”Next Green Car” Awards 2012 Shortlists

Wednesday 4th July is not only Independence Day in the USA, but also the day that the hopes and dreams of many ‘green’ car manufacturers are set free to roam the world of victory and everlasting success (well; for a year anyway!).

Because that is when ‘Next Green Car’, the website renowned for providing expert and independent information to consumers researching more environmentally friendly cars, announces their shortlist for what is generally considered the most scientifically based green car awards in the UK.

Twenty-six of the UK’s greenest new cars of 2012/13 have been selected for shortlists across eight vehicle categories.

And it’s not an easy route that green cars have to drive to get onto the list!

Next Green Car uses its unique Green Car Rating to rank the greenest new cars to come to market. This 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.

And then every year, the most innovative low emission models are recognised with the Next Green Car Awards.

Melanie Shufflebotham, Sales and Marketing Director of Next Green Car, says: “With the costs of motoring continuing to increase, UK car buyers are looking for good quality, fuel efficient cars. The Next Green Car awards provide car buyers with an independent view on the best green cars coming to the market in 2012 to help them buy their next green car.”

To get onto the original list, new models must be commercially available for purchase or order in the UK directly from the manufacturer during 2012. Eligible models on the Awards shortlists are primarily selected for their low Green Car Rating but also thrown into the mix is the level of innovation, value, drive experience and design.

In addition to tailpipe CO2 emissions, the Green Car Rating Awards are given for seven vehicle classes and a ‘Next Generation’ category, which includes new technology models close to market launch.

And then, at the end of it all, in the mould of Crufts, there is a Best In Show Next Green Car ‘Gold Award’ 2012.

As noted by Dr Ben Lane, Managing Editor of Next Green Car: “2012 continues to be an exciting time for green cars with the launch of several high quality plug-in electric and hybrid models incentivised by the Plug-in Car Grant. In response to car buyer demand for fuel efficient cars and spurred on by EU CO2 regulations, manufacturers are also working harder than ever to bring high ‘mpg’, low emission petrol and diesel models to the UK market.”

So, without further ado, here are the shortlists for each category (with that all-important NGC rating):

City-car shortlist 2012

• smart ed (electric drive) – CO2: 0 g/km – NGC Rating: 24
• Volkswagen up! BlueMotion – CO2: 96 g/km – NGC Rating: 29
• Chrysler Ypsilon TwinAir– CO2: 97 g/km – NGC Rating: 29

Supermini shortlist 2012

• Renault ZOE Z.E. – CO2: 0 g/km – NGC Rating: 26
• Toyota Yaris Hybrid – CO2: 79 g/km – NGC Rating: 29
• Peugeot 208 1.4 e-HDi – CO2: 87 g/km – NGC Rating: 27
• Kia Rio 1.1 CRDi (1 Air) – CO2: 94 g/km – NGC Rating: 28

Small Family shortlist 2012

• Vauxhall Ampera/Chevrolet Volt REEV – CO2: 27 g/km – NGC Rating: 34
• Volvo V40 D2 – CO2: 94 g/km – NGC Rating: 29
• BMW 1 Series EfficientDynamics – CO2: 99 g/km – NGC Rating: 30
• Ford Focus 1.0T EcoBoost – CO2: 109 g/km – NGC Rating: TBC

Large Family shortlist 2012

• Renault Fluence Z.E. – CO2: 0 g/km – NGC Rating: 26
• Toyota Prius Plug-in Hybrid – CO2: 49 g/km – NGC Rating: 32
• Citroen DS5 HYbrid4 – CO2: 99g/km – NGC Rating: 34

Family Estate shortlist 2012

• Peugeot 508 RXH HYbrid4 – CO2: 107g/km – NGC Rating: 42
• Ford Focus 1.0T EcoBoost Estate – CO2: 109 g/km – NGC Rating: TBC
• Hyundai i30 Tourer – CO2: <110 (TBC) g/km – NGC Rating: TBC

Executive shortlist 2012

• Mercedes-Benz E300 BlueTEC – CO2: 109 g/km – NGC Rating: TBC
• BMW 3 Series EfficientDynamics – CO2: 109 g/km – NGC Rating: 31
• Audi A4 Saloon 2.0 TDIe – CO2: 112 g/km – NGC Rating: 33

MPV shortlist 2012

• Toyota Prius Plus Hybrid – CO2: 96 g/km – NGC Rating: 36
• Ford B-Max 1.6 TDCi – CO2: 104 g/km – NGC Rating: 31
• Vauxhall Zafira ECOflex Tourer – CO2: 119 g/km – NGC Rating: 35

Next Generation 2012

• Tesla Model S – CO2: 0 g/km – NGC Rating: TBC
• BMW i3 – CO2: 0 g/km – NGC Rating: TBC
• Volvo V60 Plug-in Hybrid – CO2: 49 (est) g/km – NGC Rating: TBC

And, as we said at the start, corks will be a-popping on Wednesday 4th July 2012 – especially for the big winner.

Where’s your money?