B16Skyline: Car of the Decade Nomination

When I was first started thinking of a potential nomination, nothing really came to mind. I was thinking, "What car deserves this? What car is a monumental feat of engineering?" that sort of line. Maybe a Bugatti Veyron? Most would agree. A 8.0L W16 quad-charged engine is no easy feat. But no. Bugatti is nice and all, but let me ask you; have you actually seen one before outside of a showroom? What good is a 243-mph-capable car if it stays in your garage for your entire life? VW made it to have 1,001 bhp for a reason. For the buyer to actually USE it. VW intended this thing to tear up the Autobahn, and smash every time record in every track ever made in the world. But no, this car is only owned by rich people who just bought it to have it, and who will most likely never take this car past 100mph, less than half of its top speed.

But enough about that. So I returned back to my train of thought. What of the other side of the spectrum? Say, a SmartCar? It represents the new attitude towards cars; smaller is better, not that "If a small engine can do it well, then a bigger one can do it better" nonsense GMC was banded under at the start of the 21st century SUV-trend kick-off. The SmartCar is relatively spacious and fairly comfortable, gas-efficient, and a unique zang in the automotive market. Plus its starting to become common to see one on the road these days. But again, no. If you're a petrol-head like myself, you've probably seen the SmartCar head-on test crash with a Mercedes E350. The SmartCar was literally no more. What a gruesome way to go; steering wheel jammed in your bollocks and the head rest mashing your face into the dashboard. So no, the SmartCar doesn't have what it takes to be the Car of the Decade.

So eventually, I came to my final conclusion. The Toyota Prius. Now, most of you would be sitting there thinking, "But the Prius is so..." and yes, you'd be right. And wrong. Because, for all of its faults, the Prius is an iconic symbol of the 2000 decade. It represents the dying of the SUV-trend, and the rise of the compact car. It links itself to a key global issue, the energy crisis, and there is not a more perfect example of the automotive industry's attempt to go green that easily surpasses over other attempts, like Ford's pathetic, silly EcoBoost. Like it or not, it has clawed (with neatly manicured nails) its way up to top spot of the hybrid game. It's fuel-effiecent, ergonomic, comfortable, spacious, and in its own way, sort of a pretty car. When you blink. What I like about it though, is that it seats 5 in comfortable, roomy seats, while preserving the ability to have everyone's luggage in the trunk. It has enough space to rival most compact SUV's, and is a quite viable eco-friendly option over most 2-row SUVs.

So, in the end, the Toyota Prius is my nomination for Car of the Decade. It is the king (or queen) of the hybrid market, and every single Californian and movie star has one. Plus, I find the idea that a 4000lbs eco-green machine having the ability to hit 137 kpm (while getting 27 mpg) quite pleasing.