Chris is the most petrol headdy presenter Top Gear has ever had. I absolutely adore his passion for French cars, and I couldn't agree more on the big saloon thing
@@daanishgupta I have. I'm not denying Tiff a serious driver, but I don't think he is as passionate as Harris on the topic of automobiles and not just behind the wheel.
For all those that hate the current top gear, you were never there for the cars. This conversation was natural, not forced and engaging and as a car nerd absolutely loved it
I’ve never watched top gear for the cars, so I find the new top gear boring. When the trio first left, BBC tried to copy what worked for Clarkson, May & Hammond and it was awful. I can understand why people like it now though - it’s more professional which isn’t necessarily a good or bad thing imo.
Thats exactly what was wrong with old Top Gear in the final days. It was less and less about car where it was overly scripted slapstick comedy with cars being an after thought. The latest Top Gear season was wavering dangerously close to that old horrible system. But the other seasons with Chris, Paddy and Flintoff felt like proper Top Gear of old, car mad stuff for car fans.
If you think this video has anything in common with "the current top gear" other than Chris Harris you couldn't have ever actually watched an episode of the current top gear.
That Peugeot e-Legend realy needs to go into production. Not only is it based on the old 504 Coupe but also some vintage Japanese compact sedans in styling. What a waste of design if not produced.
I agree. When I saw the photos, I was in love. It’s the first car from a mainstream car maker to make me go wow since the Fiat Coupé in the early 90s as a child.
It does look fantastic! I love that it’s sort of 70s styling but electrified & also that you could own a Peugeot and make a lot of more expensive cars look clunky & unsophisticated in comparison.
The Renault 5 should be a total hit. They've gone after the people who like the retro-future looks of the Honda e but would prefer Renault Zoe range and price. It's the EV I'm most excited about.
@@JohnSmith-lb6ww they're not telling you yet but the Renault Zoe is going, they want people to still buy it for now. This car is built on the same platform as the Zoe, to keep costs down. The same guy who took the aging Fiat Panda platform and turned it into the 500 success story, wants to do the same with Renault for an EV. The new Megane will be electric and larger. The two cars will cover the segment where the Zoe tried to slot between, the current Clio and Megane. I think the Clio will stay because it sells so well.
I changed my Smart Forfour for a new Peugeot 208, that exact yellow GT Line (bought in common with my girlfriend). It really is "more than a car" to me, as I really enjoy every trip in it, either a short or long one. Everytime I park it I'm looking forward to driving it again: it's beautiful, the 3D i-Cockpit is awesome, the drivability is very good and I having despite having only 100hp. Even my girlfriend really enjoys driving it whereas cars were just "a way to go from A to B". I'm really glad Chris likes it!
I totally forgot about the Fuego. Brings back memories. When I was young I love both the Peugeot 205 t16 and the R5 Turbo. They were my favourite hatchbacks.
Yeah! It is important to remember that a designer is not an artist. The designer solves problems and creates shapes that are filled with purpose. An artist (traditionally) is occupied with only the visual appearance. So in short, a designer can make a car without a focus group.
I think this is true to some degree. If there’s no design vision for the thing your trying to make & you ask a focus group to define that you’re in for a world of trouble. But equally, not analysing the way in which the user interacts with the object & doing thorough beta testing can yield a product that has bugs & doesn’t realise it’s potential. Another issue that many designers overlook is that most average users don’t think or behave like designers so what seems entirely logical to the creative team is unintuitive & off putting for the user.
@@timonbotha476 The Peugeots, right across their product offering, look so much better on the whole than, say, the Audi product lines. The 3xx hatchbacks are just sweet.
Yea, but the issue is, they still manage to mess some things up to the point of creating pointless dealbreakers for a lot of people. Like the whole icockpit thing Peugeot is doing just does not work unless you're a certain body type and unless you want to sit in a very specific driving position, that it's an ideal driving position by the way.
Love the Chris Harris talks, please keep making these videos! Probably too detailed and niche for a BBC1 audience, but I could listen to Chris talk about cars and the industry all day.
It's nice hearing positive things about French cars as they are often shot at and often with a lot of bias ideas. I'm not a expert but the French did a lot of great smallish cars with a good design. I'd love to see the new RENAULT 16 TS or TX which had been the car of the year back then
Chris Harris is certainly passionate about our French cars and I applaud him for it. He is genuine and sincere whilst calls it for what it is. I own a Citroen C6 2012 and I love it and never had trouble with it. My first car back in France was a Renault 5 :)
The Renault CEO (De Meo) is doing basically what he did at Fiat in 2007 with the new 500, update an old iconic car and try to sell it like crazy... At that time he was the head of the Fiat Marketing Dep. I worked for Fiat in Turin at that time and met him couple of times, he's a very smart and tough guy...
@@marieaudreyduchamp8839 At one point shouldn't they merge these brands? Or give them a specific market? Nissan cars are boring and poorly designed... They are the new Buick... there's nothing that stands out. The price point is not interesting, design not interesting, options not interesting, fuel efficiency not interesting... I don't know why you would get one tbh...
@@Pierrrrrrrrrrrrrrre I agree with you but this will probably never happen mainly because of politics between Tokyo and Paris ... the Japanese are too nationalist to concede leadership while the french are too narrow minded to have a global vision for such a big corporation...
I'm now 58 and passed my test just over 40 years ago.The first car I got was my folks gave me their Metro(they bought a Golf as a replacement) which was fine because it gave me experience of driving on the road without the ability to go fast and reckless and I was able to learn simple car maintenance & mechanics and off to Uni I went in it.When I was 20 my godfather passed away and I was left a decent amount of money so I bought a 205GTI 1.6 in blue and it was fabulous to drive.Had it for many years,I literally wore it down.Current car I drive is a Citroen DS3 but the new R5 looks great.Two french cars I would love to see make a comeback is the Matra Rancho with a revamp(which is very unlikely as the french car company Simca which made them doesn't exist anymore but PSA do own the rights to it so you never know) & the Renault Avantime
Same age but similar progression in first 2 cars - Capri Mk2 1600GL --> Mk2 RS2000. You certainly learned wet roundabouts in a Capri! Now drive Subarus - Legacy R Spec B and Impreza WRX Type R French cars should look like nothing else.
Love listening to Chris. Makes so much sense. Have to say though the best hot hatch of the 90s 306 GT6. Perfect combination of performance, handling and ride.
Yep, on the button as always Chris. The new Renault 5 has awesome potential... After the Alpine (IMO the perfect sports car), I'm crossing my fingers for Renault.
I really, REALLY want the Avantime to return. It looks so goofy yet so interesting. It looks non-traditional which is the path car makers decided to follow for their EV products, yet it'd be a remake of a car that certainly deserved a lot more love.
It's been said but for sure this format should be weekly on UA-cam. There are so many good channels out there but with Chris and Jack it's extra special.
1:26 If they had brought the Honda like it looked as Concept i would have one today *My Word for it* . That was so good looking like the CVCC or Golf Mk1.. What they brought was a Fiat 500 with an "H" Badge.
3:52 - 4:30 Praise be, someone finally said this! I just popped in for an interesting snippet on the new R5 and someone just nails everything I've felt was wrong with the car industry for the last 20 years..!
So glad that UA-cam gives an outlet for this stuff. Chris talks with such knowledge and passion about car related topics; and is proving himself to be equally adept at the "entertainment" required on Sunday nights. It's like a brilliant mash up of the best bits of "old" and "new" Top Gear, and I hope it continues.
It was the Ami 6 the one with that rear window. The Visa was crap, but the CX was something. The GS was also good, except for the maintenance. You forgot the Renault 25. And also the Peugeot Talbot Simca looked really nice.
I loved an R5 in my twenties. It was sturdy, tossable and tamed San Francisco's crappy pavement with aplomb. One thing I loved about it was its visibility and this looks like another car with a low roof and high shoulderline, giving it the outward visibility of a mail slot. More glass please.
That Peugeot Legend concept from a couple of years ago would be a perfect fit for this topic as well. It looked spectacular. As Jack was saying, let them pluck at the heart strings, the emotion cannot be invoked with noise, so let the visuals speak for those "missing bits"
French manufacturers are certainly on the up ever since all their design departments were overhauled. Although Renault’s range is starting to show their age now, but Citroen C3 Aircross, my favourite looking crossover, DS are bringing out some stylish saloons and Peugeot’s latest range is stunning to look at. I wish Peugeot brought the 208 here, currently they only sell the 2008, 3008, 5008 and 508. Tiny hatchbacks are a bit niche in Asia, but if they do bring it over, Mini should be very worried, cause that little Frenchie is a beauty.
Chris Harris is one of the finest, most relaxed and differentiated men on the planet when it's about cars. I owned several Renault 5s, but the best was the Renault 5 Alpine in their shiny blue....like the Alpine A110 that would be the way to go!
"Yes, please" to an updated Fuego, preferably with a Webasto sunroof. I had an original one and, as dire a vehicle as it was (and it was very dire), I still have a soft spot for them. The trouble with mine was that the bodywork also had soft spots, mostly where a previous owner had used lots of filler and old newspapers. And a long, stylish, French luxo-barge, powered by electricity and with tons of interior space, would be ideal for modern daily use. Something like a modern CX Safari - just imagine how many batteries you could fit in that floorpan.
What I like is the redesign of the logo, the headlights like the R5 Turbo and the wheels like the R12 Alpine I think other brands should revive their classics with electric power like the Mini
The best part about the r5gtt was the engine noise especially the dump valve I missed mine so much growing up with them on the streets but I don't think this will have the same effect 😢
I currently drive a Mitsubishi 300GT but my first car was a 205 GT which was like the 205GTi but without the pokey engine, loved how it handled and drove and the glass sunroof was great. Also had a Renault 5 GT Turbo and a GTX ( 1.8?), all great little cars. Ripped the sump off the GT Turbo, eat three turbos!
R5 and 205 EVs would slaughter any offerings by BMW, Audi and Mercedes. As a second car for 40-50 somethings , these are the very cars we want to relive, and plundering the all time great back catalogue for the next reincarnation is great in my eyes. Why not throw in the mix, a Lancia Delta? And I have to disagree with Chris, as a R4 EV would look very cool whilst being super practical with the higher roofline.
2:26 "When you see an X4, you just go..." Either he hasn't seen the i4...or he has but he managed to "unsee" it... 6:36 "...since the C6, which still looks amazing to me!" And our opinions on 'looks' have definitely diverged! (That or it was an April Fool's joke--fitting, given the video's upload date...)
This is a Top Gear duo I'm really happy to watch and honestly appreciate their opinions! I think you may have stumbled on how to get Top Gear back into the spot light. I also agree with the idea of a pod cast between these two petrol heads.
One french EV that is currently being sold that I love the look of is the Citroen eC4 as it is the modern version of a Citroen GSA as the front lights are a similar shape to the old GSA and the rear roofline slopes back the same way, it also has the new clever electric suspension that smooths out pot holes and bumps. One thing the French have done really well is they styling of their EV's as they haven't gone down the bar of soap smoothed out look like other manufacturers.
My mum had the pinnacle R5. 1981 X reg MK1 5 door poverty spec in red. Just the next step from the Renault 4. Everything was beige inside, including the covered cardboard headlining. Great fun to drive. No one did utilitarian like the French. A relative had a new Campus ( MK2 ) a few years later and it was cheap but far less cheerful. Oh, and I knew what a 19 Chamade was straightaway.
i love that renault 5 prototype. the front reminds me of a clio kit car (the first one) my first car was a late (1990) super 5 gtr. The car was 18 years old, (the same as me at the time) and the car was actually in amazing shape! plastics were crap, seats amazing, engine/gearbox very strong and alive, and it was full extras. the car was a 1.2cc 5 speed, with 700-800 kg? and 145 tyres. I had soooo much fun with it. for 4 years i daily beated the crap out of it, on mud, sand, dirt, tamac, snow. rain or sun, it is amazing that i am alive to tell that story, and most amazingly the car surviving that treatment. I ended up offering it to my younger brother, that used it for two years and then sold it to another guy! I should've actually taken good care of it and definatelly I should've kept it!
I know this, that "en chamade" in music refers to prominent loud fanfare trumpet and reed sounds on an organ, usually ones on display on the front of the case, so I would imagine that "chamade" means something like a "fanfare"...
I had a Fuego, Engine blew up so I had a Ford Pinto engine fitted in it with twin Webber carbs. Also had a Visa that had a Peugeot 1.9 GTI engine in it, Had A Peugeot 1.9 GTI, I had a Fiat Uno turbo. I've also owned a Princess 2.2 HL and an Allegro Vanden Plas lol. They should all be revived as EV's in my view.
Top Gear, these chats between Jack and Chris are what's kept me going through lockdown - all car manufacturers should have to watch these as part of their job description.
Love hearing them talk about this! Both knowledgeable and passionate... to his point about the Peugeot 207, I would agree that it looks fantastic, but with a caveat. It looks utterly cool in the GT Line version with the black wheel arches, equipped with those vertical talon-like LED headlamps. But the under-wheeled proportions of the lower-spec versions are so basic in appearance. They don't do well for the model's image as a whole.
What we fail to discuss is the influence that EVs have had on car design, with manufacturers finally breaking the mould by developing cars that look distinct, unique and timeless.
Chamade is a drum/trumpet based signal, quite powerful, used by the militaries to ask for a truce. In France we have the saying « Le Coeur qui bat la chamade », literally the heart playing the Chamade - used when the heart is beating quite strongly thanks to a strong emotion such as love or fear.
Fantastic. I owned two Renault 5s mark 1 in my past, and loved them. It was in the days you could drive around London - and park - and it was the perfect car for that. I agree about a big Citroen too - but not a Visa: I had one of them and the front left wheel sheered off whilst I was driving at 70mph on the M4. Not fun. How about a Dauphine? They are gorgeous.
My first car in 1988 was a '76 5TS 1.3 powerhouse with a straight through exhaust, weber carb and a K&N filter. Best bit was it had a turbo 2 replica body kit and compamotive split rim 13" wheels 😂 I have vowed i will never have an EV but if i did and Renault managed to sell these for a sensible price then it would have to be the one for me.
Spot on, the french and Italians ( fiat not ferrari) sell cheaper cars and get criticised for their interiors not being as premium yet if they sold premium interiors at premium prices no one would buy them as they de rather have the German badge. Catch 22
It's good to see top gear being presented by a proper car guy. I admired his work on autocar magazine many moons ago , and now his knowledge is on the big screen. Long time overdue. Now is the time top gear stopped being an " entertainment " programme, and return to being a car or vehicle programme, like days of old.
Would like to see an electric Renault 8 Gordini resto-mod. Or a Citroen DS, obvs. That Peugeot electric concept, from a couple of years back, was fantastic though.
Got a R5GTT at home, owned a 205GTi, Raider, Clio Williams, Aventime. Only questions are; will there be a GTT variant? And where will we fit the dump valve!!
THIS is what the new Top Gear needed to be initially. Just talking about cars, visiting automotive museums, teaching us about the history behind designs etc. Add to that just 3 people sitting on a sofa messing about with the 'THE NEWS' and it would have worked. Instead they did too many of the special events right from the start where there was no chemistry between the hosts. That chemistry needs time to grow and keeping it basic would have been the way to do that.
We had 3 Le Car's. I sent an email to Renault one month ago begging them to import the R5 electric. They said "Non". I test drove a Peugeot 405 16 in 1989 maybe. I'm not sure if they all were like that but it was a revving blast.
Cool thing about new french cars is that in time when even muscle car are equipped with auto transmission, they still have manual transmission, even in suvs and that's crazy.
*MY GREATEST HOPE* with electric, is that we can get back to the days of buying a rolling chassis and having a coach builder do the body for you - that would be a wonderful world to live in...
Chris is the most petrol headdy presenter Top Gear has ever had. I absolutely adore his passion for French cars, and I couldn't agree more on the big saloon thing
Ever heard of a guy named Tiff Needell?
@@daanishgupta Ever heard of Eddie Jordan?
Me too.. I have both the C6 and CX so I'm bias... ;) heheh
@@Jinsun202 didnt like him on TopGear though
@@daanishgupta I have. I'm not denying Tiff a serious driver, but I don't think he is as passionate as Harris on the topic of automobiles and not just behind the wheel.
There needs to be a TV Show (or UA-cam channel) with just Chris Harris talking about random topics... for hours. I need it.
Truuue, the way he talks and explains stuff is super captivating (and the X4 part is hilarious)
Collecting cars podcast
@@Marz2695 uh, I'll check that one out
Imagine him and James may
Needs to also make a rivew show
They should really make a weekly Podcast-Top Gear Talking Cars!!
Matt Farah? Collecting Cars with Chris Harris?
@@barnabas.csermely Matt Farrah is too loud, need someone a little more laid back.
@@sail3303 Sorry mate, out of ideas
I recon they need to talk new cars once every so often... so we always see the new releases straight away
Try car throttle podcast. Chris Harris has been on it.
For all those that hate the current top gear, you were never there for the cars. This conversation was natural, not forced and engaging and as a car nerd absolutely loved it
I’ve never watched top gear for the cars, so I find the new top gear boring. When the trio first left, BBC tried to copy what worked for Clarkson, May & Hammond and it was awful. I can understand why people like it now though - it’s more professional which isn’t necessarily a good or bad thing imo.
I haven't watched any of the current version of Top Gear, but the Rory, Chris, and Matt trio was really good. Can't say much about the current one.
Thats exactly what was wrong with old Top Gear in the final days. It was less and less about car where it was overly scripted slapstick comedy with cars being an after thought.
The latest Top Gear season was wavering dangerously close to that old horrible system.
But the other seasons with Chris, Paddy and Flintoff felt like proper Top Gear of old, car mad stuff for car fans.
cant stand paddy or flintoff they are too loud and silly. They need to accept they cant recreate what may hammond and clarkson had.
If you think this video has anything in common with "the current top gear" other than Chris Harris you couldn't have ever actually watched an episode of the current top gear.
That Peugeot e-Legend realy needs to go into production. Not only is it based on the old 504 Coupe but also some vintage Japanese compact sedans in styling. What a waste of design if not produced.
That one is my favourite mainstream electric car ever. It is so beautiful, that e-Legend concept
'That Peugeot e-Legend realy needs to go into production.' THIS.
I saw the e-Legend up close at Retromobile, thing of real poise and beauty with one of the most gorgeous interiors I have ever seen
I agree. When I saw the photos, I was in love. It’s the first car from a mainstream car maker to make me go wow since the Fiat Coupé in the early 90s as a child.
It does look fantastic! I love that it’s sort of 70s styling but electrified & also that you could own a Peugeot and make a lot of more expensive cars look clunky & unsophisticated in comparison.
This guy knows his stuff ... Absolute legend !!
Imagine if Citroën decided to do a luxury focused retro DS EV.
The shape, the suspension.
It would be GREAT
I bet it would be way more innovative than just putting a huge ass touch screen with gimmicks in the dashboard.
With Classic dials, V2G/240V outlets, Glass roof, Ionique5 chairs and good quality Sound system (not Bose).
I have to disagree with Chris. A modern interpretation of the 2CV as an electric city car would be great, complete with roll back roof.
With Peugeot ownership the hydraulic suspension is out of the question..
@@robbrady4649 the Ami ami would be better. And it's basically a 2CV with a different body
The Renault 5 should be a total hit. They've gone after the people who like the retro-future looks of the Honda e but would prefer Renault Zoe range and price. It's the EV I'm most excited about.
Id prefer Ioniq version of retro better.... but still futuristic!
They need to make a petrol version
@@JohnSmith-lb6ww can't see the point, the Clio still exists.
@@siviter well using that logic so does the Renault zoe
@@JohnSmith-lb6ww they're not telling you yet but the Renault Zoe is going, they want people to still buy it for now. This car is built on the same platform as the Zoe, to keep costs down. The same guy who took the aging Fiat Panda platform and turned it into the 500 success story, wants to do the same with Renault for an EV. The new Megane will be electric and larger. The two cars will cover the segment where the Zoe tried to slot between, the current Clio and Megane. I think the Clio will stay because it sells so well.
I changed my Smart Forfour for a new Peugeot 208, that exact yellow GT Line (bought in common with my girlfriend). It really is "more than a car" to me, as I really enjoy every trip in it, either a short or long one. Everytime I park it I'm looking forward to driving it again: it's beautiful, the 3D i-Cockpit is awesome, the drivability is very good and I having despite having only 100hp. Even my girlfriend really enjoys driving it whereas cars were just "a way to go from A to B". I'm really glad Chris likes it!
Harris slagging off SUVs. Still gets me every time. Never change Chris.
The hero we need.
Well they suck so why not.
Peugeot 406 Coupe, looked soo amazing when it was new.
They need to make a new one of those
Yeah that car was hot. Looked better than the Porsche of that era imho.
Good call. Pininfarina design though, so unlikely
they still look amazing
That was a great car, also quite practical since it also had a lot of room in the back. But no one bought it...
I am more in love with the Peugeot 405 T16 😁
Sadly, there was never a road version - the closes you could get was the M16 what was a great car too.
I totally forgot about the Fuego. Brings back memories. When I was young I love both the Peugeot 205 t16 and the R5 Turbo. They were my favourite hatchbacks.
They're planning the Renault 5 Turbo in a electric version
@@albert9784 The cant really call it a turbo though.
@@cameronboyle5981 True... Porsche did though
Chris is so on the mark about focus groups 🤣 lmao you don't hire a Designer to tell them what design you want THEY ARE THE DESIGNER
The lesson, as always, is that that people are dumb. Ask dumb people what they want for a car, and you get a dumb car.
Homer Simpson reference.
Yeah! It is important to remember that a designer is not an artist. The designer solves problems and creates shapes that are filled with purpose. An artist (traditionally) is occupied with only the visual appearance. So in short, a designer can make a car without a focus group.
I think this is true to some degree. If there’s no design vision for the thing your trying to make & you ask a focus group to define that you’re in for a world of trouble. But equally, not analysing the way in which the user interacts with the object & doing thorough beta testing can yield a product that has bugs & doesn’t realise it’s potential. Another issue that many designers overlook is that most average users don’t think or behave like designers so what seems entirely logical to the creative team is unintuitive & off putting for the user.
Henry Ford: "If I'd asked people what they wanted, they would've said faster horses!"
4:47 "Don't ask PEOPLE for advice." Chris: No, there you go! (edit: tysm fr 👍)
Don’t DO IT!
French cars are indeed back again Peugeot is an example for it
New Peugeots look great, I think the 508 looks so much better than similar offerings from the germans
@@timonbotha476
The Peugeots, right across their product offering, look so much better on the whole than, say, the Audi product lines. The 3xx hatchbacks are just sweet.
Who are we kidding they look like shit.
@@boostav what kind of vehicle you like ?
Yea, but the issue is, they still manage to mess some things up to the point of creating pointless dealbreakers for a lot of people. Like the whole icockpit thing Peugeot is doing just does not work unless you're a certain body type and unless you want to sit in a very specific driving position, that it's an ideal driving position by the way.
Chris Harris, so knowledgeable, and not just on the glamorous stuff, and so damned articulate. Please please keep these going!
Love the Chris Harris talks, please keep making these videos! Probably too detailed and niche for a BBC1 audience, but I could listen to Chris talk about cars and the industry all day.
You had me at: "BMW is all over the place" 🤣
I was shouting CX at the screen... and Chris says CX! Would be so great to see some classically French tout comfort on the roads again
It's nice hearing positive things about French cars as they are often shot at and often with a lot of bias ideas. I'm not a expert but the French did a lot of great smallish cars with a good design. I'd love to see the new RENAULT 16 TS or TX which had been the car of the year back then
Chris Harris is certainly passionate about our French cars and I applaud him for it. He is genuine and sincere whilst calls it for what it is. I own a Citroen C6 2012 and I love it and never had trouble with it. My first car back in France was a Renault 5 :)
The car looks absolutely beautiful in my opinion!
It looks not bad but just electro😂🤢😢
It'll never look like that in production, lets be real...
Isn't she a beauty
@@DanLMH Why not?
Listening Chris saying "Chamade" made my day !
Thanks. Marc from France
So, what does it mean? :D
@@nothke the word doesn't mean anything about cars, it's just the fact that Chris knows this very unpopular model and of course the way he said it 😄
@@march.5352
Unpopular? There loads of them in UK back in the day! I wanted a phase 1 Chamade 16v so badly!
@@skylined5534 here in France, people prefer the hatchback over the sedan shape (for this size of car)
@@march.5352
I just loved the way they looked to be honest! Like a baby sized 21 Turbo.
The Renault CEO (De Meo) is doing basically what he did at Fiat in 2007 with the new 500, update an old iconic car and try to sell it like crazy... At that time he was the head of the Fiat Marketing Dep. I worked for Fiat in Turin at that time and met him couple of times, he's a very smart and tough guy...
Yeah, the cultural clash with Nissan will be interesting to see ...
@@marieaudreyduchamp8839 At one point shouldn't they merge these brands? Or give them a specific market? Nissan cars are boring and poorly designed... They are the new Buick... there's nothing that stands out. The price point is not interesting, design not interesting, options not interesting, fuel efficiency not interesting... I don't know why you would get one tbh...
@@Pierrrrrrrrrrrrrrre I agree with you but this will probably never happen mainly because of politics between Tokyo and Paris ... the Japanese are too nationalist to concede leadership while the french are too narrow minded to have a global vision for such a big corporation...
@@marieaudreyduchamp8839 have you seen the new fairlady z? Exactly the same trick because it got its styling queues from a 240z
I'm now 58 and passed my test just over 40 years ago.The first car I got was my folks gave me their Metro(they bought a Golf as a replacement) which was fine because it gave me experience of driving on the road without the ability to go fast and reckless and I was able to learn simple car maintenance & mechanics and off to Uni I went in it.When I was 20 my godfather passed away and I was left a decent amount of money so I bought a 205GTI 1.6 in blue and it was fabulous to drive.Had it for many years,I literally wore it down.Current car I drive is a Citroen DS3 but the new R5 looks great.Two french cars I would love to see make a comeback is the Matra Rancho with a revamp(which is very unlikely as the french car company Simca which made them doesn't exist anymore but PSA do own the rights to it so you never know) & the Renault Avantime
Same age but similar progression in first 2 cars - Capri Mk2 1600GL --> Mk2 RS2000. You certainly learned wet roundabouts in a Capri!
Now drive Subarus - Legacy R Spec B and Impreza WRX Type R
French cars should look like nothing else.
Love listening to Chris. Makes so much sense. Have to say though the best hot hatch of the 90s 306 GT6. Perfect combination of performance, handling and ride.
The original DS needs remade as a modern EV
Only if they bring back the hydraulic suspension
Exactly engineers need to be true car enthusiast from the beginning.. that's it.. then those vehicle would have a true unveiling..
Yep, on the button as always Chris. The new Renault 5 has awesome potential... After the Alpine (IMO the perfect sports car), I'm crossing my fingers for Renault.
I could listen to these 2 all day ,,also love CH in this serious mode rather than the cheesy way he is on TG with Freddy & co
I really, REALLY want the Avantime to return. It looks so goofy yet so interesting. It looks non-traditional which is the path car makers decided to follow for their EV products, yet it'd be a remake of a car that certainly deserved a lot more love.
@Richard Harrold yup, just add some more modern lights and interior and it’s perfect
And it had 4 captain chairs in it.
It's been said but for sure this format should be weekly on UA-cam. There are so many good channels out there but with Chris and Jack it's extra special.
1:26 If they had brought the Honda like it looked as Concept i would have one today *My Word for it* . That was so good looking like the CVCC or Golf Mk1.. What they brought was a Fiat 500 with an "H" Badge.
Come on Chris, we need a new AX. With you on the CX, especially if they do a 7 seat Safari.
3:52 - 4:30 Praise be, someone finally said this!
I just popped in for an interesting snippet on the new R5 and someone just nails everything I've felt was wrong with the car industry for the last 20 years..!
So glad that UA-cam gives an outlet for this stuff. Chris talks with such knowledge and passion about car related topics; and is proving himself to be equally adept at the "entertainment" required on Sunday nights. It's like a brilliant mash up of the best bits of "old" and "new" Top Gear, and I hope it continues.
Citroen DS, GS, CX , Traction Avant.
Peugeot 105, 205, 504,405,
Renault 21,12, Fuego.
It was the Ami 6 the one with that rear window. The Visa was crap, but the CX was something. The GS was also good, except for the maintenance. You forgot the Renault 25. And also the Peugeot Talbot Simca looked really nice.
I loved an R5 in my twenties. It was sturdy, tossable and tamed San Francisco's crappy pavement with aplomb. One thing I loved about it was its visibility and this looks like another car with a low roof and high shoulderline, giving it the outward visibility of a mail slot. More glass please.
That Peugeot Legend concept from a couple of years ago would be a perfect fit for this topic as well. It looked spectacular. As Jack was saying, let them pluck at the heart strings, the emotion cannot be invoked with noise, so let the visuals speak for those "missing bits"
Chris + Small french hatch = quality viewing.
“A camel was a horse designed by comity” - Alec Issigonis
Surely “it isn’t a complete pastis” would be more accurate when discussing a French car reboot?
French manufacturers are certainly on the up ever since all their design departments were overhauled. Although Renault’s range is starting to show their age now, but Citroen C3 Aircross, my favourite looking crossover, DS are bringing out some stylish saloons and Peugeot’s latest range is stunning to look at. I wish Peugeot brought the 208 here, currently they only sell the 2008, 3008, 5008 and 508. Tiny hatchbacks are a bit niche in Asia, but if they do bring it over, Mini should be very worried, cause that little Frenchie is a beauty.
The only thing I want is to Lancia return with those sweet rally cars.
Maybe one day but I bet that's going to be an EV too unfortunately 😔
No that's just a ferrari 430 build, professional one but still they built it out of a 430. Cost 613 000 dollars.
Yessss so they can be flogged by peugeot and renault when they each decide to go rallying.
Let them first just make actual cars again... Hopefully Stellantis will re-position the brand.
Chris Harris is one of the finest, most relaxed and differentiated men on the planet when it's about cars. I owned several Renault 5s, but the best was the Renault 5 Alpine in their shiny blue....like the Alpine A110 that would be the way to go!
12:43 pm room 108, Ammeriview inns & suites,
April 5th 2021
I missed our time together! Great to be with you again top gear🙂
"Yes, please" to an updated Fuego, preferably with a Webasto sunroof. I had an original one and, as dire a vehicle as it was (and it was very dire), I still have a soft spot for them. The trouble with mine was that the bodywork also had soft spots, mostly where a previous owner had used lots of filler and old newspapers.
And a long, stylish, French luxo-barge, powered by electricity and with tons of interior space, would be ideal for modern daily use. Something like a modern CX Safari - just imagine how many batteries you could fit in that floorpan.
The raider looked so cool at the time with the blue wheels
Yes!!!! Love it! My first car was a R5 TR. Totalled it into a tree. Somehow I got out unscathed.
I'd love to have one of these!
My best friend was driving down a mountain pass, went off the road and rolled over in a field. Got out relatively unscathed. No airbags nothing
Drove one a few years ago and loved it
Great to hear the Chamade get a shout out. I have owned about 15 Renaults, but the 19 Chamade and my 5Gt turbo were def the most fun. Loved them both
This world needs an electric Citroen BX
phase 1
Or an AX
@@sharkuel nahh BX looks better
XM too, I love that car
Speaking about wanting another big French saloon, Peugeot’s new 508 PSE seems to be critically acclaimed as a driver’s car. Looks great too!
What I like is the redesign of the logo, the headlights like the R5 Turbo and the wheels like the R12 Alpine
I think other brands should revive their classics with electric power like the Mini
The best part about the r5gtt was the engine noise especially the dump valve I missed mine so much growing up with them on the streets but I don't think this will have the same effect 😢
I would rather have that old body with modern Electric power train.
Best of both worlds
I currently drive a Mitsubishi 300GT but my first car was a 205 GT which was like the 205GTi but without the pokey engine, loved how it handled and drove and the glass sunroof was great. Also had a Renault 5 GT Turbo and a GTX ( 1.8?), all great little cars. Ripped the sump off the GT Turbo, eat three turbos!
R5 and 205 EVs would slaughter any offerings by BMW, Audi and Mercedes. As a second car for 40-50 somethings , these are the very cars we want to relive, and plundering the all time great back catalogue for the next reincarnation is great in my eyes. Why not throw in the mix, a Lancia Delta? And I have to disagree with Chris, as a R4 EV would look very cool whilst being super practical with the higher roofline.
2:26 "When you see an X4, you just go..."
Either he hasn't seen the i4...or he has but he managed to "unsee" it...
6:36 "...since the C6, which still looks amazing to me!"
And our opinions on 'looks' have definitely diverged! (That or it was an April Fool's joke--fitting, given the video's upload date...)
This is a Top Gear duo I'm really happy to watch and honestly appreciate their opinions! I think you may have stumbled on how to get Top Gear back into the spot light. I also agree with the idea of a pod cast between these two petrol heads.
One french EV that is currently being sold that I love the look of is the Citroen eC4 as it is the modern version of a Citroen GSA as the front lights are a similar shape to the old GSA and the rear roofline slopes back the same way, it also has the new clever electric suspension that smooths out pot holes and bumps. One thing the French have done really well is they styling of their EV's as they haven't gone down the bar of soap smoothed out look like other manufacturers.
My mum had the pinnacle R5. 1981 X reg MK1 5 door poverty spec in red. Just the next step from the Renault 4. Everything was beige inside, including the covered cardboard headlining. Great fun to drive. No one did utilitarian like the French. A relative had a new Campus ( MK2 ) a few years later and it was cheap but far less cheerful. Oh, and I knew what a 19 Chamade was straightaway.
This kind of discussion is just brilliant - please bring us a panel podcast!
Love renaults they’ve always been on point with their design over the years. Stylish and interesting, can’t wait to see this new 5 looks great!
i love that renault 5 prototype. the front reminds me of a clio kit car (the first one) my first car was a late (1990) super 5 gtr. The car was 18 years old, (the same as me at the time) and the car was actually in amazing shape! plastics were crap, seats amazing, engine/gearbox very strong and alive, and it was full extras. the car was a 1.2cc 5 speed, with 700-800 kg? and 145 tyres. I had soooo much fun with it. for 4 years i daily beated the crap out of it, on mud, sand, dirt, tamac, snow. rain or sun, it is amazing that i am alive to tell that story, and most amazingly the car surviving that treatment. I ended up offering it to my younger brother, that used it for two years and then sold it to another guy! I should've actually taken good care of it and definatelly I should've kept it!
chris harris should definitely start a podcast
He kind of has one already called ‘collecting cars’. It has some random salesperson who chips in every now and then but one can tune him out
I know this, that "en chamade" in music refers to prominent loud fanfare trumpet and reed sounds on an organ, usually ones on display on the front of the case, so I would imagine that "chamade" means something like a "fanfare"...
I had a Fuego, Engine blew up so I had a Ford Pinto engine fitted in it with twin Webber carbs. Also had a Visa that had a Peugeot 1.9 GTI engine in it, Had A Peugeot 1.9 GTI, I had a Fiat Uno turbo. I've also owned a Princess 2.2 HL and an Allegro Vanden Plas lol. They should all be revived as EV's in my view.
Top Gear, these chats between Jack and Chris are what's kept me going through lockdown - all car manufacturers should have to watch these as part of their job description.
Yes indeed! Forget about the focus groups. Listen to what Chris Harris has to say.
Love hearing them talk about this! Both knowledgeable and passionate... to his point about the Peugeot 207, I would agree that it looks fantastic, but with a caveat. It looks utterly cool in the GT Line version with the black wheel arches, equipped with those vertical talon-like LED headlamps. But the under-wheeled proportions of the lower-spec versions are so basic in appearance. They don't do well for the model's image as a whole.
What we fail to discuss is the influence that EVs have had on car design, with manufacturers finally breaking the mould by developing cars that look distinct, unique and timeless.
Chamade is a drum/trumpet based signal, quite powerful, used by the militaries to ask for a truce. In France we have the saying « Le Coeur qui bat la chamade », literally the heart playing the Chamade - used when the heart is beating quite strongly thanks to a strong emotion such as love or fear.
Fantastic. I owned two Renault 5s mark 1 in my past, and loved them. It was in the days you could drive around London - and park - and it was the perfect car for that. I agree about a big Citroen too - but not a Visa: I had one of them and the front left wheel sheered off whilst I was driving at 70mph on the M4. Not fun. How about a Dauphine? They are gorgeous.
Early 90's for new 18/19 Y.O driver, best car ever, Citroen AX GT.
My first car in 1988 was a '76 5TS 1.3 powerhouse with a straight through exhaust, weber carb and a K&N filter. Best bit was it had a turbo 2 replica body kit and compamotive split rim 13" wheels 😂
I have vowed i will never have an EV but if i did and Renault managed to sell these for a sensible price then it would have to be the one for me.
These segments are so great. Keep them coming, TG! The more Chris Harris the better!
I'm going to lay my cards on the table and say I think Chris Harris is the best thing that's happened to Top Gear. Ever.
Never a dull moment when watching these 2.
More of these little sit downs would be awesome. Love the channel!
Great to hear respect for the French cars. I hope they last better than my CX GTi 😕
A revamp of that, with the suspension, as an EV?
Yes!
Couldn't agree more with Chris !
The Mazda, Peugeots and Volvos are killing it design wise. Bmw one atrocity after another 😂
Wonder when the online 'sub' content became miles better than the prime time tv stuff... Chris and Jack are great car journalists.
Spot on, the french and Italians ( fiat not ferrari) sell cheaper cars and get criticised for their interiors not being as premium yet if they sold premium interiors at premium prices no one would buy them as they de rather have the German badge. Catch 22
Exactly that.
''chamade" is for a uncontrolled heartbeat. "un coeur qui bat la chamade".
The Peugeot 205 gti 1.6 , 1.9 were awesome back in the day and the Ford Capri injection.
I could listen to these two all day. It just makes me jealous of their lives
It's good to see top gear being presented by a proper car guy. I admired his work on autocar magazine many moons ago , and now his knowledge is on the big screen. Long time overdue.
Now is the time top gear stopped being an " entertainment " programme, and return to being a car or vehicle programme, like days of old.
Nice to see top gear presenters appreciate modern french cars rather than be all snobby about them like the old lot were!
Could listen to Chris Harris forever
Would like to see an electric Renault 8 Gordini resto-mod. Or a Citroen DS, obvs. That Peugeot electric concept, from a couple of years back, was fantastic though.
Used to own and drive Citroen traction avant - 11CV {1949) 15 CV(1951) D 19, DS 21. Great cars and dearly missed.
Got a R5GTT at home, owned a 205GTi, Raider, Clio Williams, Aventime. Only questions are; will there be a GTT variant? And where will we fit the dump valve!!
Im french and i am impressed by his knowledge
THIS is what the new Top Gear needed to be initially. Just talking about cars, visiting automotive museums, teaching us about the history behind designs etc. Add to that just 3 people sitting on a sofa messing about with the 'THE NEWS' and it would have worked. Instead they did too many of the special events right from the start where there was no chemistry between the hosts.
That chemistry needs time to grow and keeping it basic would have been the way to do that.
My brothers first car was a Renault 19. Blue with black leather seats so comfy
I had a 1980 Renault 5, it was great! My Grandpa’ had a 1974 Renault 4L, it was cool too... :-)
We had 3 Le Car's. I sent an email to Renault one month ago begging them to import the R5 electric. They said "Non". I test drove a Peugeot 405 16 in 1989 maybe. I'm not sure if they all were like that but it was a revving blast.
Cool thing about new french cars is that in time when even muscle car are equipped with auto transmission, they still have manual transmission, even in suvs and that's crazy.
Peugeot 504.
They need to revisit the whole ouvre. Comfort. Handling. Just a supreme longe range cruiser.
*MY GREATEST HOPE* with electric, is that we can get back to the days of buying a rolling chassis and having a coach builder do the body for you - that would be a wonderful world to live in...