low emission cars

The Mail on Sunday reports :’ General Motors, the World’s biggest car maker, predicts that four million electric vehicles a year will be built by 2020.’

Also, Nick Reilly,boss of the GM subsidiary Vauxhall Opel is quoted as saying  he believes that 20 per cent of all car sales will, by the end of the decade, be electric. The UK, where the Vauxhall Ampera ( known as the Volt in the US) will go on sale next year, he believes will be at the centre of the electric car revolution.

Early indications are that potential demand and Government encouragement would tempt GM to follow Nissan’s decision to build the Nissan Leaf in the UK, and develop its own UK electric car production facility for the Ampera.

You can read a fuller report at: General-Motors-forecasts-4m-electric-vehicles-year-built-2020.html

The rain stayed away just long and often enough last Saturday to allow me to enjoy a fabulous day spent at the Cholmondeley Pageant of Power. As you might expect the highlight for me- there were some fantastic cars elsewhere on show and on track- was the collection of new low emission cars showcased by the green-car-guide.com team. So,I was able to sit in each of the driving seats and ,therefore, admire close-up the features and lines of :

1. Nissan Leaf – the all-electric hatchback which costs less than #2 to charge

2. The Nissan Juke- dynamic and with modern  styling the DIF-T Juke is a ‘crossover’ with a 1.6-litre turbocharged petrol engine. Not too green I hear you say.Actually, it is one of the most economical all wheeled drive petrol-powered cars on the market. It was the star of a two wheeled ‘stunt’ drive during the day.

3.Nissan Micra-  this made-up the triumvirate from the Nissan stable. This powerful small package emits just 95 g/km from a supercharged three-cylinder  petrol engine.Fuel efficiency of the DIG-S model boasts a commendable 68.9 mpg.

4.Volkswagen were well represented by the Golf Bluemotion and the Golf 1.2 TSI. The Bluemotion is a an extremely well refined family hatchback with a miserly fuel consumption of 74.3 mpg. The Golf TSI is petrol engined and delivers a good performance returning  51.4 mpg.

5. BMW 520d – this Efficient Dynamics Saloon brought its own stamp of elegance and luxury.It is the most efficient 5 series ever.

6.Mini Cooper D – the iconic evergreen marque is encapsulated in the Cooper D. At 74.3 mpg and emissions of 99 g/km CO2 the Mini D is well qualified to take its place as a green car.

7.Lexus CT200H – beloved in the adverts by Kylie Mynogue this beauty from Lexus appealed to me greatly. This is is a full hybrid all-new hatchback. With a fuel economy of 68.9 mpg and a mere 94 g/km of CO2 emissions, CT200H looks to outperform its small luxury car competition.

8.Oaktec Honda Insight - a proven rally star the Oaktec is increasingly successful in Formula 1000 championship races. Apparently, as it is so successful it has been banned from competing!  Winner of a fuel efficienct competition it returns a parsimonious 82mpg.

9.Jaguar XF - a truly elegant luxury motor. So here we have a car in a category not always known for its fuel efficiency. At 52.3 mpg ,its 2.2-litre diesel XF has an emissions rating under 150 g/km CO2. A top speed of 140 mph shows no compromise on performance.

For further and fuller reports on more than ten top green cars go to the Green-Car Guide, and for events at this year’s Pageant of Power. Can’t wait ’til next year’s Pageant.