The Stig gives Chris Evans a Taxi Ride to Remember

The world famous, and mysterious, racing driver, The Stig, Top Gear’s very own creation, has recently got behind the wheel of a London cab. Except it was no ordinary London cab.
 
The cab was kitted out with a high performance engine lifted from a 400bhp Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution. The Top Gear man of mystery was displaying his incredible driving talents ahead of this year’s Top Gear Live show.

From the outside, the cab looked just the same as any other London taxi. Except, of course, for the bonnet pins, the larger exhaust, and the Mitsubishi steel wheels required to transmit all that ferocious power from the Japanese engine to the tarmac.

The Stig also had a famous passenger for company. The brave soul was DJ, and former television presenter, Chris Evans. It has also been reported that Mr Evans will be making a star appearance at Top Gear Live as the show will feature a special edition of the much loved, Star in a Reasonably Priced Car.

]]>

For this particular driving stunt however, The Stig was negotiating service ramps and the London ExCel’s underground car park whilst niftily manoeuvring the taxi around the show halls and across the central boulevard thanks to some stylish power sliding. Evans was given a thrill ride he will never forget in the back of the taxi around the 100,000 square metre ExCel venue. It would not be a surprise if he was later spotted regurgitating in the corner of a dark room…The phrase, ‘The Stig takes no passengers’ has never been more apt.

The cab will reportedly accelerate from 0-60mph in just 3.8 seconds, quite astonishing performance figures! It is fitted with an advanced selectable centre differential which enables it to perform the necessary stunts, but only with The Stig at the wheel however. Although, I somewhat doubt that the taxi has been insured with the usual taxi insurance!

The cab will appear in Top Gear’s live show throughout November, from the 11th to the 13th at the NEC in Birmingham, and from the 24th to the 27th at London’s ExCel and it has been billed as “The ultimate Top Gear experience”. Visitors can expect all the usual Top Gear fun and games.