BBC Top Gear Magazine January 2020

Editor-in-chief @TopGearEditor editor@bbctopgearmagazine.com This business is addictive, and never more so than when you look at the headline acts that will be filling these pages in the coming months. The industry continues to deliver new product at an exponential rate and the diversity of that content and the technology deployed in its creation (and during its existence) continue to advance following the principles of Moore’s law. Each generation of new vehicles is increasingly capable and more complex than the last. In short, it’s going to be another amazing year for cars. Some will challenge and redefine our understanding of performance, others stretch our perception of the brand, others will arrive out of left field and antagonise and challenge the status quo (the industry, not my dad’s favourite band). This year,…

Charlie Turner “Murray has a wall in his office featuring models of his finest creations. After talking to him about the T.50, it’s clear he’ll need space for another…” Paul Horrell “Collecting the Polestar. Grim weather diverted our plane. Pounded motorways to meet the Bentley and the McLaren. Mountain roads sunlit. Perfect” Pete Lloyd “I knew that all those misspent hours playing GT when I should’ve been at art college would pay off eventually. Neon night vibes FTW!”…

This is our first official look at the Gordon Murray Automotive T.50 – and it may just be the most aerodynamically advanced, not to mention exciting road car the world has ever seen. It is completely dominated by that 400mm fan, which protrudes from the centre like some form of sci-fi thruster. The fan, which Murray briefly introduced into F1 with the Brabham BT46B in 1978, utilises ground effect aerodynamics by rapidly accelerating the air passing under the car and forcing it through active elements on the rear diffuser. Its design – combined with the underbody ducting – means there’s no need for a skirt like the one on the BT46B, while ‘vertical inlet ducting’ stops any debris from passing through its blades. The fan is also active and works…

What we’re watching/listening/doing, while we should be working James Bond playlist Excitement brewing @TGHQ after the trailer release for No TIme To Die. Everyone plumps for Tina Turner – nobody picks Madonna… Dry January Last year came to an inevitable end with the usual ‘silly season’. Now to try dry January, which at TGHQ, is eating the driest of dry leftover mince pies January blues To offset the lack of silliness in January, we’ll be exclusively eating blue M&Ms for 31 days. Other confectionery brands are available. Santiago E-Prix Formula-E whizzes back into action this January. First stop a not so chilly Chile Lunchtime means playtime The younger operatives at TGHQ, naming no names, Greg, spend lunchtimes playing with all their toys that Father Christmas brought them…

As a general rule, avoid general rules. But here’s a safe one: branded race overalls should not be worn outside of a race circuit. Ferrari is a particular offender in this regard. The Ferrari press department loves nothing better than to issue photos of its drivers engaged in all manner of unexpected activities while wearing race-day Nomex: riding a log-flume, shooting a quick frame of pool, line-dancing. So: racing driver, driving his company car on the road, wearing company race overalls – that shouldn’t be a recipe for cool. Not even if that racing driver happens to be the never-corporate Nigel Mansell, and that company car happens to be a Ferrari F40. But the below photo is stone-cold cool. Thanks to one vital addition. That flat cap. YNBACA cannot think…

Oh, how we don’t envy Jaguar’s new design director, Julian Thomson. Improving most things styled by Ian Callum would be tricky at the best of times, but the F-Type – in coupe form especially – was already a fantastic-looking thing. Welcome, then, to the facelifted version. There are, of course, the obligatory new headlights – which now look angrier than ever – but there’s also a longer and lower-reaching bonnet, as well as a slightly larger grille, new side vents and a new rear light signature. It’s a far more aggressive design for Jag’s sports car, but it could be a polarising update. The stunning, sloping roofline remains, but both the V6 engine and the manual gearbox have been dropped. Jag previously offered eight (yes, eight) different engine and drivetrain…