Welcome...
At TopGear we’re always striving to do things a little bit differently. We push for better access, drive a little further, challenge the norm… to ensure we are always in a better place to deliver the best to you, our audience. So, as the rest of the automotive world headed to a desert in Utah to test the all-new Discovery we saved on the plane ticket and set out across Europe to test this fifth generation in the real world. While I’m sure Utah would elicit some stunning scenic backdrops and much opportunity to test the Disco’s capabilities on sand, what we wanted to know was how a car with a global reputation for go-anywhere diversity could cut it in the more extreme variety of surfaces it’s more likely to meet in Europe.
After three days, 1,750 miles, six countries and having tackled mud, snow, sand, rivers and every kind of road from motorway cruises to switchback Alpine passes, we had our verdict. As British global exports go, it’s fair to say that this new-generation Disco continues to be a touchpoint for the quality of British engineering and design we can be proud of.
Talking of doing things differently and pushing the boundaries, down at the telly end of the office the sense of energy and enthusiasm as we approach series 24 is palpable. While expectation levels are clearly high, there’s a sense of optimism running through the team – if cars are the lifeblood of any
TopGear series for us fans, then series 24 has a roster of headline acts that is as strong, arguably stronger, than any that has gone before in this show’s 40-year history. With the Ferrari FXXK, Ford GT, Alfa Romeo Giulia, Lamborgini Huracán Spyder, Porsche 911 Turbo S and a number of others too secret to talk about yet (come back next month for more details) it’s a strong start. But TopGear has always been about more than just the cars – it’s that sense of ambition and adventure, of boundaries pushed and friendships made that makes it unique, and series 24 has that by the bucketload. Our exclusive behind-the-scenes preview starts on page 77...
Enjoy the issue, and enjoy the show.