Recap: Top Gear series 26, episode 5

As British as Queen Victoria

Unless you’re talking ‘bulldog wearing a top hat and a Union Jack waistcoat, woofing the national anthem from atop Buckingham Palace’, you can’t get more British than an Aston Martin, right?

Not so right. Because the new Aston Martin V8 Vantage is powered by a Mercedes-Benz engine, and borrows lots of other clever Mercedes bits to help it go faster. And if you want a two-seat sports car with lots of German bits, you could always have a Merc-AMG GT. Same price, same power, fully German.

So, German-Brit or German-German? Matt LeBlanc heads out on the Top Gear test track to decide.

Simply the best?

Manufacturers love to make bold claims about their latest creations – the fastest, the cheapest, the most economical – but here’s a doozy. Rolls-Royce claims that its new £360,000 Phantom is nothing less than ‘the best car in the world’.

So, reckoned Rory, if it really is the best car in the world, it’s got to be the best at doing absolutely everything, right? To find out if it indeed was, Rory subjected the new Phant to a thorough, and thoroughly British, road test. By diligently canvassing the opinion of some Londoners, and some Instagrammers, and some cows.

Small car versus supercar

The new Ford Fiesta ST is a very good little car. But is it better than a £300,000, 700bhp Lamborghini Aventador? Well, according to Chris Harris, yes, yes it is. To prove his point, Chris took the quite affordable Fiesta and the quite unaffordable Lamborghini on a big trip across Wales. And up through a particularly narrow multi-storey car park, because it’s a proper consumer test. And around a race track, because it’s Chris Harris.

Episode 5's Star in a Reasonably Fast Car is Stephen Mangan. Catch up now on BBC iPlayer.

As British as Queen Victoria

Unless you’re talking ‘bulldog wearing a top hat and a Union Jack waistcoat, woofing the national anthem from atop Buckingham Palace’, you can’t get more British than an Aston Martin, right?

Not so right. Because the new Aston Martin V8 Vantage is powered by a Mercedes-Benz engine, and borrows lots of other clever Mercedes bits to help it go faster. And if you want a two-seat sports car with lots of German bits, you could always have a Merc-AMG GT. Same price, same power, fully German.

So, German-Brit or German-German? Matt LeBlanc heads out on the Top Gear test track to decide.

Simply the best?

Manufacturers love to make bold claims about their latest creations – the fastest, the cheapest, the most economical – but here’s a doozy. Rolls-Royce claims that its new £360,000 Phantom is nothing less than ‘the best car in the world’.

So, reckoned Rory, if it really is the best car in the world, it’s got to be the best at doing absolutely everything, right? To find out if it indeed was, Rory subjected the new Phant to a thorough, and thoroughly British, road test. By diligently canvassing the opinion of some Londoners, and some Instagrammers, and some cows.

Small car versus supercar

The new Ford Fiesta ST is a very good little car. But is it better than a £300,000, 700bhp Lamborghini Aventador? Well, according to Chris Harris, yes, yes it is. To prove his point, Chris took the quite affordable Fiesta and the quite unaffordable Lamborghini on a big trip across Wales. And up through a particularly narrow multi-storey car park, because it’s a proper consumer test. And around a race track, because it’s Chris Harris.

Episode 5's Star in a Reasonably Fast Car is Stephen Mangan. Catch up now on BBC iPlayer.

As British as Queen Victoria

Unless you’re talking ‘bulldog wearing a top hat and a Union Jack waistcoat, woofing the national anthem from atop Buckingham Palace’, you can’t get more British than an Aston Martin, right?

Not so right. Because the new Aston Martin V8 Vantage is powered by a Mercedes-Benz engine, and borrows lots of other clever Mercedes bits to help it go faster. And if you want a two-seat sports car with lots of German bits, you could always have a Merc-AMG GT. Same price, same power, fully German.

So, German-Brit or German-German? Matt LeBlanc heads out on the Top Gear test track to decide.

Simply the best?

Manufacturers love to make bold claims about their latest creations – the fastest, the cheapest, the most economical – but here’s a doozy. Rolls-Royce claims that its new £360,000 Phantom is nothing less than ‘the best car in the world’.

So, reckoned Rory, if it really is the best car in the world, it’s got to be the best at doing absolutely everything, right? To find out if it indeed was, Rory subjected the new Phant to a thorough, and thoroughly British, road test. By diligently canvassing the opinion of some Londoners, and some Instagrammers, and some cows.

Small car versus supercar

The new Ford Fiesta ST is a very good little car. But is it better than a £300,000, 700bhp Lamborghini Aventador? Well, according to Chris Harris, yes, yes it is. To prove his point, Chris took the quite affordable Fiesta and the quite unaffordable Lamborghini on a big trip across Wales. And up through a particularly narrow multi-storey car park, because it’s a proper consumer test. And around a race track, because it’s Chris Harris.

Episode 5's Star in a Reasonably Fast Car is Stephen Mangan. Catch up now on BBC iPlayer.

As British as Queen Victoria

Unless you’re talking ‘bulldog wearing a top hat and a Union Jack waistcoat, woofing the national anthem from atop Buckingham Palace’, you can’t get more British than an Aston Martin, right?

Not so right. Because the new Aston Martin V8 Vantage is powered by a Mercedes-Benz engine, and borrows lots of other clever Mercedes bits to help it go faster. And if you want a two-seat sports car with lots of German bits, you could always have a Merc-AMG GT. Same price, same power, fully German.

So, German-Brit or German-German? Matt LeBlanc heads out on the Top Gear test track to decide.

Simply the best?

Manufacturers love to make bold claims about their latest creations – the fastest, the cheapest, the most economical – but here’s a doozy. Rolls-Royce claims that its new £360,000 Phantom is nothing less than ‘the best car in the world’.

So, reckoned Rory, if it really is the best car in the world, it’s got to be the best at doing absolutely everything, right? To find out if it indeed was, Rory subjected the new Phant to a thorough, and thoroughly British, road test. By diligently canvassing the opinion of some Londoners, and some Instagrammers, and some cows.

Small car versus supercar

The new Ford Fiesta ST is a very good little car. But is it better than a £300,000, 700bhp Lamborghini Aventador? Well, according to Chris Harris, yes, yes it is. To prove his point, Chris took the quite affordable Fiesta and the quite unaffordable Lamborghini on a big trip across Wales. And up through a particularly narrow multi-storey car park, because it’s a proper consumer test. And around a race track, because it’s Chris Harris.

Episode 5's Star in a Reasonably Fast Car is Stephen Mangan. Catch up now on BBC iPlayer.

As British as Queen Victoria

Unless you’re talking ‘bulldog wearing a top hat and a Union Jack waistcoat, woofing the national anthem from atop Buckingham Palace’, you can’t get more British than an Aston Martin, right?

Not so right. Because the new Aston Martin V8 Vantage is powered by a Mercedes-Benz engine, and borrows lots of other clever Mercedes bits to help it go faster. And if you want a two-seat sports car with lots of German bits, you could always have a Merc-AMG GT. Same price, same power, fully German.

So, German-Brit or German-German? Matt LeBlanc heads out on the Top Gear test track to decide.

Simply the best?

Manufacturers love to make bold claims about their latest creations – the fastest, the cheapest, the most economical – but here’s a doozy. Rolls-Royce claims that its new £360,000 Phantom is nothing less than ‘the best car in the world’.

So, reckoned Rory, if it really is the best car in the world, it’s got to be the best at doing absolutely everything, right? To find out if it indeed was, Rory subjected the new Phant to a thorough, and thoroughly British, road test. By diligently canvassing the opinion of some Londoners, and some Instagrammers, and some cows.

Small car versus supercar

The new Ford Fiesta ST is a very good little car. But is it better than a £300,000, 700bhp Lamborghini Aventador? Well, according to Chris Harris, yes, yes it is. To prove his point, Chris took the quite affordable Fiesta and the quite unaffordable Lamborghini on a big trip across Wales. And up through a particularly narrow multi-storey car park, because it’s a proper consumer test. And around a race track, because it’s Chris Harris.

Episode 5's Star in a Reasonably Fast Car is Stephen Mangan. Catch up now on BBC iPlayer.

As British as Queen Victoria

Unless you’re talking ‘bulldog wearing a top hat and a Union Jack waistcoat, woofing the national anthem from atop Buckingham Palace’, you can’t get more British than an Aston Martin, right?

Not so right. Because the new Aston Martin V8 Vantage is powered by a Mercedes-Benz engine, and borrows lots of other clever Mercedes bits to help it go faster. And if you want a two-seat sports car with lots of German bits, you could always have a Merc-AMG GT. Same price, same power, fully German.

So, German-Brit or German-German? Matt LeBlanc heads out on the Top Gear test track to decide.

Simply the best?

Manufacturers love to make bold claims about their latest creations – the fastest, the cheapest, the most economical – but here’s a doozy. Rolls-Royce claims that its new £360,000 Phantom is nothing less than ‘the best car in the world’.

So, reckoned Rory, if it really is the best car in the world, it’s got to be the best at doing absolutely everything, right? To find out if it indeed was, Rory subjected the new Phant to a thorough, and thoroughly British, road test. By diligently canvassing the opinion of some Londoners, and some Instagrammers, and some cows.

Small car versus supercar

The new Ford Fiesta ST is a very good little car. But is it better than a £300,000, 700bhp Lamborghini Aventador? Well, according to Chris Harris, yes, yes it is. To prove his point, Chris took the quite affordable Fiesta and the quite unaffordable Lamborghini on a big trip across Wales. And up through a particularly narrow multi-storey car park, because it’s a proper consumer test. And around a race track, because it’s Chris Harris.

Episode 5's Star in a Reasonably Fast Car is Stephen Mangan. Catch up now on BBC iPlayer.

As British as Queen Victoria

Unless you’re talking ‘bulldog wearing a top hat and a Union Jack waistcoat, woofing the national anthem from atop Buckingham Palace’, you can’t get more British than an Aston Martin, right?

Not so right. Because the new Aston Martin V8 Vantage is powered by a Mercedes-Benz engine, and borrows lots of other clever Mercedes bits to help it go faster. And if you want a two-seat sports car with lots of German bits, you could always have a Merc-AMG GT. Same price, same power, fully German.

So, German-Brit or German-German? Matt LeBlanc heads out on the Top Gear test track to decide.

Simply the best?

Manufacturers love to make bold claims about their latest creations – the fastest, the cheapest, the most economical – but here’s a doozy. Rolls-Royce claims that its new £360,000 Phantom is nothing less than ‘the best car in the world’.

So, reckoned Rory, if it really is the best car in the world, it’s got to be the best at doing absolutely everything, right? To find out if it indeed was, Rory subjected the new Phant to a thorough, and thoroughly British, road test. By diligently canvassing the opinion of some Londoners, and some Instagrammers, and some cows.

Small car versus supercar

The new Ford Fiesta ST is a very good little car. But is it better than a £300,000, 700bhp Lamborghini Aventador? Well, according to Chris Harris, yes, yes it is. To prove his point, Chris took the quite affordable Fiesta and the quite unaffordable Lamborghini on a big trip across Wales. And up through a particularly narrow multi-storey car park, because it’s a proper consumer test. And around a race track, because it’s Chris Harris.

Episode 5's Star in a Reasonably Fast Car is Stephen Mangan. Catch up now on BBC iPlayer.

As British as Queen Victoria

Unless you’re talking ‘bulldog wearing a top hat and a Union Jack waistcoat, woofing the national anthem from atop Buckingham Palace’, you can’t get more British than an Aston Martin, right?

Not so right. Because the new Aston Martin V8 Vantage is powered by a Mercedes-Benz engine, and borrows lots of other clever Mercedes bits to help it go faster. And if you want a two-seat sports car with lots of German bits, you could always have a Merc-AMG GT. Same price, same power, fully German.

So, German-Brit or German-German? Matt LeBlanc heads out on the Top Gear test track to decide.

Simply the best?

Manufacturers love to make bold claims about their latest creations – the fastest, the cheapest, the most economical – but here’s a doozy. Rolls-Royce claims that its new £360,000 Phantom is nothing less than ‘the best car in the world’.

So, reckoned Rory, if it really is the best car in the world, it’s got to be the best at doing absolutely everything, right? To find out if it indeed was, Rory subjected the new Phant to a thorough, and thoroughly British, road test. By diligently canvassing the opinion of some Londoners, and some Instagrammers, and some cows.

Small car versus supercar

The new Ford Fiesta ST is a very good little car. But is it better than a £300,000, 700bhp Lamborghini Aventador? Well, according to Chris Harris, yes, yes it is. To prove his point, Chris took the quite affordable Fiesta and the quite unaffordable Lamborghini on a big trip across Wales. And up through a particularly narrow multi-storey car park, because it’s a proper consumer test. And around a race track, because it’s Chris Harris.

Episode 5's Star in a Reasonably Fast Car is Stephen Mangan. Catch up now on BBC iPlayer.

As British as Queen Victoria

Unless you’re talking ‘bulldog wearing a top hat and a Union Jack waistcoat, woofing the national anthem from atop Buckingham Palace’, you can’t get more British than an Aston Martin, right?

Not so right. Because the new Aston Martin V8 Vantage is powered by a Mercedes-Benz engine, and borrows lots of other clever Mercedes bits to help it go faster. And if you want a two-seat sports car with lots of German bits, you could always have a Merc-AMG GT. Same price, same power, fully German.

So, German-Brit or German-German? Matt LeBlanc heads out on the Top Gear test track to decide.

Simply the best?

Manufacturers love to make bold claims about their latest creations – the fastest, the cheapest, the most economical – but here’s a doozy. Rolls-Royce claims that its new £360,000 Phantom is nothing less than ‘the best car in the world’.

So, reckoned Rory, if it really is the best car in the world, it’s got to be the best at doing absolutely everything, right? To find out if it indeed was, Rory subjected the new Phant to a thorough, and thoroughly British, road test. By diligently canvassing the opinion of some Londoners, and some Instagrammers, and some cows.

Small car versus supercar

The new Ford Fiesta ST is a very good little car. But is it better than a £300,000, 700bhp Lamborghini Aventador? Well, according to Chris Harris, yes, yes it is. To prove his point, Chris took the quite affordable Fiesta and the quite unaffordable Lamborghini on a big trip across Wales. And up through a particularly narrow multi-storey car park, because it’s a proper consumer test. And around a race track, because it’s Chris Harris.

Episode 5's Star in a Reasonably Fast Car is Stephen Mangan. Catch up now on BBC iPlayer.

As British as Queen Victoria

Unless you’re talking ‘bulldog wearing a top hat and a Union Jack waistcoat, woofing the national anthem from atop Buckingham Palace’, you can’t get more British than an Aston Martin, right?

Not so right. Because the new Aston Martin V8 Vantage is powered by a Mercedes-Benz engine, and borrows lots of other clever Mercedes bits to help it go faster. And if you want a two-seat sports car with lots of German bits, you could always have a Merc-AMG GT. Same price, same power, fully German.

So, German-Brit or German-German? Matt LeBlanc heads out on the Top Gear test track to decide.

Simply the best?

Manufacturers love to make bold claims about their latest creations – the fastest, the cheapest, the most economical – but here’s a doozy. Rolls-Royce claims that its new £360,000 Phantom is nothing less than ‘the best car in the world’.

So, reckoned Rory, if it really is the best car in the world, it’s got to be the best at doing absolutely everything, right? To find out if it indeed was, Rory subjected the new Phant to a thorough, and thoroughly British, road test. By diligently canvassing the opinion of some Londoners, and some Instagrammers, and some cows.

Small car versus supercar

The new Ford Fiesta ST is a very good little car. But is it better than a £300,000, 700bhp Lamborghini Aventador? Well, according to Chris Harris, yes, yes it is. To prove his point, Chris took the quite affordable Fiesta and the quite unaffordable Lamborghini on a big trip across Wales. And up through a particularly narrow multi-storey car park, because it’s a proper consumer test. And around a race track, because it’s Chris Harris.

Episode 5's Star in a Reasonably Fast Car is Stephen Mangan. Catch up now on BBC iPlayer.

As British as Queen Victoria

Unless you’re talking ‘bulldog wearing a top hat and a Union Jack waistcoat, woofing the national anthem from atop Buckingham Palace’, you can’t get more British than an Aston Martin, right?

Not so right. Because the new Aston Martin V8 Vantage is powered by a Mercedes-Benz engine, and borrows lots of other clever Mercedes bits to help it go faster. And if you want a two-seat sports car with lots of German bits, you could always have a Merc-AMG GT. Same price, same power, fully German.

So, German-Brit or German-German? Matt LeBlanc heads out on the Top Gear test track to decide.

Simply the best?

Manufacturers love to make bold claims about their latest creations – the fastest, the cheapest, the most economical – but here’s a doozy. Rolls-Royce claims that its new £360,000 Phantom is nothing less than ‘the best car in the world’.

So, reckoned Rory, if it really is the best car in the world, it’s got to be the best at doing absolutely everything, right? To find out if it indeed was, Rory subjected the new Phant to a thorough, and thoroughly British, road test. By diligently canvassing the opinion of some Londoners, and some Instagrammers, and some cows.

Small car versus supercar

The new Ford Fiesta ST is a very good little car. But is it better than a £300,000, 700bhp Lamborghini Aventador? Well, according to Chris Harris, yes, yes it is. To prove his point, Chris took the quite affordable Fiesta and the quite unaffordable Lamborghini on a big trip across Wales. And up through a particularly narrow multi-storey car park, because it’s a proper consumer test. And around a race track, because it’s Chris Harris.

Episode 5's Star in a Reasonably Fast Car is Stephen Mangan. Catch up now on BBC iPlayer.

As British as Queen Victoria

Unless you’re talking ‘bulldog wearing a top hat and a Union Jack waistcoat, woofing the national anthem from atop Buckingham Palace’, you can’t get more British than an Aston Martin, right?

Not so right. Because the new Aston Martin V8 Vantage is powered by a Mercedes-Benz engine, and borrows lots of other clever Mercedes bits to help it go faster. And if you want a two-seat sports car with lots of German bits, you could always have a Merc-AMG GT. Same price, same power, fully German.

So, German-Brit or German-German? Matt LeBlanc heads out on the Top Gear test track to decide.

Simply the best?

Manufacturers love to make bold claims about their latest creations – the fastest, the cheapest, the most economical – but here’s a doozy. Rolls-Royce claims that its new £360,000 Phantom is nothing less than ‘the best car in the world’.

So, reckoned Rory, if it really is the best car in the world, it’s got to be the best at doing absolutely everything, right? To find out if it indeed was, Rory subjected the new Phant to a thorough, and thoroughly British, road test. By diligently canvassing the opinion of some Londoners, and some Instagrammers, and some cows.

Small car versus supercar

The new Ford Fiesta ST is a very good little car. But is it better than a £300,000, 700bhp Lamborghini Aventador? Well, according to Chris Harris, yes, yes it is. To prove his point, Chris took the quite affordable Fiesta and the quite unaffordable Lamborghini on a big trip across Wales. And up through a particularly narrow multi-storey car park, because it’s a proper consumer test. And around a race track, because it’s Chris Harris.

Episode 5's Star in a Reasonably Fast Car is Stephen Mangan. Catch up now on BBC iPlayer.

As British as Queen Victoria

Unless you’re talking ‘bulldog wearing a top hat and a Union Jack waistcoat, woofing the national anthem from atop Buckingham Palace’, you can’t get more British than an Aston Martin, right?

Not so right. Because the new Aston Martin V8 Vantage is powered by a Mercedes-Benz engine, and borrows lots of other clever Mercedes bits to help it go faster. And if you want a two-seat sports car with lots of German bits, you could always have a Merc-AMG GT. Same price, same power, fully German.

So, German-Brit or German-German? Matt LeBlanc heads out on the Top Gear test track to decide.

Simply the best?

Manufacturers love to make bold claims about their latest creations – the fastest, the cheapest, the most economical – but here’s a doozy. Rolls-Royce claims that its new £360,000 Phantom is nothing less than ‘the best car in the world’.

So, reckoned Rory, if it really is the best car in the world, it’s got to be the best at doing absolutely everything, right? To find out if it indeed was, Rory subjected the new Phant to a thorough, and thoroughly British, road test. By diligently canvassing the opinion of some Londoners, and some Instagrammers, and some cows.

Small car versus supercar

The new Ford Fiesta ST is a very good little car. But is it better than a £300,000, 700bhp Lamborghini Aventador? Well, according to Chris Harris, yes, yes it is. To prove his point, Chris took the quite affordable Fiesta and the quite unaffordable Lamborghini on a big trip across Wales. And up through a particularly narrow multi-storey car park, because it’s a proper consumer test. And around a race track, because it’s Chris Harris.

Episode 5's Star in a Reasonably Fast Car is Stephen Mangan. Catch up now on BBC iPlayer.

As British as Queen Victoria

Unless you’re talking ‘bulldog wearing a top hat and a Union Jack waistcoat, woofing the national anthem from atop Buckingham Palace’, you can’t get more British than an Aston Martin, right?

Not so right. Because the new Aston Martin V8 Vantage is powered by a Mercedes-Benz engine, and borrows lots of other clever Mercedes bits to help it go faster. And if you want a two-seat sports car with lots of German bits, you could always have a Merc-AMG GT. Same price, same power, fully German.

So, German-Brit or German-German? Matt LeBlanc heads out on the Top Gear test track to decide.

Simply the best?

Manufacturers love to make bold claims about their latest creations – the fastest, the cheapest, the most economical – but here’s a doozy. Rolls-Royce claims that its new £360,000 Phantom is nothing less than ‘the best car in the world’.

So, reckoned Rory, if it really is the best car in the world, it’s got to be the best at doing absolutely everything, right? To find out if it indeed was, Rory subjected the new Phant to a thorough, and thoroughly British, road test. By diligently canvassing the opinion of some Londoners, and some Instagrammers, and some cows.

Small car versus supercar

The new Ford Fiesta ST is a very good little car. But is it better than a £300,000, 700bhp Lamborghini Aventador? Well, according to Chris Harris, yes, yes it is. To prove his point, Chris took the quite affordable Fiesta and the quite unaffordable Lamborghini on a big trip across Wales. And up through a particularly narrow multi-storey car park, because it’s a proper consumer test. And around a race track, because it’s Chris Harris.

Episode 5's Star in a Reasonably Fast Car is Stephen Mangan. Catch up now on BBC iPlayer.

As British as Queen Victoria

Unless you’re talking ‘bulldog wearing a top hat and a Union Jack waistcoat, woofing the national anthem from atop Buckingham Palace’, you can’t get more British than an Aston Martin, right?

Not so right. Because the new Aston Martin V8 Vantage is powered by a Mercedes-Benz engine, and borrows lots of other clever Mercedes bits to help it go faster. And if you want a two-seat sports car with lots of German bits, you could always have a Merc-AMG GT. Same price, same power, fully German.

So, German-Brit or German-German? Matt LeBlanc heads out on the Top Gear test track to decide.

Simply the best?

Manufacturers love to make bold claims about their latest creations – the fastest, the cheapest, the most economical – but here’s a doozy. Rolls-Royce claims that its new £360,000 Phantom is nothing less than ‘the best car in the world’.

So, reckoned Rory, if it really is the best car in the world, it’s got to be the best at doing absolutely everything, right? To find out if it indeed was, Rory subjected the new Phant to a thorough, and thoroughly British, road test. By diligently canvassing the opinion of some Londoners, and some Instagrammers, and some cows.

Small car versus supercar

The new Ford Fiesta ST is a very good little car. But is it better than a £300,000, 700bhp Lamborghini Aventador? Well, according to Chris Harris, yes, yes it is. To prove his point, Chris took the quite affordable Fiesta and the quite unaffordable Lamborghini on a big trip across Wales. And up through a particularly narrow multi-storey car park, because it’s a proper consumer test. And around a race track, because it’s Chris Harris.

Episode 5's Star in a Reasonably Fast Car is Stephen Mangan. Catch up now on BBC iPlayer.