AutoTop.nl is about taking a car and pegging it. That’s it, really.

IMAGINE happily minding your business at 160kmh.

A rented Ford Focus overtakes you at 200, and then a camera-rigged BMW M5 blasts past, doing the triple ton. Three hundred kays. All legally, of course.

Welcome to the German Autobahn and the velocity-obsessed YouTube channel that is AutoTop.nl!

https://www.youtube.com/watch

Hosted by the Dutch duo of Max Beelaerts and Martijn van Niele, AutoTop.nl taps into your primal urges with high-performance, orbit-bending machinery hurtling along de-restricted German roads that, for many New Zealanders, is a distant dream.

The formula is simple. Every clip gets captured using a go-pro strapped to Max or Martijn’s head for the ultimate immersive driving experience. This POV filming style strongly emphasises audiovisual quality and has helped the YouTube channel amass millions of views every month.

Viewers can choose from two flavours. There’s a walkaround and backcountry drive detailing performance and handling metrics. Or, for all you speed freaks, there’s a v-max autobahn run that could show a local or two about lane discipline.

Then there is the other key ingredient – the vehicles themselves. Holy moly (a phrase you’ll often hear in Max’s reviews), the sheer diversity of performance cars is astounding, from a three-cylinder one litre Ford Fiesta ST to a Bugatti Chiron trying to hit terminal velocity. Regardless of whatever it is, the sheer aural pleasure and acceleration are a crucial reminder of why the automobile still reigns dear to our hearts.

Whilst many will be drawn to the myriad of hypercars at full song, AutoTop also wheels out some stellar older machinery on occasion – think 90s’ classics such as the Audi 200, BMW 325i, and heaven forbid – even the much-loved Fiat Multipla!

Those looking for solid consumer advice may need to look elsewhere as you won’t find anything in-depth regarding pricing, practicality or interviews – but that is not the channel’s core focus. It’s outright pure performance and, unashamedly, nothing else.

The show is not without bias, cue strong interest in anything with a Bavarian-flavoured blue and white logo, but on the upside, they’re mindful not to spook local wildlife with high RPMs and anti-lag. Good stuff!

Keen to learn what all the fuss is about whilst killing some festive holiday time? Then head on over to YouTube and check it out!

The AutoTop Channel Homepage: https://www.youtube.com/@AutoTopnl