M135i vs. GTI

Richard Hammond is in Abu Dhabi to drive a new hybrid sports car from Porsche. It is called the 918 and it combines a 4.6-litre V8 petrol engine with a pair of electric motors to create an 886 horsepower, four-wheel drive supercar sensation. Hammond takes a nocturnal trip to the famous Yas Marina Grand Prix to see if the 918 has what it takes to beat McLaren's hybrid hypercar, the P1. Although the two cars have yet to go head to head, there is much riding on the outcome since if the German machine proves to be faster around the Top Gear track than its British rival, Jeremy Clarkson has promised to change his name to Jennifer.

Also in this show, Clarkson and James May are tasked with shooting a public information film to promote safer cycling. Along the way, the pair create some hard-hitting imagery, take a 'fact-finding' ride around the streets of London, and present their film-making efforts to an expert panel featuring bigwigs from Westminster Council and Olympic gold medal-winning cycling legend Chris Boardman.

Elsewhere in the programme, Clarkson is also the judge for a hot hatchback showdown between the latest iteration of the legendary Volkswagen Golf GTI and a powerful, rear-wheel-drive pretender from BMW called the M135i.

Finally, there is an American in the Reasonably Priced Car as Aaron Paul, star of Breaking Bad and Need for Speed, tries his hand in the Astra out on the test track.