To celebrate
its 20th anniversary, Top Gear Magazine is asking car
enthusiasts to vote for the greatest car of the last 20 years. They’ve narrowed
the selection to 20 cars including Toyota Hilux and Prius, and the Lexus
LFA!
Toyota introduced the Hilux compact pickup truck to the
American market in 1969 sporting a 1.9-liter engine. During its seven
year run in the United States, it garnered a “Pickup Truck of the Year” award,
added a five-speed manual transmission and an extended cargo bed. The
Hilux name was retired in 1976 in favor of Toyota Pickup.
Prius,
the world’s first mass-produced hybrid passenger car, first
went on sale in Japan in 1997 and was subsequently introduced worldwide in
2000. Now in its third generation, Prius gets a combined EPA-estimated
fuel economy of 50 miles per gallon. This June, Prius reached a global
sales milestone of 3 million vehicles.
With
production limited to 500 units globally, the exclusive LFA supercar elevated
the Lexus brand with its performance, technology and passionate design. Each
unit was hand-assembled and incorporated the first shoulder belt seat belt SRS
airbag system and an automated carbon fiber reinforced plastic manufacturing
process. The LFA delivers exceptional handling thanks to its balanced and
lightweight carbon fiber chassis and mid-front engine mounting. The
4.8-liter V10 produces 552 horsepower and has one of the most beautiful and
distinct exhaust notes to match its power.
In the
February 2013 issue of Top Gear magazine Jeremy Clarkson said, “I love
the LFA a lot. So much that I recently described it as the best car I’ve
ever driven… I still believe it’s the best I’ve ever driven.”
It's an honor to be nominated, but let's go for the win! Vote for
your favorite at www.topgear.com/20years.
