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[S8, E11] Our Car Of The Year, Top Gear Awards & Yang Wang

[S8, E11] Our Car Of The Year, Top Gear Awards & Yang Wang

Behind The Glass Dec 04, 2025 53 min
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About this episode

A lively discussion unfolds as Sam shares his experience attending the BBC Top Gear Awards, where he mingled with industry insiders and car enthusiasts. Highlights include insights on the award winners, such as the BMW iX3 being named Car of the Year and the Ferrari F8 winning Supercar of the Year. The episode dives into the significance of these awards, the impressive achievements of Yang Wang in the electric car realm, and the hosts' personal favorites from the year. Expect plenty of humor, anecdotes, and a deep dive into the automotive landscape.

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Technical Too Afraid to Ask
Car

Renault 5

"No, I drove the new Renault 5. Yeah, but that's all right."

The Renault 5 is a small car that was popular in the 1970s and 1980s. It's being updated now, and people are excited to see how it looks and drives today.

Brand

Ferrari

"But on my table, we're going to get into all of this, was the man from Ferrari, and he had a beautiful Ferrari tie on."

Ferrari is a famous car company from Italy that makes very fast and expensive sports cars. They are known for their bright red cars and success in racing.

Car

BMW F80

"...te, a big mistake. That was my one chance for an F80 allocation. But then, so this was BBC Top Gear C..."

The BMW M3 is a fast and sporty car that's based on a regular BMW sedan. It's famous for being fun to drive and is often talked about because it's a favorite among car enthusiasts.

Car

Porsche 911 GT2 RS

"You think it's the GT2 RS? Not yet. It's too early, mate. Well, there's been so many rumors about that car..."

The Porsche 911 GT2 RS is a super-fast version of the Porsche 911 sports car. It's built for racing and has a very powerful engine, making it one of the quickest cars you can buy.

Term

GT2

"...the GT2s are normally 10-year cycles, normally."

The GT2 is a special, faster version of the Porsche 911 that is made for racing and high performance. It has a powerful engine and is built to be lighter and faster than regular 911s.

Car

Porsche Boxster

"... be the new 3 RS. Like, when are we going to see Boxster Cayman? And are they going to launch that with a..."
Car

Porsche Cayman

"Like, when are we going to see Boxster Cayman? And are they going to launch that with a GT4?"

The Porsche Cayman is a sports car that looks like a Boxster but has a hard roof, making it a bit different in style and performance.

Car

Porsche 718 Cayman GT4

"And are they going to launch that with a GT4? Would that be insane?"

The Porsche 718 Cayman GT4 is a sportier version of the Cayman, designed for better performance on the track.

Car

Porsche 718 Boxster

"Boxster Cayman, not next year."

The Porsche 718 Boxster is a sporty convertible car that is fun to drive and has a stylish design. It's known for its good handling and performance.

Company

Yang Wang

"Most specifically, Yang Wang. No joke."

Yang Wang is a brand of luxury electric cars that is part of the BYD company, aiming to compete in the high-end car market.

Company

BYD

"The BYD group. Oh."

BYD is a car company from China that makes electric cars and batteries, focusing on environmentally friendly technology.

Concept

Nürburgring

"So he was a big Nürburgring guy. Oh, nice. And there's an old video back in the day of a Zonda revolution."

The Nürburgring is a well-known race track in Germany where many cars are tested and raced. It's famous for being very challenging and is loved by car enthusiasts.

Car

Pagani Zonda

"And there's an old video back in the day of a Zonda revolution. Driving around the..."

The Pagani Zonda is a super-fast sports car made by the Italian company Pagani. It's famous for its cool looks and powerful performance.

Term

production car speed record

"And he was the one that did the all-time production car speed record. Fine, for an electric car."

This is the fastest speed that a car, which you can actually buy, has ever reached.

Term

electric car

"Fine, for an electric car. For any car ever."

Electric cars run on electricity instead of gasoline, making them different from traditional cars that use fuel.

Term

Bugatti

"Something eight miles faster than any Bugatti ever."

Bugatti is a brand that makes very fast and expensive cars, famous for their speed records.

Concept

Schumacher era

"And it reminded me back in the Schumacher era, like late nineties, early nineties, they would often go to sort of corporate venting..."

The Schumacher era is a time in Formula 1 when a famous driver named Michael Schumacher raced for Ferrari and won many championships. It was a very successful time for the team.

Car

Ferrari F80

"...that was about my conversation with Ferrari, which is a bit upsetting. No, I joke entirely. They were lovely. And they won, as you would expect, Supercar of the Year Award for the F80."

The Ferrari F80 is a supercar concept that Ferrari created to show off their technology and performance. It combines a powerful engine with electric components to enhance speed and efficiency.

Car

Ferrari 296

"Oh, the 296 must have won Supercar. Maybe they won Hypercar for the F80."

The Ferrari 296 is a powerful sports car that uses both a traditional engine and an electric motor to go faster and save fuel.

Car

Ferrari 458 Speciale

"Or the Speciale. Speciale won Supercar, I think, and F81 Hypercar, I think."

The Ferrari 458 Speciale is a faster and lighter version of the regular 458, designed for better performance on the track.

Car

Bugatti Chiron Super Sport

"when I went to Bugatti and did the Chiron Supersport"

The Bugatti Chiron Super Sport is a super-fast luxury car that is very powerful and expensive. It's known for being one of the fastest cars in the world.

Term

warping of wheels and tires

"...some of the crazy stuff that happens at those kind of speeds, you know, the warping of wheels and tires."

When wheels and tires get really hot or are pushed hard, they can change shape, which can make the car harder to control and wear out the tires faster.

Term

lifting off the accelerator

"...when you lift off the accelerator from 300 miles an hour on the video, the car jumps like four lanes."

When you take your foot off the gas pedal, the car slows down quickly. This can make the car feel unstable, especially if you're going really fast.

Term

300 km/h

"And when you look at it on the banking, he's constantly accelerating on the banking and he's doing like 300 km an hour on the banking."

300 km/h means the car is going really fast, about 186 miles per hour. Only certain cars can go that fast safely.

Term

aerodynamic parts

"And the car's not dripping in aerodynamic parts. So I was at, I mean, you know, Yang Wang, but Yang Wang, you know, so pretty cool."

Aerodynamic parts help cars move through the air more smoothly. They can make the car faster and more stable, especially when driving at high speeds.

Car

BMW I3 Bmw

"I've just taken in Park Exchange last week, a 2017 i3 BMW. Really? With 30,000 miles on it."

The BMW i3 is a small electric car made by BMW. It has a unique look and is made with eco-friendly materials, making it different from traditional cars.

Car

Fiat Panda

"...Have you seen the new Fiat Panda? That's a cool thing."

The Fiat Panda is a small car that's easy to drive around the city. It's great for running errands and is known for being practical and efficient.

Car

Renault 4

"Do you know what else I like as well? The new Renault 4. Yes."

The Renault 4 CV is an old-fashioned small car from France that was very popular a long time ago. It's often talked about because it's cute and represents a different time in car history.

Car

Rolls-Royce Spectre

"...did electric car the year went to the Rolls-Royce Spectre Black Bad. Saloon of the year went to the new CL..."

The Rolls-Royce Spectre is a super fancy electric car that combines luxury with being eco-friendly. It's important because it's Rolls-Royce's first electric model, showing how they are adapting to new technology.

Car

Audi Allroad

"...ly gets overlooked that's a proper car is the A6 Allroad. Oh, mate, don't, I'm going to punch you square ..."

The Audi Allroad is a special kind of wagon that can handle rough roads and is still very nice inside. It's talked about because it’s practical for different kinds of driving while looking good.

Car

Kia Ev9S

"...nd I really like these cars. She had one of them EV9s, you know, the biggest EVs. And I was paying for..."

The Kia EV9 is a new electric SUV that doesn't use gas and is designed to be spacious and modern. It's important because it shows how car companies are moving towards electric cars.

Car

Renault Twingo

"And usability and like, the new Twingo as well. They put that on here."

The Renault Twingo is a small car that's easy to drive around in the city. People like it because it's fun and practical for everyday use.

Car

Ford Mustang GTD

"...Get involved. Noise of the year went to the Ford Mustang GTD. Yeah."

The Ford Mustang GTD is a super fast version of the classic Mustang sports car, made for racing and high performance. It's talked about because it takes the Mustang to a whole new level of speed and technology.

Car

Aston Dbxs

"... actually named that awful, sorry, they named it DBXS. So Freudian slip out there."

The DBX is Aston Martin's first SUV, which means it's a bigger car that can carry more people and stuff. It's important because it helps the brand reach more customers who want both luxury and space.

Car

Lamborghini Urus

"...has super cup four, it's definitely not. It's an Urus performanty rival though, no? Yeah, but it's jus..."

The Lamborghini Urus is a super fancy SUV that can go really fast and looks very sporty. It's talked about because it's a mix of a luxury car and an SUV, which is pretty unique.

Car

Bmw Ix3

"And this was like, whoa. BMW iX3. Now we freaked out about this car when it got u..."

The BMW iX3 is an electric SUV that offers the same style as the regular X3 but runs on electricity instead of gas. It's important because it shows how BMW is moving towards making more eco-friendly cars.

Car

Porsche Cayenne

"...the next 10 years. How do you feel about the new Cayenne electric? I watched a piece on that actually, be..."

The Porsche Cayenne is a fancy SUV that drives like a sports car. People talk about it because it offers a lot of space and comfort while still being really fun to drive.

Car

Dodge Charger

"... the electric car, for sure. As long as I have a charger at home and it could be charged, that's fine. Be..."

The Dodge Charger is a big car that looks tough and can go really fast. It's popular because it has a lot of power and a classic muscle car feel.

Car

Mercedes-Benz GLE

"..., it does make a difference. So, if you've got a GLE and then one of them EQE things, you know, the e..."

The GLE is a fancy SUV from Mercedes that has a lot of space and nice features. People like to talk about it because it’s comfortable and has a good reputation for being well-made.

Car

Audi Etron

"make that more back to back. Again, A6 combustion versus A6 e-tron. The e-tron tyres are going to be more expensive."

The Audi e-tron is a fancy electric SUV that doesn't use gas. It's important because it shows how Audi is making cars that are good for the environment while still being luxurious.

Car

Land Rover Range Rover

"No, you don't. Like, are you on the Range Rover, aren't you? Yeah, yeah, but when I come back fr..."

The Range Rover is a high-end SUV that can handle rough terrain while being very comfortable inside. It's talked about a lot because it combines luxury with the ability to go off-road.

Car

Aston Martin Vanquish

"Oh, no, just pick my top three. I wouldn't put vanquish down. I'm going to say Dodgy Trilindry."

The Vanquish is a beautiful sports car from Aston Martin that is really fast and luxurious. It's often mentioned because it's a symbol of high-end performance and style.

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