welcome to the top gear test track
we're going to take a look at a bunch of
cars that didn't quite make it into the
main show and we're going to pit them
head to head to see which one puts down
the fastest lap
we're talking super suvs hot hatches
sports cars old versus new fast estates
retro electrics nothing's off limits
first i give them a quick test drive
then our resident racing driver will set
their definitive lap times once and for
all
now today we're going to take a look at
hot hatches
let's see what we got
[Music]
let's go
after 45 years and eight generations of
gold
income is the volkswagen golf gti club
sport
[Applause]
it's got a locking front axle lsd which
means that you know you really get a
good feel for how it is in the corners
one thing that you have to do with this
car is keep it in manual mode because
long after the automatic box would have
shifted up you can really feel the
length and breadth of the power
it's a more exciting drive when you take
over and take it for a proper spin
the brakes on this car are 357 mil
they're a little bit lighter but my
goodness they do have some great
stopping power
coming in here
you can come in really hot actually
there are some serious competition here
let's meet the contenders
[Music]
the homologation specials of the 90s
were something to be revered it's a car
that would make you feel like a rally
driver on the road and here we are with
the homologation special of the toyota
gi yaris
[Music]
i've got it in track mode at the minute
with this you get the front and rear
limited slip differentials the 18 inch
lightweight wheels
for a little car it packs such a punch
[Music]
with the wide track low center of
gravity
this car just sticks to the road like
you shouldn't be able to go this fast in
a yaris
[Music]
the future of cars is looking a little
bit bland and this is about as far from
bland as you can possibly get
i've got behind me the top gear
leaderboard over the years this has
shown all of the hot hatches that have
been put to the test on the top gear
test track the producers have asked me
where i think these cars are going to
come on the leaderboard i'm going to say
that the vw club sport i definitely
think that it's going to come around
here now the toyota gr yaris circuit
pack i'm going to go out on a limb here
because this thing felt rapid around the
track so you know what i'm gonna go for
it
i'm gonna put it up there
and i'm gonna hold my word now all we
need is a driver but luckily we've got
one on
hand three
two
one go
[Music]
so
[Music]
so
[Music]
so
[Music]
three
two
one
go
[Applause]
oh
[Applause]
[Music]
right then we have the moment of truth
this is one that i'm really excited for
let's take a look
okay
interesting
so i originally said that the toyota
yaris gr was going to be the faster out
of the two and it absolutely is so it
did the lap time in one
26.3
so this didn't actually quite make it to
the top of the leaderboard as i wanted
it to
so we're gonna have to bring this down a
little bit still pretty good going
considering its contemporaries here
now for the gti club sport now this car
have more power so i was expecting
greater things but interestingly
it's gonna end up being here
and that is with a one
26
point eight
when i was driving it i could feel that
the gti was just a little bit heavier
although it's got more power it's not as
nimble which is where the gr is really
shined here
well guys that's it for this episode
we're going to be testing some more cars
from stigs garage real soon and we'll
see you there