Hybrids aside, BMW has its low-carbon quota absolutely filled. Its 2.0-litre diesel engine, in various power outputs, has been offering a great balance of performance and efficiency in almost every model in
When Honda launched the CR-Z coupe in 2010, it was tasked with the job of making hybrids sporty. Beneath a bodyshell with hints of the well-loved CR-X in its profile, it used
The van’s drivetrain is based on the LEAF’s, with a 105bhp electric motor generating 207lb.ft of torque. Interestingly, the lithium-ion batteries will also be able to use the stored energy to power
So while there are few clues alluding to it, most of the platform and drivetrain are left unchanged here. Toyota got running costs, practicality and reliability right the first time. Instead, the
BMW had a go at introducing a 7 Series Hybrid a few years ago, based on the 4.4-litre V8 from the 750i. It was a technological first for the carmaker, and very
Better still, this isn't a concept car. A right hand drive version will be available in the UK next year, priced to compete with conventionally powered rivals and with the fleet market
Maybe that is not the best news for Ford as it prepares to launch the Focus BEV (Battery Electric Vehicle) in Europe early next year, when production starts at Ford’s Saarlouis plant
Talk of hydrogen fuel cells – not to be confused with hydrogen powered internal combustion engines – has been going since most current motoring journalists were in short trousers. Mercedes-Benz had an
This is a car which very definitely has a market, specifically Japan and North America where air quality standards make diesels a hard sell, but it’s a bit of a square peg
So if you consider the Prius purely for its rational benefits – reliability, practicality and fuel efficiency, boosted further by the environmental credibility of not churning out diesel fumes – then there’ll
The old GS, with its un-European styling and hybrid-only range, couldn’t quite cut it against the tactile plastics and low-CO2 diesel engines of the German rivals. But it seems Lexus has learned
For fleets looking to source this clever range-extending vehicle, the obvious strategy is to go to Opel/Vauxhall with its well-established fleet credentials and vast dealer network. But Chevrolet is keen for
So while most manufacturers are bringing electric vehicles to market, Toyota has stuck to its core technology and is broadening its hybrid family worldwide. European buyers will get this in its smallest form
Hydrogen fuel cell vehicles share a few basic components with a pure electric car. There's an electric motor powering the wheels, no reliance on petrol or diesel, and a lithium ion battery
But the business case for large hybrids has often been tricky. Lexus and Infiniti both cater for markets such as the United States and Japan, where air quality regulations make petrol-electric hybrids
At just shy of £30,000 for the forthcoming entry-level model, ranging to £34,000 for the top of the range 'Electron' version, that high-tech drivetrain doesn’t come cheap. But that’s likely to be
Whether the debate is informed or not depends on the company you keep, but there is evidence that a growing number of drivers are starting to accept the fact the EVs are
This month the ActiveHybrid5 goes on sale in the UK, priced at £46,860 and with a comprehensive specification as standard. From the outside it looks like any other 5 Series – save
Volvo sees this as a corporate-focussed car in the UK, at least once it reaches full production. The first 1,000 cars begin leaving the line next November, but even as one of
The Evoque has paved the way for the new generation – a smaller car made with more widespread use of lightweight materials and, like the Freelander, a front wheel drive option. And,