Jeremy Clarkson’s Star Cars List Includes the Mustang Fastback 5.0 V8 GT
Jeremy Clarkson is to cars as Andy Rooney was to news. What Clarkson says doesn’t always fall safely inside the boundaries of political correctness, but it is exactly what he thinks. That irreverence has earned the former BBC front-man a global following — a following eager to share in Clarkson’s rants and raves no matter the venue. His latest musings come in the form of his “Star Cars” piece for Britain’s The Sunday Times.
Car fans will recognize the “Star Cars” format as similar to that of Car & Driver’s annual 10 Best awards or Motor Trend’s Car of the Year. The 10 “motors” selected needn’t satisfy any particular set of criteria, but rather are honored for delivering a complete driving experience, something James May calls “the fizz.”
Guess what car made the list? The Ford Mustang Fastback 5.0 V8 GT, of course. 50 years after the original Mustang, the most recent edition has everything that muscle car fans love. It has the looks, and the speed to go with it. Reaching 410 horsepower and a top speed of 155 mph, Clarkson admits that this fantastic beast costs less than his Volkswagen Golf GTI. He later goes on to say that it’s time to believe the hype… this car completely deserves to be on his list.
With true driver’s cars becoming less and less common on the market, a number of Clarkson’s other choices come as no surprise. The celebrated Ferrari 488, with its purist-defying boosted V8, earns a selection. That’s accompanied by BMW’s M2, an homage to the performance coupes that helped shape the brand’s image.
But — and this is why we love J.C. — there are a few selections that will make even the most well-read petrol-head raise a fuel-singed eyebrow.
Case in point: the Vauxhall Zafira Tourer 1.6 CDTi Tech Line. In addition to having a name that uses nearly every single letter of the alphabet, this compression-ignition hatch earns a Clarkson endorsement because it is “the most comfortable car in the world.” Clarkson also applauds the Zafira’s diesel power plant.
Moving on, we get Jeremy’s defense of the Alfa Romeo 4C, an exquisite piece of road-going art to be certain, but not capable of earning the love of those seeking practicality. That, however, is exactly what Clarkson claims makes the 4C such a gem. “It feels human” he exclaims, a line that will no doubt sit well with Alfa aficionados who would never expect mechanical levels of reliability from a car.
In the more-practical-than-expected category, Clarkson selects the Volvo XC90, which, in its second generation, is reinventing what it means to be an SUV. With a host of safety features and a cabin so comfy you could “nod off [and] you’d be fine,” the Swedish seven-seater even earns the ultimate in SUV compliments from Clarkson when he compares it to a Land Rover.
Want to learn which other rides Clarkson feels deserve special recognition? Check out the article for yourself, then let us know your thoughts.
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Via [The Sunday Times]
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