Final Gear Top 100 - 5 votes

[Overheat]

A few more for 5 votes - pics getting bigger and the descriptions are getting longer - hope you don't mind


Volkswagen Beetle

The VW Type 1, which was called the Beetle or Bug or Käfer (in German), is a small family car, the best known car of Volkswagen, one of the best known cars from Germany, and one of the most recognisable and distinctive cars in the world. Thanks to its distinctive shape and sound, and its reliability, it now enjoys a "cult" status.

The Beetle was in production from 1938 until 2003, interrupted only by the Second World War. Over 21 million Beetles were produced.

The "Beetle" name was not originally given to the car. Inside Volkswagen, it was simply known as the "Type 1" until the 1968 model year (August 1967), when, for the first time, German brochures used the name "Der Käfer" (meaning "The Beetle" in German) on the front cover and inside. The Beetle name was later reused when the New Beetle was introduced in 1998.

n 2002 total production of the VW Golf, at 22 million units, overtook that of the Beetle. However this measure includes all four distinct generations of Golf since 1974, and these are really different cars using the same name, as is also the case with the Toyota Corolla.

By 2003 Beetle annual production had fallen to 30,000 from a peak of 1.3 million in 1971. On July 30, 2003, the final original VW Beetle (No. 21,529,464) was produced at Puebla, Mexico, some 65 years after its public launch in Nazi Germany, and an unprecedented 58-year production run since 1945. VW announced this step in June, citing decreasing demand. The last car was immediately shipped off to the company's museum in Wolfsburg, Germany. In true Mexican fashion, a mariachi band serenaded the last car.


Lamborghini Countach

The Lamborghini Countach was a supercar produced by Lamborghini in Italy. The first prototype emerged in 1971, and production lasted until 1990. It did not pioneer but did popularise the wedge-shaped, sharply angled look popular in many high performance cars since.

The word Countach is an expletive of astonishment in the local Italian dialect, and somehow the name stuck. The word is somewhat akin to the American expression, "Holy cow!" All previous Lamborghini names were associated with bullfighting (Ferruccio Lamborghini being an aficionado of the sport).

In 2004, Sports Car International named this car number three on the list of Top Sports Cars of the 1970s, and it was listed as number ten on their list of Top Sports Cars of the 1980s.

The styling was by Marcello Gandini of the Bertone design studio. Gandini was then a young, inexperienced designer—not very experienced in the practical, ergonomic aspects of automobile design, but at the same time unhindered by them. He produced a quite striking design. The Countach shape was wide and low (42.1 inches), but not very long. Its angular and wedge-shaped body was made almost entirely of flat, trapezoidal panels. There were curves, notably the smoothly coke-bottle wing line, but the overall appearance was sharp.

The doors, a Countach trademark, were of a 'scissors' fashion—hinged at the front with horizontal hinges, so that the doors lifted up and tilted forwards. This was partly for style, but just as much because the width of the car made conventional doors impossible to use in an even slightly confined space. Care needed to be taken, though, in opening the doors with a roof overhead. Also, for any large people to get in through the doors is a feat as they did not leave much room to get in (the doors had a nasty habit of lowering, then smashing shut on the occupants, a la De Lorean.)

Aerodynamics, however, were quite poor for such a sleek-looking car—but looking fast was more important to Lamborghini.


Aston Martin DB5

The Aston Martin DB5, released in 1963, was a slight upgrade from the DB4 which preceded it. It is perhaps most famous for being the first and most recognized James Bond car, seen in Goldfinger, Thunderball, and GoldenEye.

The major difference between the DB4 and DB5 is the engine — the DB5's was boosted to 4.0 L (3995 cc/243 in³). Another addition was the 5-speed transmission option. The standard engine, with three SU carburettors, produced 282 hp (210 kW), propelling the car to 148 mph (238 km/h).

A very unusual DB5 was the "shooting brake" station wagon, a dozen of which were produced by independent coachbuilder, Harold Radford.

* Weight: 1565 kg (3450 lb)
* Engine: 4.0 L (3995 cc/243 in³) straight-6
* Power: 282 hp (210 kW) at 5500 rpm
* Torque — 390 N·m (288 ft·lbf) at 3850 rpm
* Top Speed: 230 km/h (143 mph)
* 0-60 mph (97 km/h) Acceleration: 8.1 s



Aston Martin AMV8 Vantage

The new Aston Martin V8 Vantage was first seen at the Geneva Motor Show in 2005. The two seat, two door coupe has a bonded aluminium structure for strength and lightness. The 4.38 m (14.4 ft)-long coupe has a hatchback-style tailgate for practicality, with a large luggage shelf behind the seats.

The car is powered by a 4.3 L quad-cam 32-valve V8 which produces 380 hp (283 kW) at 7000 rpm and 302 ft·lbf (409 N·m) at 5000 rpm. This engine is unique to Aston Martin and features race-style dry-sump lubrication, which enables it to be mounted low to lower the centre of gravity. The engine, based on the Jaguar AJ-V8 engine, is assembled by hand at the AM facility in Cologne, Germany, which also builds the V12 for the DB9 and Vanquish. The cylinder block, cylinder heads, crankshaft, connecting rods, pistons, camshafts, inlet and exhaust manifolds, lubrication system and engine management are all unique to the Aston Martin version.

The car can accelerate to 60 mph (97 km/h) in 4.9 seconds. The engine is front mid-mounted with a rear-mounted transaxle, giving a 49:51 front:rear weight distribution.

The V8 Vantage will cost £79,000 or €104,000 when it goes on sale towards the end of summer 2005 and is intended to compete with the Porsche 911.


Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution

The Lancer Evolution (colloquially known as the "Evo") is Mitsubishi's flagship sports car, initially based on the Mitsubishi Lancer sedan. Evolution models prior to version V were the officially approved (homologation) models for Mitsubishi's efforts in the World Rally Championship's Group A class and SCCA Pro Rally Championship. In order to follow these rules, the Evolution is based on the same platform as the Lancer, but is much more powerful and the only part in common between the Evo and the Lancer is the unibody. Nine street versions of the Evolution have been produced from 1993 up to today. Evolution versions VI, VII, VIII and IX did not need to meet WRC homologation requirements.

The Evo was originally intended only for Japanese markets but demand on the 'grey import' market led the Evolution series to be offered through limited type-approval in the United Kingdom and in various European markets from around 1998 (Evo V-VI). The demand for import sports cars in the United States eventually made Mitsubishi decide to import the eighth-generation Evolution to the US in 2003. The current 2005 Evolution (US market) includes a turbocharged 276 hp (205 kW) inline four-cylinder engine and a full-time all wheel drive powertrain. 2006 models are all rated at 286 hp (213 kW) with an 10 additional hp realized from turbocharger diffuser adjustments. Variable valve timing is also an Evolution first in 2006, coming in the form of MIVEC (Mitsubishi Innovative Valve-timing-and-lift Electronic Control). Japanese-spec cars were limited by a gentleman's agreement to advertise no more than 280 PS (276 bhp), but various versions available in other markets, particularly the UK, have official power outputs up to 405 bhp (302 kW).

The Lancer Evolution was unique among its competitors in the World Rally Championship in that it is a homologated Group A car slightly modified to be able to race competitively against WRC class cars. The Evolution however has now been replaced by the Lancer/Carisma GT and the new Lancer WRC04, but the Evo still competes in the Group A and Group N classes.

In some European markets, the Evo was sold as the Mitsubishi Carisma Evolution. Proton Motors of Malaysia races a Evolution VII as the Proton Pert in various APAC rally series.


Lamborghini Murciélago

The Lamborghini Murciélago is a GT and supercar automobile made by Lamborghini and designed by Luc Donckerwolke. It was introduced in 2002 as the successor to the Diablo. The body style is a two door, two seat coupé.

An open-top version called the Murciélago roadster was introduced in 2004 for the 2005 model year. The roadster features similar performance to the coupe with a more aggressive rear flank, as well as a considerably higher price tag.

The Murciélago has a 6.2 L V12 engine, a six speed manual gearbox and All Wheel Drive. It also has a rear spoiler that can be raised to an angle of 70 degrees, the side mirrors fold in to increase aerodynamics and side scoops that automatically open to the needed size to let in just the right amount of air needed to cool its engine.

The name Murciélago comes from a bull that survived 24 sword strokes in an 1879 fight, and fought with such passion and spirit that the matador chose to spare its life, a rare honor. In another Lamborghini tie-in, the bull was later presented as a gift to Don Antonio Miura, a noted breeder, and went on to sire a line of famous fighting bulls. Murciélago also means bat in Spanish, and a Murciélago roadster is featured briefly in the movie Batman Begins. The coupe's base price is US$273,000, which is US$90,000 more than its smaller sibling, the Lamborghini Gallardo.

[BlaRo]

Beetle? What is that?

My vote definitely was for the Countach. Maybe the DB5 as well.

Great job per usual, Overheat. Just wondering, how many votes did the number 1 car get? Just to see where these stack up in comparison.

[Xeon SX]

2 Lambos and 2 Astons - cool choice

[Ethan]

V8 Vantage.... nice!

[mautzel]

None of mine again - thought that the Käfer would've got some more votes!

[Overheat]

Originally Posted by BlaRo

Beetle? What is that?

My vote definitely was for the Countach. Maybe the DB5 as well.

Great job per usual, Overheat. Just wondering, how many votes did the number 1 car get? Just to see where these stack up in comparison.

I'll leave the mystery

[jayjaya29]

Evo and Murciélago were partly my fault.

[p0w3r]

Originally Posted by jayjaya29

Evo and Murciélago were partly my fault.

so far the evo was my only choice...so still got 9 more cars to go

[Z3R0 117]

wasn't the beetle thought up by hitler?

[flyingfridge]

The Countach beat the Diablo

[bihus]

Originally Posted by Z3R0 117

wasn't the beetle thought up by hitler?

The concept, yeah.

[pdanev]

Beetle and Evo I might have voted for, don't remember exactly.

Btw, I'm surprised about the AMV8 Vantage. It's a very very new car, recently released, barely any reviews on it, noone has any experience with the car yet, how can it be on place 5?

Just because it's new, and an Aston, doesn't necessarily make it imo a top great car of all times (at least not yet).

[bihus]

It wasn't an all times greatest voting. And it has got 5 votes, not placed 5th

[SL65]

Damn, none of mine got in! I think I might have had a few too many Mercs on my list

So how'd the AMV8 get in there?? Its nice...but it isnt that 'great' is it?

[fbc]

Woo, another of mine makes an appearance - the Beetle.

[marcos_eirik]

The V8 Vantage gets my vote...

[bone]

Originally Posted by bihus

The concept, yeah.

nope

just read sth about this a few days ago

the design of the beetle was designed by Josef Ganz. an ingenieer who was head publisher of a carmag, called Motor-Kritik. he flames the german carindustry at all sides by saying the cars are to heavy, to expensive and uncomfortable. he proposes to build a small affordable car, a "volkswagen". in the 20s he draws several concepts in the line of the later beetle.

but no car maker was interested, so a bikemaker called Standard made a few cars in 32, called the superior, advertised as a "volkswagen"

(with the nr 61)

but then hitler showed up, and liked the idea, tested a few cars in the idea to start a bigger production
until they discover Ganz was a jew, they locked him away for a short time, taking all his documents.

Ganz later moves to Switserland to never return to germany again.
the same month Porsche gets the assignment to produice a car, and comes up the beetle, which looks much alike, and was build the same way

[bihus]

^^ Nice. So it wasn't ordered by the 'tache dude...

[BerserkerCatSplat]

So, er.... bump?

It's been a while, I'm looking forward to 6 votes!

[Salar]

Beetle Kafer SHOULD be there(or remain there).
I'm just not sure about Murc.