Winners of the Top Gear Awards 2023

The January 2024 issue of BBC's Top Gear Magazine unveiled this year's TG Awards winners, the first time since the Top Gear TV series went dark "for the unforeseeable future" following Freddie Flintoff's on-set accident late last year.

Winners of the Top Gear Awards 2023
Image: BBC

The Top Gear Awards features questionable but unique titles, which is nonsense to some, to be given to the cars as featured by Top Gear. Unlike most automotive awards, the folks from Top Gear went to a more unscripted approach to determine which is the best car of the year. And now, the winners...

Disruptor of the Year: Tesla Cybertruck

Manufacturer of the Year: Lamborghini

Bargain of the Year: Dacia Spring

Luxury Car of the Year: Rolls-Royce Spectre

Hypercar of the Year: GMA T.50

All The Car You'll Ever Need: BMW M3 Touring

Design of the Year: Toyota Land Cruiser 250

Track Car of the Year: Porsche 911 GT3 RS (992)

GT of the Year: Aston Martin DB12

Family Car of the Year: Kia EV9

Car We're Most Looking Forward to Driving in 2024: Ford Mustang GTD

Performance Car of the Year: Honda Civic Type R (FL5)

Innovation of the Year: Koenigsegg CC850 Engage Shift System

Eco Warrior of the Year: Volvo EX30

Lifetime Achievement Award: Adrian Newey

Retro Hero of the Year: Tamiya Wild One Max

Car of the Year: Hyundai Ioniq 5 N

URL: https://www.topgear.com/car-news/2023-topgearcom-awards/revealed-winners-2023-topgearcom-awards

Congratulations to the winners of this year's Top Gear Awards!

Doctor Who 60th Anniversary Special 1

Since the end of The Power of The Doctor last year, The 13th Doctor regenerated back into The 10th Doctor. Why did The Doctor gain an old face from a long time ago? Was it because of his loose ends regarding Donna Noble? 

The beginning of the 60th-anniversary special trilogy sees The 14th Doctor reunite with Donna Noble as they're dealing with a terrifying threat on a larger scale.

Doctor Who 60th Anniversary Special 1

HOLD IT! Ensure that you have already watched the episode before coming back here for my quick review. Come back here when you have already watched it.

A quick six-decade history of BBC's Doctor Who

The 23rd of November, 2023, marks the 60th anniversary of BBC's flagship TV series, Doctor Who. From Classic Who to Modern Who, from William Hartnell to Jodie Whitaker, the megahit TV series became the hallmark of the sci-fi genre since its 1963 airing and evolved into a mixed media project that served as one of the BBC's success stories.

With only two days left before the first part of the Doctor Who 60th-anniversary specials airing on BBC in the UK and on the Disney+ streaming service globally, how did we go from here? The past, present, and future of the Doctor Who series?

60 years of Doctor Who

Classic Who - Aired on the BBC on November 23rd, 1963, William Hartnell is the very first actor to play The Doctor in the said series, forever laying the foundation of the Doctor Who series. The Classic Who era welcomed the most iconic Doctors in TV history from Hartnell to Sylvester McCoy, a memorable cast of characters, monsters, and a rogue gallery of villains ranging from Daleks, Cybermen, and even his arch nemesis, The Master. Seven classic Doctors (William Hartnell, Patrick Troughton, Jon Pertwee, Tom Baker, Peter Davison, Colin Baker, and Sylvester McCoy) are forever known as legends not just in the franchise but in the entire TV sci-fi genre.

16 years of void - The Sylvester McCoy era became the final era of the Classic Who and when the TV show was laid to rest in 1989, it left a 16-year void before its 2005 comeback. Of course, the whole Doctor Who team tried bringing it back on May 27, 1996, with a TV movie aired on FOX, starring Paul McGann as The Doctor, but feels like the comeback didn't work as expected.

2005 return - On March 26, 2005, Doctor Who is back on the telly after a 16-year absence. With Russell T Davies serving as the showrunner and actor Christopher Eccleston playing the role of The Doctor, the 2005 revival signaled the start of the Modern Who era. Joining Eccleston is Billie Piper who plays the role of his companion, Rose Tyler, the two witnessed how the world ended, facing off against the Daleks, preventing world catastrophe, and uncovering the truth.

Greatest Doctor of All Time? - Christopher Eccleston's reign as The Doctor lasted for 13 episodes, the entire first season of the reborn Doctor Who TV series, and got replaced by actor David Tennant at the season finale. Making his first moves at the 2005 Christmas Special, David Tennant cemented his status as the GOAT in the Modern Who times. In fact, Tennant's making a comeback in the 60th anniversary special as the 14th Doctor! This marks the first in the Doctor Who franchise a Doctor actor doing two non-consecutive terms. 

Teaming alongside Piper as Rose, Freema Agyeman as Martha, and John Barrowman as Captain Jack Harkness aside, the most popular companion in the David Tennant years is none other than Donna Noble, played by comedienne Catherine Tate. First met at the 2006 Christmas special, the two reunite at the beginning of the fourth season and with past companions collide, including the late Elisabeth Sladen as Sarah Jane Smith, a legend companion from the Classic Who times, it showcased the show's exploding popularity.

New Decade, New Who - David Tennant's time ended at the beginning of 2010, and with Russell T Davies stepped down from his showrunner duties, Steven Moffat took over and actor Matt Smith filled in the shoes of The Doctor, signaling the new era of Doctor Who. From The Eleventh Hour to The Time of The Doctor, the Matt Smith years shifted the Doctor Who era to a more family-friendly approach. 

During his tenure, the Matt Smith years of Doctor Who introduced companions such as Karen Gillan as Amy Pond, Arthur Darvill as Rory Williams, and Jenna Coleman as Clara Oswald. Actress Alex Kingston, who showed up in the David Tennant years as River Song, popped up as well, showing her origin story and her shocking relationship with Amy and Rory.

After the 2013 Christmas Special, Smith was replaced by Peter Capaldi, showing off his darker undertones while keeping the mantra of protecting the universe by all means. Apart from teaming up with Jenna Coleman as Clara, the Peter Capaldi years welcomed Pearl Mackie as Bill Potts and comedian Matt Lucas as Nardole, who first appeared in the 2015 Christmas Special.

Fast fact that both Gillan and Capaldi got their early stints in the DW Season 4 episode titled The Fires of Pompeii.

50 years of DW - November 23rd, 2013 marked the 50th anniversary of Doctor Who and to celebrate that occasion, a 50th-anniversary TV special, titled The Day of The Doctor, was aired. The Doctors, played by Matt Smith and David Tennant, joined forces with their mysterious predecessor known as The War Doctor, played by the late John Hurt, who popped up at the end of the 7th season. Racing against time, the three Doctors join forces to save the universe.

Long before the explosive 50th-anniversary special went on air, a biopic titled An Adventure of Space and Time was aired, starring David Bradley as William Hartnell, the 1st Doctor. Also, a Doctor Who web short was streamed, showcasing the 8th Doctor getting regenerated into The War Doctor, filling the void that was left after the 1996 TV movie.

Breaking the series' boundaries - The Peter Capaldi years signaled the final time Steven Moffat served as the showrunner and their time ended in the 2017 Christmas Special, Twice Upon A Time, which featured Bradley as The 1st Doctor, Broadchurch creator Chris Chibnall took over the series as the showrunner. Breaking the series' boundaries, the 11th season of Doctor Who welcomed the series' first female Doctor, Jodie Whitaker. During her four-year tenure from 2018 to 2022, the 13th Doctor joined forces with Ryan Sinclair (Tosin Cole), Yaz Khan (Mandip Gill), Graham O'Brien (Bradley Walsh), and Dan Lewis (John Bishop). Together, they've faced numerous enemies, new and old, including the reborn Master (played by Sacha Dhawan), while learning the truth about The Doctor's origins.

Loose ends? - As the Jodie Whitaker years came to an end, it was announced that actor Ncuti Gatwa would take over the role of The Doctor, but first, David Tennant will reprise his Doctor role in the 60th-anniversary specials. Why bring Tennant back to Who? Unanswered questions between The Doctor and Donna Noble after the end of the Season 4 finale. With them returning in the three-part specials, they have one loose end to mend before The Doctor can attain his true regeneration, and that's what the world awaits.

Spin-offs and mixed media - The Whoniverse expands outside the world of Doctor Who with official spin-offs featuring iconic characters and settings such as the R-rated spin-off series, Torchwood, which stars John Barrowman as Captain Jack Harkness and Eve Myles as Gwen Cooper, among others, the kid-friendly The Sarah Jane Adventures where DW legend Elisabeth Sladen reprises her Sarah Jane Smith role and teams up with a group of kids battling alien threats, and then there's Class, which is set at Coal Hill High, the same school appeared in the world of Doctor Who. Word from the outside world is there was a TV show called K-9, which features The Doctor's robot ally K-9 in its entirely new form. 

TV shows aside, the Whoniverse also expands outside the TV screens in the form of comic books, novels, audio dramas, and others. One such example is the Doom's Day project which features a mysterious character named Doom as she spreads across the Whoniverse from comic books to audio dramas, racing for her life to find The Doctor. The Doom's Day project is part of Doctor Who's six-decade celebrations.

Six decades of Doctor Who, no, the Whoniverse. The past, present, and future of the Whoniverse will never stop expanding and as the world prepares for the show's 60th-anniversary specials and the imminent arrival of the new Doctor, expect brilliant things to come in the Whoniverse.

Happy 60th anniversary to the Whoniverse!

Image: BBC

McLaren 750S

The McLaren 750S may be a minor change version of the old 720S but this will mark the last McLaren to run purely on an internal combustion engine before heading to its electrified future.

2024 McLaren 750S

2024 McLaren 750S Spider

Costing 250,000 pounds plus additional costs, the 750S, in coupe and Spider configurations,  is the improved version of the 720S that crosses the line in terms of performance and dynamics fitting for McLaren's swansong for the pure internal combustion engine era as it's heading towards electrification soon.

2024 McLaren 750S interior

As the styling is broadly similar to its 720S predecessor, the 750S saw most of the black stuff from the 720S exterior design colored while featuring a new rear design that differentiates it. As for the interior, the instrumental display as well as the powertrain and handling mode controls have been repositioned for easy access behind the wheel. It even comes with a McLaren Control Launcher and a new Central Information Screen.

The familiar 4.0L V8 biturbo engine inherited from the 720S has been boosted to the titular 750PS of power output and 800Nm of torque. When mated to a 7-speed gearbox, it sprints from 0 to 62mph in 2.8 seconds and has a top speed of 206mph, in coupe or Spider configurations. More than the 720S but less than the 765LT so it's a welcoming development for a rear-wheel-drive hypercar from the UK.

Apart from the performance, the 750S features a reworked suspension setup, revised signature valve stack, wider front track width, electro-hydraulic steering assistance system, available track brake upgrade, and the improved Proactive Chassis Control, giving it dynamics only Lando Norris can truly understand because it handles like every McLaren should and thanks to being rear-wheel-drive, you have to be brave enough to take advantage of its Variable Drift Control if you want to make it out alive.

The McLaren 750S may be a minor change version of the old 720S but for a swansong for the pure internal combustion engine era, this is the ultimate driver's car full-stop and if you're as good as either Lando Norris or Oscar Piastri, spark this. It's about as addictive as exotics can be.

Photo: McLaren Automotive

My FH5 Log: Lotus New Generation

Lotus ushered the age of electrification by unveiling its all-new logo, signaling a new start for the British sports car maker now under the guardianship of the Chinese motoring giant Geely.

As Lotus enters the new generation, they've unveiled the first-ever all-electric hypercar, the Evija, and I got the chance to drive it in Forza Horizon 5.

So, what's it all about the Lotus Evija?

Developed under the "Type 130" project name, the Evija, mirrored by the word "alive", is Lotus' first-ever all-electric hypercar that spawned from the partnership with Williams Advanced Engineering. It is the first Lotus road car to feature a full carbon fiber chassis molded as a single piece and sculpted for better downforce. Aerodynamics plays a key role in the Evija so it's been given active aerodynamics in the form of a rear spoiler and an F1-style DRS, among many others.

The Evija's electric powertrain features a 2,000kW li-ion battery supplied with its management system by Williams Advanced Engineering and four electric motors producing 500HP each, giving the Evija a monstrous 2000HP of total power output, making it capable of a 0-60mph time in less than three seconds and a top speed of over 200mph.

The Evija is limited to 130 units, each costing £1.7 million plus additional costs, and production is done in Lotus' Hethel plant. All units are sold out prior to its unveiling.

I know seeing Lotus building a hypercar is total blasphemy to its tradition of making light and agile sports cars like the Elise and the Exige but for an all-electric hypercar with no door handles and a minimalist interior, the Evija is a challenging but mind-blowingly fun car that pushes you to the extremes. The harder you push the Evija, the more fun it gets, making it a zero-emission thrill ride you'll never forget.

Speaking of thrill rides, me and the Evija went for a ride in what's known to be a re-enactment of the Formula E Hong Kong E-Prix track created by a certain game master I can't tell you. Although this EventLab creation is 90% complete, I think, it's the ideal venue to experience the Evija's electrified performance that pushes beyond the limits of Lotus. Roll the tape.

What a challenge this is and although this creation's far from complete, I had a blast pushing the Evija to the extremes even when it gets through the narrow corners. It's still a Lotus. That's why.

The Evija demonstrated itself that despite its electric drivetrain that delivered a bulky treason to the Lotus heritage, it's a proven road and track weapon when used efficiently, making it the electrifying force to be reckoned with. This hypercar earned the right to don the new mark of Lotus and it's a sign of things to come.

Welcome to the new world order.

My GT7 Log: Know Your Legends - The McLaren MP4/4

Let's get to know about the legendary cars that are hard to get in Gran Turismo 7's Legend Cars not only because of their extreme rarity that appears once in a blue moon but also their outrageous price tag that takes almost forever to save one. Today, let's get to know the McLaren MP4/4, arguably one of the greatest F1 cars of all time.

Arguably one of the most dominant F1 cars of all time, the McLaren MP4/4 was known for winning 15 out of 16 races in the 1988 season. The #11 was piloted by Alain Prost while the legendary #12 was piloted by the legendary Ayrton Senna. The McLaren Formula One team scored 199 points to garner the constructor's champion title but it was Senna's performance of eight wins garnered him his world champion status for the 1988 season. Designed by Steve Nichols and Gordon Murray, the MP4/4 features a carbon fiber honeycomb monocoque for the chassis, double wishbones with pull-rod actuated coil springs and dampers for the suspension, a Weismann-McLaren 6-speed manual gearbox, and a 1.5L Honda RA168-E V6 turbo engine, one of the most powerful Formula One engines of all time.

Time to take a quick drive with the real Formula 1 legend around the Goodwood Motor Circuit and find out if the legend is real with this one.

It did it in 1:04.074 seconds and although not the quickest as such with me behind the wheel, it's proof that the MP4/4's legendary performance truly lives up to its reputation as the F1's GOAT. The Greatest Of All Time.

What other hard-to-get legendary cars should I drive next? Stay tuned for more.

Torchwood: Among Us 3

The final chapter of the Among Us saga of Torchwood has arrived and it finally unmasks the unknown threat lurking around the streets...but with a terrifying twist.

Torchwood: Among Us 3

The third and final chapter of Torchwood: Among Us is an edge-of-your-seat endgame to this intense thriller where the whole Torchwood team ends up being the hunted while uncovering the most terrifying puzzle with the whole world's on the wire.

The season finale features the final four missions to experience at the edge of your seats. From the forgotten social networking site out for revenge, influencers getting killed, a suspicious cryptocurrency used for purchasing black market weaponry, and the thrilling finale where dinnertime is the end of time itself.

Wow, the final missions sure have relevance in reality, huh? Social media and cryptocurrency are the main focus of this season's finale and because this is typical Torchwood suspense and thrills, no safe space is...well, safe from the gripping final moments of Among Us.

What a way to end the recent Torchwood season. Uncovering who is "among us" from start to finish made Among Us the most thrilling Torchwood saga yet and now that the whole collection is complete, expect more to come from the world of Torchwood.

The end is where will start for them.

MG MG4 XPOWER

The MG4 is proven to be a hit on British roads and because it's more fun and more affordable to own than the Nissan Leaf, it really is the biggest upset in the electric car market. Such upset prompted MG to create their first-ever electric hot hatch; the MG4 XPOWER.

2024 MG MG4 XPOWER

Starting at 36,495 British Pounds plus additional costs, the first-ever MG4 XPOWER brings performance back to MG in the age of the new normal and such pricing means it's more affordable than the Civic Type R. It's the high-performance bargain of the decade.

2024 MG MG4 XPOWER interior

At first glance, it looks and works just like a normal MG4 judging by its sharp-looking exterior design, 10.25-inch touch screen with smartphone connectivity, Rotary Gear Selector, wireless charging pad, heated front seats, and steering wheel, among many others. However, the only way to differentiate the XPOWER from the normal MG4 is the XPOWER badge behind as well as the 18" Cyclone alloy wheels with orange calipers, and the added Track Mode display on the touchscreen.

Unlike the normal MG4, which is rear-wheel-drive only, the MG4 XPOWER is the first MG car to be all-wheel-drive, meaning there should be an additional motor somewhere. Anyway, because of its AWD layout and the 64kWh battery, the power output got juiced up to produce 435PS of power output and 600Nm of torque. 

Because being the first MG car to have launch control, the MG4 XPOWER has a 0-60mph time of 3.7 seconds and a top speed of 124mph. You can kiss your Nissan Leaf NISMO goodbye with this one.

In terms of range, the MG4 XPOWER is good for 239 miles combined based on the WLTP scale and it takes up to 35 minutes to charge the batteries from 10% to 80% is 35 minutes when charged at the 150kW public rapid charger, the length of watching an episode of your favorite cartoon and some Hail Marys to spare. At home, it takes 5.1 hours to charge the batteries from 10% to 100%.

Of course, being AWD, the 1800kg kerb weight spells more weight compared to the normal MG4, meaning it feels somewhat mild and tangy to drive even on the track. Arm-breaking is such when you try to turn sharp and thanks to its sport-tuned brakes, it feels dramatic when you hit the brakes.

Like the normal MG4, the XPOWER is nothing short of safety features including the MG Pilot Advanced Driver Assistance System.

The MG4 XPOWER signals MG's return to the performance business and because of its pricing that's cheaper to own than the Civic Type R, the performance to devour the Leaf NISMO, and the AWD system unheard of for an MG car, this juiced up electric hatchback is ready for prime time.

Photo: MG Motor UK

My GT7 Log: Power and Honor

For 110 years, Aston Martin created some of the most beautiful sports cars on the road in the essence of power, beauty, and soul. What happens when Aston Martin ditched these essences and creates the most extreme monster machine that can be used on the road and on a track?

What you're looking at here is the most extreme Aston Martin road car ever made and it's making the rounds on Gran Turismo 7 for all the players to experience it; the Aston Martin Valkyrie.

This is by no means one of the most anticipated hypercars of the decade, the Aston Martin Valkyrie is primed and ready to take on the world's most demanding race tracks offered in the game and I got my dibs on the most extreme Aston Martin road car ever made. But first, just what's it all about the Valkyrie?

Made in collaboration with Red Bull Racing, the team that produced big-name world champions such as Sebastian Vettel and Max Verstappen, the Valkyrie is a hybrid hypercar with F1-inspired, space-age aerodynamics that made it capable of taking corners at over 3.3G. 

The carbon blade designed by space shuttle engineers made it capable of impossible performance even at 220mph. 

The hydraulics, meanwhile, is heavily inspired by an Apache gunship, making it capable of taking on the most extreme hydraulic demands.

Apart from the F1-derived aerodynamics, extensive use of lightweight materials was involved in the making of this hypercar especially the part where the Aston Martin emblem was etched to the front instead of using badges and decals, all in the name of saving weight and airflow, of course.

Powering the Valkyrie is a naturally-aspirated 6.5L V12 engine developed by Cosworth mated to an F1-derived KERS, producing a total power output of a whopping 1139HP of power, making it the most powerful Aston Martin road car ever made.

Only 150 of these units were made and all of them are completely sold out immediately.

 

Although it sounds foolish to call this a road-legal Formula 1 car because of its aerodynamics, the Valkyrie is a terrifyingly demanding hypercar that takes a serious amount of time to master its extreme capabilities. Only someone who is as good as a Formula 1 driver can wield this terrifying road-legal track weapon in an extreme situation such as this...

Yes, I'm talking about the Nurburgring, the most intense racetrack ever assembled. The Green Hell. The perfect place to take full advantage of the Valkyrie's capabilities as a road-legal track weapon. It may sound extreme to all of us but feels like I'm up for the challenge, just to get a feel for just how extreme the Valkyrie is.  Space-age aerodynamics, weapons-grade hydraulics, 6.5L V12 hybrid, KERS, the Valkyrie is locked and loaded as it tries to unleash its impossible performance as it tries to do...the impossible.

Trust me, this is not going to be an easy task. Anyway, as I said before, let's see if it can do the impossible. Send in the tape.

Having attempted the most impossible attempt, thanks to its KERS usage on the fast portions, I managed to post a 6m31.763s lap time, which is impossibly fast for an Aston Martin, but I'm starting to feel guilty about the KERS usage. 

Guilty pleasure aside, should Aston Martin bring the Valkyrie to the Nurburgring Nordschleife for the real deal, this would become the fastest road car to lap the Nurburgring Nordschleife. 

Bring it on, Aston Martin. Show us what the Valkyrie can do at the Nurburgring.

IMPOSSIBLE. DRIVEN.

The Aston Martin Valkyrie pushed the British sports car maker to uncharted heights. With its space-age aerodynamics, weapons-grade hydraulics, 6.5L V12 hybrid, and KERS, this hybrid hypercar is the new platinum standard. A real Force Majeure not to be underestimated.

This is INTENSITY. DRIVEN.

My GT7 Log: Three Legendary Cars

Three Legendary Cars...The three legendary race cars that were once destined to win 24-hour races. What are they? If you remember your GT5 adventures, these three legendary cars ring a bell to you; the Jaguar XJ13, the Ford Mark IV, and the Ferrari 330 P4.

These three legendary race cars feel like they appear once in a blue moon and when one of these popped up at the Legend Cars dealership, it's gonna take more than winning difficult races to rack up some eight-figure income to snag the three legendary race cars that were once destined to win 24-hour races. Come unprepared and broke, you'll gonna need to win some money to buy one.

Anyway, just what are these three legendary race cars required to hit the namesake trophy achievement?

Beginning with the Jaguar XJ13, a Le Mans contender that never was. Intended to succeed the legendary D-Type that won Le Mans three years in a row from 1955 to 1957, the XJ13 is Jaguar's first mid-engine race car. Shaped like the E-Type, the XJ13 is fitted with a 5.0L V12 DOHC engine producing 495HP of power. Despite high hopes for racing, Jaguar canceled the XJ13 project as it tries to keep the V12 engine development a secret, and if that wasn't enough, it was badly damaged during filming for a promotional video for the E-Type. Thankfully, it was restored in 2005 in Whitley so it can showcase its exhibition run in Le Mans a year later.

Next is the Ford Mark IV Race Car, Ford's last effort to challenge for the 24 Hours of Le Mans title. Served as a worthy successor to the Le Mans-winning GT40 Mark II race car, the Mark IV is built according to Article J of the FIA vehicle regulation. Although well-known for its aerodynamic form, the Mark IV uses the same engine as the GT40 Mark II but it's been tuned to 523HP of power, making it capable of hitting 215.6mph of top speed. In 1967, it won the Sebring 12-hour race and the 24 Hours of Le Mans, beating Ferrari by five laps.

Lastly, the Ferrari 330 P4, the V12-powered masterpiece dubbed as "the most beautiful machine ever". Made as a response to the Le Mans-winning Ford GT40, the 330 P4 features the same 4.0L V12 engine as the P3 but it's been tuned to produce 444HP of power output. Debuted in 1967, it won the 24 Hours of Daytona and the Monza 1000km race but lost to the Ford GT40 in the 24 Hours of Le Mans. Despite that, it managed to defeat Porsche in the sports car world championships and became a series champion.

These three legendary cars were once destined to win 24-hour races but now, it's time to find out which of the three legendary cars is the superior one.

I've selected the Goodwood Motor Circuit, which has been my go-to track to set lap times on cars bought from the Legend Cars dealership, and with the three legendary cars primed and ready, it's time to commence their one-lap time attack to determine which one is the pure alpha. Roll the tape.

And now, the results...

Jaguar XJ13 '66 - 1m18.759s

Ford Mark IV Race Car '67 - 1m18.522s

Ferrari 330 P4 '67 - 1m18.331s

What a close result for this legendary trio. Although they have set similar times, it looks like the Ferrari is pure alpha by a narrow margin.

Like I said before, these three legendary cars appear once in a blue moon and if you come unprepared when one of these popped up at the Legend Cars dealership, you'll gonna need to win some difficult races to rack up such a herculean income to invest in one of these masterpieces. 

Fortune favors the prepared. Keep on racing and keep on winning if you are itching to grab all three legendary race cars when the opportunity arises. Miss one of these and you'll gonna have to wait for a long time for these vintage racers to reappear so keep your eyes open and be sure to have enough funding because...it's going to be a long night.

Never stop driving.

My FH5 Log: UNSCRIPTED

Do you remember the episode from The Grand Tour where the third-generation Audi TT RS and the Ariel Nomad got compared by Clarkson and Hammond while May's busy making his own fire engine? That's unscripted television to you and me but hey, the TT RS ended up being the better one compared to the Nomad, probably because of the "unscripted" finish line's cheering on Clarkson.

Bringing the "unscripted" rivalry to Forza Horizon 5, the Ariel Nomad and the third-generation Audi TT RS are here to settle the score once again just like what they did in Croatia, only without the lady rooting for the gorilla behind the Audi.

But first, let's get to know about these "unscripted" rivals...

Built by the makers of the mind-blowing Atom, the Nomad is basically the Atom's off-road cousin made to tackle the roughest roads on Planet Earth. Like the normal Atom, the Nomad's equipped with the same Honda 2.4L i-VTEC engine producing 235BHP of power and 300Nm of torque while mated to a 6-speed close ratio gearbox. Because it weighs 670kg, its power-to-weight ratio is 6.25lb/hp. It will do 0-60mph in 3.4 seconds and onwards to 125mph. Aside from that, the Nomad comes with a FOX off-road long-travel coilover suspension, hydraulic handbrake, four-piston calipers, adjustable dampers with remote reservoirs, double unequal-length fabricated wishbones, heavy-duty uprights, quick-ratio ally Rack & Pinion, and others.

The TT RS is the flagship variant of the third-generation Audi TT that is powered by the upgraded version of the 2.5L five-cylinder turbocharged engine that produces 60PS more than the previous TT RS, making it 400PS of power output and 480Nm of torque. Mated to a 7-speed DCT, the TT RS is capable of hitting the 0-100kph time of 3.7 seconds and a top speed of up to 280kph thanks to its optional extra.

With Bob the Builder and the air hostess having their say, it's time to bring these two on a rally stage...above the caldera, just to find out if they're just like their stint at The Grand Tour a few years ago, only this time without a pretty lady to root for the Audi. This is a proper finish line with a proper audience watching the two unscripted rivals do their thing.

Let's Go!

With a case of deja vu done, here are the results, and it's a close one, I believe...

Nomad - 0m54.788s 

TT RS (8S) - 0m54.521s

Now that's a close result but hey, the Audi won the unscripted duel against the Ariel, just.

From the rugged rear-wheel-drive Nomad to the all-wheel-drive turbocharged TT RS, these unscripted rivals were proven to be great to drive on and off the road but in the end, it's the Audi the superior one because...it's an Audi. No explanations are needed. I guess Clarkson's right after all about the TT RS but...something tells me about this Audi. I wonder what it could be?

I'll figure it out soon because there's something about this TT...

Torchwood: Among Us 2

The first part of the Among Us saga of Torchwood kept listeners guessing who's behind the recent mess that terrified not just Cardiff but also the world. As the answer continues to unfold, the second part of Torchwood: Among Us has arrived, courtesy of Big Finish Productions.

Torchwood: Among Us 2

The second part of Torchwood: Among Us welcomes back Gareth David Lloyd to the latest saga, reprising the fan-favorite role of Ianto Jones. The fan-favorite character making a comeback in this latest chapter of Torchwood is pure delight for fans of the Doctor Who spinoff. Still, something's not right because...it's "Among Us" after all. No one knows who's the faceless threat pulling the strings.

Anyway, the second part welcomes listeners to four new thrilling missions to experience at the edge of their seats. These missions include Orr visiting the conflict-torn Voloshnik, Yvonne Hartman's prison break, vandals crashing inside Torchwood, and the whistleblowers who knew about the Phlobos Scandal.

These four new missions really are the latest pieces of the jigsaw puzzle and they're worth a suspense thriller to experience from start to finish.

Be sure to catch up on Among Us with these two installments available now and brace yourselves for the finale coming soon.

The Grand Tour presents Eurocrash

Last year, Clarkson, Hammond, and May explored the Scandinavian winter wonderland in three 4WD saloons. Now, they're doing something unconventional as the recent Grand Tour adventure pulled a road trip like no other.

The Grand Tour presents Eurocrash

HOLD IT! Be sure to watch the entire adventure on Prime Video before coming back, okay? Come back here when you're done watching the latest Grand Tour adventure.

Torchwood: Among Us 1

The Torchwood story continues in the newest saga part of "The Story Continues" collection from Big Finish Productions. After a cataclysmic thriller in the God Among Us saga, Torchwood returns as they're uncover a faceless threat lurking everywhere, even from within.

Torchwood: Among Us 1

The newest saga of Torchwood is titled "Among Us" and in the first chapter of this latest Torchwood adventure, the Torchwood agents are keeping themselves incognito following the events from God Among Us. As they're in the dark, unknown threats and conspiracies are emerging everywhere, even within Torchwood.

The first chapter of Among Us features four brand new missions to listen to. From secret neighbors, the struggles of Colin, Gwen and Rhys' new life in Iceland, to a terrifying headline that deserves a much bigger headline, it's a brave new start to a new Torchwood saga that deserves to be listen over and over again before the next chapter arrives soon.

If you're ready to return to Torchwood, the first chapter of this newest adventure is for you...if you dare.

Lotus Eletre

Lotus is known for its iconic sports cars such as the Elise, the Exige, and the Evora, and in the age of the new normal, the all-electric Evija hypercar and the ultimate ICE-powered Lotus sports car, the Emira. Sadly, Lotus' near-seven-and-a-half decade tradition has been broken thanks to the arrival of the first SUV, the Eletre.

2024 Lotus Eletre

Starting at 89,500 British Pounds plus additional costs, the first-ever Lotus Eletre truly is a treason to the Lotus heritage because why build a bulky SUV and call it a Lotus? Don't ask them, ask the Chinese overlords who controlled them like puppets on a string.

Geely, the Chinese company that controls not just Lotus but Volvo as well, is the main reason why the Lotus Eletre was spawned because this is the new normal, and SUVs are treated like superhero movies. Anyway, while getting bothered about Lotus's first SUV, what to expect from this "made in China" curiosity?

2024 Lotus Eletre

Beginning with the styling, the Eletre is downright futuristic for an electric crossover of this size, making the Tesla Model X look like a dozen of balut on a fruit basket. You gotta admit that such futuristic styling is the first impression the Eletre delivers even while cruising on the open road. What's also cool is the rear lights that glow green while charging, indicating battery levels, as well as the pop-up gadgetry lurking through its skin. This is what the future feels like.

2024 Lotus Eletre interior

2024 Lotus Eletre interior

The same story goes for the interior because the Eletre is like a supercomputer on wheels. On the driver's side, you can expect AR HUD, a 15.1-inch HD OLED touchscreen, ambient lighting, and jewel-grade switches on the AC and gear change. Looks like fancy living for the driver but on the passenger side, the Eletre is offered with a choice of a four or five-seater and they can be folded down for up to 1532 liters of boot space, making it more than enough to carry even the most sensitive stuff while on the go.

Although having rear seats in a Lotus is also treason for purists, you gonna love the four-seater version because of the center console gadgetry that will keep VIPs busy while driving to their destination. Although too expensive to be used as a family vehicle, the Eletre works like a luxury car while going on a trip to the world's most extravagant destinations.

Thanks to the dual motors that power it and the Geely-derived platform underneath, the Eletre is the first Lotus to have a four-wheel-drive system, another treason to the Lotus heritage. Although it doesn't behave like a Lotus, it delivers a throat-chopping experience when you put your foot down and looks like someone's driven to tears, wishing they want to experience this electric crossover someday.

The Eletre features three different configurations with the base variant producing 612PS of power and 373 miles of driving range to the ultra-powerful Eletre R with a monstrous 918PS of power output, capable of going from 0-60mph in less than three seconds and has a top speed of 165mph. As for the range, the Eletre R is good for 304 miles on one full charge.

Although speedo boys are not going to like it, the Eletre features the most sophisticated ADAS offered such as the LIDAR system, ultra-HD cameras, and millimeter-wave radar, making it equipped for fully autonomous driving. Shocker.

The Lotus Eletre is treason to the Norfolk-based sports car company's heritage but with all that power packed, this is the crossover you are itching to drive someday. Like it or not, the Eletre is Lotus' jack of all trades or should I say tirades if you prefer and it's ready to boldly go where no Lotus has gone before. Be ready when you see one.

Photo: Lotus Cars