Top Gear — Season 15

Apr 1986

The carnage at last month's Portuguese Rally in which four spectators died, exposed the need for tougher action from rally organisers to control the crowds. Top Gear asks what the sport can do to prevent it happening again. William Woollard tests the new Ford Escort and its anti-lock brake system. As Nissan prepare for assembly of the Bluebird at their Tyne and Wear factory, Frank Page looks at the shape of things to come. And Chris Goffey looks back to the spring of 1966 and the start of the Japanese invasion.

Apr 1986

Cosworth engines have powered their way to more than 100 Grand Prix victories. Tonight William Woollard revs up in the Sierra Cosworth, the first road car to carry the famous name, and looks behind the scenes at the company's Northampton headquarters. There are road tests on two of the winter's newcomers, the Peugeot 309 and Vauxhall's Belmont. Are the days of motorists struggling with road maps numbered? Chris Goffey travels to Holland to try out an amazing in-car navigation system.

Apr 1986

The Turin Motor Show is traditionally the place where the top European car-designers exhibit their latest fantastic creations. William Woollard examines tomorrow's shapes and reports on what the manufacturers are offering today. Chris Goffey visits the Pininfarina Museum and discovers 'what might have been' for some of Britain's most popular cars. Frank Page road tests the latest executive model from Fiat, the Croma Turbo, ie, and sees how they put fire into the Panda 4x4.

Apr 1986

Are the days of the traditional, much criticised car service numbered? Chris Goffey looks at a new breed of cheap, fast-turnover, top-you-up operators — US-style franchised chains that look set to revolutionise servicing and threaten one of the bastions of Britain's garage trade. William Woollard takes to the kart track — the training ground of future Grand Prix champions. There's a road test on the Renault 21 and Sue Baker finds out what special 'magic' a car needs to make it a classic.

May 1986

With the 480 ES, Volvo set out to produce a car which 'radiates dynamic appeal and gives exceptional levels of driving pleasure'! William Woollard discovers whether they've succeeded. Sue Baker and Russell Bray take to the hills, wrestling with a range of all-terrain vehicles, undaunted by forests, hills, axle-deep mud and water. And Top Gear looks at two developments in safety: the air bag and a device to reduce fire risk.

May 1986

William Woollard reports on a controversial scheme to re-educate drink-drive offenders who can't kick the habit. Chris Goffey and Russell Bray take to the track for a side-by-side comparison between the Porsche 924S and its new Japanese look-alike, the Mazda RX7. Frank Page drives the new breed of Hondas and Sue Baker takes to the high seas to report on some of the dos and don'ts of taking a car abroad this summer.

May 1986

How fast can your car accelerate from 0-60 mph? Well, whether it's fewer than seven seconds, or slightly more than 30, it's the one magic figure which manufacturers sell and motorists believe is the true test of a car's potency. But is it all that important? How do the testers achieve such dazzling figures; do the results accurately reflect what average motorists can expect from their cars? Chris Goffey reports. One hundred years on, Top Gear looks at the pioneering achievements of Karl Benz and how to give accident victims a safer ride in Britain's ambulances.

May 1986

Peter Burgess drives one of the newest entrants in the hot hatch race, the Renault 5 turbo, and compares it with the Peugeot 205 GTI. Why don't they teach them something useful at school? William Woollard discovers that you can do motor mechanics and road traffic studies at CSE; and in 1988 there will be a new exam - but could he pass? All cars will soon have rear seat belts as standard; but as yet there is no compulsion to wear them. Chris Goffey looks at Volvo's dummy back seat drivers, and the tortures they endure for research.

Jun 1986

Rallying's governing body FISA has reacted quickly to curb the power of the super cars following the tragic death of Henri Toivonen in the Corsican Rally. Following its earlier report into rally safety, Top Gear looks at the dramatic effects the new rules will have on the sport. Chris Goffey test-drives the new Alfa 75 and drives safely among pedestrians in Holland. When is a spare not a spare? Sue Baker examines the phenomenon of the 'skinny' spare tyre - are they safe or merely convenient for manufacturers?

Jun 1986

Supermarket shopping in Britain takes on a new look this week when you'll be able to add saloon cars to your shopping list. William Woollard goes to London's Isle of Dogs to see an experiment started yesterday by one major supermarket chain to sell cars to its customers. Sue Baker road tests a convertible from Eastern Europe, the Skoda Rapide, and Frank Page reports on the concerned mum whose interest has led to a baby-seats-for-hire scheme which encourages young mothers to belt up their new babies from the moment they leave hospital.