Popular hatchback Jeremy Clarkson described as having ‘the best engine in the world’ can be yours for less than £3k

A POPULAR hatchback that Jeremy Clarkson said has the "best engine in the world" can now be picked up for under £3,000.

The Top Gear legend described the model as a "joyous machine that makes you smile".

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Clarkson has driven just about every supercar, bizarre concept and 4x4 monster on the go in his many years in the motoring world.

But in a review for he spoke of "yearning for only the simple" when it comes to his cars.

With that in mind, he made the bold decision to pick the 2011 Fiat 500 TwinAir over a Bugatti Veyron, which would leave many petrolheads clutching their pearls.

The Grand Tour host wrote: "Of course, you are familiar with the 500.

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"And unless you are James May, the chances are you like it very much.

"You like the cheekiness and the way it’s both retro and very modern at the same time.

"It gets better, because while the Fiat is very similar in concept to the Mini — they’re both fashion statements first and cars second — it is much cheaper.

"In short, the little Fiat is a joyous machine that makes you smile...it has an engine quite unlike anything else we’ve ever seen before."

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That engine is a 1.2-litre two-cylinder block using Fiat's ingenious variable valve timing system.

Instead of using a camshaft to regulate the intake and exhaust valves, it is all done by electronically controlled hydraulics.

And, as Clarkson said, "the end result is spectacular".

The star even went as far as to compare it to the legendary Rolls-Royce Merlin engine that powered the iconic Spitfire fighter plane.

He added: "The 500 is a great little car.

"And now you can have it with what is almost certainly the best engine … in the world."

Amazingly, despite the ringing endorsement, TwinAir 500s can be found for astonishingly low prices online.

One listing on sees a 2011 model with 79,000 miles on the clock available for just £2,999.

It comes after a fast Ford dubbed the "supercar killer" of its day went on sale for less than £10,000.

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