Hyundai survey reveals greatest automotive icons of the last century

MANILA: Ever wondered what car, movie, or personality stands out when you talk about cars? I’m sure you do, which is why this survey done by Hyundai is heaven sent.

Teaming up with a UK website to survey some 2,000 people, Hyundai went out to learn who and what the greatest automotive icons of TV and film are.

When it comes to personalities, “The Grand Tour” host Jeremy Clarkson beat out the “King of Cool” Steve McQueen fair and square.

Movies like Bullitt, The Great Escape, and Le Mans shot McQueen to fame but it’s stunts like driving to the North Pole or riding motorcycles from Ho Chi Minh to Ha Long Bay in Vietnam, which has made Clarkson a worldwide phenomenon.

“Steve McQueen is nicknamed The King of Cool and he’s responsible for some of Hollywood’s most iconic moments, whether it’s the bike scene in The Great Escape or the famous chase in Bullitt. But he plays second fiddle to Jeremy Clarkson, whose legendary adventures from behind the wheel of a car have crowned him as our favorite automotive screen icon,” says a spokesman for Hyundai.

Clarkson’s co-host Richard Hammond comes in third, followed by Vin Diesel, and then by Sean Connery.

When it comes to the movies, The Italian Job — the one starring Michael Caine and not Mark Wahlberg — is on top of this list. It holds the distinction of having the most popular car chase to ever appear on the big screen. It also has been the most watched automotive film during this lockdown period.

On TV, it’s not a surprise that Top Gear is number one but what’s surprising is now defunct shows Knight Rider (starring David Hasselhoff) and The Dukes of Hazzard come in second and third, respectively.

TOP 20 - GREATEST AUTOMOTIVE ICONS

1       Jeremy Clarkson

2       Steve McQueen

3       Richard Hammond

4       Vin Diesel

5       Sir Sean Connery CBE

6       James May

7       Paul Walker

8       Daniel Craig

9       Sir Roger Moore KBE

10     Jason Statham

Photos from IMDB, Amazon, and BBC