Series 16 in pictures: a sneak preview

After a couple of rather nice little teasers over the festive break, series 16 proper of Top Gear telly returns this weekend. And just in time to rescue your Sunday night from forced viewings of the returning Lark Rise to Candleford. Usual time: 8pm, BBC2.

Without giving too much away, here's a hint of what you can expect...

WARNING: minor spoilers ahead, so don't click if you want to keep your mind clear of distraction in the next six weeks.

We've got a somewhat chequered history with doing proper, grown-up road tests. They keep getting hijacked by Corvettes or Ross Kemp. But our test of the Skoda Yeti will be different. There won't be fire. Or helicopters. Or ice cream...

Pizza delivery boy simply refused to take tip

That's right, 959 vs F40. Richard Hammond meets his childhood motoring heroes

Pirates of the Caribbean 5 ran into budget problems

A perfect demonstration of why a ‘hairpin bend' is thus named. It looks very like a hairpin, does it not?

James May. Wearing tights. On his head. Probably best not to ask

After a long chase, some vehicular playground bullies finally cornered poor little Car

You're going to have to watch the series to make sense of this one. Every caption we came up with was wildly inappropriate

Jeremy, while mulling over his 2010 car of the year, suddenly realises he has squashed an ant colony

A righteous powerslide in the very righteous Ferrari F40

Volvo C30 Polestar, Focus RS500 and Scooby WRX. You will notice it is also wet. Fun ensues...

Can a Porsche 911 Turbo S cabriolet hit a standing mile quicker than a VW Beetle dropped from a mile up ends up hitting the ground?