New Look World Of Top Gear Welcomes The Kia Cee’d Reasonably Priced Car

Michael Fassbender is the Star in
a Reasonably Priced Car

Top Gear’s Kia cee’d Reasonably Priced Car, often referred to by presenter Jeremy Clarkson as the “Kia C Apostrophe D”, has finally arrived at Beaulieu’s World of Top Gear.

The cee’d appeared in series 15 to 19 of the popular TV motoring show and, despite being retired in 2013, has only just made it into the exhibition - rumour has it that The Stig may have driven it home from the last episode, making it very difficult to track down.

The celebrities who have graced this car’s humble driver’s seat include Tom Cruise, Cameron Diaz, Rowan Atkinson, Matt LeBlanc, Ryan Reynolds, Sienna Miller, Alice Cooper, Chris Evans, will.i.am and John Prescott.  

The Kia cee’d joins a whole host of vehicles at Beaulieu created by the Top Gear presenters in the newly updated and redisplayed World of Top Gear exhibition.

The ‘Enormodrome’ recreates the feel of the Top Gear studio with regular features from the programme, including the Cool Wall and the Celebrity ‘Lap Times’ board, kept up to date in line with the show. Visitors can watch behind-the-scenes footage from the Top Gear production area and clips from some of the best Top Gear moments.

The exhibition also features a scaled-down version of the Dunsfold Park track where fans can drive remote-control models of some of the most popular Top Gear challenge cars in the World of Top Gear Test Track Challenge and enjoy a ride in the Top Gear simulator.*

World of Top Gear can be seen as part of a visit to the whole Beaulieu attraction which also includes the National Motor Museum, Palace House and Beaulieu Abbey.

Not to be missed is the museum’s exciting new Land Speed Record Breakers display, For Britain & For The Hell Of It, featuring Beaulieu’s iconic land speed record cars. It tells the story of British pluck, technological mastery and national pride – alongside new vehicles with a more alternative land speed heritage. A moving audio-visual presentation transports you back to a golden age of invention, courage and patriotism and introduces you to those who are keeping the record breaking dream alive today.

Beaulieu is open every day, except Christmas Day, from 10am. For more information telephone 01590 612345 or visit www.beaulieu.co.uk

*A good value extra charge applies to both these activities.

Richard Hammond’s Vauxhall Nova Sri Is The Latest Exhibit Unveiled At World Of Top Gear

Top Gear Vauxhall Nova SRi

New from the latest BBC Top Gear series, Richard Hammond’s Vauxhall Nova SRi, which featured in the opening episode, is now on display to the public at Beaulieu’s World of Top Gear.

Hammond drove this vehicle for Top Gear’s retro hot hatchback challenge, which saw the presenters manoeuvring through the aisles of a supermarket, reminiscing over their teenage years and testing the cars as getaway vehicles in an especially dramatic police chase involving the heavily armed and heavily moustachioed Top Gear Police Department. Hammond lovingly wrapped the car in ‘authentic’ arctic camouflage wrap, to give the car a more modern, showroom fresh look. However, this new pristine look didn’t last long, thanks to the large amount of time the car spent sliding along on its side – an authentic 1980s stance known as ‘the Nova position’. Keen-eared Beaulieu visitors may spot that you cannot hear this car’s engine running. This is because it is broken.

The Vauxhall Nova joins a whole host of vehicles at Beaulieu created by the Top Gear presenters for some of their most ambitious challenges.

The ‘Enormodrome’ recreates the feel of the Top Gear studio with regular features from the programme, including the Cool Wall and the Celebrity ‘Lap Times’ board, kept up to date in line with the show. Visitors can also watch behind-the-scenes footage of the Top Gear production zone and clips of some of the best Top Gear moments.

World of Top Gear can be seen as part of a visit to the whole Beaulieu attraction which also includes the National Motor Museum, Palace House and Beaulieu Abbey. 

Beaulieu is open every day, except Christmas Day, from 10am. For more information telephone 01590 612345 or visit www.beaulieu.co.uk

The MK2 Hovervan Glides into World of Top Gear at Beaulieu

The Hovervan

A second vehicle from the current run of Top Gear, now in its 20th series, has joined the ranks of challenge vehicles in Beaulieu’s World of Top Gear.

Although the country has been experiencing a heatwave in the past couple of weeks, it probably means that the next torrential flood is just around the corner. Top Gear hosts, Jeremy, Richard and James have devised the solution for transportation in such water-logged towns and cities – the Hovervan – and tested it by riding it down a river.

The Hovervan

This mk2 Hovervan design features bigger engines, larger skirts and additional floatation devices, all installed after the mk1 machine proved itself to be fine as a van (by driving around the town of Penistone) but utterly rubbish as a hovercraft (by sinking as soon as it went near water).

No such worries for this version which skipped gracefully across the surface of the River Avon causing barely a ripple on the water. It is, quite simply, a work of genius. Apart from being noisy - and dangerous - and thirsty - and disruptive - and destructive - and uncontrollable - and expensive. Apart from those things, it’s brilliant.

The Hovervan joins a whole host of vehicles at Beaulieu created by the Top Gear presenters for some of their most ambitious challenges. Another recent addition from the current series is the Hindustan taxi, a Morris Ambassador,  the winner of a world taxi shootout to find which could claim the crown as the world’s best taxi.

The ‘Enormodrome’ recreates the feel of the Top Gear studio with regular features from the programme, including the Cool Wall and the Celebrity ‘Lap Times’ board, kept up to date in line with the show. Visitors can also watch behind-the-scenes footage of the Top Gear production zone and clips of some of the best Top Gear moments.

World of Top Gear can be seen as part of a visit to the whole Beaulieu attraction which also includes the National Motor Museum, BOND IN MOTION, Palace House and Beaulieu Abbey. 

Beaulieu is open every day, except Christmas Day, from 10am. For more information telephone 01590 612345 or visit www.beaulieu.co.uk

Bike To Beaulieu For Motorcycle Ride-In Sunday 14th July 2013

Motorcycles arrive at Beaulieu

Motorcycle Ride-In

Trade Stand

On Sunday 14th July, biking enthusiasts from across the country will be revving up their engines and taking a trip into the beautiful New Forest to join Beaulieu’s fourth annual Motorcycle Ride-In Day.

If you’re a bike owner, ride your bike to Beaulieu and display it for the day in the attraction’s picturesque parkland, voted as one of Britain’s Top 10 Biking Destinations by users of www.keepbritainbiking.com. Meet other like-minded enthusiasts, view the stunning range of bikes on display and watch a thrilling acrobatic stunt show performed by a professional stunt team in the Beaulieu Arena.

You can also enjoy everything the Beaulieu attraction has to offer. See the National Motor Museum’s fantastic collection of over 250 vehicles, BOND IN MOTION – the world’s largest ever exhibition of original James Bond film vehicles, World of Top Gear, Beaulieu Abbey, Palace House and the gardens.

Browse a number of trade stands selling accessories, clothing, parts and all the latest biking gadgets - there are sure to be some great biking bargains to get your motor running. There will also be refreshments available all day from the Brabazon Restaurant.

As always, visitors to Beaulieu will be asked to vote for their favourite bike in the People’s Choice Awards and in the afternoon, the winner will be presented with a coveted Beaulieu Trophy.

Motorcycle owners can be part of the display in the Beaulieu Arena at a great rider, bike & pillion advance ticket entry of only £6 per person. On the day ticket prices are £10 rider and bike, and £5 pillion. Advance tickets are available to purchase by telephone on 01590 612888 or online at www.beaulieushop.co.uk

All other visitors should enter via Visitor Reception at Beaulieu’s standard admission rates.

If you have motorcycle accessories to sell, why not take a stand? Uncovered stand prices start at £75. For more information telephone the Beaulieu Events team on 01590 614614 or email events@beaulieu.co.uk

Admission to the event includes entry to the whole Beaulieu Attraction.

For further information, please visit www.beaulieumotorcyclerideinday.co.uk

Visit England’s Best Visitor Attraction This Summer 20th July – 1st September 2013

Summer Fun

Skittles on the lawn

Awarded Gold by VisitEngland in the 2013 Awards for Excellence, you are assured of a great day out at Beaulieu this summer. Between 20th July and 1st September, join the Victorian house party in Palace House with music in the Lower Drawing Room, family games outside on the lawns and daily playlets to enjoy. See Veteran and Vintage cars motoring around the grounds, and watch the Victorian cyclist on his Penny Farthing. In the picturesque Beaulieu Abbey Cloisters, learn about the history of falconry and watch special daily flying demonstrations to see some of these amazing birds in flight.

Join the Victorian gardener for a tour of the Kitchen Garden where produce for Palace House is grown. Meet Brother William, the Cistercian monk who strolls the pathways of Beaulieu’s Abbey Cloisters and hear his talks on the folk law of herbs and the life of the monks who lived in the Abbey.

See the National Motor Museum’s exciting exhibition, BOND IN MOTION, with 50 original vehicles from the James Bond films. Some of Bond’s most iconic vehicles are on display, including the aquatic Lotus Esprit S1 from The Spy Who Loved Me, the quirky ‘Little Nellie’ autogyro from You Only Live Twice and the vanishing Aston Martin Vanquish from Die Another Day plus vehicles from the latest film Skyfall. There are also film clips and exclusive behind-the-scenes footage from some of the most impressive vehicle stunts.

View the museum’s collection of over 250 vehicles, from Land Speed Record Breakers to F1 racers, and take a ride on ‘Wheels’, a journey through 100 years of motoring history.  New for 2012, On Screen Cars has car stars of the TV and film world, including Mr Bean’s lime green Mini and Harry Potter’s ‘flying’ Ford Anglia. Enter the ‘World of Top Gear’ to see genuine cars from the presenters’ most ambitious challenges on the popular BBC motoring show.

Take a ride on the high-level Monorail to get a birds-eye view of the cars as you travel through the roof of the museum, see the sights from the open-topped replica 1912 London Bus or head to the Arena and get in the driving seat on the Go-Karts.* 

Budding young drivers can take to the road on Dipstick’s Driving Circuit** in mini motorised vehicles while younger visitors can enjoy the Mini Motor Play Trail with its Veteran Bus climbing frame, swings and Little Tykes ride-on-cars.

Beaulieu is open daily from 10am to 6pm. For further information visit www.beaulieu.co.uk

* A good value extra charge applies to this ride. Please check www.beaulieu.co.uk for Go Kart running dates. ** Height restrictions apply.

James May Drops In On World Of Top Gear At Beaulieu

The National Motor Museum, Beaulieu, recently welcomed a very special visitor when Top Gear star, James May, paid a visit. James was filming at Beaulieu for a new BBC television series, and during a break he took the opportunity to drop in on the World of Top Gear exhibition.

World of Top Gear features a collection of vehicles created by James and his fellow presenters, Jeremy Clarkson and Richard Hammond, for some of their most ambitious challenges on the TV show over the years. Some of James’ creations on display include the Triumph Herald Yacht, the malfunctioning BMW Z3 he used in the Middle East Challenge and the Lotus lightweight motor-home.

The ‘Enormodrome’ recreates the feel of the Top Gear studio with regular features from the programme, including the Cool Wall and the Celebrity ‘Lap Times’ board, kept up to date in line with the show. Visitors can also watch behind-the-scenes footage of the Top Gear production zone and clips of some of the best Top Gear moments.

James was particularly impressed with the Reliant Rocket, commenting that he was surprised it had survived!

World of Top Gear can be seen as part of a visit to the whole Beaulieu attraction, which includes the world famous National Motor Museum, BOND IN MOTION – the world’s largest ever exhibition of original James Bond film vehicles, Beaulieu Abbey, Palace House and the gardens.

Beaulieu is open daily from 10am – 5pm. Please visit www.beaulieu.co.uk or telephone 01590 612345 for more information.

Hammond’s Budget Bond Submarine Car At Beaulieu’s World Of Top Gear

Following the airing of Top Gear’s 50 Years of Bond Cars special, fans of the show visiting Beaulieu’s World of Top Gear can now see the actual Top Gear Lotus Excel Submarine driven by Richard Hammond into a lake.

In honour of the 50th anniversary of the James Bond film franchise and the release of the 23rd Bond film Skyfall, Richard Hammond paid tribute to some of 007’s greatest moments on wheels with an hour-long Top Gear special, looking at some of the famous, and not so famous, cars used by the world’s favourite spy. Carried along on a heady wave of nostalgia, Hammond even decided to make a couple of amazing real-life Bond cars on a budget.
 
One of these budget creations was based on the unforgettable Lotus Esprit S1 ‘submarine’ car used by Roger Moore’s James Bond in The Spy Who Loved Me. The Top Gear version of this iconic aquatic vehicle uses the never-popular Excel model (because 007-style Esprits were too expensive) and features extendable rear dive planes, electrically-powered rear thrusters, a double skinned passenger compartment, a roof hatch for access and a cunning ballast system which involved filling the tyres with concrete.

Amazingly, this is one of the few cut-price Top Gear projects which actually worked, and this ingenious creation can truly claim to be the world’s first fully functioning submarine car. Although perhaps its biggest achievement is that it has made it to World of Top Gear at Beaulieu, and isn’t lying at the bottom of the lake in which it was tested!

The Lotus Excel Submarine joins a growing collection of cars at Beaulieu created by the Top Gear presenters for some of their most ambitious challenges. Latest additions include the mobility scooters which the presenters raced against wounded servicemen, the cars which they drove through India in the Christmas Special 2011 and Jeremy Clarkson’s TGV12 sports train.

Regular features from the programme including the Cool Wall and the Celebrity ‘Lap Times’ boards are kept up to date in line with the show. Visitors can also watch behind-the-scenes footage of the Top Gear production zone and clips of some of the best Top Gear moments in the ‘Enormodrome’ which recreates the feel of the Top Gear studio, where the TV show is filmed in front of a live audience.

Visitors to Beaulieu can also see the original James Bond Lotus Esprit S1 ‘submarine’ car, the inspiration for this Top Gear challenge, currently displayed in BOND IN MOTION, the National Motor Museum’s exhibition of 50 genuine James Bond cars. This is the largest official collection of Bond vehicles displayed anywhere in the world and showcases all 007’s modes of transportation, including cars, trikes, bikes, sleds, boats and many more.

World of Top Gear and BOND IN MOTION can be viewed as part of a visit to the whole Beaulieu attraction which also includes the National Motor Museum, Palace House and Beaulieu Abbey.

Beaulieu is open every day, except Christmas Day, from 10am. For more information telephone 01590 612345 or visit www.beaulieu.co.uk