THE humble Fiat 500 has beaten the likes of Lotus and Lamborghini to take the title of the world's sexiest car, as decided by Top Gear magazine.

Top Gear reckons the 500 has "the allure of the wholesome and uncomplicated".

The magazine goes on: "Everyone, from strapping blokes to fainting flowers of womanhood, looks sexually charged behind its wheel.

Second in the list of 100 sexiest cars was the Aston Martin DBS beloved of James Bond and which, the magazine says, "has a special place reserved in the heads and loins of mid-40s, early mid-life crisis men".

Third was the Maserati Quattroporte, which "seduces your eyes away from your brain" and fourth was the Chevrolet Camaro - a "creature of legend".

Other cars in the top 20 included the Rolls-Royce Phantom, the Aston Martin Vanquish and the 190mph Lamborghini Gallardo Spyder.

In 10th place was Sally the Porsche 911 Carrera cartoon car, which features in the film Cars and was voiced by actress Bonnie Hunt. Coincidentally, Cars goes on general release at cinemas across the UK this week. Arguably far too low down the list is the Jaguar E-type, which was only in 90th place.

James May, Top Gear TV presenter, said: "Every psychologist in the world has some hackneyed theory on the relationship between sexuality and cars, but our number one sexiest car, the Fiat 500, advertises nothing about its owner, except that it's someone who doesn't need to try."