Episode Archive - Series 8

On a das-German-edition-auf Top Gear, Richard drove a hot new BMW, Jeremy tarted-up an old Mercedes, and Ewan McGreggor proved that the force wasn't with him.

The scapel-sharp Porsche Boxster S took on the mighty new BMW Z4 M. Comparing the two was a bit like comparing a dentist's drill and a big hammer. Both are very effective, just in very different ways.

We also tested the new Cayenne Turbo S against a skydiver, which you might feel is a little pointless. But then so is a 520bhp off-roader and that hasn't stopped Porsche, has it?

Former Jedi Ewan McGregor stopped by, not only to drive around the track, but to answer Jeremy's very personal questions about the size of his, erm, 'lightsabre'.

Our featured Mercedes S Class had a radar system that allowed it to automatically follow the car in front, at a safe distance. It'll apply the brakes when the car in front does, and accelerate when the gap increases. This effectively makes having a brain an optional extra. The only chink in the armour is that if there isn't a car in front it won't brake.

If you're unlucky enough to have a car with an interior design by Jeremy, it may be the last journey you take. In his modified S Class, he managed to fit a wood-burning fire which filled the vehicle with a terrifying amount of smoke and added yet more weight to a car already laden down with two tonnes of York-stone paving slabs.

First shown on: 28/05/2006