REVIEWS: Smart Roadster • Volkswagen Beetle Cabriolet • Bowler Wildcat • Bentley T2

CHALLENGE: Drag racer jet engine incinerates Nissan Sunny

In the seemingly never-ending quest to destroy as many caravans as possible, Richard uses a drag racer to rid the roads of Britain of yet another one. A Nissan Sunny - the car Richard hates more than any other is also destroyed in the same manner. James May makes his first appearance on 'new' top Gear: he shows us his Bentley T2 and tells us why it’s a nightmare to own. Richard Drives the Bowler Wildcat and declares himself: “a driving god!” The Smart Roadster and the McLaren F1 are also featured.Vinnie Jones in the Star in a Reasonably Priced Car

REVIEWS: Rolls-Royce Phantom • Rover P5 • BMW M3 • Audi S4

CHALLENGE: Fastest political party

Jeremy drives the new Rolls Royce and there’s a nostalgic look at the Rover P5, including one owned by the Queen. Jamie Oliver tries his luck in the Liana as the Star in a Reasonably Priced Car, he also tries to prepare a salad in his camper van, whilst being driven around the track by the Stig. On the track, politicians representing the main political parties, as well as some less well-established parties try to become the fastest political party.

REVIEWS: Volkswagen Touareg • Lexus SC430 • Hyundai Coupe • BMW Z8 • Perodua Kelisa

CHALLENGE: Country with fastest supercar

David Soul was the Star in a Reasonably Priced Car and tried to break as many Liana’s as possible. He managed an impressive tally of two. Richard drives the Lexus SC430 and Jeremy drives the Volkswagen Touareg and wonders if it is really worth £50,000. A Jaguar XJS gets a little power boost from a nitros kit and James drives the Perodua Kelisa. Jeremy drives the BMW Z8 Alpina, a car that suffers because Ronan Keating owns one.

REVIEWS: Porsche 911 Turbo • Ford Street Ka •James May on TR6 • Renault Clio V6

CHALLENGE: Rally pit crew vs. women getting ready for a night out

In an episode dedicated to "blokeishness", James drives a Triumph TR6 - a ‘man’s convertible’, the Porsche 911 C4S is compared to the 911 turbo version and Jeremy tries the Renault Clio V6 - the “ultimate bloke hatchback”. Richard meets Richard Lynne, who has a car in his kitchen. Also, can the Ford rally team mechanics change the suspension, gearbox, brakes, differential, driveshaft and clutch of a rally car, more quickly than four women can get ready for a night out? The Land Rover is Richard's choice as the greatest car of all time and Anne Robinson shows off her brand new head as the Star in a Reasonably Priced Car.

REVIEWS: Subaru Impreza • Mitsubishi Evo VIII • Vauxhall VX220 Turbo • Peugeot 206 GTI

CHALLENGE: Land speed record for caravan towing

The Mitsubishi Evo VIII and the Subaru Impreza WRX STi Type UK are compared, but which will Jeremy prefer? James is given the task of setting a new land speed record for a car towing a caravan. The Peugeot 206GTi and the Vauxhall VX 220 turbo are tested and Pink Floyd drummer, Nick Mason, states his case for the greatest car of all time. Richard drives the Palmer Jaguar at a track day and Richard Whiteley is the Star in a Reasonably Priced Car.

REVIEWS: Koenigsegg CC8S • Renault Megane • Hummer H1 • Hummer H2

CHALLENGE: Crash testing the Megane with a real driver

The 655bhp Koenigsegg records the fastest straight-line speed on the Top Gear track, but can it set the fastest lap time? A Renault Mégane is crash-tested and there’s the first look at the new Aston Martin V8 Vantage. While Jeremy drives the Hummer H2, Richard drives the Talon Riot Control Vehicle… through a Portacabin. Stuart Hall extols the virtues of the Rolls Royce Silver Cloud and Neil Morrissey is this week's Star in a Reasonably Priced Car.

REVIEWS: Nissan 350Z • Alfa Romeo 147 GTA • Citroën C3 Pluriel •Mercedes CLK500 • Audi A4 • Daihatsu Copen

CHALLENGE: The Race for the Universe

James and Richard go camping with a selection of cabriolets to see which is the best. Naturally they choose the wettest place in Britain, Buttermere in Cumbria. Jeremy drives the Alpha Romeo 147 GTA and the Nissan 350Z and a Klingon, a Darlek, a Cyberman, Ming the Merciless and Darth Vader race each other around the track in a souped-up Honda Civic. Jodie Kidd shows the men how to drive the Liana - properly.

REVIEWS: Vandenbrink Carver • Volvo S60 R • GM HyWire • Vauxhall Signum

James drives the Hy-Wire, a hydrogen-powered concept car and Jeremy tries the new Volvo S60 R - claimed by Volvo to be a rival for the BMW M3. He also drives the new Vauxhall Signum, from the back seat using a hoe and string. Richard drives/rides the Carver, a three-wheeled tilting bike from Holland. Graeme Le Saux argues the case for the Audi Quattro as the greatest car of all time and Patrick Stewart is the Star in a Reasonably Priced Car.

REVIEWS: TVR T350C • Overfinch Range Rover • Cadillac Sixteen • Volkswagen Phaeton

CHALLENGE: Land Rover reliability challenge

The Volkswagen Phaeton is tested; a car designed to compete with Mercedes and BMW. Richard drives the TVR T350c... alongside a Harrier Jump Jet. The Stig takes the TVR and the Noble around the track to see which is the faster car, after Richard and Jeremy can't separate them using the ancient art of Top Trumps. James drives the enormous Cadillac Sixteen prototype; Jeremy drives the Range Rover 580s which has been tuned by Overfinch, and Britain's fastest disabled driver. Alan Davies is the Star in a Reasonably Priced Car.