Series 12 Preview in latest TG Mag

[MWF]

The latest TG mag dropped through my front door 5 minutes ago and contains 6 pages previewing the new series. I'm not typing everything out verbatim but here's a quick summary of what to expect, some of which we already knew from other spoilers and the teaser trailer.

James (who else?) tests the Honda FCX Clarity in California.

We get to see the homage to 50 years of Touring Cars that was hinted at last series.

A bunch of Touring Car drivers are assembled to race buses in an effort to find out the best transport solution for London.

The boys are given a wholly unsuitable car to modify to match the performance of an Evo X FQ-300 around the track (with predictable results methinks!)

James goes to Finland to find out why they drink so much coffee, borrow more library books than any other nation and produce so many world class drivers for such a small country.

The Ferrari Daytona is 40 and to celebrate Richard and James race each other in a Daytona and a powerboat around the Mediterranean.

Jeremy and James look at the cars from the days of Soviet Russia.

The boys do an economy run from Switzerland to Blackpool to switch on the Illuminations. Rumour has it not all of them get there.

Jeremy goes shopping in the new Ford Fiesta.

Another Cheap Car Challenge, this time in trucks, results in a lifetime ban from Millbrook Proving Grounds. Expect an appearance from the Stig's Fat Truck Driving Cousin.

Road trip from San Francisco to Bonneville in modern muscle cars to see if the Americans can make good cars.

Season Finale - can they travel the length of Vietnam on a budget of 13 million Vietnamese Dong? Which is about £1.38, probably.

As with the last series it would appear they've been lurking here again as none of this really tells us much more than we already knew or suspected, but nevertheless it is shaping up to be a much better effort than Series 11.

Roll on November 2!!!!!!

[Necx0]

Sounds insanely freaking awesome. I really really can't wait.

[vikiradTG2007]

James goes to Finland to find out why they drink so much coffee, borrow more library books than any other nation and produce so many world class drivers for such a small country.

Because Frank Williams hired Keke Rosberg in 1982 and the floodgates opened at the end of that year.

And because Finns drive on unpaved roads around there faster than anybody else, thus being natural rally drivers.

[Richmondgal]

*Jumps up and down* This is good this is good.

[killpanda]

[Cobol74]

Very very promising.

[Dsemaj]

Sounds like the most promising series yet! I especially like the sounds of James and Jeremy in old USSR cars, hopefully it's like the modern car layout. Really great ideas, from the sound of it

[bartboy9891]

Sounds like the most promising series yet! I especially like the sounds of James and Jeremy in old USSR cars, hopefully it's like the modern car layout. Really great ideas, from the sound of it

Yea that's the segment that I'm most looking forward to.

[Dallas]

Me hopes they do another 24hour! Its not mentioned there but, one would think they wouldn't put all their eggs in one basket, we need at least some surprise.

[Mr. Nice]

As with the last series it would appear they've been lurking here again as none of this really tells us much more than we already knew or suspected, but nevertheless it is shaping up to be a much better effort than Series 11.

If you take a look at the suggestions thread, besides just seeing a lot of posts by me, you will see a lot of suggestions that made it into this series. This is just so terrifically exciting, I feel absolutely overwhelmed by my desire to see the coming episodes. My computer fried recently, and I don't have a job... but I don't mind going hungry so that I can buy a computer and watch Top Gear!

[MacGuffin]

An economy run from Switzerland to Blackpool in England... and not everyone makes it. That indicates they each have only one filling of the tank to reach their destination and aren't allowed to refuel.

But in what kind of cars? Must be Diesels, because no petrol car has the necessary capacity to make a 1400 km run like that. At least none I know of...

The Mercedes S320 CDI I had a couple of months ago, could make it. But that would be a bit too easy

[Jimi Hendrix]

An economy run from Switzerland to Blackpool in England... and not everyone makes it. That indicates they each have only one filling of the tank to reach their destination and aren't allowed to refuel.

That probably means that James May is still trying to find Blackpool.

[controlspecimen]

Fantastic!

[Gman333-X-ferrari]

I can't wait! This season is shaping up nicely!

[stiggles]

Another Cheap Car Challenge, this time in trucks, results in a lifetime ban from Millbrook Proving Grounds.

Lifetime ban from Millbrook? How did they earn that?
Did they annoy/encounter Fifth Gear? Was there a confrontation over TG's burned things? could be interesting!

Sounds like a great series is in store.

[h-p]

James goes to Finland to find out why they drink so much coffee, borrow more library books than any other nation and produce so many world class drivers for such a small country.

That reminds me that I have to make some coffee and renew my library loan.

[budgieishere]

Good mix, good mix! It seems like this series is going to be pretty packed.

And Millbrook? What must they have done to get that kind of ban?

[MacGuffin]

Maybe they crashed into the Fifth Gear studio in revenge for the warehouse fire?

[mclarensmps]

So, since James meets Mika in Finland, I guess he's not gonna be doing a lap in the Liana

[Origin]

Season Finale - can they travel the length of Vietnam on a budget of 13 million Vietnamese Dong? Which is about £1.38, probably.

According to xe.com (a currency conversion site), 13 million Vietnamese Dong works out at just under £500 (£494.99 on Oct. 27th, '08). I'm expecting a lot of breakdowns and the traditional "crash into James' car/bike/tuk-tuk/vehicle" routine whenever they stop.

And a lifetime ban from Millbrook? It's going to be great to see just how they managed to do that. Roll on November!