Next Green Car today announces the winners of the Next Green Car Awards 2012, the most scientifically-based Green Car Awards in the UK.
Next Green Car has made awards across eight vehicle categories including the 'Next Generation‟ Award, which includes new technology models close to market launch. An overall winner is also awarded the title of Next Green Car 'Gold Award' 2012.
The nine winners are selected from shortlists of 26 of the UK‟s greenest new cars of 2012/13, all selected for their environmental Green Car Rating (GCR), level of innovation, value, drive experience and design.
The winners of the Next Green Car Awards 2012 are as follows:
City-car Award 2012
Volkswagen up! BlueMotion - CO2: 96 g/km - GCR1: 29
Supermini Award 2012
Renault ZOE Z.E. - CO2: 0 g/km - GCR: 26
Small Family Award 2012
Volvo V40 D2 - CO2: 94 g/km - GCR: 29
Large Family Award 2012
Toyota Prius Plug-in Hybrid - CO2: 49 g/km - GCR: 32
Family Estate Award 2012
Ford Focus 1.0T EcoBoost Estate - CO2: 109 g/km - GCR: 31 (est)
Executive Award 2012
BMW 3 Series 320d EfficientDynamics - CO2: 109 g/km - GCR: 31
MPV Award 2012
Ford B-MAX 1.6 TDCi - CO2: 104 g/km - GCR: 31
Next Generation Award 2012
BMW i3 - CO2: 0 g/km - GCR: 26 (est)
Gold Award 2012
Renault ZOE Z.E. - CO2: 0 g/km - GCR: 26
As noted by Dr. Ben Lane, Managing Editor of Next Green Car: "The 2012 winners reflect two key elements underlying current green car development: downsizing and electrification. Three of the winners are brand new models and follow the design philosophy of „small is beautiful‟. Over half of the winners also incorporate electric drive-trains, either as pure electric cars, plug-in hybrids or with start-stop."
He continues: "Indeed, the Next Green Car Gold Award 2012 goes to the highly innovative Renault ZOE Z.E. which for the first time offers a zero-emission all-electric supermini to the UK car buyer."
In receiving the Gold Award 2012, Andy Heiron, Head of Electric Vehicle Programme, Renault UK said: "We're delighted that ZOE has collected not just one, but two awards from Next Green Car, several months before it even launches in the UK; especially the prestigious Next Green Car Gold Award.
He continued: "With an affordable price tag, stylish design and great technology including six world premieres such as its innovative Chameleon charger with fast charge capability and the R-Link internet connected integrated touch-screen tablet, we have very high hopes for the fourth model in our electric vehicle range."
More details on the Next Green Car Award 2012 are as follows:
City-car 2012
WINNER: Volkswagen up! BlueMotion - CO2: 96 g/km - GCR: 29
"A high quality but affordable city car, the all new up! offers compact comfort with low emissions. The up! also comes with „city emergency braking‟; a first in this segment."
Commended: smart ed (electric drive) - CO2: 0 g/km - GCR: 24
Supermini 2012
WINNER: Renault ZOE Z.E. - CO2: 0 g/km - GCR: 26
"With the ZOE, the first all-electric supermini, Renault offers an EV with potential to ignite the mass-market. Form and function are stylishly combined to provide zero-emissions and a 130 mile range; all for the same price as a conventional model."
Commended: Peugeot 208 1.4 e-HDi - CO2: 87 g/km - GCR: 27
Small Family 2012
WINNER: Volvo V40 D2 - CO2: 94 g/km - GCR: 29
"With a fuel-frugal diesel engine and start-stop as standard, the highly equipped all-new V40 is Volvo‟s latest low emission model. A pedestrian air-bag also underlines Volvo‟s continuing commitment to safety."
Commended: Vauxhall Ampera/Chevrolet Volt REEV - CO2: 27 g/km - GCR: 34
Large Family 2012
WINNER: Toyota Prius Plug-in Hybrid - CO2: 49 g/km - GCR: 32
"Well worth the wait, the Prius Plug-in adds over 15 miles of zero-emission capability to the well proven standard Prius. An electric car without the limitations of battery range."
Commended: Citroen DS5 HYbrid4 - CO2: 99g/km - GCR: 34
Family Estate 2012
WINNER: Ford Focus 1.0T EcoBoost Estate - CO2: 109 g/km - GCR: 31 (est)
"Powered by the game-changing 3-cylinder EcoBoost petrol engine, the Focus Estate offers surprising power, practicality, excellent fuel economy and low emissions."
Commended: Peugeot 508 RXH HYbrid4 - CO2: 107g/km - GCR: 42
Executive 2012
WINNER: BMW 3 Series 320d EfficientDynamics - CO2: 109 g/km - GCR: 31
"As BMW‟s greenest 3-Series, the new 320d EfficientDynamics continues to reign supreme in the executive class, combining class-leading low emissions with an impressive drive."
Commended: Mercedes-Benz E300 BlueTEC - CO2: 109 g/km - GCR: TBC
MPV 2012
WINNER: Ford B-MAX 1.6 TDCi - CO2: 104 g/km - GCR: 31
"With no central B-pillar, the all-new B-MAX packs maximum versatility into a compact MPV. A class-leading fuel economy is achieved with the use of Ford‟s Auto Start-Stop."
Commended: Toyota Prius Plus Hybrid - CO2: 96 g/km - GCR: 36
Next Generation 2012
WINNER: BMW i3 - CO2: 0 g/km - GCR: 26 (est)
"When it is launched in 2013, the "Born Electric‟ i3 will turn minds as well as heads. Incorporating BMW‟s eDrive technology, the i3 is beautiful inside and out. In every sense a connected device; possibly the ultimate "ultimate driving machine‟."
Commended: Tesla Model S - CO2: 0 g/km - GCR: TBC
Gold Award 2012
OVERALL WINNER: Renault ZOE Z.E. - CO2: 0 g/km - GCR: 26
"With the ZOE, the first all-electric supermini, Renault offers an EV with potential to ignite the mass-market. Form and function are stylishly combined to provide zero-emissions and a 130 mile range; all for the same price as a conventional model."
Several manufacturers have already responded to receiving their 2012 Awards:
City-car Winner: Volkswagen up!
Kevin Rendell, Volkswagen Product Marketing Manager, said: "This award from Next Green Car recognises the achievements and qualities of the up!, which combines Volkswagen values and maximum space in a compact package. The really great news for our customers is that the 96g/km Move up! BlueMotion Technology is just the beginning of the up‟s eco-friendly story: next year it will be joined by an all-electric model, making going green even easier.‟
Large Family Winner: Toyota Prius Plug-in Hybrid
Matt Harrison, Commercial Director, Toyota (GB) plc said: "We are delighted that the Toyota Prius Plug-in has won the Next Green Car Award, particularly as it coincides with the new model going on sale in the UK. Plug-in hybrid represents the next step in Toyota hybrid technology, providing all the benefits of an electric vehicle but none of the downsides in terms of limited performance or driving range. As world leaders in hybrid technology we have now sold more than four million hybrids globally since launch."
Family Estate Winner: Ford Focus 1.0T EcoBoost Estate
David Calder, Medium Car Product Manager, Ford of Britain said: "The combination of Ford‟s new 125PS 1.0-litre turbo engine - the current International Engine of the Year - in the stylish and practical Focus estate is a sure-fire winner. Thanks to Next Green Car Awards for declaring this car the eco family estate of choice."
MPV Winner: Ford B-MAX 1.6 TDCi
Andrew Paton, Small Car Product Manager, Ford of Britain said: "Ever since the Ford B-MAX concept was first shown last year, it has only attracted praise. Now that this new small car innovation is on sale for delivery in September, it has also been confirmed as a green MPV by the Next Green Car Awards."
For more information about the winners of the Next Green Car Awards 2012, and details of all the models in the 2012 Awards shortlists, visit: www.nextgreencar.com/awards-2012.
ENDS
For more information contact:
Dr Ben Lane
Managing Editor
+44 (0)117 929 8855
benlane@nextgreencar.com
Melanie Shufflebotham
Sales and Marketing
+44 (0) 7810 095 877
melanie@nextgreencar.com
NOTE TO EDITORS
About Next Green Car Awards 2012
- Next Green Car uses its unique Green Car Rating to rank the greenest new cars to come to market, honouring the most innovative low emission models with the Next Green Car Awards.
- To be selected for one of the Awards, new models must be commercially available for purchase or order in the UK during 2012/13. After-market conversions are not eligible and all cars have to be available directly from the manufacturer.
- Eligible models on the Awards shortlists are primarily selected for their low Green Car Rating. However, account is also taken of the level of innovation, value, drive experience and design.
- In addition to tailpipe CO2 emissions, the Green Car Rating assesses the impacts of seven additional emissions across the life cycle of the vehicle, making it possible to compare different fuel types/drive-trains on a single scale.
- Awards are given for eight vehicle classes and a new 'Next Generation‟ category, which includes new technology models close to market launch. An overall winner is also awarded the title of Next Green Car 'Gold Award' 2012.
- According to Dr Ben Lane, Managing Editor of Next Green Car: "To complement our Green Car Rating and Approved lists, which highlight the best new green cars each month, and have proved very popular with our website users, the annual Next Green Car Awards gives our visitors an additional independent view to help them select their next green car."
- For more information, visit: www.nextgreencar.com/awards-2012.
About Next Green Car
- Nextgreencar.com is the UK‟s leading green car website providing expert and independent information to those researching more environmentally friendly cars;
- Next Green Car‟s editorial team is at the heart of the UK‟s green transport community and provide passionate, expert & unbiased opinion on all the latest green car news, trends & models;
- Next Green Car provides the Green Car Rating - a full life cycle environmental ratings - for over 30,000 commercially available models in the UK since 2001;
- Next Green Car publishes the Next Green Car Approved List - the best of the best green cars, updated monthly.
- Next Green Car has developed Zap-Map, the most comprehensive UK-wide electric car charging point map, updated weekly: www.nextgreencar/zap-map.
About Green Car Rating
- The Green Car Rating includes all measured air-based emissions - not just CO2.
- This allows a realistic comparison between different vehicle and fuel types - for example, while diesel typically has lower tailpipe CO2 emissions than petrol, diesel emissions include higher levels of NOx and particulates.
- The Rating is designed to be used by non-experts and is therefore expressed as a score out of 100 ranging from 0 for the greenest vehicles to 100+ for the most polluting. For more info: www.nextgreencar.com/ratings.php.
