IN THIS FEATURE Drag queens The pink pound The run-down Targeting the gay buyer It's different Stateside

So the French started it, and the Brits have waded in. Sounds like your average history lesson of the last 1000 years. But why suddenly the need for Gay Car of the Year - British or French? "Well, we had been talking around the office about how important the Car of the Year is for straight men, and we thought we would do it for gay men," says Mike Gray. "And anyway, many manufacturers are now targeting gay owners. Ford sponsors the Mardi Gras and Gay Pride. Smart and Mini are also visible, advertising in gay magazines and on gay websites. So why not have a Gay Car of the Year?"

Clarkson's got one: SL55 AMG

Don't forget (should they not remind you) that the French were first, and dreamt up the Gay Car of the Year solely as a publicity stunt. Pierre and Jeff, the co-founders of Club Auto Rainbow, hijacked last year's Mondial D'Automobile show in Paris with the news that the club's 34 members had decided the 206 CC was the gayest thing on four wheels. Hence, Outuk.com has had to play second fiddle, but its voting system carries much more clout. "We have 15,000 registered members and over 300 responded. They had to come up with their top three cars, cars that they liked," explains Mike Gray.

Here are Outuk.com's Top Ten:

1. Smart City Car
2. Jeep Wrangler
3. Pink Rolls Royce
4. Mercedes SL55 AMG
5. Mini
6. BMW Z8
7. Porsche convertible
8. Classic Chevy
9. Skoda Fabia
10. Beetle convertible