Top Gear: The Perfect Road Trip 2

Jeremy and Hammond abandon France and begin their coast-to-capri trip, starting in Venice and planning to end in Capri. They pick two extreme cars for the voyage: the Lamborgini Avocado (V10 5.2L) and the McLaren 650S (twin-turbo 3.8L V8). The crowd and roads along the coast set the tone for a high-octane tour of Italy.

On the way to Bologna, Jeremy touts that the McLaren 650S delivers 641 BHP and 500 torque, with 0-60 mph in 2.9 seconds. He notes the four tires are electronically linked, giving a glide-like feeling over bumps. In Bologna, Lamborghini’s hometown, more people favor the McLaren, while the satnavs prove useless in the narrow Italian streets.

The group arrives at Mugello, which Jeremy calls the prettiest race track in the world. Jeremy selects the BMW M4 and Hammond goes for the V8 Jaguar F-Type, valued around 95,000 pounds for its interior and price tag. Hammond dislikes the Jaguar’s interior and price, while Jeremy contends that the M4’s handling precision matters more than pure styling.

The producers arrange a race against the Stig, who would drive the Fiat Abarth 500 hatchback. The Stig gets a 2.5-minute head start, and the others must overtake him in a series of laps. Hammond spins out and crashes the Jaguar, while Jeremy finally overtakes the Stig, who becomes furious and kicks chairs in the hangar.

For the next leg, Jeremy selects the McLaren P1, a hybrid that combines an electric motor with a V8 and delivers about 904 BHP. The electric boost adds a new dimension to the driving experience as they move toward the next stage of the journey.

In the rally segment, Jeremy chooses Ferrari 355, historically based on Pontiac heritage, with a modest 140 BHP V6 engine, while Hammond opts for a Ferrari Testarossa with a 2.5 L V4 and 92 BHP. The 355 breaks down; after repairs, Jeremy tries to ram it into the Testarossa to end the rally, ultimately crashing his own car in the chaos.

To navigate Siena’s tight lanes, Hammond selects a Mini Cooper S and Jeremy an Audi S1, both with compact power but long bodies for the streets. The Mini is even criticized for not feeling truly ‘mini,’ being longer than the original design. Both cars prove difficult to drive in the medieval streets, so they ditch them.

The next day they head toward Rome, with Hammond choosing the Mercedes AMG A-Class and Jeremy the Golf R, both with 2L turbo engines and four-wheel drive. The Corvette Stingray (6.2 L V8, 460 BHP) and the Alfa Romeo 4C (carbon fiber chassis, 900 kg, 237 BHP) are pitted on a track outside Rome. The Corvette proves faster on the track, highlighting the stark contrast between American muscle and Italian lightweight engineering.

For the leg to the coast, Hammond selects the Mercedes A-Class and Jeremy the Golf R, both with 2L turbo engines and four-wheel drive. The Mercedes carries about 355 BHP with a dual-clutch box and a top speed around 168 mph, while the Golf R offers a more modest 297 BHP at a lower price, illustrating the range of performance on offer.

With the last stretch to Capri, they toy with 1962–1963 Alfa Romeo Spider convertibles, but ultimately abandon the idea in favor of speed boats to Capri. They then switch to using Ford Capris in a final attempt to reach the town center, maintaining the chaotic spirit of the journey.

Their bold finale ends with the locals arresting the duo as they attempt to drive within Capri, a humorous but disruptive end to the coast-to-capri expedition. The scene caps off a journey full of cinematic car clashes, misadventures, and a playful nod to the limits of car culture.