The awards are ‘designed to highlight and advise on the best new cars on the market specifically for UK customers’ and saw more than 100 new car assessed and voted on by 27 professional journalist judges from media including Top Gear Magazine, The Sunday Times, Auto Express and Fleet World.

The first model to launch within the BMW i range, the BMW i3 took the overall UKCOTY title, as well as being named Supermini Of The Year. Judges’ comments included: ‘i3 is a bold and brave take on electrification, and reveals a fresh design language that is purely BMW i.’

It also joins the line-up at  the Fleet World Fleet Show in April, which gives early opportunities to drive the UK Car of the Year Winner alongside the category-winning Range Rover Sport in hybrid and non-hybrid form.

Electrified vehicles confirmed so far also include Citroen’s DS5, the Peugeot 3008 crossover and 508 and RXH all fitted with the diesel-electric Hybrid4 drivetrain, as well as the the Peugeot iOn electric city car. Further models are set to be added in the coming weeks.