What's the greatest car of the past 20 years? That's the question being asked
by BBC Top Gear magazine as it prepares to celebrate its 20th anniversary.
Top Gear has drawn up a shortlist of vehicles based on suggestions from visitors to its website and the input from the magazine's editorial team. However, now it is asking the public to vote for the overall winner, which will be revealed in the anniversary edition of the magazine, on sale September
Scroll through this gallery to see the candidates and then cast your vote on the Top Gear website
Top Gear has drawn up a shortlist of vehicles based on suggestions from visitors to its website and the input from the magazine's editorial team. However, now it is asking the public to vote for the overall winner, which will be revealed in the anniversary edition of the magazine, on sale September
Scroll through this gallery to see the candidates and then cast your vote on the Top Gear website
It might look like a few metal poles on wheels, but the
Somerset-built Ariel Atom, which was unveiled in 2000, is a serious track day
car with performance to humble most other vehicles
Light, mid-engined and with a modest power output, the Elise
embarrassed some much more expensive sports car when it first went on sale in
1996.
The E46-generation of M3 was launched in 2004 and used a
straight-six engine, rear-wheel drive and BMW's excellent variable M
differential lock
The BMW Mini, launched in 2001, has been a huge success
thanks to its funky styling, good handling and the endless options for owners to
personalise their cars to their own tastes
...
The Ferrari Enzo was launched in 2002 to celebrate 60 years
of the famous Italian marque. It had a 6.0-litre V12 engine and paddle-shift
gearbox
.
When an unknown Italian manufacturer called Pagani launched
the Zonda in 1999 it turned the supercar world on its head. Power came from a
6.0-litre, AMG-built V12
...
You can't have a top 20 cars list without a Porsche 911, and
the greatest of the last two decades as far as Top Gear is concerned is the 997
GT3 RS of 2010. Lighter, louder and a whole load faster, it was Porsche's idea
of the perfect track day car
...
The Range Rover of 2002 was the car that took this British
company back to the top of the pile. Like its predecessors, it combined off-road
credentials with on-road luxuries, making it one of the best cars in the
world
...
The Toyota Hilux is well known to Top Gear. In the third
series of the motoring show (in its current format), the presenters set out to
see if it was indestructable. Even after drowning it, setting fire to it and
dropping a caravan on it, the Hilux lived on
...
The Volkswagen Golf GTI has long been an automotive icon, but
it was the Mk5 version of 2004 that returned it to the top of the hot hatchback
class. Power came from a 2.0-litre turbocharged petrol engine, giving this Golf
the performance to match its sharp handling
...
The Mercedes-Benz S-class is often described as the best car
in the world, and the 2005 version was no different. Superb refinement and more
technology than you can shake a remote control at made the S-class a firm
favourite with executives and chauffeurs alike
.
The 1999 P1 is regarded by many as the greatest example of
the Impreza Turbo, a four-wheel drive saloon with a flat-four engine and sublime
handling and performance
..
The Rolls-Royce Phantom of 2003 was the first model to be
released under BMW ownership, and has been a big success, regarded by many as
the world's best luxury car
..
The LFA is the fastest Lexus ever made, not to mention one of
the most expensive supercars . Powered by a high-revving V10 engine, it cost
£343,000 when it was launched in 2010
.
The GT-R is Nissan's 2008 follow-up to the mighty Skyline. A
twin-turbocharged V6, four-wheel-drive transmission and some very clever
software ensure that it is one of the fastest point-to-point cars in the
world.
The 458 Italia is the latest in a long line of mid-engined
Ferrari V8s, and also the best. Is it the best car of the last 20 years, though?
That's for you to decide. Head over to the Top Gear 20th anniversary website,
where you can have your say
No comments:
Post a Comment