Top Gear tested some hot hatches...

[GapBoyPCS]

If you're able to snag this past weekend's episode, then great. Otherwise, you may need to source it somewhere or wait until it hits BBC America or BBC Canada.

Top Gear

Sunday 03 July
8:00pm - 9:00pm
BBC2

2/6, series 17

The trio travel to Italy to test high-performance hatchbacks. Jeremy Clarkson is in the Citroen DS3 Racing, Richard Hammond champions the Fiat 500C Abarth and James May makes the case for the Renaultsport Clio 200 Cup as they navigate their way round baffling Italian towns and take part in a scavenger hunt. Also, petrolhead comedian Ross Noble is in the Reasonably Price Car and the McLaren MP4-12C supercar comes under review.

Hopefully they will run another "test" with the upcoming Fiesta ST or Focus ST.

[danpass]

did the Stig (or any of them) run the Fiesta for time on their track? I don't remember seeing that when they did The Test Drive

[GapBoyPCS]

I don't recall the Fiesta ever being tested on the track.

Maybe that will change with the upcoming Fiesta ST...but who knows.

[Captainmorbid]

The previous gen fiesta ST was driven on the track, but I don't think they did a timed lap. They generally don't do timed laps with sport compacts/hot hatches. They might for the Ferrari FF, if they havn't already... I've managed to miss this entire season somehow?!

[GapBoyPCS]

Originally Posted by Captainmorbid

The previous gen fiesta ST was driven on the track, but I don't think they did a timed lap. They generally don't do timed laps with sport compacts/hot hatches. They might for the Ferrari FF, if they havn't already... I've managed to miss this entire season somehow?!

The season only started two weeks ago

So far, the only track testing involved the BMW M1 and the Aston Martin Virage.

[Captainmorbid]

Ok, I missed all of last season and two episodes of this season...

[petraman]

I didn't read up on the episode before I started watching, so when I heard they were doing a challenge test with hot hatches, I felt a tingle in the pit of my stomach. I REALLY hoped that *somehow* they got a Focus ST... then they brought out three cars which aren't available here (and honestly, I don't think I'd want either of those featured). Typical Top Gear, though, I've gotten used to seeing cars I can't have since I started watching it in '04...

[Audrey]

Well it is a British show...

[bneale]

I just watched this episode yesterday.

The Fiesta wouldn't have been a fair comparison to those cars. I'm not 100% positive, but I'm pretty sure all of those cars have higher power to weight ratios then the Fiesta. Not to mention 2 of them were either Supercharged or Turbocharged. A more fair comparison would have been the normal Fiat 500 and the Fiesta.

I also wished that they ran the Fiesta once on their test track. But the track itself is not a great layout for the Fiesta. Since you guys are fans, no need to me to explain that the course is made up of mainly straights. So I can't imagine the car doing all that well, even if it isn't "mildly moist".

That DS3 hatchback was quite fast compared to the Renault. But I can't agree with Jeremy when he says he likes the look of the car. I'd love that car without the graphics or crazy colours, but with them its hard to live with day in and day out. If I could buy one over this side of the pond without the crazy colours and graphics, I probably would.

I did like the colour of the Renault though. That pastel "wintergreen" colour looked pretty good in my opinion.

bneale

[bneale]

Originally Posted by Captainmorbid

Ok, I missed all of last season and two episodes of this season...

Start from episode 1 of Season 16 and work your way forward. Episode 1 is actually the Christmas special and it comes first in the 16th series. This is different from all of the other top gear specials they've ever done which always seem to come last.

Both the girlfriend and I were super confused when we started watching at Episode 2. We started there because I thought the special was last. Turns out I was wrong.

bneale