Et tu, Clarkson? Top Gear names Toyota Prius its "City Car of the Year"

Discussion in 'Prius, Hybrid, EV and Alt-Fuel News' started by cwerdna, Dec 5, 2009.

  1. cwerdna

    cwerdna Senior Member

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    #1 cwerdna, Dec 5, 2009
  2. spinkao

    spinkao New Member

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    #2 spinkao, Dec 5, 2009
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  3. sandsw

    sandsw Member

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    Boy, what a turnaround...

    and here was me thinking that he was "owned" by the oil companies.
     
    #3 sandsw, Dec 5, 2009
  4. Sacto1549

    Sacto1549 Member

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    I think Clarkson realizes that:

    1) The current Prius has more interior space than many cars sold in Europe.

    2) The Prius gets great fuel economy without breathing the poisonous exhaust you get from diesel-powered automobiles.

    #2 is something Europeans conveniently ignore in their claims about diesel cars sporting low CO2 emissions. They forget that diesel engines spew out more NOx gases and spew out unhealthy for lungs diesel particulates, both of which are not an issue with the Prius. :)
     
    #4 Sacto1549, Dec 6, 2009
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  5. Mjolinor

    Mjolinor New Member

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    Well I think that Top Gear is a good chat show and that's it. Jeremy Clarkson is an idiot and wouldn't know a good car if it ran over him.

    Their personal recommendations for cars are about as likely to influence my decisions as a cow farting.
     
    #5 Mjolinor, Dec 6, 2009
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  6. F8L

    F8L Protecting Habitat & AG Lands

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    #6 F8L, Dec 6, 2009
  7. Tideland Prius

    Tideland Prius Moderator of the North
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    Don't forget the all important 0-60 time... which is always conveniently left out but everyone claims the Prius is slow (at 10 secs, it's slightly faster than a Fit w/ an auto, smart fortwo [both diesel and petrol], Jetta TDI, Civic Hybrid, even the 6-cylinder Chevy Epica [which is no longer in production])
     
    #7 Tideland Prius, Dec 6, 2009
  8. Rybold

    Rybold globally warmed member

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    Everytime I've watched Top Gear on Youtube, they've been throwing 500hp cars around and oval in time trials. I'm completely confused by a Prius winning their award.
    I'm going to assume that there are TWENTY different categories that they have awards for. The "city car" must be the car that only drives in rush hour traffic and never has a chance to exhibit it's horsepower. If my perception of Top Gear is not correct, then please inform me of the correct description of Top Gear.

    Fast-forward to 3:33 and begin from there...

     
    #8 Rybold, Dec 6, 2009
  9. bwilson4web

    bwilson4web BMW i3 and Model 3

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    What was their 2009 "City Car of the Year?"

    Bob Wilson
     
    #9 bwilson4web, Dec 7, 2009
  10. patsparks

    patsparks An Aussie perspective

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    In which episode did they drive around an oval?
    I don't think the oval track is used much outside the USA except in dirt track speedway which comes out of the USA anyway.

    Several stories on Top Gear have a lot in them about some very slow cars actually. It is about entertainment, not really about cars.
     
    #10 patsparks, Dec 7, 2009
  11. Mjolinor

    Mjolinor New Member

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    I thought it was Australian circa 1920s
     
    #11 Mjolinor, Dec 7, 2009
  12. Rybold

    Rybold globally warmed member

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    I didn't mean an oval like nascar. I just meant driving in an oval configuration (like in the Youtube video I posted above). Actually, I think it's more of a figure eight than an oval. My apologies - I suppose seeing the car flying around corners from one straight to another, over and over, was perceived as an oval to me.
     
    #12 Rybold, Dec 8, 2009
  13. Tideland Prius

    Tideland Prius Moderator of the North
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    That's their test track. It consists of 9 corners IIRC. Of course if they're not lapping their car, the entire runway is at their disposal.
     
    #13 Tideland Prius, Dec 8, 2009
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