The cars of Top Gear Speed Week 2017
From £14k, 113bhp Up GTI to £450k, 647bhp Ford GT, our contenders in full
Speed Week 2017 is here. Top Gear’s performance car contest has moved to Scotland this year, and every day until November 1 there’ll be track tests, galleries and videos going live on TopGear.com.
Yesterday we brought you the trailer, today comes a rundown of every contestant. From affordable hot hatches to 600bhp-plus supercars, via track specials and sports saloons, we’ve got every hero and potential superstar of 2017.
So scroll down, pick your favourites, and tell us which you want to see crowned winner in the comments box below…
Volkswagen Up GTI
Yep, it’s a £14k hatchback attempting to rub shoulders with the year’s greatest sports cars. But the humble little Up GTI channels the spirit – and modest power and grip – of the original, mk1 Golf GTI. The hot hatch that started it all.
While it’s not going to set any lap records at our Knockhill Circuit base, the rainiest Speed Week yet could shine a real light on how accessible its performance is. We know which car will have the longest queue when the circuit lights go green for the first time, and it’s not the Ford or Lambo…
Volkswagen Up GTI
Price: £14,000 (est)
Engine: 999cc 3cyl turbo, 113bhp, 170lb ft
Transmission: 6spd manual, FWD
Performance: 0–62mph 8.8secs, 122mph
Weight: 997kg
Lamborghini Huracan Performante
The Performante set a (since surpassed) lap record on a dry Nürburgring earlier in the year. It won’t be as quick on a sodden Scottish race track, but its mixture of 630bhp V10 and all-wheel drive could make it a formidable track weapon.
It also ticks all the important supercar boxes. Bright colour scheme? Howling engine note? Absurd materials inside and out? An exhaust system that glows at full pelt? Tick, tick, tick and tick. What a thing.
Lamborghini Huracan Performante
Price: £207,925
Engine: 5204cc V10, 630bhp, 443lb ft
Transmission: 7spd dual-clutch, AWD
Performance: 0–62mph 2.9secs, 201mph
Weight: 1382kg
Honda Civic Type R
The internet’s favourite/least favourite hot hatch (delete as applicable) is here and ready to go giant killing. The last Civic Type R was a very good hot hatch hamstrung by some usability issues. None of its rivals were so uncompromising when it came to wet-weather grip or ride comfort.
The new one is comfier and more practical than ever, but faster, too. It’s one of the best hatches on sale, and one of the most accomplished front-wheel-drive cars ever. Underestimate the five-door with the big boot and comprehensive warranty at your peril.
Honda Civic Type R
Price: £32,995
Engine: 1996cc 4cyl turbo, 315bhp, 295lb ft
Transmission: 6spd manual, FWD
Performance: 0–62mph 5.8secs, 169mph
Weight: 1380kg
Mercedes-AMG E63 S
Shockwaves resonated when Mercedes first revealed its E63 mega saloon was going to deploy four-wheel drive. Would it be too sanitised? Had AMG gone all sensible as it turns middle aged?
Lord no. With 603bhp, it’s one of the most powerful cars of this whole test, and with a RWD-only Drift Mode, one of the nuttiest, too. Alright, it’s big and heavy. All the more reason to manhandle it and misbehave rather than laser in on lap times. Some of the biggest grins of the test will emerge from this car.
Mercedes-AMG E63 S
Price: £88,490
Engine: 3982cc V8 turbo, 603bhp, 627lb ft
Transmission: 9spd automatic, AWD
Performance: 0–62mph 3.4secs, 155mph
Weight: 1955kg
From £14k, 113bhp Up GTI to £450k, 647bhp Ford GT, our contenders in full
Speed Week 2017 is here. Top Gear’s performance car contest has moved to Scotland this year, and every day until November 1 there’ll be track tests, galleries and videos going live on TopGear.com.
Yesterday we brought you the trailer, today comes a rundown of every contestant. From affordable hot hatches to 600bhp-plus supercars, via track specials and sports saloons, we’ve got every hero and potential superstar of 2017.
So scroll down, pick your favourites, and tell us which you want to see crowned winner in the comments box below…
Volkswagen Up GTI
Yep, it’s a £14k hatchback attempting to rub shoulders with the year’s greatest sports cars. But the humble little Up GTI channels the spirit – and modest power and grip – of the original, mk1 Golf GTI. The hot hatch that started it all.
While it’s not going to set any lap records at our Knockhill Circuit base, the rainiest Speed Week yet could shine a real light on how accessible its performance is. We know which car will have the longest queue when the circuit lights go green for the first time, and it’s not the Ford or Lambo…
Volkswagen Up GTI
Price: £14,000 (est)
Engine: 999cc 3cyl turbo, 113bhp, 170lb ft
Transmission: 6spd manual, FWD
Performance: 0–62mph 8.8secs, 122mph
Weight: 997kg
Lamborghini Huracan Performante
The Performante set a (since surpassed) lap record on a dry Nürburgring earlier in the year. It won’t be as quick on a sodden Scottish race track, but its mixture of 630bhp V10 and all-wheel drive could make it a formidable track weapon.
It also ticks all the important supercar boxes. Bright colour scheme? Howling engine note? Absurd materials inside and out? An exhaust system that glows at full pelt? Tick, tick, tick and tick. What a thing.
Lamborghini Huracan Performante
Price: £207,925
Engine: 5204cc V10, 630bhp, 443lb ft
Transmission: 7spd dual-clutch, AWD
Performance: 0–62mph 2.9secs, 201mph
Weight: 1382kg
Honda Civic Type R
The internet’s favourite/least favourite hot hatch (delete as applicable) is here and ready to go giant killing. The last Civic Type R was a very good hot hatch hamstrung by some usability issues. None of its rivals were so uncompromising when it came to wet-weather grip or ride comfort.
The new one is comfier and more practical than ever, but faster, too. It’s one of the best hatches on sale, and one of the most accomplished front-wheel-drive cars ever. Underestimate the five-door with the big boot and comprehensive warranty at your peril.
Honda Civic Type R
Price: £32,995
Engine: 1996cc 4cyl turbo, 315bhp, 295lb ft
Transmission: 6spd manual, FWD
Performance: 0–62mph 5.8secs, 169mph
Weight: 1380kg
Mercedes-AMG E63 S
Shockwaves resonated when Mercedes first revealed its E63 mega saloon was going to deploy four-wheel drive. Would it be too sanitised? Had AMG gone all sensible as it turns middle aged?
Lord no. With 603bhp, it’s one of the most powerful cars of this whole test, and with a RWD-only Drift Mode, one of the nuttiest, too. Alright, it’s big and heavy. All the more reason to manhandle it and misbehave rather than laser in on lap times. Some of the biggest grins of the test will emerge from this car.
Mercedes-AMG E63 S
Price: £88,490
Engine: 3982cc V8 turbo, 603bhp, 627lb ft
Transmission: 9spd automatic, AWD
Performance: 0–62mph 3.4secs, 155mph
Weight: 1955kg
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