The Eagle Speedster on BBC's Top Gear
A magnificent celebration of the 50th Anniversary of the Jaguar E-Type featured 77RW (the original Roadster driven to the Geneva Motor Show overnight to satisfy the demand for test drives from the press) and of course our Eagle Speedster, which has garnered some very positive reviews indeed, not least from Mr. Clarkson.
The classic shot of a village full of E-Types was populated by Eagle, and the giant 'E' made of E-Types was made from our E-Types and by the kindness of our customers.
It was an amazing insight into how the programme is made and we were very fortunate to experience everything 'up close' - from the initial shots in the village of Chilham in Kent through to the astonishing tribute to the E-Type at Beachy Head, where we were treated to the Breitling Wing Walkers, a flypast by a Spitfire and a Hawker Hurricane, and the Royal Navy Parachute Team amongst other sights.
We were also there in the Top Gear studio during filming -and that was the first time we got to see the review of the Speedster by Jeremy Clarkson. To say we were smiling would be severely understating the situation.
"I think this, by a long way, is the most beautiful car I have ever seen It might actually be the most beautiful thing I have ever seen.
This to me is absolute perfection.
I will put my hand on my heart and say here and now I have never ever driven a car ever that I have wanted more than this one. I yearn to have it."
Jeremy Clarkson - BBC Top Gear
The Eagle Speedster in the Press, on Television & at the Movies
Fast & Furious 6
The Eagle Speedster can be seen in the latest Fast & Furious action movie which is released in May 2013. The car was filmed at the Longcross studio and on location at the old Billingsgate Market alongside the River Thames.
Autocar Review
Andrew Frankel tested the Speedster at the Longcross proving ground for Autocar Magazine. He was extremely impressed with every element including performance, finish and the appearance. Malcolm Griffiths captured a set of stunning moody and dramatic photographs despite the bleak winter day.
China and Japan
For the first time, Eagle has been visited by Chinese journalists. We have features appearing in both China Auto Pictorial and Evo China. We also enjoyed very flattering coverage earlier in the year from Japans super stylish Motorhead car culture lifestyle magazine.
Insider Magazine
“I do love changing things. If I were to have an E-type, for example, it would have to be the Eagle Speedster - I just love that car. It’s just how I would have designed it; taking the E-type Jaguar’s purity to a whole new level.” he adds; "If legislation had allowed it at the time that's what William Lyons would have done anyway, but he had to put boring things like bumpers on the original."
Ian Callum, Director of design - Jaguar Cars
Microsoft Xbox 360; Forza Horizon
The Speedster is included in the latest evolution of the incredible Microsoft Forza racing game. After taking 4500 images of the Speedster at the studio, the game engineers have captured every feature beautifully, including incredible attention to detail on the interior. Game players can now 'buy' and fully specify their own Speedster and cruise or race around the roads of Colorado and the race circuits of the world.
Jeremy Clarkson "Powered Up" & Top Gear "At the Movies" See 'Behind the Scenes' Here »
The car was recently in the South of France being filmed for the new Clarkson Christmas DVD which is already released and available. There is a chapter on our Speedster including some fabulous helicopter shots driving up the amazing Gemenos hillclimb road and an interview with Eagle's Paul Brace. We are very pleased that the Speedster features in the new 'Top Gear At The Movies' DVD as well.
Top Gear Live
The Speedster will be actively featuring in the Top Gear Live Shows this year alongside a host of mouth watering machinery. The first shows are at the NEC Birmingham from the 11th to the 13th of November accompanying the Classic Car Show and then from the 24th to the 27th at ExCel in London.
The Sunday Times
"Specialness is particularly important when it comes to cars. Recently on Top Gear I drove something called the Eagle Speedster. It's the most special car I have ever driven. Do I need it? No. Do I want it? More than my left leg."
Jeremy Clarkson, The Sunday Times
50 Years of the E-Type from Octane Magazine
"The Speedster is one of those rare sports cars: you don't have to work it along, it simply flows as the dynamics are so capable of turning undulating tarmac into a perfect palette for all that power. The Eagle Lightweight Speedster is a pure E-Type Jaguar - only more so."
Robert Coucher, Octane Magazine
EVO Magazine
Henry Catchpole drove Speedster No. 1 through the leafy lanes of Sussex down to the coast where he was treated to, not only a drive across the famous white cliff tops , but was able to witness a Battle of Britain recreation from the cockpit at the very same time!
Henry also drove Speedster No. 2, the lightweight version, for another feature more recently.
GQ
Celia Walden examines the Speedster, undertakes a little modelling with top photographer, John Higginson, and writes an interesting article from a refreshing and completely different perspective to the car magazines. The fabulous images and article were in the January 2010 edition
Jaguar World
Respected Jaguar guru, Jim Patten, came to drive the car and report for Jaguar World Magazine. Jim has driven everything that is 'Jaguar' and surely knows all that one can know about the marque. He too loved the Speedster and totally understood 'what and why'. He has written a detailed and complimentary appraisal in the November 2010 issue.