Top Gear - Is it Time for a Change?

Chris Evans who quit as Top Gear host earlier this year

It's the year of resignations...David Cameron, Nigel Farage, (maybe one day, Jeremy Corbyn?)... Even as I type this piece, Tory leader hopeful Andrea Leadsom has decided to throw in the towel allowing Theresa May to lead the party as well as our country. Phew...anyone else?
Well yes...at least away from politics. Following the latest series of Top Gear coming to an end, lead host Chris Evans announced he's stepping down.
I'm aware of the views of many; people who've criticised Evans's form of presenting and linking this to the slump in viewing figures.
I don't agree! This slump has been brewing for a while and I don't think it's fair to pin all the blame on Evans, (someone who's a huge petrolhead and car collector in his own right).
For a while now, I've thought that the show's format has become rather tired and jaded. The over-the-top challenges, the heavy focus on high end, very expensive cars. Even the Stig and the presenters gags are now past their best.
You can't necessarily blame the BBC for not wanting to tamper with a winning formula. BBC Worldwide made many millions selling the show and its format around the world. Top Gear brought in huge viewing figures for the BBC; the show regularly being the most watched programme on BBC Two during the Clarkson/Hammond/May era.
I'd say there's definitely room for a motoring show on television, one that can entertain and inform in equal measure. Clearly, it would be wrong to revert the show back to what Top Gear used to be like in the 1980's, when men in cardigans analysed boot volumes in machines as glamorous as the Renault 19 Chamade and Vauxhall Belmont. Remember those?
Top Gear should keep the humour, keep the interviews with celebrities and of course, review the exciting supercars of the day. It should be tempered though with reviews of more attainable, yet interesting models, cutting down on the challenges and making greater use of the clearly informative, yet likeable Chris Harris and Rory Reid.
Oh, and please....no more challenges featuring Reliant three-wheelers :)

Highlights of Goodwood FoS '16

BMW was the subject of Gerry Judah's central sculpture this year featuring three of the German giant's racing greats

Another year ticks by and another fabulous time was spent at the Goodwood Festival of Speed. Every year I've attended, West Sussex always seems to be bathed in glorious sunshine. This year was slightly different as heavy showers weren't always far away. Luckily, although there were muddy areas, Goodwood didn't resemble this year's Glastonbury. I was even more grateful that as a car enthusiast, I wasn't stuck in traffic for 10 plus hours as were some music loving festival goers who headed down Somerset way!
The Goodwood festival this year featured the usual comprehensive selection of cars from every era whilst the world of motorsport was represented by thunderous machines from many disciplines entertaining spectators as they shot up the hill.
I did notice however that a number of manufacturers that normally attend Goodwood were absent from proceedings this year including Peugeot, Citroen, Seat and Toyota. Still, the majority of Britain's most popular marques were showing off their latest models in extensive pavilions. The most impressive for me were those erected by Jaguar Land Rover, Porsche and Audi.
Below are some of my highlights from one of the world's best motoring festivals...

The BMW 2002 Hommage concept was a car that stood out in my eyes. Initially shown at this year's Concorso d'Eleganza at Villa d'Este, it celebrates the 60th anniversary of the original 2002 Turbo of 1966. Based on the M2, there are no plans to bring it to production...unfortunately

  

 

As usual, the Cartier Style et Luxe featured many eye watering classics in pristine condition, the majority as rare as hen's teeth. This beautiful 1965 A110 cabriolet was among a number of Alpines featured in the class 'Alpine Pass & Present - Dieppe's Definitive Sports Car'. Astonishingly, only 30 A110 Cabriolets were ever made. All eyes are on the future now though as Renault gets ready to launch an all-new Alpine sports car later this year. The Alpine Vision concept is a close to production ready look at what this car will look like...

 

 

I'm a great fan of the latest MX-5 and so it was interesting to see Mazda's new RF variant in the flesh at Goodwood. Like the previous generation Roadster Coupe, the RF features a folding hardtop for added refinement and all-weather appeal. Unlike its predecessor though, the RF features a targa design

 

 

1971 Lamborghini Miura P400 SV - The Miura is sensational and was one of the pioneers of the 'supercar' sector. Not surprising that its aerodynamic silhouette reminded many of an aeroplane wing. This model took part in the Cartier Style et Luxe and the class 'Gandini's Raging Bulls'

 

Mercedes-AMG GT R - The new GT range topper. The R features a 577bhp twin-turbocharged 4.0 litre V8 engine that'll catapult it from 0-62mph in 3.6secs

 

The BMW 507 is one of the Bavarian maker's most desirable models built between 1956 and 1959. Notable owners included Elvis Presley. As this year's featured marque, BMW were well represented at Goodwood

 

And finally I couldn't help but take a snap of the Ferrari 488 Spider, looking particularly sharp in this blue



On test - Seat Leon SC Cupra 280 (written Sept '15)

Seat introduces its ‘go faster’ Leon following the launch of the Spanish brand’s well received third generation family hatchback. The question is, can it topple its sister Golf GTI in the hot hatch pecking order?

What is it?
As a car enthusiast, I've got a soft spot for a good old fashioned 'hot hatch'. The combined appeal of a sporty engine and powerful looks allied to the base model’s practicality and affordability tends to get the thumbs up from me.
Seat has had a number of reasonably successful hot hatches over the years with various Cupra badged Ibiza’s and Leon’s rolling out of Martorell. Unfortunately for Seat, they’ve so often been overshadowed by the supreme competence of Ford’s Focus ST on one hand and the ever dominant Golf GTI on the other.
Seat seems pretty confident this time though. Their Cupra 280 briefly held the title of the fastest front wheel drive car to lap the Nurburgring and company chiefs are evidently keen for the fastest car in their history to hold real substance behind its Latin character.
Have they succeeded? I take a three door SC Cupra 280 equipped with a six speed manual gearbox out into the Kentish countryside to find out.

 

What's it like?

Powerful...The Cupra 280 features the VW Group’s 2.0 litre TSI petrol unit cranked up to 276bhp. Particularly powerful in the mid range between 2000-3000rpm, the Cupra 280 surges towards the horizon in a pleasing, linear fashion, making full use of its 258lb ft of torque.

The car will top out at the increasingly de rigueur 155mph limiter, once the preserve of the typical German performance saloon. Should you be a fan of the traffic light grand prix, 0-62mph takes place in just 5.6secs.

The handling of the Leon 280 was mostly positive during my Kentish drive. Turn-in was direct and grip levels remained strong although if really pushed, understeer showed its head, not altogether surprising given the car’s front wheel drive set-up.

The Cupra 280 comes with the VW Group’s electronic differential which seemed to help the car power out of bends when attacking some of my favourite B-roads. It’s worth noting though that at times it was evident that the front wheels were being asked to do a lot due to telltale wheelspin, particularly when launching the car from a standstill on slightly damp surfaces.

 

 



The six speed manual transmission was mostly a pleasure to use with a short throw and precise action. I say ‘mostly’ as the gear change from first to second wasn’t always smooth, sometimes feeling notchy and not altogether positive.

As expected of a car that wears 19” wheels, the ride in the Cupra 280 was firm but by no means uncomfortable. Potholes and expansion joints can sometimes thud into the cabin, especially when cornering; however, road noise is mostly kept in check.

As is typical of a VW Group product, the interior layout is logical and everything is where you’d expect to find it. Despite the power available, the Leon 280 is just as easy to drive as the models beneath it.

Perceived material quality seems good enough to my eyes although it’s clear that its VW Golf GTI cousin is a classier place to spend time in. What was rather surprising and of slight concern to me was the emergence of rattles emanating from the driver and passenger door cards during my test, something that may point to build quality limitations.

 

 

Should I buy one?

The Seat Leon Cupra 280 should definitely be on your shopping list if you’re in the market for a 200bhp-plus hot hatch. To my eyes, it’s a stylish piece of kit that draws just the right amount of attention. It features a great engine and its reasonable value for the power available coming in at £27,910.

The difficulty Seat has comes in the form of its rivals. For those after as absorbing drive as possible, Honda’s new Civic Type-R and even the polished handling of RenaultSport’s soon-to-be-replaced Megane 275 pip the Leon 280 for outright dynamics. For those who want a hot hatch that excites while at the same time delivering a less hardcore driving experience, the Golf GTI is able to trump the Leon for comfort, build quality and a list price that undercuts the Spanish contender by £400.

In the end, although the Seat Leon Cupra 280 is a good effort and deserves attention, there are rivals that better marry typical hot hatch magic with a more rounded ownership proposition.