Next Green Car Awards 2014

BRISTOL, UK -- November 18, 2014; Next Green Car, the UK's no. 1 green car website, today announces the winners of the Next Green Car Awards 2014, highlighting this year's best green cars to come onto the market.

Next Green Car has made awards across eleven vehicle categories including two new categories Sports Utility Vehicles (SUV) and Light Commercial Vans (LCV) as well as the 'Next Generation' Award, which includes new technology models close to market launch.

The eleven winners are selected from shortlists of thirty-six of the UK's greenest new cars of 2014, all selected for their environmental Next Green Car Rating (NGC Rating), level of innovation, value, drive experience and design.

As noted by Dr. Ben Lane, Managing Editor of Next Green Car "The 2014 winners reflect three key green car developments: the electrification of the drive-train (including fully electric vehicles and plug-in hybrids), the continuing improvements in fuel efficiency (for all fuels), and the realisation that petrols may have the environmental edge over diesels for urban use.

"While all the winners and commended entries are highly innovative in the power-train technologies they employ, they also share the objective of wanting to improve the driver experience. In the coming years, ergonomics is set to become as important as engineering in the drive to design green and efficient vehicles."

The winners and commended entries of the Next Car Awards 2014 are as follows:

City Car Award 2014 WINNER: Volkswagen e-up! electric - CO2: 0 g/km - NGC Rating: 21 (11)** NGC verdict: "With the e-up!, Volkswagen has produced a high quality, practical and affordable electric city car which is perfect for zero-emission urban driving where space is a premium."

Commended: Renault Twingo 1.0 SCe 70 Dynamique Start-Stop - CO2: 95 g/km - NGC Rating: 27 Supermini Award 2014 WINNER: Vauxhall Corsa 1.0 Ecotec - CO2: 100 g/km - NGC Rating: TBC*

NGC verdict: "The new Corsa is value for money all round; its impressive new three-cylinder engine providing excellent drivability with emissions well below the zero car-tax threshold."

Commended: Mini Hatch 1.5 Cooper D 5-door - CO2: 95 g/km - NGC Rating: 28

Small Family Award 2014 WINNER: Peugeot 308 1.6 BlueHDi - CO2: 82 g/km - NGC Rating: 25

NGC verdict: "With its good looks, lighter chassis and improved engine range, the new Peugeot 308 combines a positive driving experience with class-leading fuel economy (official combined 79 MPG)."

Commended: Volkswagen e-Golf - CO2: 0 g/km - NGC Rating: 24 (14)**

Large Family Award 2014 WINNER: Ford Mondeo 2.0 Hybrid- CO2: 99 g/km - NGC Rating: TBC*

NGC verdict: "Well done to Ford for bringing its hybrid know-how to the UK market. Helped by its EcoBoost engine, the Mondeo Hybrid delivers emissions just under the 100g CO2/km threshold."

Commended: Peugeot 508 Saloon 1.6 e-HDi micro-hybrid- CO2: 105 g/km - NGC Rating: 32

Crossover Award 2014 WINNER: Citroen C4 Cactus 1.6 BlueHDi - CO2: 87 g/km - NGC Rating: 25

NGC verdict: "With its distinctive looks, the Citroen C4 Cactus will get you noticed. It's also a pleasure to drive, is zero car-tax rated and is the most fuel frugal car in its class."

Commended: Kia Soul EV - CO2: 0 g/km - NGC Rating: 32 (14)**

Family Estate Award 2014 WINNER: Audi A3 Sportback e-tron - CO2: 37 g/km - NGC Rating: 35 (15)**

NGC Verdict: "As the first plug-in hybrid estate car, the A3 Sportback e-tron perfectly combines conventional fuel practicality for long distance driving with zero-emission motoring for urban trips."

Commended: Honda Civic Tourer 1.6 i-DTEC - CO2: 99 g/km - GCR: 30

MPV Award 2014 WINNER: BMW 2 Series Active Tourer 216d - CO2: 99 g/km - NGC Rating: 30

NGC verdict: "The 2 Series Active Tourer brings BMW's refinement to the MPV class for the first time, successfully blending a quality brand with high fuel economy and low emissions."

Commended: Volkswagen Golf SV 1.6 TDI BlueMotion - CO2: 95 g/km - GCR: 30

SUV Award 2014 WINNER: Mitsubishi Outlander PHEV - CO2: 44 g/km - NGC Rating: 37 (18)**

NGC verdict: "The Outlander PHEV sets the SUV bar high offering plug-in capability for the price of a diesel. With a 5% BIK rate, you can see why the Outlander is the UK's most popular plug-in hybrid."

Commended: Hyundai ix35 FCV - CO2: 0 g/km - NGC Rating: TBC*

Executive Award 2014 WINNER: Tesla Model S electric - CO2: 0 g/km - NGC Rating: 36 (18)**

NGC verdict: "Simply the most beautiful and technologically advanced electric car on the market, the Model S combines a gadget-packed interior with an exhilarating electric driving experience."

Commended: Mercedes-Benz C-Class Saloon C 300 BlueTEC Hybrid - CO2: 94 g/km - NG Rating: 32

LCV Award 2014 WINNER: Nissan e-NV200 Combi - CO2: 0 g/km - NGC Rating: 28 (14)**

NGC verdict: "With the e-NV200, Nissan has broken new ground offering an affordable and practical zero-emission alternative to the ubiquitous diesel van."

Commended: Ford Transit Courier Kombi - CO2: 103 g/km - NGC Rating: 30

Next Generation Award 2014 WINNER: Mercedes-Benz B-Class Electric Drive - CO2: 0 g/km - NGC Rating: TBC*

NGC verdict: "Powered by Tesla know-how, the Mercedes electric B-Class brings electric mobility to the compact MPV class for the first time. High on quality, long on range, and zero on emissions."

Commended: Toyota Mirai FCV - CO2: 0 g/km - NGC Rating: TBC*

*TBC - To be confirmed

**If powered using renewable (e.g. wind, solar) electricity

Several manufacturers have already responded to receiving their 2014 Awards:

Winner City Car: Volkswagen e-up! Sally-Anne Norris, Product Manager for the Volkswagen e-up! said: "We're delighted to have won this award from Next Green Car. The e-up! combines all the features which have made the standard up! so popular - compact body with impressive interior space and big car levels of comfort and refinement - with an all-electric drive-train. A range of up to 99 miles and a choice of charging options mean its a great choice for commuters. The e-up! was our first all-electric car and we hope its success in these awards will be repeated by our e-Golf as well as the Golf and Passat GTE PHEVs when they are available next year."

Winner Supermini: Vauxhall Corsa Peter Hope, Vauxhall's Marketing Director said: "We're delighted the Corsa has won the Next Green Car award for best supermini," "The all-new Corsa has raised the benchmark for driveability, comfort and practicality. New and improved powertrains achieving as low as 85g/km make this one of the most compelling low emission models on the market."

Winner Small Family: Peugeot 308 Morgan Lecoupeur, Marketing director at Peugeot UK said: "We are delighted that the Peugeot 308 has been recognised as the Winner of the Small Family Category of the 2014 Next Green Car Awards. It's been a great year for Peugeot and this salutes the design which has been recognised the world over, specifically helped by its advanced platform design, lower body weight and class-leading low CO2 output."

Winner Large Family: Ford Mondeo Hybrid Joe Bakaj, vice president, Product Development, Ford of Europe said: "We are delighted that the Ford Mondeo Hybrid has won in the Large Family Car category. With cutting-edge powertrains, like our first hybrid to be built in Europe, we've improved fuel efficiency and CO2 without sacrificing the power and driving experience Mondeo customers have come to expect."

Winner Crossover: Citroen C4 Cactus James Parfett, Communications Director at Citroën UK said: "We're delighted that the New Citroën C4 Cactus has topped the Crossover category in this year's Next Green Car Awards. Designed to be environmentally considerate with fuel economy of up to 91mpg and low CO2 emissions from just 82g/km, this latest addition to the range has certainly caught the attention of the public and press alike. The New C4 Cactus reflects Citroën's new design philosophy with its striking good looks; focus on occupant comfort; all the latest user-friendly technology and it's low cost of ownership. We are very proud of the advances made with the C4 Cactus and are honoured that the Next Green Car judging panel have chosen to recognise the brand's achievements with this prestigious award."

Winner Family Estate: Audi A3 Sportback e-tron Ben Fish, Audi UK Product Manager said: "The five-door A3 Sportback is already widely lauded for its all-round practicality and ample space. Now our groundbreaking new e-tron model - the first ever series production plug-in hybrid from Audi - builds on this winning formula with astounding efficiency, versatility and zero-emissions potential. It is the ideal candidate for family life and we're delighted to receive such high praise from the judges at Next Green Car reflecting this."

Winner MPV: BMW 2 Series Active Tourer Uwe Dreher, Marketing Director at BMW said: "We are delighted to win this prestigious award and particularly as this is the first of new vehicle concept for BMW, built on an all-new architecture. Our design and engineering teams set out to create a car which was unmistakably a BMW, both to look at and to drive, but with a highly flexible interior space. At the same time, the very latest in engine design, including our new three cylinder unit, means the car sets new benchmarks in fuel economy and carbon emissions, while still delivering excellent performance. This combination has proved a potent one for customers and the car is already a great sales success."

Winner SUV: Mitsubishi Outlander PHEV Stewart McKee, Press, Public Affairs & Events, Mitsubishi said:"We are delighted with our achievement in the Next Green Car awards. The Outlander plug-in continues its sales success. It may well prove to be the tipping point in ultra-low emission vehicle adoption."

Winner Executive: Tesla Model S Georg Ell, country director for UK and Ireland said: 'Model S has been taking the UK by storm since its launch in June, with Tesla's presence growing to include stores and service centres in more locations and Supercharger routes to travel the length and breadth of the country and into Europe. We are delighted to have won the Executive Car title in the Next Green Car Awards 2014." WinnerLCV: Nissan e-NV200 Paul O'Neill, EV Category Manager at Nissan Motor (GB), said: "We are absolutely thrilled to have won this award as it's based on scientific fact. Both the award and the impressive Green Car Rating given to the e-NV200 are a ringing endorsement of the model's impressive environmental credentials. Combine that with levels of versatility, durability and all-round performance that are more than a match for any other van of this size and low running and whole-life costs and it's easy to see how the Nissan e-NV200 has the potential to redefine the LCV market."

Winner Next Generation: Mercedes-Benz B-Class Electric A Mercedes-Benz spokesperson said "The B-Class Electric Drive is our first volume production electric vehicle and it's great for it to have won an award before it even reaches the UK. It's practical, it's ideal for families and it features all the very latest comfort, safety and entertainment technologies. The B-Class Electric Drive just happens to emit no emissions, be highly efficient and capable of travelling up 125-miles on a single charge."