When police surveillance systems catch motorists breaking the law, the onus is increasingly on drivers to prove their innocence rather than on the police to prove guilt. William Woollard investigates this apparent change in emphasis. Tony Mason reports on preparations for the Lombard — RAC Rally. Chris Goffey drives the 440 — the new Volvo made in Holland and Tom Boswell tackles rust warranties — how much protection do they offer? Jeremy Clarkson visits a firm that pulls apart new Rolls-Royces, and rebuilds them.

The first London to Brighton veteran run in 1896 marked a newly-won freedom for early motorists — being allowed to drive their vehicles without a man walking in front carrying a red flag. William Woollard joins this annual motoring spectacle. Tiff Needell visits a firm of car restoration specialists, who have prepared some of the vehicles for this year’s London to Brighton event. And taller-than-average Jeremy Clarkson follows up your letters about difficulties with fitting into your cars. Tom Boswell asks why owners are unable to find out more easily which vehicles are safer than others.

Once again Radio Times Rally Quest is searching for a budding rally driver to win a chance-of-a-lifetime drive in November’s Lombard RAC Rally. William Woollard presents the first of a new series from the qualifying rounds at Ellesmere Port in Cheshire. Tony Mason offers advice on rally driving technique with the help of top rally driver Louise Aitken-Walker. The Ford Fiesta, Britain’s best-selling supermini, is relaunched this spring. Chris Goffey assesses whether the new model is good enough to retain class leadership. Sue Baker has been to the Geneva motor show to preview the rest of spring’s new cars while the latest executive toy is the chauffeur to answer the car phone. Jeremy Clarkson reports.

William Woollard looks at ways to mitigate traffic congestion, while Jeremy Clarkson examines some of the competing solutions to London’s problems and comes to a novel conclusion. Off-road motorcycle rallies have given rise to a new breed of commercial bikes. Chris Goffey assesses their leisure use off the road, and their practicality in towns. The AC Cobra still evokes a special excitement among enthusiasts. Beki Adam reviews this marriage of a big American V8 engine and a sophisticated British sporting chassis. Tiff Needell tests two Grand Prix Karts — 250cc machines capable of 150 mph.

William Woollard and Sue Baker present the first of a new series from Europe’s biggest and brightest motor show at Frankfurt. On the road, Chris Goffey has been driving the new Citroën XM — will it live up to the French company’s reputation for innovation and comfort? And there’s a road test of Mercedes’s new SL sports car, soon to be launched in Britain. But are German motorists’ attitudes to the car changing? Jeremy Clarkson reports on how the nation with more cars than any other in Europe is coming to terms with congestion and pollution.

William Woollard reports from the Ultimate Truck Show at Stoneleigh in Warwickshire on the biggest, fastest and safest trucks on the scene. Steve Webster has been world motorcycle sidecar champion for the last three years. Tiff Needell takes the place of his regular passenger around the challenging Cadwell Park circuit in Lincolnshire to try out one of the most dangerous and spectacular jobs in motor sport. For the disabled, mobility itself is a challenge. Simon Barnes of the One in Four programme investigates how to go about learning to drive and buying a car if you are confined to a wheelchair. Plus Jeremy Clarkson examines the return of the car with a boot, with three new models which started life as hatchbacks.

William Woollard reports from Donington Park where the final selection of the Rally Quest 90 winner takes place. Tony Mason follows the finalists to find who will have the chance of an entry into this year’s Lombard RAC rally. Tiff Needell assesses Toyota’s new MR2 and Celica GT4. Tom Boswell tests the Honda CN 250, a new breed of bike-cum-motor scooter. Plus, Jeremy Clarkson reports on two novel ways of recovering a stolen car.

William Woollard reports from the Veteran Car Club’s diamond jubilee rally at Stratford-upon-Avon. Chris Goffey assesses the new versions of the Rover Metro and Fiat Uno. Jeremy Clarkson investigates the falsification of mileage on second-hand cars, and why this multi-million-pound fraud isn’t taken seriously enough. Tiff Needell tries his hand at rallying behind the wheel of the Mitsubishi Galant that won last year’s Lombard RAC Rally, with expert tuition from winning driver Pentti Airikkala.

William Woollard presents the programme from the Motor Industry Research Association in Warwickshire, used by many of the world’s motor manufacturers to develop their new models. Tiff Needell explores the different ways cars behave in emergency situations, Jeremy Clarkson tests the new model Ford Escort and Tony Mason joins former motorsport stars Paddy Hopkirk, Stirling Moss and Roger Clark on the 1990 Pirelli Classic Marathon.

Next month, RAF technician Will Brown competes in the Lombard RAC Rally as part of his prize for winning the Radio Times Rally Quest competition. Tony Mason watches his final preparations during the Audi Sport International in mid-Wales. Radio Times columnist Chris Goffey assesses the impact of Toyota’s new luxury car, Lexus, and Jeremy Clarkson reviews the 80th anniversary of the Alfa Romeo marque.

William Woollard reports from the Sunderland factory where the new Nissan Primera is made and Jeremy Clarkson puts it through its paces. Radio Times columnist Chris Goffey looks at the latest attempts to build intelligent cars which avoid accidents and Tony Mason visits a car museum in the south of France.

Jeremy Clarkson tests three golden oldies: the Audi Quattro, the Volvo 240 Estate, and the Jaguar XJS. Radio Times columnist Chris Goffey takes the wheel of a rally-prepared Mini for the Telford Stages Rally, a round of the Top Gear Heritage Historic Rally Championship, and Beki Adam looks at the history of the Chevrolet Corvette.

William Woollard and Sue Baker report from the Geneva International Motorshow. Jeremy Clarkson compares the Range Rover, Toyota Land Cruiser and re-vamped Mercedes-Benz G-Wagon. Plus a road test of Mitsubishi’s new Sigma.

William Woollard presents the programme from the first RAC Historic Rally. Sue Baker visits the Detroit Auto Show; Radio Times columnist Chris Goffey examines the Malaysian Proton; and Jeremy Clarkson investigates Britain’s company car phenomenon.

Radio Times columnist Chris Goffey road tests the new Mazda 121, claimed to be the new super Mini and tries out a new high mobility vehicle; Jeremy Clarkson examines the system for car recalls; and Tony Mason looks at how to start in single class rallying.

Eric Richard, from The Bill, rides the new Triumph 1200 model, Jeremy Clarkson road tests the new Citroen ZX and Tony Mason talks to the 20 finalists of the Rally Quest at Donington.

From the newly revised Silverstone Racing Circuit. Tiff Needell tries out some historic racing cars, Nicky Fox samples a rally for enthusiasts of new and old buses. Korea’s growing car industry is beginning to challenge even the Japanese. Jeremy Clarkson tests the new Hyundai Lantra. Presented by William Woollard.

Last programme in the series. Spain is now a major centre for car production. Radio Times columnist Chris Goffey tests Seat’s new family saloon, the Toledo. Also in Spain, Jeremy Clarkson puts the new Mitsubishi Shogun through its paces and, nearer home, Tiff Needell tries out the extensively remodelled Silverstone track in Jaguar’s new £500,000 sports racing car, the XJR 15. Introduced by William Woollard from Barcelona.

Mazda believes its new MX-3 will dramatically change the sports hatchback market, claiming it’s not in the normal GTi tradition of a family car with additions, but a purpose-designed four-seater coupe. Jeremy Clarkson reports. Chris Goffey examines problems viewers have found with their new cars, and Tony Mason reviews this year’s Pirelli Classic Marathon.

Tiff Needell visits a drag racing museum in Florida. Chris Goffey tests Toyota’s new executive Camry. Plus Jeremy Clarkson on the future of ‘pollution free’ transport.

Tractor millionaire Ferrucio Lamborghini decided in the 60s to beat Ferrari at his own game by building some of the world’s most desirable cars. Do latest models live up to the legend? Plus a look at the merits of the Range Rover as a second-hand buy, and at ‘air bags’, balloons of gas which cushion the impact of a crash. With Chris Goffey, Jeremy Clarkson and Quentin Willson.

Jeremy Clarkson takes an exclusive drive in the first new Bentley for 40 years. And at the other end of the scale, Quentin Willson offers some advice on buying a car for just £1,000.

Return of the motoring magazine programme. Jeremy Clarkson investigates rumours of the Ford Capri’s comeback and test-drives the Mazda MX-6; Radio Times writer Chris Goffey looks at cult cars; and second-hand car dealer Quentin Willson reveals the workings of the motor trade.

Is it worth paying extra for the privilege of being seen in a coupe? Jeremy Clarkson drives the new BMW 3-series and the Honda Prelude. Quentin Willson discovers a car which is gold-plated, weighs three tons, and was custom-made for a flamboyant Texan in the 1920s.

The Ford GT40 beat Ferrari at its own game at Le Mans in the 1960s. Tiff Needell races and road tests a replica of one of these legends in American motoring. And Jeremy Clarkson drives the new Volvo 850.

In the last of the series, Jeremy Clarkson drives Hitler’s Mercedes convertible and Mussolini’s 1939 Lancia.

The motoring series returns with a test drive of the new Dodge Viper, an ultra-high performance sports car that demonstrates renewed self-confidence in the American car industry, and a report on the sinking values of classic cars in Europe. Plus British rally news. With Jeremy Clarkson and Quentin Willson.

Launched 26 years ago, the Toyota Corolla has become the world’s best-selling car and has been revised no fewer than six times. Can the latest Corollas stay on top? Plus the Mobil One Top Gear British Rally Championship — the Manx International. With Jeremy Clarkson and Tony Mason.

Rover’s new coupe version of the 800 has all the extras, but is it worth its £30,000 price tag? Jeremy Clarkson finds out. And Chris Goffey goes motor racing in a VW Beetle.

Jeremy Clarkson drives some of the glorious Maseratis that made the firm famous, as well as its new model, the 222. And Tony Mason reports on the Midland Rally, the final round of the Mobil One Top Gear British Rally Championship.

The motoring magazine series returns with a road test of the new Mondeo, which Ford hope will become the Cortina of the 1990s. There’s a second-hand report on the Sierra, the car the Mondeo replaces, and a look at the Jeep Jamboree. With Jeremy Clarkson and Quentin Willson.

Chris Goffey sizes up Vauxhall’s Nova replacement, the Corsa, against superminis like the Clio, the Fiesta and Nissan’s new Micra. Jeremy Clarkson drives the lonely 1500-mile Alaska Highway through some of the world’s most spectacular scenery.

Can the V8 turbo of Aston Martin’s new Vantage match the Lamborghini Diablo? Jeremy Clarkson tests it and takes a look at the prototype for Aston’s small, relatively cheap sports car at the Geneva Show. There’s also his second report from the Alaska Highway.

Can Jaguar’s new V12 flagship, their fastest, most opulent saloon yet, take on its rivals from BMW and Mercedes? Jeremy Clarkson road-tests it to find out. And Tony Mason reports on the opening round of the British Rally Championship around north Wales.

Peugeot’s 205 was such a success that some have called it the car of the 1980s. Now the company hopes to grab the limelight again in the 90s with its new 306 range. Built in Coventry, the car goes on sale this month. Jeremy Clarkson tests it to see if Peugeot’s hopes are justified.

In a final programme, Jeremy Clarkson looks back at the highlights of the series.

The motoring series with a report on the best small car in Britain today — with Jeremy Clarkson and Michele Newman sifting through the ten leading contenders. And Kristian Schmid (who played Todd Landers in Neighbours) gets advice on good second-hand cars that teenage drivers like him can afford to insure. Plus a report on the new semiautomatic Ferrari Mondial.

The new 900 is the first car Saab has produced since General Motors took a controlling interest in the company. Jeremy Clarkson discovers whether the traditional Saab virtues of solidity, safety and individuality have survived the American influence. Tiff Needell reports on the Blackpool-made TVR Griffith. And Tony Mason reports on the Ulster Rally.

Chris Goffey, a long-time MG enthusiast, tests the new RV8 sports car, and Jeremy Clarkson compares the legendary Cadillacs of the 1950s with the latest models from Detroit.

Sales of Mercedes-Benz cars are falling. This week Jeremy Clarkson sees if the new C-class Mercedes has got what it takes to reverse the trend. Plus, optional extras such as leather upholstery can add thousands of pounds to the cost of a new car. But how much do they fetch when the car’s second hand? Quentin Willson investigates.

On the day the London Motor Show opens Jeremy Clarkson, Michele Newman and Chris Goffey seek out the new models and ideas. Quentin Willson assesses the new smaller Lexus; Tiff Needell tests the spartan Westfield Cosworth and the latest Porshe 911.

An opportunity for car enthusiasts, without minimum £67,000 to spare, to fantasise about owning and driving a Ferrari. In this programme devoted to the car more deeply immersed in motoring mystique than any other marque, presenter Jeremy Clarkson, a self-confessed addict, visits the factory, interviews owners and test drives the new 456GT, the world’s fastest four-seater car. “This is classical elegance,” says Clarkson. “And it’s four times more powerful than your Golf GTi.” For those still dreaming, a top of the range Ferrari — the 512TR — costs almost £125,000 and has a top speed of 195mph.

Jeremy Clarkson goes to one of the world’s highest motor shows, in the Alps, to test Land Rover’s latest V8 Defender, and asks why it’s not on sale in Britain. Chris Goffey visits a project in Oxford designed to prevent teenagers drifting into car crime. Tiff Needell takes road and race versions of the Jaguar XJ220 and Lotus Sport 300 to Silverstone to assess their performance.

Entries in the British Touring Car Championship tend to look like the cars we drive ourselves, though they’re very different beneath the bonnet. Jeremy Clarkson puts top drivers to the test in the production-line versions of their racing machines. And Tony Mason reports on 45 Rolls-Royce Silver Ghosts, re-creating an event last held before the First World War. Can the “best car in the world” still tackle 1,700 miles of Europe’s toughest alpine roads at more than 80 years of age?

In the last programme of the series, Chris Goffey tests Mazda’s new sports saloon, the Xedos 9, and assesses how much of a threat it may be to the BMW 3 series. The Middle East is an expanding market for expensive and specialist cars. Jeremy Clarkson reports from the Dubai motor show, and tests the sort of vehicle designed to replace the camel as a means of transport in the national sport of falconry. And Tiff Needell looks at American-style midget racing.

Overweight, overblown and over-decorated, the 1970s Pontiac TransAm summed up everything that was wrong with American cars at the time. But it’s still a classic. Steve Berry drives the latest model. And Jeremy Clarkson looks at Top Gear’s highlights of 1993.

The latest series of the motoring magazine kicks off with a look at the new Probe. Could it be Ford’s Capri of the 90s? Jeremy Clarkson tests it against coupe rivals. And Tony Mason reports from the Monte Carlo Rally on the performance of Paddy Hopkirk’s born-again Mini Cooper.

In the shifting sands of the Dubai desert, Jeremy Clarkson puts five leading off-roaders to the test and finds out if British is best. Tiff Needell tests Vauxhall’s new executive car, the Omega, and Chris Goffey reports on the highlight of the historic racing calendar, the Coys Festival at Silverstone.

Jeremy Clarkson travels to Italy to test the new Fiat coupe, a car that signals the company’s return to a sporting style. Tony Mason reports on the re-creation of a famous hill-climb race at the Klausen Pass in Switzerland. And Janet Trewin looks at ways of preventing car sickness.

Tumbling sales have led Lancia to pull out of the British car market. Jeremy Clarkson looks back at some of the best, and worst, examples of the marque. Plus Chris Goffey on Renault’s new Laguna, and Tony Mason in Wales on the first round of the British Rally Championship.

This week: Jeremy Clarkson tests three estate cars; Tiff Needell drives the Caterham Super 7; and Michele Newman joins the enthusiasts who cruise the King’s Road in Chelsea in classic American cars.

In the first programme of the autumn series Jeremy Clarkson test drives the £180,000 Bentley Continental R to find out if it’s just a stately home on wheels, while Quentin Willson takes the new Mazda 323 out to see if its performance matches its good looks. And Steve Berry takes a nerve-shattering trip with motorcycle stunt rider Gary Rothwell.

On tonight’s programme, Jeremy Clarkson is in the Highlands to test drive the new Jaguar XJ series, including the supercharged four-litre XJR, which was unveiled only yesterday. Tiff Needell puts the first all-new Range Rover to be launched for nearly a quarter of a century through its paces on a 350-mile trip from Solihull to Scotland. Tony Mason peers at the Perthshire scenery through the mud on the lens during the third round of the Top Gear British Rally Championship, as contenders speed around Scone Palace near Perth, race up to Inverness, pass imposing lochs and cross over the Forth Bridge before finishing at Perth.

The work of an almost forgotten design genius is reviewed on tonight’s programme when Jeremy Clarkson drives four million dollars’ worth of some of the most beautiful cars ever built — the three BAT cars created for Alfa Romeo by styling genius Franco Scaglione back in the 50s. Plus Quentin Willson looks at the new Mazda MX-5 “a proper mess-your-hair-up sports car”. At £17,000 it’s not affordable for everyone, but if it’s your type of car why not invest in a secondhand one — a G registration will cost about half the new price.

On tonight’s programme, Jeremy Clarkson tests the new ultra-light aluminium-bodied Audi A8. And Steve Berry meets the Pre-50 American Car Club and drives some of the most stylish US models from before the era of fins and chrome.

Jeremy Clarkson and Quentin Willson run the rule over the star exhibits at Britain’s biggest motoring event — the British International Motor Show at the NEC in Birmingham. Expect Ford’s controversial new Scorpio, Volkswagen’s long-awaited Polo and new challengers from Korea in the shape of the Hyundai Accent and a car from Daewoo, better known to date as manufacturers of TVs, video recorders and microwaves. Away from the crowds, Tiff Needell gets to grips on road and track with a car that’s got Formula 1 pedigree.

Jeremy Clarkson hands over the driving seat to Michael Schumacher, who pushes the new Ford Mustang to the limit round Silverstone. Ford don’t think it will sell in Britain. Jeremy begs to differ. He thinks it’s one of a growing number of cars that would find eager buyers if only their manufacturers’ marketing “boffins” would let them into the country. Plus Steve Berry on the latest motorcycle from MZ, formerly an East German company regarded in motorcycling circles with about the same degree of enthusiasm that Lada and Škoda generate among car buffs. But their new British-designed bike, the Skorpion, is set to change all that.

Jeremy Clarkson drives Alfa Romeo’s interesting and odd-looking 145, and Steve Berry visits this week’s Bike Show at the NEC, Birmingham, looking at what’s new in the world of the designer moped and testing Britain’s best-selling bike, the sporty Honda Fireblade, against its rivals.

Tony Mason follows the careers of two drivers taking part in next week’s RAC Rally, Britain’s round of the world championship. Bradford sisters Stephanie and Rachael Simmonite, who first appeared on Top Gear last year, have progressed over the last 12 months from complete novices to their first RAC entry. Jeremy Clarkson drives new road going versions of two rally-bred sports cars, the Toyota Celicia GT-Four and the latest Ford Escort Cosworth.

Quentin Willson tests BMW’s new Compact — at £13,000 something of a step downmarket for the company, which reckons it can compete with small sporting hatchbacks like VW’s Golf GTi or Citroën’s ZX Volcane. Will it open up the pleasures of BMW motoring to a wider clientele or simply cheapen a highly respected brand? Also, Jeremy Clarkson finds out what it’s like to drive a full racing-spec touring car when he takes Tiff Needell’s Nissan Primera for a high-speed drive around the Oulton Park race circuit.

Would James Bond approve of the new DB7? At £80,000 it is cheap for an Aston Martin, but it now has to compete with “mass-produced” luxury sports cars like the Porsche 928 and BMW 850 — cars which are not merely for special occasions but serious everyday transport. Jeremy Clarkson looks back at classic Aston Martin models and tests the new one.

Jeremy Clarkson and the team return with a look at Ford’s new Scorpio, the most controversially styled carto appear in years. Plus Tiff Needell drives the latest three-wheeled Grinnall Scorpion.

Buyers don’t expect many surprises when a new Escort-sized car appears. But, according to Jeremy Clarkson, the Alfa Romeo 145 is one motor that dares to be different. Impressed by its Italian good looks, he gives it a test drive to see if its performance is equally stylish. Plus Quentin Willson tries to identify what could be the classic cars of the next decade.

Some four-wheel-drive off-roaders are becoming more like plush saloons. Jeremy Clarkson and Tiff Needell find out how well they handle on the road. Plus Quentin Willson test drives the new Lexus LS400, a luxury saloon with “1,700 refinements” — but is it really now one of the best cars in the world?

Jeremy Clarkson test drives the new Audi A4, while Chris Goffey drives modern replicas of two great classics, the Porsche Speedster and the Ferrari 500 Mondial. Steve Berry visits John Fletcher, a former miner and motorbike enthusiast, whose home in Mansfield, Nottinghamshire, is virtually a shrine to two-wheelers.

Jeremy Clarkson visits the JCB excavator factory in Uttoxeter, Staffordshire. Plus Chris Goffey test drives Honda’s new Civic and compares it to the the Ford Escort.

From the Geneva Motor Show, Jeremy Clarkson reports on the launch of some new British cars, including a Bentley convertible and the first MG roadster in 25 years. Plus a look at a Mercedes with three body options, and the Fiat Barchetta which replaces the Spider. With Steve Berry, Quentin Willson.

Fiat have taken their tiniest car and created a sporty version of it. Jeremy Clarkson drives the new Cinquecento Sporting to see whether it offers more fun than Britain’s Mini Cooper. And Tiff Needell tests a new racing car built to look like one from the 50s. It’s set to compete in a race series called Formula Classic.

Jeremy Clarkson investigates the practice of “car chipping” by which computer boffins give a car a boost by reprogramming the engine management chip for speed rather than fuel efficiency. For as little as £200 it may be good value for money, but how will the insurance companies react, and will the engines be able to withstand it? Plus Quentin Willson reveals this year’s results in the Top Gear survey of customer satisfaction.

With the prospect of warm weather ahead, drivers’ thoughts turn to convertibles. Jeremy Clarkson test-drives the new soft-tops on the market, which range from Fiat’s avant-garde Punto and the Pininfarina-styled Peugeot 306, to the Saab 900 and Toyota’s Celica GT Cabriolet. Plus Tiff Needell tries out the new 911 Turbo Porsche, the first with four-wheel drive and a turbocharger, to find out how it compares with Porsche’s classic 959 model.

Jeremy Clarkson test drives the new Škoda Felicia, which replaces the popular Favorit, the model that helped change the company’s image. The Felicia has been re-styled and now features many components, including the engine, from Škoda’s parent company, Volkswagen. Chris Goffey looks at the latest offering from Tatra, manufactured in the Czech Republic, and gets a feel of the past in a Type 87. Plus Steve Berry tests the handling of the Chrysler Atlantic, a luxurious modern coupe with echoes of 30s glamour.

In the first of a new 14-part series, Jeremy Clarkson drives the first all-new MG sports car for two decades, the long-awaited MGF, and asks if we are about to see the rebirth of the two-seater open-top sports car. Plus, Steve Berry visits Pebble Beach in California for the most prestigious concours d’elegance event (competition for high-pedigree marques like Rolls-Royce and Bugatti) in the world.

This week, Jeremy Clarkson drives the most important new car to be launched this autumn, the Vauxhall Vectra. It replaces Britain’s favourite fleet car, the Cavalier, but how good is it? Meanwhile, Tiff Needell tries the new Saab with electronic kit that enables the driver to change gear without the tedium of using a clutch pedal. Plus, Michele Newman finds out what it takes to enter a motor race when you’re a complete novice.

Jeremy Clarkson visits Blackpool to test the new TVR Cerbera, “the noisiest, fastest and most exciting car this side of a Lamborghini Diablo”, and to interview TVR’s boss, Peter Wheeler. Plus, Tony Mason meets “Babs”, a monster car that broke the world speed record twice before turning over and killing its driver. Fifty years on, it has been lovingly rebuilt and restored.

This week, Jeremy Clarkson aims to realise a long-held ambition — to drive a GT40, the supercar that Ford built in the 1960s to beat Ferrari at Le Mans. In case he has trouble handling all that raw power, former Top Gear presenter Noel Edmonds is on hand to help.

Tonight, a preview of the London Motor Show, which opens at Earls Court tomorrow. Presented by Jeremy Clarkson, Quentin Willson and Steve Berry at the show, with reports from the field by Chris Goffey and Tiff Needell.

This week, Quentin Willson road tests the new Nissan Almera, replacement for the popular Sunny. Jeremy Clarkson drives at Le Mans in Ford’s 230 mph GT90, and changes his mind about America’s ability to produce a supercar. Plus, Chris Goffey goes to the Army School of Mechanical Transport near Beverley in Humberside, where he learns to handle an 11-ton Saxon armoured personnel carrier.

Jeremy Clarkson test drives the new Mercedes E-class. It boasts a host of unique features, but does that make it a more desirable luxury car than the Jaguar? Plus, a trip to the Motorcycle Show at Birmingham’s NEC, where Steve Barry and Tiff Needell inspect some new machines.

In Italy, Jeremy Clarkson tests the Fiats that are seeking to prove mainstream does not mean boring, while Steve Berry charts the history of the Vincent motorcycles with the help of riders who tested the bikes in the post-war years.

Jeremy Clarkson tests the Volvo 850R against the BMW 328 and the Alfa Romeo 164 Lusso. Plus Steve Berry takes a look at the world’s finest Corgi model car collection.

The motoring series returns with Jeremy Clarkson marking the centenary of the British auto industry and looking at some of the world’s most luxurious saloons. Plus, Andy Willman meets car private eyes who reunite stolen cars with their owners.

Jeremy Clarkson mourns the passing of powerful cars such as the Ford Escort RS Cosworth, the Audi S2, Mazda RX-7 and Nissan 300ZX. He takes his personal favourite, the Escort Cosworth, down to an Essex racetrack to bid it farewell, joined by rally driver Gwyndaf Evans. Tiff Needell is in Daytona Beach, Florida, to celebrate the rebirth of the British sports marque Lister, driving its 200mph-plus Storm model in the gruelling 24-hour race.

Jeremy Clarkson travels to Germany to test out BMW’s new Z3, and Quentin Willson discovers an easy way to earn money when he sells a second-hand Lada Riva.

Personalised registration plates are big business. Quentin Willson examines the history of these often-costly items and quizzes owners about their particular choices. Jeremy Clarkson tests both the road and race version of the Honda Accord, taking the latter for a spin around the track at Donnington.

The HMC Mk IV’s striking resemblance to the old Austin-Healey 3000 is a deliberate attempt to capture the essence of that classic sixties sports car while adding refinement. Quentin Willson finds out if it’s worth £43,000. Plus, Jeremy Clarkson and Andy Wilman sample Siamese banger racing.

Jeremy Clarkson travels to deepest Gloucestershire to take part in a group car test with a difference — driving amphibious vehicles into a lake. Featured models include the Dutton Mariner and a replica of the Lamborghini Countach. Quentin Willson considers the pros and cons of buying a used VW Golf VR6, tipped to be one of the year’s most popular second-hand performance cars. Willson praises the model but advises that it may be difficult to find. And Michele Newman compares the latest small sports coupes from Honda and Toyota that have been aimed with the youth market very much in mind.

Jeremy Clarkson looks at Renault’s new Megane, which replaces the 19 model. He drives the fastest Megane, the 16-valve, 150bhp two-litre coupe. Plus, Quentin Willson checks out the Ford Escort as a second-hand buy.

Jeremy Clarkson drives two new Aston Martins — the DB7 Volante convertible and the V8 coupe. He travels to the cars’ Buckinghamshire base to ponder the future of this great British marque. Quentin Willson delivers the results of Top Gear’s third annual survey, conducted jointly with an American market research organisation, in which viewers assess the performance of their three-year-old cars. The 14,000 replies are compiled into a league table rating 72 different models.

Jeremy Clarkson runs his eye over the new BMW 5-Series, which goes on sale in Britain this week. The manufacturer hopes that it will rival the Mercedes E-Class. Plus, Quentin Willson looks at the classic style of the Saab 92.

Maserati’s latest effort comes under the scrutiny of Jeremy Clarkson as supercar designers strive to produce a truly successful four-door saloon car. He road tests the company’s new Quattroporte model, and finds other supercars that put passengers near the top on the list of design priorities. Tiff Needell tests two modern replicas — one for racing, one for the road — of one of the most exclusive race cars ever built: the 5.0 litre Jaguar XJ 13.

The new Esprit is an important car for Lotus. Its brand new V8 engine could keep the company alive in the vital US market where increasingly tough emission laws will mean that the old Esprit engine is illegal. Jeremy Clarkson puts it to the test. Plus, Steve Berry finds out how big men cope with cars that were designed for Mr Average.

Jeremy Clarkson goes to Italy to test the £350,000 Ferrari F50, the nearest thing to a Grand Prix racer to hit the road, while Tiff Needell drives the Formula 1 Ferrari that inspired it. Plus, Quentin Willson road tests the American-built Chrysler Neon.

The series concludes with Jeremy Clarkson’s trip to the motor industry’s secret show at a Bedfordshire test track — a chance to catch up on all of the new cars Top Gear has’'t looked at in the past year. Plus, Steve Berry rides a motorbike on the Wall of Death, an original fairground attraction dreamed up as a publicity stunt.

The return of the motoring show. Jeremy Clarkson test-drives the Audi A3 hatchback, the latest addition to the range of a booming car manufacturer, while Tiff Needell takes the two-seater Lotus Elise for a spin. Off the road, Quentin Willson looks at worrying EU plans to make car parts more expensive.

In tonight’s edition, Tiff Needell gets behind the wheel of a 200 mph dragster. Jeremy Clarkson compares the new Nissan Skyline coupe with the original, which he reckons is one of the best cars he has ever driven, and Quentin Willson evaluates the Citroën Saxo.

Tiff Needell test-drives the Boxster, Porsche’s first new car for almost 20 years, while Jeremy Clarkson has a spin in a Lamborghini Diablo. Steve Berry explains why now is an opportune time to take a motorcycle test.

In tonight’s edition of the motoring magazine programme, Jeremy Clarkson tests the Peugeot 306 GTi, Michele Newman tries the Renault Mégane Scénic and Andy Wilman drives a new version of the Nissan Micra.

Tonight, Jeremy Clarkson gives his verdict on Jaguar’s long-awaited new coupe, Tony Mason enters the Reliant Robin Championship and Steve Berry rides the Honda Blackbird “superbike”.

Tonight, an insider’s guide to the Motor Show at the NEC, Birmingham. And Jeremy Clarkson tests the Ford Ka while Andy Wilman reports from Japan on the new mini people-carrier from Mazda.

Jeremy Clarkson travels business class with Audi, Mercedes and BMW, as he weighs up the winners and losers in up-market estate cars. And Quentin Willson discovers the latest market prices on personal number plates.

Jeremy Clarkson tests the latest sports roadster, the Mercedes SLK, and Steve Berry drives the SSC, an experimental car full of gadgets including radar.

Aston Martin’s story is one of engineering triumph in the face of financial adversity. In a special profile of the company, Jeremy Clarkson has the chance to drive some of its finest cars, including the post-war Atom, a DB4GT, the DB5 used in the film Goldeneye, a DB6 Volante and the latest V12 DB7. He tells the story of the company’s decade-long struggle to win Le Mans, and talks to Stirling Moss about what the old racing Astons were like to drive.

Jeremy Clarkson chooses the best of the latest small hatchbacks. Plus Quentin Willson offers some tips for picking up a bargain at a classic car auction, and reveals the troubles that the unsuspecting could be lumbered with once the hammer comes down.

Jeremy Clarkson tests the Honda Legend and Toyota Camry, and asks whether these cars have sufficient pulling power to become alternatives to the vehicles traditionally chosen by high-flying executives, such as BMWs or Mercedes. Steve Berry rides the Triumph 595, the long-awaited British bike that is expected to take on Ducatis and Honda Fireblades.

Jeremy Clarkson assesses the flood of sports cars that have recently appeared on the market and decides which one should be top of an enthusiast’s shopping list. Quentin Willson provides a guide to the second-hand BMW market for those wanting to get the most value from the 3-series.

Jeremy Clarkson gets behind the wheel of the latest juggernauts. One of the vehicles he tries out is the 1997 Truck of the Year the Mercedes Actros, which is reputed to make trucking up and down the motorways feel as relaxing as a jaunt in the country. Plus Chris Goffey drives the vintage car Ace of Spades, manufactured by Lea Francis. One of the great names of British motoring, it is now enjoying a resurgence in popularity.

Jeremy Clarkson and Michele Newman report from Geneva on the highlights of this year’s International Show, including new coupés from Mercedes and Ford, and they try out the Seat Arosa. Tiff Needell tests the Italian-sounding Ascari, in fact a high performance kit car manufactured in Wiltshire.

Jeremy Clarkson asks whether the new A6 will be another overnight success for Audi. Will the combination of cutting edge design and class-leading performance eclipse their greatest rival, BMW? Plus six cars that fall into Quentin Willson’s no-hoper category.

In the Swinging Sixties Roger Moore cruised the streets of London as The Saint in his white Volvo P1800. Will the new C70 coupé turn heads in the nineties in the same way? Quentin Wilson visits America to find out. Plus, Jeremy Clarkson drives a limited edition Vauxhall Vectra, a £27,000 road-going version of the British Touring Car Championship model.

Despite his aversion to driving diesels, Jeremy Clarkson tries out the Mercedes E-Class Elegance Estate and the BMW touring version of the successful 5-series.

As Ferrari celebrates its 50th anniversary, Jeremy Clarkson joins the party by driving the Maranello, the motor giant’s new front-engined supercar. Tiff Needell tempers his racing technique when he takes a masterclass in urban driving, and Steve Berry travels to Korea for the Seoul Motor Show.

In the last programme of the series, Steve Berry assesses the market potential of three new models from Daewoo. Jon Bentley looks at the best entries in the competition to design a Rolls-Royce for the next century. And Jeremy Clarkson tries out the cars that have fallen through his road-testing net.

The motoring series returns for a 17-week run with Jeremy Clarkson test-driving Ford’s new Puma — a tiny coupe based on the Fiesta-through the Yorkshire Dales. Quentin Willson travels to Long Beach, California, to try out the latest Chevrolet Corvette. Now with right-hand drive, is it ready to be taken seriously in Britain?

Tiff Needell plays rough on tonight’s edition of the motoring magazine with the tough guy’s off-roader. The armour-plated Hummer was developed for the US Army, costs £70,000, and, with celebrity owners such as film star Bruce Willis, claims to be the ultimate 4x4. Jeremy Clarkson tests the new Toyota Corolla. Will it convince him that one of the most reliable cars in the world isn’t also one of the dullest?

In tonight’s edition of the motoring magazine, Jeremy Clarkson compares the new midsize coupe from Mercedes, the CLK, with Peugeot’s new 406. The programme also reports from the Frankfurt Show, featuring the debut of the new Porsche 911 and the launch of the Freelander from Land Rover.

Jaguar are 75 years old but show no sign of slowing down. Jeremy Clarkson drives the fastest version of the new V8 XJ series, the new XJR, and races it against some full-blooded sports cars in the shape of the Aston Martin Vantage, the Mercedes SLK and the Porsche Boxster.

For those who cannot wait six months for the brand new BMW 5 Series or who feel that buying a German car is just following the executive herd, the Saab 9-5 could be just the answer. The 9-5 replaces the ageing 9000, a model that failed to make a big impact against tough German opposition. Jeremy Clarkson goes for a test drive to see if this new Saab has got what it takes.

Jeremy Clarkson takes delivery of the Range Rover Autobiography, the latest gadget-laden luxury off-roader from Land Rover. While he decides on the colour scheme and tries out its satellite navigation system, Michelle Newman investigates the latest four-wheel-drive models from Honda. Toyota and Subaru.

Jeremy Clarkson and Quentin Willson are at Earls Court for this year’s London Motor Show. They look at the new Porsche 911, Land Rover’s Freelander, the new Vauxhall Astra and the latest version of the Volkswagen Golf.

The A Class is Mercedes’s first entry into the crowded small car market. Flouting conventional ideas of small-car design by enlarging the cabin space, it looks to set new standards for the supermini. Jeremy Clarkson tests what could be the most important car for a generation.

Land Rover hope to overturn their rural image with the launch of the long-awaited new utility vehicle — the Freelander. It has sporty looks and claims not to have lost any of Land Rover’s rustic ruggedness. But can it cope with the likes of Toyota’s Rav4 in this very competitive market? Jeremy Clarkson reports.

Jeremy Clarkson, Tiff Needell and Quentin Willson select their favourite cars of 1997. Among the contenders for top car are the Porsche 911, the new Corvette, the Ford Puma and the Land Rover Freelander.

Jeremy Clarkson looks at the new Volkswagen Beetle. Will its combination of retro styling and new technology gain it the same cult status as its older brother? We also see Tiff Needell pit a pair of uncompromising sports cars against each other as the latest BMW Z3, with a more powerful engine than an earlier model, meets Britain's TVR Griffith.

The VW Golf continues to be one of the most popular small cars as Quentin Willson assesses how it fares in the second-hand market.

Plus Jeremy Clarkson preaching the virtues and vices of the new BMW 3 series, and Tiff Needell trying his hand at ice racing at Isola in France.

Jeremy Clarkson test-drives the star of the Geneva Motorshow the new Rolls-Royce Silver Seraph — and, accompanied by Quentin Willson, analyses the pros and cons of the latest debutantes and concept cars.

Tiff Needell takes to the track to test road cars with a racing heritage, such as the Porsche 911, Nissan Skyline and Honda NSX. Jeremy Clarkson reports on Vauxhall’s new Astra — can it continue to attract customers despite growing competition?

Jeremy Clarkson attempts to prove his assertion that fast cars are the safest, Quentin Willson looks at prices for a second-hand Saab 900, plus a guide to Swedish car-buying.

Jeremy Clarkson test-drives America’s 170 mph Vector, which boasts a powerful 5.7 litre V12 engine. Has it got what it takes, though, to beat the might of Ferrari and Lamborghini? Meanwhile, Quentin Willson discovers which cars offer credibility and practicality for the young driver on a tight budget.

Jeremy Clarkson squeezes inside the sleek MX5 to find out whether Mazda have improved their modern-day sports classic. In an item postponed from last week, Tiff Needell tries his hand at Nascar racing, and Tony Mason discovers one of the most extraordinary car collections in the world.

One-third of the half-a-million cars stolen annually in England and Wales are never recovered. Quentin Willson reports on evidence that suggests that many are being given the identities of legitimately owned vehicles. How well does the latest Lotus Esprit compare with its illustrious predecessors? Tiff Needell tests the new supercar. And Jeremy Clarkson sees how the new Mercedes M-class fares in the four-wheel-drive market.

Jeremy Clarkson reports on successful women and the cars they drive. Have roadsters and coupes replaced diamonds as a girl’s best friend? Quentin Willson reports from the Turin Motor Show and also test-drives Fiat’s new small car, the Seicento, the replacement model for the Cinquecento.

Why is it so difficult to import cheap cars from the continent? Quentin Willson attempts to untangle the red tape. Tony Mason helps Land Rover to celebrate its 50th anniversary, and Jeremy Clarkson takes a look at Renault’s new Clio.

In the last of the series, Jeremy Clarkson looks at the opposition that the Cougar, Ford's new coupe, will face, while Tiff Needell tests the supercharged version of the Jaguar XK8. Quentin Willson also follows up an earlier report on why it is so hard to buy a right-hand-drive car outside the UK.