Top 10 Best Cars of the Decade

So it’s the year and the decades end and it’s all about lists. So we’ve made our own and checked it twice on our pics for the best cars of the decade. Largely our basis for choosing is the car’s impact to motoring. If it’s all about speed and performance supercars will pepper the list. For some reason, it does, but that doesn’t stop us from looking at the sensible side of things.

10. Toyota Prius

While die-hard gear- and petrolheads aren’t throwing in the towel yet in this econmentalist revolution that has affected the motoring industry, we have to admit the the impact of the hybrid. It might be slow to drive and you might look like a smug and sanctimonious bastard who likes the smell of his own farts owning one. But it did challenge the status quo regarding cars and saving the planet. And quite frankly, whether we like it or not, that’s where motoring is headed.
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Top Gear Season 14 Episode 5

The show’s packed but not really action filled. In the words of Jeremy Clarkson, “I get scared half to death on our track. We host our own art exhibition. And a world champion is in our reasonably-priced car.”

To open the show, Jezza goes out on the track with the new Noble M600. Unlike most supercars of today, the car doesn’t boast of a carbon-fiber chassis. Instead, the Noble has a stainless steel one. It’s powered by a V8 lifted from the unflattering Volvo XC90. Only Noble had the good sense of twin-turbocharging it.

Its £200,000 price-tag might be seen as a stiff price especially since the car doesn’t even have sat-nav, climate control, and even anti-lock brakes. So what’s wrong with the current line of supercars, some of which can be had at a price much lower than the M600? Well Jezza makes the point clear as he blitzes the car past a Porsche, a Ferrari, a Lambo, an Aston, and a McLaren Mercedes. The car is fast.

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Mazda to Tap Toyota for Hybrid Technology

Why reinvent the wheel? Looks like Mazda is carrying that philosophy as far as hybrid technology is concerned. Mazda might not be a global player the likes of Toyota but it has got to be one of Toyota’s competitors in specific markets.

As for hybrid tech, Mazda has yet to compete in the mainstream. Looks like it doesn’t want to go toe to toe with Toyota and its established Prius brand. Instead, Mazda’s considering forging an alliance with Toyota as source for hybrid tech to be slapped on Mazda cars.

Mazda is said to be preparing a hybrid launch by 2013.

There’s a good deal of sense with such a move. Without having to worry developing that aspect of the tech, Mazda can focus on improving other tech bits and styling.

Though it’s a bit weird that Mazda is stepping away from Ford’s hybrid tech. Ford-Mazda ties have been strained as of late but that alliance seems to be secure for now.

Aston Martin DBS and Vantage Carbon Black

As far as Aston Martins go, the Carbon Black is indication that they’ve taken their sleek cars and put them into dapper tuxedos and injected them with steroids.

Meet the Carbon Black Special editions of the Aston Martin DBS and Vantage.

Perhaps a key feature of the Carbon Black editions is their black paint job which is done manually (by hand) and takes 50 hours to both apply and quality check. Now that’s something to brag with your Crystal-sipping mates.

So what’s new with them aside from the Carbon Black paint job? The cars sit on 10-spoke diamond-cut alloy wheels with black detailing. The blackness doesn’t stop there as well. Inside, the seats, made from carbon fiber and Kevlar, are covered by Obsidian Black leather seats.

The cars also get the 700w Premium Audio Sytstem in the V12 Vantage and the Bang & Olufsen in the DBS.

Source: Aston Martin

Volkswagen CC R-Line to Come to US?

The Volkswagen (Passat) CC R-Line has been made available for the European market and VW execs are mulling offering the exclusive trim level to the US market.

(The Passat CC’s known only as the CC in the US market.)

The CC R-Line gets additional bling in the form of eithe ra 17-inch or 18-inch R-Line alloy wheels, foglamps, a front spoiler, side skirts and R-Line badges.

Inside, the CC R-Line gets aluminum tread plates, a leather-trimmed steering wheel with buttons to toggle the car’s electronics, and a Park Pilot system.

Volkswagen says that it will be announcing its decision on a US offering come the Detroit show. But if you’d ask us, this might as well be a teaser for a CC R-Line in the Detroit stands next month.

Kepler Motion Hybrid Supercar Showcased

789 hp in a hybrid. How about that?

This here’s the Kepler Motion from Kepler Motors – the hybrid that would make the likes of not only the Toyota Prius but also most supercars look like pansies.

The car packs a 542 bhp twin turbo Ford V6 that delivers power to the rear wheels and a 247 bhp electric motor that delivers power to the front wheels.

That much power enables the car to go from 0-60 in just 2.5 seconds and blast its way past the 200 mph barrier on full gallop.

The car packs tech bits like an active suspension system, active aerodynamics and a launch control system.