by Italian automaker Fiat since 2007. The car is currently produced in Tychy, Poland by Fiat Auto Poland alongside the Nuova Panda and second-generation Ford Ka, released in 2008, all using the same platform...
- Week 7: Ford Fiesta ST
The Ford Fiesta is a small front wheel drive supermini car designed by the Ford Motor Company and built in Europe, Brazil, Argentina, Mexico, Venezuela, China, India and South Africa...
vs. Vauxhall Corsa SRi
- Week 8: Porsche Cayenne GTS
The Porsche Cayenne is a five-seat mid-size luxury sport utility vehicle manufactured by the German automaker Porsche since 2002, with North American sales beginning in 2003. Its platform was developed and is shared with the Volkswagen Touareg. It is the first V8-engined vehicle built by Porsche...
vs. BMW X5 4.8iThe BMW X5 is a mid-size crossover SUV sold by BMW since 1999, making it BMW's first SUV. It features all-wheel drive and is available with a range of gasoline inline-6s, V8s and a diesel powertrain is also available. All X5s worldwide are manufactured in Spartanburg, South Carolina...
- Week 9: Volkswagen GTI
The Volkswagen Golf is a hatchback / small family car manufactured by Volkswagen since 1974 and marketed worldwide across six generations, in various body configurations and under various nameplates -- prominently as the Volkswagen Rabbit in the United States and Canada , and as the Volkswagen...
vs. Subaru Impreza WRXThe Subaru Impreza WRX is a turbocharged version of the Subaru Impreza, an all-wheel drive automobile. It is available as a sedan or wagon....
- Week 10: Ford Escort RS Cosworth
The Escort RS Cosworth was a sports derivative of the Ford Escort. It was available from 1992-96 and in very limited numbers.It was instantly recognisable due to its large whale tail rear spoiler. The main selling point was the Cosworth YBT engine, a highly tunable turbocharged 2-litre engine which...
vs. Ford Focus RSThe Ford Focus is a small family car manufactured by Ford and marketed globally since its introduction in 1998 in Europe, 2000 in North America, and 2002 in Australia. First generation models continued in production in North America through 2007 and remain in production currently in South America...