Cleangreencars.co.uk has awarded BMW as the "cleanest premium manufacturer" in Great Britain. Their report found that total model range CO₂ emissions from January 2008 to June 2008 at BMW averaged 161.64g/km. BMW's competitors all achieved worse figures. For instance Audi and Mercedes were 177.36g/km and 192.85g/km respectively. Lexus, with its hybrid-based model line-up, managed an average of 194.85g/km, while Jaguar topped 200g/km and Porsche recorded 275.64g/km. BMW's MINI brand had an average of 139.64g/km.

According to BMW's press release (which you can find after the jump), both the EfficientDynamics and the MINImalism program have reduced emissions while keeping up driving dynamics. BMW also said that it's preparing NOx storage capability within a catalytic converter on certain models in the near future and that it was finalizing drivetrain configurations to meet the likely EU6 legislation due to come into effect in 2014.

[Source: BMW]

British website cleangreencars.co.uk has released three reports that show the improvements (and the negative numbers) that the UK car industry made from 2006 to 2007. Overall, cars sold in the UK improved the average CO₂ production figures by 1.16 percent from 166.32 to 164.39 g/km. As you can see, there is still a long way to go until the expected average of 130 g/km for 2012.

The best improvement figures came from the Mini (which turned in CO₂ numbers that are 17.32 percent better), followed by Jeep (10.83 percent), BMW (6.48 percent), Mitsubishi (6.29 percent) and Land Rover (4.10 percent). Note that this is just measuring improvement. The top five marques with the lowest CO₂ emissions in 2007 were Fiat (142.15 g/km), Peugeot (146.04) , Daihatsu (146.9), Mini (147.26) and Citroën (148.07).

The model with the least CO₂ emissions was the Toyota Prius (104 g/km), followed by the Toyota Aygo/Peugeot 104/Citroën C1 triplets (109) and the Smart Fortwo (116.39). Note, as well, that it's the average figures for a specific model and all versions were considered. CO₂ figures are relevant for British motorists because their road tax is calculated depending on these figures.

[Source: Cleangreencars.co.uk]

New website on the block Clean Green Cars has spent a little time with their calculators and figured the CO2 performance of every automaker that sells more than 1,500 cars a year in the UK. Using the official CO2 output of the cars each company sells, correlated with how many of each car they sold in the first quarter of 2006 and then 2007, Clean Green Cars has created a list of which companies are the cleanest, from a CO2 emissions standpoint.

The top five companies (those with the lowest CO2 performance) were, in order, Fiat, Peugeot, Citroen, Toyota, and Skoda.Toyota, MINI and Lexus had the biggest reduction in emissions since last year. Subaru, Alfa Romeo and Suziki posted the worst increases. Overall the market is just 0.32 percent cleaner than last year, which certainly isn't a rate of change we'd like to keep. For the full table, visit Clean Green Cars.

"People can assume that manufacturers of hybrid cars must be the best, but the truth is more complex," said Jay Nagley, Publisher of www.cleangreencars.co.uk, in a statement. aking lots of efficient modern diesels actually has a bigger impact on CO2 performance than making a few hybrids. The top three marques are all pioneers of modern diesel engines while Toyota, although much better than average, is not absolutely the best."

Related:

• New website dedicated to green driving goes live

[Source: Clean Green Cars]

A new website, Clean Green Cars, subtitled "the green motoring guide," was launched this week to give British drivers a better idea about how best to buy a new green car and other green car-related items (including news). The site hopes to identify "the greenest cars on sale today - not just the greenest cars of all, but also the greenest by vehicle type" for UK car buyers.

Publisher Jay Nagley said in a press release announcing the site, "There is a real need for sensible, unbiased environmental advice for motorists. 'Green motoring' is almost a daily topic within the media and for consumers the topic can be intimidating, confusing and complicated. Our new site will state the facts and guide the consumer realistically to a greener way of motoring that is both appropriate and affordable."

Right now, it the kind of site to visit if you don't know what biodiesel is or how a hybrid car is different from a standard vehicle. Clean Green Cars is connected with the Fifth Gear website and the Goodwood Festival of Speed 2007.

[Source: Clean Green Cars]