William Woollard presents the programme from London’s Motorfair 87. Sue Baker drives the latest Lotus, and there’s a report on the apparent revival in British car manufacturing — is it a genuine success story? Chris Goffey reports on the British Truck Grand Prix and Tiff Needell monitors the progress of the ‘Formula First’ entrants whose careers were featured in the last series. The VW Beetle was the car of the decade for the 1940s — Frank Page rediscovers the car in which he learnt to drive.

Britain’s motorway network seems constantly clogged by road repairs. William Woollard asks why the surfaces need rebuilding so frequently, and looks at an alternative way of funding road repairs being tried out in Arizona. Also in America Chris Goffey reports on a glimpse into the future shape of the car, through the eyes of design students at Detroit’s Centre of Creative Studies. What was it like to race motor cars at the turn of the century? The first car to carry the British Racing Green, a Napier, has just returned to Britain, and Tiff Needell test-drives it over the tracks and lanes round its new home at Beaulieu. In the car of the decade series, it’s the 50s and a car whose shape and engineering would make it remarkable 30 years later; the Citroen DS.

William Woollard tests the new right-hand-drive version of the Honda Civic hatchback. Sue Baker returns to Birmingham’s ‘Wheels’ project to see how the scheme to give people real experience of driving before they go on the road is working. The 70s saw the birth of the ‘hot hatchback’. Tiff Needell drives the nominated ‘Car of the Decade’, the Alfasud. In ten days’ time, the Lombard RAC Rally gets under way in Chester. Tony Mason visits a rally school to see aspiring drivers improve their technique.

Brooklands was the first motor racing circuit in the world, the scene of many record-breaking attempts in the 20s and 30s. Now after years of decay, there are plans to build a new museum and reopen the track. William Woollard and Tiff Needell look at the nostalgia they’re trying to re-create. The British company, Cosworth, is one of the success stories of motor racing today. Their engines are found in many of the world’s victorious Formula One and Indy 500 cars. Chris Goffey examines the reasons for their success and road tests the new Sierra Cosworth. Consumer reports reveal that cars are hardly ever serviced properly. Sue Baker investigates what can be done to improve the situation. Frank Page tests the new Peugeot 405.

William Woollard tests Toyota’s new four-wheel-drive Celica intended to challenge for world rally honours, but also the first car on sale in Britain that runs only on unleaded fuel. On the race track, the long standing Formula Ford is joined this year by Formula Vauxhall-Lotus, as a showcase for young talent. Tiff Needell tests cars from both formulas around the challenging Snetterton circuit in Norfolk. Plus Chris Goffey assesses the chances of Mazda’s newly-released 121 in the fierce supermini sector, and Sue Baker takes a look at the esoteric world of trials riding.

Forty years to the day after the first post-war British Grand Prix was held there, William Woollard visits a much developed Silverstone circuit for the final round of the Formula 3 Championship. To complete his reports on the various training formulas leading to Grand Prix status, Tiff Needell track tests a Formula 3 and Formula 3000 racing car. Forty years ago this month, the motoring world was astonished by the arrival of the Jaguar XK120. Frank Page reassesses a classic sports car that lifted a little of the gloom of post-war Britain. Plus a road test on the new Vauxhall Cavalier, and Chris Goffey investigates the arcane world of the salvage trade.

From the Transport and Road Research Laboratory in Berkshire. William Woollard reviews the progress on computerised systems to ease traffic congestion and Chris Goffey reports on ways to make motorcycling safer. Beki Adam talks to some dedicated supporters of three-wheelers and Tiff Needell assesses the latest Reliant Robin as practical transport. Plus a road test on the Honda Concerto, the Japanese equivalent of Rover’s Maestro replacement, out next year.

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.

William Woollard visits the Caravan, Camping and Holiday Show at Earls Court to review the latest in mobile homes, while Tom Boswell assesses the luxury end of the market, the bespoke motor caravan. Tiff Needell reports on the coming sport of supercross — motorcycle scrambling in an arena. Tony Mason previews Top Gear’s coverage of next week’s Lombard RAC Rally.

Next Sunday a beautifully restored 1907 Itala sets out to repeat an epic expedition from the pioneering days of motoring. In that year, the same car won the famous Peking-Paris race by three weeks. William Woollard tried it out in Turin, before it left for China. In 1989, a Range Rover might prove a more appropriate choice for such a trip. Chris Goffey compares this latest model with the best Japanese competition, the new V6-engined Mitsubishi Shogun. At 110 mph sideways over slippery dirt on slick tyres, Tiff Needell reports on his initiation into the sport of rallycross at the British Grand Prix.

William Woollard visits the British Commercial Vehicle Museum at Leyland in Lancashire to sample Britain’s unique contribution to the truck and bus industry. The original Audi Quattro was a tough act to follow. Tiff Needell drives the new Audi Coupe with four-wheel drive to see whether it makes the grade. Chris Goffey samples Britain’s latest turbo-charged diesel Montego. Tom Boswell examines how anti-lock brakes work and whether they’re always an asset. 1989 marks 30 years of the Mini. Beki Adam looks at the way this brilliant family car has been raced, rallied, customised and abused.

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.

What better way to drive old racing cars than on the limit at Silverstone? William Woollard meets enthusiasts of the Vintage Sports Car Club who do just that. Four-wheel drive has enormous benefits for road cars. Chris Goffey tests the latest Cavalier 4x4 against newcomers from Citroën and Peugeot. Tony Mason reports from the Radio Times Rally Quest finals, and Tiff Needell performs stunts with some of the best drivers.

William Woollard reports from the new Langbaurgh complex on Teesside, catering for a series of two-and four-wheel motorsport events. Tiff Needell looks at the design of Jaguar’s Le-Mans-winning XJR9 and puts it to the test at Silverstone. Back in the north east, Washington is now the site of an important new Nissan car plant. Chris Goffey reviews this spring’s changes to their range and takes a particular look at their redesigned Prairie. Beki Adam assesses the new deal for cyclists in Middlesbrough.

Presented by William Woollard with reports from Tiff Needell, Tony Mason, Chris Goffey. Aston Martin owners from all over the world met last weekend at Brands Hatch to race their cars. William Woollard traces the history of the marque while Tiff Needell drives their latest car, the Virage. Why is Britain one of the very few countries in the world not to close public roads for rallying? Tony Mason investigates. And Chris Goffey drives two new sporting hatchbacks — the Maestro Turbo and the 16-valve Vauxhall Astra GTE.

The switch to lead-free petrol has created a lot of confusion for the ordinary motorist — confusion that now seems to be stalling the growth of sales of unleaded fuel. Tom Boswell seeks to shed light on the introduction of the new high-octane ‘super’ unleaded. As Britain moves closer to Europe, businessmen are less concerned about being seen driving only British cars. Chris Goffey compares three desirable executive saloons from the continent: the Alfa 164, the Saab CD and Lancia’s Thema. Plus, a look at the arcane world of autojumble; and Tiff Needell demonstrates what it’s like to drive a 500hp Ford Sierra.

Three major new British models are being launched at this year’s Motorfair. William Woollard and Sue Baker report from Earls Court on these and other highlights of the show, while Chris Goffey compares one of them, the Rover 200, with its Japanese counterpart, the Honda Concerto. A spate of crashes during police chases has raised worrying questions about the rules governing the pursuit of suspects. Tom Boswell examines the problem and asks whether police driver training might be at fault. Tiff Needell has been partnering Derek Bell in a full season’s sports-prototype racing in the Richard Lloyd Porsche 962. Beki Adam watched a day’s testing at Silverstone to see what goes on behind the scenes preparing and improving these sophisticated cars.

William Woollard reports from the Motorcycle Show on the latest in two-wheeled transport. Vic Allan tests the new Norton F1 road-going version of this year’s Formula 1 British Championship winner, and the Voyager, the latest ‘feet first’ motorcycle. The Brighton Speed Trials are among the oldest events in the British motor sport calendar. Tiff Needell joined a wide variety of men and machines, trying out three contemporary sports cars. Plus, Tom Boswell reports on this summer’s massive gathering of Lotus enthusiasts at Donington, and Chris Goffey road-tests Peugeot’s new executive saloon, the 605.

William Woollard reports from Autotech 89 on the latest engineering advances in prospect for car owners. This summer Top Gear sponsored the Heritage Team Challenge to help promote club racing between traditional British sports cars. Chris Goffey took over the wheel of an MGB. Plus, Tony Mason reports on the Radio Times Rally Quest winner Liz Jeffries as she prepares for the Lombard RAC Rally with Tiff Needell.

Ford recently paid £1.6 billion for Jaguar cars. They wanted a prestige name and a ready-made slice of heritage. William Woollard looks at the history of the marque and what Ford may do with their new acquisition. Tiff Needell drives the Yugo Sana, the most modern-looking car yet to emerge from eastern Europe. And there’s the second part of Top Gear’s analysis of the alternatives to petrol which may help to reduce the contribution made by cars to global warming.

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.

Earlier this year, Tiff Needell and Tony Mason joined a remarkable collection of sports racing cars assembled on the Ecurie Ecosse Historic Motor Tour of Scotland. Vauxhall’s new Calibra is a sleek four-seater performance coupe. Radio Times’s motoring columnist Chris Goffey assesses how well it fills the gap left by the Ford Capri. Traffic congestion can turn serious accidents into fatal ones by delaying medical help. Helicopters have proved a cost-effective answer in Germany. Presented by William Woollard from the Midland Motor Museum in Shropshire.

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 Sunday, the 1990 Lombard RAC Rally starts in Harrogate. William Woollard previews the action and Tony Mason meets the new world rally champion, Carlos Sainz. Honda’s new supercar, the NSX, combines technical innovation and startling performance. Tiff Needell assesses whether it will become a real rival to Porsche and Ferrari. And Radio Times contributor Chris Goffey visits the Monteverdi Museum in Switzerland to take a look at some of the beautiful vehicles which have borne that name.

Tony Mason and Tiff Needell report from this year’s Daytona 24-hour race in Florida on the fortunes of the Jaguar racing team. William Woollard tries out three new estate cars — the Ford Escort, the Fiat Tempra and the Nissan Primera.

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.

The motoring series returns with a visit to the Frankfurt motor show; an assessment of the VW Golf’s market dominance; and, in One Careful Owner, dealer Quentin Willson guides viewers through the minefield of buying a second-hand car. Racing driver Tiff Needell tries out a Honda Pilot.

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.

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.

Formula 1 driver Martin Brundle road-tests the fastest and most expensive (£415,544) car in the world — the Jaguar XJ220 — to see if it can justify another superlative: the world’s best supercar. Three unlikely imports from an earlier age are also tried out: the Hindustan Ambassador and Enfield motorcycle from India, and the VW Beetle from Mexico. And there’s a look at new automatic cameras aiming to catch speeding motorists. Presented by Tiff Needell, Chris Goffey and Janet Trewin.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

This week: Steve Berry joins a celebration of the golden era of motorbiking and rides Triumph’s new Speed Triple. Meanwhile Tiff Needell looks at the Celica, Toyota’s s entry in the highly competitive £20,000 coupe market.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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?

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

Tonight, a race against the clock to build a kit car. Plus, Tiff Needell takes Lamborghini’s new prototype, the Cala, out for a test drive.

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.

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.

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 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, Tiff Needell tests the grown-up version of the legendary Caterham Seven. And Andy Wilman reviews La Passione, rock star Chris Rea’s tribute to the Ferrari.

Contestants in last November’s Network Q RAC Rally faced some of the worst weather conditions for decades, and more than half the entries failed to finish because of heavy snow and sheet ice. Tiff Needell, who was one of the hardy competitors to complete the 1,100-mile trip around Britain, recounts the inside story of the event.

Three thousand people have already put money down for the BMW Z3, which is scheduled to hit the road in February. Tiff Needell visits Madeira to test the new six-cylinder version and asks whether buyers should be hanging on even longer for this meaner, faster brother, expected in Britain in the summer. Plus is the Daewoo, Korea’s effort at angst-free motoring, all it’s cracked up to be? Quentin Willson gives his verdict.

Since 1991 the Ford Explorer has been the world’s biggest selling off-roader, and now it is finally available in Britain — Tiff Needel finds out whether it was worth the wait. Fifty years after the first Vespa, Steve Berry reports on the revival of the scooter. Tonight’s show also includes Top Gear’s contribution to the Count Me In numeracy campaign.

For thousands of sales reps travelling up and down the country a company car can often feel like a second home. Tiff Needell tests the comfort of the Mondeo and the Vectra and discovers how it feels to spend hours in a fleet car every day. Quentin Willson reports on the startling statistic that over a million people are driving without insurance.

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.

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.

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?

Since its first appearance in the sixties, the Porsche 911 has become a design classic and a motoring legend. Now aged 34, it has had a major makeover. Tiff Needell test drives the new 911 for the nineties.

The Lotus 49 changed the face of motor racing. Driven by Jim Clark and powered by the V8 engine, it gave Ford their first Grand Prix victory, back in 1967. Thirty years on, Tiff Needell revs up the famous Cosworth. Meanwhile, Andy Wilman discovers Cold War cars from eastern Europe, such as the Wartburg and the Moskvitch, that are still up and running thanks to dedicated British enthusiasts.

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.

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?

Quentin Willson discovers the people’s choice in terms of performance, reliability, economy and customer care with the announcement of the results in the fifth annual survey gauging customer satisfaction. In Europe, motor-racing grew on road circuits. In America its home is the oval, where fans are treated to the incredible sight of nose-to-tail racing at speeds of 200 miles per hour. Tiff Needell travels to the US to find out what it takes to be a Nascar racer.

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.