Top Gear was never just about cars. It was about three middle-aged men falling over, arguing about things that didn’t matter, and occasionally driving some of the most beautiful machinery ever built. By the time Series 18 Top Gear rolled around in early 2012, the show had basically become a global phenomenon. It wasn’t just a BBC Two car show anymore; it was a cultural juggernaut.
Honestly, looking back at it now, Series 18 feels like the exact moment before things started to get a bit too polished. It had that perfect blend of chaos and high-budget cinematography. You remember the episodes. They were loud.
The India Special Controversy and Beyond
Most people remember Series 18 Top Gear because of how it started—with the India Special. Technically, that aired as a Christmas special just before the main series kicked off in January 2012, but it set the tone for everything that followed. Jeremy Clarkson, Richard Hammond, and James May headed to India with a Jaguar XJS, a Mini Cooper, and a Rolls-Royce.
The goal? To promote British trade. The result? They ended up hosting a disastrous garden party and putting a toilet on the back of a Jaguar.
Some people hated it. The Indian High Commission in London actually complained to the BBC about "tasteless humor." It’s kinda funny because, looking back, the show was always walking that line. It’s what made it feel real. The guys weren't trying to be diplomats; they were being idiots in cars, which is exactly what the audience wanted.
That Incredible Supercar Trip to Italy
If the India Special was the controversial appetizer, the first "official" episode of the series was the main course. The trio took a Lamborghini Aventador, a McLaren MP4-12C, and a Noble M600 to Italy.
The visuals were stunning.
But it wasn't just about the pretty pictures. This episode highlighted the genuine rivalry between the cars. Hammond’s Noble was this raw, manual monster without ABS or traction control, while Clarkson’s Lamborghini was a theatrical spaceship. Watching them try to navigate the tight streets of Lecce or screaming around the Nardò Ring was Top Gear at its most visceral.
They weren't just reading spec sheets. They were telling a story about how these machines felt to live with. It’s the kind of stuff you just don't see in modern automotive media anymore, at least not with that level of chemistry.
📖 Related: Big Brother 27 Morgan: What Really Happened Behind the Scenes
Why the "Everyday" Challenges Actually Mattered
Everyone loves the supercars, sure. But Series 18 Top Gear was secretly great because of the mundane stuff. Take the "Car for Less Than the Cost of a Nissan Pixo" challenge.
The Pixo was the cheapest car in Britain at the time. It cost about £7,000.
So, what did they do? They went to the auctions. Clarkson bought a Mercedes CL600 with a V12 engine that was basically a ticking time bomb. Hammond got a BMW 850Ci. It was a battle between luxury and logic. These segments worked because they tapped into a universal truth: we all want the fast, expensive car, even if we know it’s going to break down on the M4.
The humor came from the inevitable failure.
When you watch these episodes today, you realize how much the show relied on the "scripted reality" feel. Was it all 100% spontaneous? Probably not. But the chemistry between the three was 100% authentic. You can't fake that kind of bickering.
The Saab Tribute: A Moment of Genuine Sadness
One of the most underrated segments in the history of the show happened in Series 18. It was the tribute to Saab.
Saab had recently gone bankrupt, and James May and Jeremy Clarkson sat down to explain why the world was losing something special. It wasn't funny. It wasn't loud. It was a thoughtful, well-researched look at a quirky Swedish brand that cared about safety and jet-inspired cockpits.
They talked about the 99 Turbo. They talked about the weirdness of putting the ignition switch between the seats. It showed that underneath the "POWERRRR" shouting, these guys actually loved the industry. They were car nerds. That’s why we trusted them.
👉 See also: The Lil Wayne Tracklist for Tha Carter 3: What Most People Get Wrong
The Guests and the Star in a Reasonably Priced Car
Series 18 had a weirdly good guest list.
- Will.i.am showed up and was surprisingly eccentric.
- Ryan Reynolds turned up and actually seemed to enjoy himself.
- Matt LeBlanc set a blistering lap time that eventually led to him getting the hosting gig years later.
The Kia Cee'd was the "Reasonably Priced Car" at the time. It was a boring car, but that was the point. Seeing a Hollywood A-lister trying to navigate a greasy track in a budget hatchback is a great equalizer. It stripped away the PR gloss.
The Stig and the Evolution of the Show
By Series 18, "The Stig" had fully recovered from the Ben Collins era drama (where the previous Stig revealed his identity). The "new" Stig was firmly established, and the show was leaning harder into the cinematic "epic" feel.
Every shot looked like a movie.
The producers, led by Andy Wilman, were pushing the limits of what a "factual" show could be. They were using 35mm-style lenses and color grading that made a rainy day in Yorkshire look like a scene from Blade Runner.
Mobility Scooters and Chaos
We also can't forget the mobility scooter challenge.
The boys decided that the elderly and disabled were being poorly served by current mobility technology. Their solution? To build their own off-road mobility scooters and test them against wounded soldiers in the rugged countryside.
It was classic Series 18 Top Gear. It was slightly offensive to some, incredibly funny to others, and ultimately featured a scene where a mobility scooter blew up or got stuck in a river. It was the height of their "build a thing that doesn't work" era.
✨ Don't miss: Songs by Tyler Childers: What Most People Get Wrong
The Real Legacy of Series 18
What most people get wrong about this era of Top Gear is thinking it was just a comedy show.
If you watch the review of the Fisker Karma in Series 18, you see the show grappling with the future. They were looking at electric cars before they were "cool" or mainstream. Clarkson, who everyone thought hated anything green, actually found things to like about the Karma's design.
They weren't just Luddites. They were skeptics. And in an era where everyone is trying to sell you something, that skepticism was refreshing.
Series 18 Top Gear consisted of seven episodes, plus the India Special. It wasn't the longest series, but it was incredibly dense. From the Bentley Continental V8 review to the KTM X-Bow vs. Morgan Three-Wheeler battle, it was a sprint of high-quality content.
Actionable Insights for Fans and Collectors
If you're looking to revisit this era or understand its impact on the car world today, here is how you should approach it:
- Watch the Saab Tribute First: If you want to understand the "soul" of the show beyond the stunts, this is the definitive segment. It’s in Episode 5.
- Look for the "Pixo" Challenge: This is the best example of their "cheap car" format. It teaches you more about the used car market than any modern buying guide ever could.
- Compare the Supercars: Look at the Aventador and MP4-12C reviews. It’s fascinating to see how these "cutting edge" cars from 2012 have aged. The McLaren, in particular, was the start of a whole new chapter for that company.
- Check Out the Soundtrack: One thing people overlook is the music. Top Gear had a massive budget for music licensing, and Series 18 features some incredible tracks that set the mood perfectly.
The main takeaway from Series 18 Top Gear is that it was the last time the show felt truly untouchable. The ratings were massive, the chemistry was at a boiling point, and the controversies were just loud enough to keep people talking without getting anyone fired (yet). It represents a specific moment in TV history that we probably won't see again.
To get the most out of your re-watch, pay attention to the small details in the background of the studio segments. The "Cool Wall" might have been gone, but the banter about the news was at its sharpest. It wasn't just about the cars; it was about the guys you wanted to have a pint with, even if they were being incredibly annoying.
Next time you're scrolling through a streaming service and see Series 18, don't skip it. It’s the quintessential example of why Top Gear became the biggest show in the world.