Top Gear Series 12

Episode 12x01 - 2008.11.02   [BBC Link]

  • Porsche 911 977 GT2 vs Lamborghini Gallardo LP560-4
  • Car news:
    • Summarizing the financial crisis
    • Dacia Sandero: not coming to U.K.
    • Jetstream SC250
  • 5000£ truck challenge
  • Celebrity guest: Michael Parkinson

Episode 12x02 - 2008.11.09   [BBC Link]

  • Fiat 50 Abarth SS
  • Car news:
    • Renault Twingo 133
    • Renault Megane R26R
    • F1 2009 commentator on the BBC?
  • American Muscle Cars in America (San Francisco, Reno, Bonneville Salt Flats):
    • Cadillac CTS-V
    • Corvette ZR1
    • Dodge Challenger SRT8
  • Celebrity guest: Will Young

Episode 12x03 - 2008.11.16   [BBC Link]

  • Toyota iReal
  • Car news:
    • Honda robotic legs
    • Danish way to reduce road speeding
    • Aston Martin One-77
    • Dacia Sandero: off-road version
    • Colors to choose from when ordering a new Range Rover, Audi, BMW or Mercedes
  • Why are the Finns so good in Rallying? (with Mika Häkkinen)
  • Where to use V8 engines, if not in cars: food blender
  • Celebrity guest: Mark Wahlberg
  • Home-made Evo killer, based on a Renault Avantime

Episode 12x04 - 2008.11.23   [BBC Link]

  • Captain Slow's first supercar test: Pagani Zonda F Roadster vs Bugatti Veyron
  • Car news:
    • Peugeot Partner Teepee
    • Peugeot Expert Teepee
    • European Car-Of-The-Year 2008: Vauxhall Insigna
  • Race from Basel (Switzerland) to Blackpool with 1 tank of fuel (750 miles)
    • Subaru Legacy Diesel
    • Jaguar XJ6 TDVI
    • VW Polo BlueMotion
  • Lamborghini Estoque (4-door)
  • Celebrity guest: Harry Enfield

Episode 12x05 - 2008.11.30   [BBC Link]

  • BMW M3 E90 Sedan vs Lexus ISF
  • Car news:
    • Infinity G37 convertible
    • Porsche Panamera
    • Make cars not crash into each other, using magnets
  • Bus race on Lyddon Hill circuit, with Touring Car drivers Anthony Reid, Matt Neal, Gordon Sheddon and Tom Chilton
  • Celebrity guest: Kevin McCloud
  • Top Gear Cool Wall
  • 40 years of Ferrari Daytona - race against the XSR48 Diesel speedboat from Portofino (I) to Saint Tropez (F)

Episode 12x06 - 2008.12.07   [BBC Link]

  • Caterham R500 vs Veritas RS3
  • Car news:
    • Jeremy has lost his voice
    • "Heat" magazine survey: Jeremy is #1 weird crush 2008
    • Top Gear team will comment Formula 1 on BBC in 2009
    • New Mini Convertible
    • Bad times for car makers, they offer test drives for 48 hours, 100 Miles, ...
    • Electric car sales drop down by 50% (in Britain)
  • Has Communism ever produced a good car?
    • Lada Riva and Moskvitch 408 (from Russia) in a race against a Ford Cortina 1600 E and a dog
    • ZAZ 968 (Russia)
    • Wartburg & Trabant (East Germany)
    • FSO Polonez pickup (Poland)
    • Morris Marina (Britain)
    • GAZ Chaika (Russia)
    • Lada Niva (Russia)
  • Celebrity guest: Boris Johnson (Mayor of London)
  • New Ford Fiesta in a proper road test, incl. a race against a Corvette in a shopping center, and participating in a Marine beach assault

Episode 12x07 - 2008.12.14   [BBC Link]

  • 50 years of British Touring Car Championship (BTCC)
  • Car news:
    • Morris Marina owners club is angry (see Episode 12x06)
    • Automotive-related Christmas presents
  • Tesla electric roadster (battery powered)
  • Where to use V8 engines, if not in cars: rocking chair
  • Celebrity guest: Sir Tom Jones
  • Top Gear Stunt Man: attempt to do longest jump with a car towing a caravan
  • Top Gear Awards for Motoring Achievements 2008
    • Best noise: Mercedes CLK Black Series vs Ferrari 430 Scuderia vs Alfa 8C
    • Best dance in celebrity race result nomination
    • Fastest Lap
    • Most painful injury to a motoring related body part: Jeremys neck in Nissan GT-R vs Jeremys neck in driving a truck through a wall of bricks
    • Most embarrassing flirting on Top Gear television: James May in Alfa Romeo trip vs Jeremy approaching an american girl in the studio vs Jeremy interviewing Will Young
    • Car of the year: Nissan GT-R vs Ford Fiesta vs Fiat 500 Abarth vs Caterham R500
  • Honda FCX Clarity: hydrogen/electric car without batteries (with Jay Leno)

Episode 12x08 - 2008.12.28   [? BBC Link ?]

  • Vietnam special episode