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Time Extend, a podcast aimed squarely at racing game fans, carried out a bracket-style tournament vote on what the greatest video game car ever, and it was a closely contested battle.Vehicles from the likes of Wipeout HD, Flatout 2, Ridge Racer 7, Burnout, Crazy Raxi, Mario Kart DS, Halo, Rocket League, Sega Rally, and GTA 5, among others, were all in the running.In the end, the Hornet from Daytona USA went up against the Feisar from Wipeout HD on one side of the semi-final, while the Escudo Pikes Peak from Gran Turismo faced off against Castrol Tom's Supra in other semi-final.
Gran Turismo's Escudo Pikes Peak won out against the Supra to reach the final, while the Hornet from Sega's classic Daytona USA edged out Wipeout HD's Feisar for the final head-to-head.
Ultimately, the legendary Escudo Pikes Peak won out, racing ahead with the votes against the equally legendary Hornet from Daytona USA. Gran Turismo's super powerful Escudo won with 57.5 percent (1,209 votes) over the Hornet's 42.5 percent (894 votes).
Veteran Gran Turismo players will remember the 4WD Suzuki Escudo Pikes Peak Version from 1999's Gran Turismo 2 on the PSone. Costing two million in in-game credits, the Escudo earned a reputation for its blistering speed from its then jaw-dropping 981 bhp. Weighing in at a paltry 800kg, it had a monster power-to-weight ratio and was known to obilterate entire fields, easily winning races due to its sheer speed. It maxed out at 255 mph (411 kmh).
The Hornet, meanwhile, is the iconic race car from the classic Daytona USA, a title which was seen often in games arcades. A Ford Mustang with a custom livery, the Hornet's visually striking colours and design became etched into a generation of racing game fans' minds. But many also pointed out that the car could literally kick ass since the Hornet was also included as a secret, unlockable character in the 1996 Sega Saturn fighting game Fighters Megamix.
It also appears the greatest video games car ever may be making a return to the Gran Turismo series, as an update has teased its addition to Gran Turismo 7. Watch this space.