Clarkson's supercars ready to roll

Oct 8 2008 Steve Hughes

Clarkson's supercars ready to roll

APPARENTLY oblivious to any hint of a recession or the need to downsize to the new breed of eco-friendly cars, the BBC Top Gear team will be showcasing the ultimate in go-faster boys' toys later this month.

Stars of the MPH bash at London and Birmingham will include two of the world's fastest supercars in the guise of a 255mph Koenigsegg and a 215mph Pagani.

Faster than a Bugatti Veyron and almost twice the price at £1.5 million, the 1,020bhp Koenigsegg CCXR Edition is the fastest-ever European production car.

The carbon fibre-bodied, bio-fuelled supercar will make its UK debut at MPH at London's Earls Court on October 31.

Capable of catapulting its occupants to 60mph in just 2.9 seconds and on to a top speed of 255mph, the 4.8-litre V8 Koenigsegg is the latest in a line of supercars from the Swedish manufacturer.

Costing considerably less at a mere £668,000, the 7.3-litre Italian-made Pagani Zonda F Carbon nips to 60mph in a more leisurely 3.6 seconds and runs out of puff at just 215mph.

The Pagani Zonda F Carbon has a polished carbon fibre body plus carbon ceramic brakes, a self-rising suspension system to cope with uneven road surfaces and a racing exhaust that would be at home on the grid at Silverstone.

These two cars will be among a line-up of the world's 200 fastest supercars at the event, which is hosted by BBC Top Gear's Jeremy Clarkson, Richard Hammond and James May.

The supercar-fest runs from Friday, October 30, to Sunday, November 2, at Earls Court before moving to the NEC from Thursday, November 13, to Sunday, November 16.