Top Gear (series 6)

Top Gear (series 6)
Country of origin United Kingdom
No. of episodes 11
Release
Original network BBC Two
Original release 22 May (2005-05-22) – 7 August 2005 (2005-08-07)
Series chronology

The sixth series of Top Gear aired during 2005 and consisted of 11 episodes in total, the highest seen in any series of Top Gear. The series began on 22 May and concluded on 7 August, but did not feature a compilation episode of the best moments from the series. This series featured a search for the "Greatest Driving Song of All Time", with the top five songs each being revealed during Episodes 5 to 9, with the song voted the best being revealed on the Series Finale.

Episodes

Total No. Title Reviews Features Guest Original air date UK viewers
(million)[1]
491Series 6, Episode 1Mercedes-Benz CLS55 AMG • Honda Element • Toyota Aygo • Range Rover SportToyota Aygo Football • Range Rover Sport vs Challenger 2 TankJames Nesbitt22 May 2005 (2005-05-22)4.51

Clarkson sees if he can handle the throaty, supercharged V8 of the Mercedes-Benz CLS55 AMG, before trying out the new Range Rover Sport to see if he can avoid being locked on the main cannon of a Challenger 2 tank. Meanwhile, May sees if the Honda Element can be a cool Honda to import by seeing whether a community of retired, elderly drivers want one, before competing against Hammond in a game of "car football" to see how good the new Toyota Aygo is. On the track in the Liana, James Nesbitt sees what time he can make while discussing about guns and being 40.

Note: This is the first episode to feature the use of the Stig's Intro, which begins with the line "Some say..." followed by two facts and then ending with "All we know is. He's called the Stig."
502Series 6, Episode 2Maserati MC122 door coupé for less than £1500 that isn't a Porsche (Mitsubishi Starion, Jaguar XJS, BMW 635CSi)Jack Dee29 May 2005 (2005-05-29)3.67
The boys find out what they can buy for under £1,500 that isn't a Porsche, before subjecting them to tests at the Millbrook Proving Ground in Bedfordshire and competing in a race that they have no idea about - May hopes it is his second-hand Jaguar XJS, Hammond tries to win with a BMW 635CSi, and Clarkson puts in some effort with a turbocharged Mitsubishi Starion. Meanwhile, there is a review of the £412,000, speedy Maserati MC12, and comedian Jack Dee attempts to be fast in the Liana.
513Series 6, Episode 3Aston Martin DB9 Volante • Maserati Bora • Wiesmann MF 3 • TVR TuscanClarkson opens a public pool with a Rolls-RoyceChristopher Eccleston12 June 2005 (2005-06-12)3.96
The Wiesmann MF3 and the TVR Tuscan are on the track and Clarkson is trying to find out which he prefers, while May drives his favourite Italian 1970s supercar, the Maserati Bora, and Hammond gives his opinion on the Aston Martin DB9 Volante. Meanwhile, Chipping Norton regrets letting Clarkson open a lido as he prepares a classic Rolls-Royce for it, the Batmobile from Batman Begins graves the studio, and Christopher Eccleston trades his TARDIS for a go in the Liana.
524Series 6, Episode 4Cadillac CTS-V • Renault Modus • Honda Jazz • Peugeot 1007 • BMW 320dPresenters' mums help evaluate cars. • Can a stretch limo jump over the wedding party?Omid Djalili19 June 2005 (2005-06-19)3.45
The presenters hand over reviewing duties to their mothers, tasking them with reviewing three new hatchbacks - the Renault Modus, the Honda Jazz and the Peugeot 1007 - to see which is the car they would have. Meanwhile, Clarkson puts the Cadillac CTS-V through a thorough workout at the Top Gear test track by racing it against Audi S4, Hammond tests out the new BMW 3 Series on the M4 corridor, there's a limo looking to jump over a "wedding party", and British-Iranian comedian, Omid Djalili, talks about Iran's contribution to motoring before seeing if he can get round fast in the Liana.
535Series 6, Episode 5Aston Martin DB5 • Jaguar E-Type • Nissan Murano • Maserati GranSportSoldiers shoot at Clarkson while he drives the Porsche Boxster S and the Mercedes-Benz SLK 55 AMG to see which one is best avoiding bulletsDamon Hill26 June 2005 (2005-06-26)3.66
Clarkson puts the new Mercedes-Benz SLK55 AMG and Porsche Boxster S through their paces by driving them around a deserted village, while snipers of the Irish Guards try to shoot him, before 1960s nostalgia hits him when he drives the Aston Martin DB5 and a Jaguar E-type around the test track. Meanwhile, May takes a Nissan Murano to Hertfordshire, Hammond tries to see if he can be faster in a Maserati Coupé around the Autodromo Riccardo Paletti in Varano de' Melegari, Italy, than former F1 and BTCC driver Gabriele Tarquini, there's a hunt for the "Greatest Driving Song of All Time" with the first of the finalists revealed, and 1996 F1 World Champion, Damon Hill, is the first Formula One driver to take the Liana around the test track.
546Series 6, Episode 6Aston Martin DBR9 • Mercedes-Benz SLR McLarenEpic race to Oslo: Mercedes-Benz SLR McLaren vs. a boatDavid Dimbleby3 July 2005 (2005-07-03)4.55
The car finds itself racing against a boat, as Hammond and May see if they make it to Oslo, flying from Heathrow Airport to Newcastle upon Tyne, boarding a long-distance ferry to Kristiansand and completing the trip by speedboat, while Clarkson sees if he can beat them by travelling across seven countries in the Mercedes-Benz SLR McLaren on a long and tiring drive. Meanwhile, there's a look at the Aston Martin DBR9, the second finalist for the "Greatest Driving Song of All Time" is revealed, and David Dimbleby is asked the questions before he steps into the Liana.
557Series 6, Episode 7TVR Sagaris • Fiat PandaFiat Panda against a marathon runner • Sabine Schmitz attempts to beat 10:00 around the Nürburgring in a Ford TransitJustin Hawkins10 July 2005 (2005-07-10)3.75
It's the 40th birthday of the Ford Transit van, so Hammond looks back on its history since it was first conceived, before seeing if Sabine Schmitz can fulfil her word and do a lap of the infamous Nürburgring in a Ford Transit Van, faster than Clarkson did in the diesel Jaguar S-Type. Meanwhile, Clarkson handles a non-terrifying TVR with the Sagaris, and races around the London Marathon circuit during the morning rush-hour in the new 4-wheel drive Fiat Panda, against marathon runner A.C. Muir. Finally, the third finalist in the search for the "Greatest Driving Song of All Time" is revealed, and Justin Hawkins, lead singer and guitarist of The Darkness, recalls driving across America in a Reliant Regal before putting his hands on the Liana's wheel.
568Series 6, Episode 8Ferrari F430 • Audi TT • Nissan 350Z • Chrysler CrossfireConvertible versions of existing coupes in Iceland (Audi TT • Nissan 350Z • Chrysler Crossfire)Tim Rice17 July 2005 (2005-07-17)4.10
The presenters head to Iceland with some convertible versions of existing coupes to see how good they are - specifically the Chrysler Crossfire, the Nissan 350Z and the Audi TT. Meanwhile, Clarkson tries both the hard-top and convertible versions of the Ferrari F430, the fourth finalist for the "Greatest Driving Song of All Time" is revealed, and Tim Rice is wondering what Jaguar he's got but does know the reasonably priced car he's driving around the test track.
579Series 6, Episode 9BMW M5 • Vauxhall Astra VXR • Renault Mégane Sport • Volkswagen Golf GTI"Road Test Russian Roulette" • World record attempt for number of times a car has rolled at high speedChris Evans24 July 2005 (2005-07-24)5.18
Clarkson finds that the new BMW M5 has two forms to it, one that is a disappointment and the other being spectacular, while he also finds out which hot hatchback is the best - the VW Golf GTI, the RenaultSport Mégane, and the Vauxhall Astra VXR. Meanwhile, May and Hammond do a game of "Road Test Russian Roulette" by helping a company drive people home in their cars who are too drunk to drive themselves, there's an attempt to see how many sideways rolls can be made with a Ford Sierra estate, the last finalist in the search for the "Greatest Driving Song of All Time" is revealed, and Chris Evans is on the track in the Liana.
5810Series 6, Episode 10BMW 535d • Bentley Continental Flying SpurDriving over a lake in Iceland • What is the most fun off-road toy?Davina McCall • Mark Webber31 July 2005 (2005-07-31)4.92
The trio take a look at several off-road toys that are available for hire, including quadbikes, the 8-wheeled Argo Cat, hovercraft, and specially-designed off-road racing vehicles. Meanwhile, Clarkson is testing out first diesel car on the Top Gear track, the BMW 535d four-door sedan, May is in Dubai and driving the Bentley Continental Flying Spur, Hammond is back in Iceland to see if a Snowmobile can get across the surface of a large body of water - more specifically, Lake Kleifarvatn. Elsewhere, there's alook back at the five finalists for "Greatest Driving Song of All Time", while Davina McCall is invited into the Top Big Brother Gear seat of the Liana, and Mark Webber is the next F1 driver to tackle the track.
5911Series 6, Episode 11Ford F150 SVT Lightning • Vauxhall Monaro VXR • Lamborghini Murciélago RoadsterRecreate Top Gear Theme Song using engine noisesTimothy Spall7 August 2005 (2005-08-07)4.58

Hammond sees if he can drift in the Vauxhall Monaro VX-R with training from D1 Grand Prix driver, Yasuyuki Kazama, while May sees if he can re-create the Top Gear theme tune using car engine noises from various motors including the Enzo Ferrari, the Suzuki Swift, and a construction dumper. Elsewhere, the winner of the "Greatest Driving Song of All Time" is announced, Clarkson finds out how much use the Ford Lightning pick-up truck is in Britain, and Hammond finds out if he can get the same thrill and excitement he got from participating in the Pamplona Bull Run in Spain, in the Lamborghini Murciélago Roadster. In the Liana this time, Timothy Spall talks about his movie roles with Tom Cruise before setting a time around the test track.

Note: Because it was the series finale, May's rendition of the Top Gear theme tune was used to play out the episode.

References

  1. ↑ "Weekly Top 10 Programmes". Broadcasters' Audience Research Board.
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