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Old 08-15-2008, 09:01 PM   #1
vexor
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Default 5th Gear - S14 EP4 - 1st Septermber, 2008 - Discussion

This week, Tiff Needell checks out KTM’s new four-wheeler; Vicki attends the Goodwood Festival of Speed to see two eco-friendly cars; Tom Ford reviews the controversial new BMW X6; Jonny Smith sits in judgement at the Ultimate Street Car modified-car show; and Jason Plato stages another shoot-out, this time with two offerings from Honda.

This week, Tiff tests the first-ever car produced by Austrian motorcycle manufacturer KTM – the X-Bow. This menacing-looking orange beast, crafted from carbon-fibre and plastic, is a sight to behold. Its design is clearly influenced by that of a motorbike, with its go-kart-like appearance and the absence of a windscreen. With the popularity of the two-wheeler in decline, this bid to cash in on the car industry is a bit of business savvy on KTM’s part. But can the company’s first attempt at a track-car equal their expertise with the bike? Tiff is on a mission to find out.

Elsewhere, Vicki has her sights set on all things glamorous at the Goodwood Festival of Speed. This prestigious event is littered with celebrities and champagne flutes, but the real stars of the show are the machines on display. In particular, Vicki checks out the sleek Tesla Roadster and the clever Breckland Beira. The Roadster is the first car produced by Silicon Valley’s Tesla Motors. The manufacturer only makes vehicles that run on electricity – in the Roadster’s case, a lithium-ion battery pack that takes it 220 miles on a single charge. The grunty Breckland Beira, on the other hand, is a powerful piece of engineering – or so it may seem at first glance. The unique offering from this car is that its V8 engine can run on environmentally sound liquefied petroleum gas.

In his review of the new BMW X6, Tom attempts to strip away the hype and controversy surrounding this SUV-coupe crossover, or Sports Activity Coupe. Can a vehicle with the styling of a coupe deliver the gritty performance of a topclass four-wheel drive? Tom puts the X6 through its paces.

Jonny finds himself placed in the esteemed position of judge at Ultimate Street Car’s meet at the Santa Pod Raceway in Northamptonshire. For the ‘Show & Shine’ category, Jonny’s task is simple – choose the single most attractively modified car out of the 23 entries. But with the proud owners having spent up to £100,000 on beautifying their babies, it is tough for Jonny to pick just one winner...

And in another classic Fifth Gear shoot-out, Jason pits the Honda Civic Mugen RR, imported from Japan, against the Honda S2000 which is readily available in the UK. Will the imported hatchback beat the zippy roadster?
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