The shortlist for the Next Green Car Awards 2016 has released, with a huge amount of varying products in line for awards.

The shortlist for the Next Green Car Awards 2016 is released today, recognising the best green cars available in the UK in 2016.

A total of 40 different models from 23 manufacturers make up the shortlist, across 10 vehicle categories. The winners will be announced on Thursday 1^st December.

To qualify for the NGC Awards shortlist, models must be commercially available to buy or order during 2016. The only category to which this ruling doesn’t apply is the ‘Next Gen’ category, which highlights the most innovative cars due to launch in 2017 or beyond.

Next Green Car’s unique NGC Rating drives the selection process, filtering out the greenest models on the market. Other factors are then considered, including capability, impact on its sector, value for money, and suitability for purpose, before the final shortlist is drawn up.

The NGC Rating developed by Next Green Car, the UK’s No.1 green car website, is a unique method of assessing a vehicle’s environmental impact and is available for 60,000+ models across all power-trains including petrol, diesel, hybrid, plug-in hybrid and electric vehicles.

To ensure that the rating is based on the best quality data available, NGC has recently partnered with Emissions Analytics. From November, real-world emissions are now estimated using the Emissions Analytics’ EQUA Indices for Air Quality (NO_x), Carbon Monoxide (CO), and Carbon Dioxide (CO₂), further improving the NGC Rating’s accuracy.

A reflection on the number of low emission vehicles now on the market, this year sees almost 80% of the shortlisted models emit less than 100 g/km CO₂ (official combined) up from last year’s figure of around two-thirds. On the shortlist, 12 emit zero-tailpipe emissions as either EVs or fuel cell vehicles, while a further eight are EV-capable plug-in hybrids (PHEVs).

Taken together, half of the NGC Awards shortlist are categorised as ULEVs – Ultra Low Emission Vehicles – which results in an average official combined CO₂  figure of just 59 g/km.

Dr Ben Lane, Director of Next Green Car commented: “Never before has the NGC Awards shortlist included such as diverse range of quality ultra low emission models (ULEVs) across such a large number of vehicle segments. From the Hyundai Ioniq, an EV for the mass market, and the competitively priced Kia Optima PHEV, through to the iconic Tesla Model X SUV, there really is a ULEV to suit most drivers’ needs.”

The 10 category winners of the Next Green Car Awards 2016 – plus the overall NGC Car of the Year title – will be announced on Thursday 1st December 2016.

For information about the Next Green Car Awards, and the 2016 Award Winners, visit: www.nextgreencar.com/awards-2016/

Listed by awards category and alphabetically by manufacturer, with the greenest model’s emissions and NGC Rating supplied, the Next Green Car Awards 2016 shortlist is as follows:

City Car shortlist 2016

• Ford Ka+ – CO2 114 g/km – NGC Rating 37
• Mahindra e2o – CO2 0 g/km – NGC Rating 22
• Smart ForTwo Cabrio – CO2 93 g/km – NGC Rating 30
• Volkswagen e-up! – CO2 0 g/km – NGC Rating 22

Supermini shortlist 2016

• BMW i3 94Ah – CO2 0 g/km – NGC Rating 23
• Renault Zoe Z.E. 40 – CO2 0 g/km – NGC Rating 25
• Renault Clio – CO2 82 g/km – NGC Rating 28
• Suzuki Baleno – CO2 94 g/km – NGC Rating 30

Small Family shortlist 2016

• Fiat Tipo – CO2 90 g/km – NGC Rating 32
• Hyundai Ioniq Electric – CO2 0 g/km – NGC Rating 22
• Renault Megane – CO2 96 g/km – NGC Rating 32
• Volvo V40 – CO2 94 g/km – NGC Rating 33

Large Family shortlist 2016

• Kia Optima Plug-In Hybrid – CO2 37 g/km – NGC Rating 20
• Mazda 6 – CO2 107 g/km – NGC Rating 37
• Toyota Mirai – CO2 0 g/km – NGC Rating 32
• Toyota Prius – CO2 70 g/km – NGC Rating 27

MPV shortlist 2016

• BMW 2 Series Active Tourer – CO2 46 g/km – NGC Rating 37
• Citroen C4 Picasso – CO2 99 g/km – NGC Rating 35
• Renault Scenic – CO2 92 g/km – NGC Rating TBC
• Vauxhall Zafira Tourer – CO2 109 g/km – NGC Rating 37

Crossover shortlist 2016

• Kia Niro – CO2 88 g/km – NGC Rating 33
• Peugeot 2008 – CO2 102 g/km – NGC Rating 33
• Toyota C-HR – CO2 86 g/km – NGC Rating 32
• Vauxhall Mokka X – CO2 103 g/km – NGC Rating 36

SUV shortlist 2016

• Audi Q7 – CO2 48 g/km – NGC Rating 26
• BMW X5 – CO2 77 g/km – NGC Rating 53
• Peugeot 3008 – CO2 108 g/km – NGC Rating 37
• Tesla Model X – CO2 0 g/km – NGC Rating 35

Executive shortlist 2016

• BMW 3 Series – CO2 44 g/km – NGC Rating 35
• BMW 7 Series – CO2 49 g/km – NGC Rating 39
• Mercedes Benz E-Class – CO2 49 g/km – NGC Rating 37
• Volvo S90 – CO2 116 g/km – NGC Rating 40

Sports Cabrio shortlist 2016

• Audi A5 – CO2 106 g/km – NGC Rating TBC
• Mini Convertible – CO2 100 g/km – NGC Rating 35
• Morgan EV3 – CO2 0 g/km – NGC Rating 18
• Porsche Panamera – CO2 56 g/km – NGC Rating 46

Next Gen shortlist 2016

• Riversimple Rasa – NGC Rating*
• Smart ForTwo ED – NGC Rating*
• Tesla Model 3 – NGC Rating*
• VW iD – NGC Rating*

* NGC Rating not yet assessed / to be confirmed

The New Passat GTE is now available to order in the UK, with 166mpg, 39g/km & a top speed of 140mph, what's not to like.

• State-of-the-art plug-in hybrid model joins award-winning Passat range
• Sports performance and exceptional economy come together in family-friendly model
• Available to order tomorrow, with prices starting from £36,525 (RRP OTR) excluding grant

Space, pace, and environmental credentials that even before its official UK showroom debut have already secured it a prestigious ‘green’ award: the new Volkswagen Passat GTE is calculated to offer drivers the very best of all worlds.

A winner in the Large Family Car class in the recent Next Green Car Awards even before its showroom debut here, the new Passat GTE is available to order tomorrow through the Volkswagen UK retailer network with prices starting at £36,525 (RRP OTR), excluding Government Plug-In Car Grant of £2,500.

The first Passat with a state-of-the-art plug-in hybrid drive system, the innovative new car offers spirited performance alongside the possibility of zero emissions when driving in all-electric mode. 

Available in saloon or estate body styles, the most environmentally responsible Passat to date emits just 39g of CO₂ on the EU Combined Cycle, equating to fuel economy of 166 mpg.  Yet with 400 Nm of torque and combined system power of 218 PS, the new car can sprint from rest to 62 mph in a lively 7.6 seconds before heading to a top speed of 140 mph, where legal. The potential range between refuelling stops is more than 660 miles.

The Passat GTE is a plug-in hybrid that can be driven up to 31 miles on electric power alone in E-Mode.  A 1.4-litre TSI turbocharged petrol engine delivers 156 PS, while the electric motor adds a further 115 PS. Underlining its engaging performance capabilities, the electric motor alone can provide up to 330 Nm of torque from near-standstill.

A specially developed six-speed DSG gearbox is standard on the Passat GTE and features a third, disengagement clutch.  This decouples the TSI motor whenever possible, to allow the vehicle to make best use of kinetic energy and hence increases efficiency still further.

Building on the already elegant lines of the new Passat – voted European Car of the Year 2015 - the Passat GTE is distinguished outside by distinctive C-shaped LED daytime running lights and an additional blue line across the radiator grille: design cues which are shared with the award-winning Golf GTE.  A redesigned front bumper and 18-inch alloy wheels also mark out the new car.

Inside, in addition to the optional innovative Active Info Display with specific customised read-outs, standard features include blue ambient lighting, a leather-trimmed multifunction steering wheel with blue decorative stitching, GTE-specific gear knob with blue stitching and seats covered in Alcantara with Vienna leather side bolsters.  Unique GTE badging also marks out the new Passat.

Bristling with innovative and engaging new technology, the new Passat GTE boasts Volkswagen’s new Car-Net e-Remote app which allows a wide variety of tasks – including charging – to be controlled via smartphone.  All climate control functions can be also activated remotely, while information on the vehicle’s state of charge, recent driving data or last parking position can be displayed.  It is also possible to check whether the doors are closed and the lights turned off.

The Passat GTE’s electric motor develops maximum torque of 330 Nm and offers continuous torque of 170 Nm. The 1.4-litre direct-injection turbocharged petrol engine is as sophisticated as the electric motor and drivetrain. This four-valve per cylinder unit from the EA211 engine family uses an ultra-rigid die-cast aluminium crankcase.  Maximum power of 156 PS comes at 5,000 rpm, and maximum torque of 250 Nm is on offer between 1,500 rpm and 3,500 rpm.

Under normal circumstances, the Passat GTE starts in pure electric E-Mode. When it reaches minimum battery charge hybrid mode is activated. Here the Passat GTE operates as a full hybrid, charging the battery under deceleration and automatically using the TSI motor and/or electric motor as required.  However, should the driver wish to conserve electric power (for example to use E-Mode in a city at the end of a journey), Battery Charge mode can be selected.  For maximum power, GTE mode can be chosen: this uses both petrol and electric motors.

The car’s lithium-ion battery is fitted in the floor area of the rear seat bench. Comprising eight modules of 12 cells each, it creates a nominal voltage of 360 V and power of 9.9 kWh, with a peak output of 85 kW.  The high-voltage battery is overseen electronically by the Battery Management Controller, which manages various functions including the battery’s liquid cooling system.

Charging is achieved either via a standard UK domestic mains outlet in around four hours and 15 minutes; or in two hours 30 minutes from a dedicated wallbox with a 3.6 kW supply.

The Passat GTE comes in two highly specified trim levels in the UK.  On top of the standard features of the Passat GT (such as Adaptive Cruise Control with Front Assist and City Emergency Braking, Discover Navigation, Bluetooth and parking sensors), standard items include LED headlights and tail lights, Mode 2&3 charging cables and Car-Net e-Remote.  Standard items on the GTE Advance trim also include the new Active Info Display, Discover Pro navigation (eight-inch screen), Nappa leather, Area View and LED premium headlights.

Despite its extra technology and revised styling, dimensions of the Passat GTE match those of the standard Passat, including boot volume (402-968 litres for the saloon and 483-1613 litres for the estate).

Judges in the Next Green Car Awards said of the Volkswagen: “Volkswagen’s Passat is an excellent large family car that performs well in every area. Add to it the plug-in hybrid powertrain that effortlessly provides drive for all situations and the Passat GTE becomes a dominant model in the large family class.”  

Volkswagen Passat GTE
Model	Engine	Gearbox	Power	CO2(g/km)	OTR RRP	OTR RRP with OLEV grant
Passat GTE	1.4 TSI with electric motor	Six-speed DSG	218 PS	39	£36,525	£34,025
Passat GTE Advance	1.4 TSI with electric motor	Six-speed DSG	218 PS	39	£40,180	£37,680
Passat Estate GTE	1.4 TSI with electric motor	Six-speed DSG	218 PS	39	£38,075	£35,575
Passat Estate GTE Advance	1.4 TSI with electric motor	Six-speed DSG	218 PS	39	£41,730	£39,230

FIAT is happy to announce that the new 500 City Car has won a Green Car Award 2015.

• The New FIAT 500 scoops City Car Award with a low Next Green Car (NGC) Rating of 29 based on the lifetime environmental impact of the car
• Judges praised the design, quality, technology and, of course, the excellent environmental credentials of the New FIAT 500
• Advanced efficiency technologies available across the FIAT 500 range will soon include MultiJet II diesel injection and MultiAir variable induction systems, variable geometry turbo chargers, smart alternators, rapid engine warm-up, variable oil pump displacement and Start & Stop
• FIAT 500 TwinAir 85hp has an official cycle fuel economy figure of 74.3mpg* and CO₂ emissions of 88g/km*
• Prices for the FIAT 500 start at £10,890 OTR with the TwinAir 85hp priced at £13,065 OTR

The new FIAT 500 TwinAir 85hp has scooped the City Car Award in the Next Green Car Awards 2015. The Next Green Car judging panel praised that the revised look of the FIAT 500, which has successfully refreshed the iconic design that made the car such a success in the UK, while the new interior is complimented for its improved equipment and levels of build quality.

Next Green Car also commented that thanks to the “raft of personalisation options, some fantastic and frugal engines and a well sorted chassis that thrives around town, the new FIAT 500 runs away with the City Car award.”

Available in hard- and soft-top versions, the official CO₂ emission figures of the FIAT 500 is as low as 88 g/km* when equipped with the award-winning TwinAir 85hp engine, and its official combined fuel economy figure is an impressive 74.3 MPG*.

The winners of the Next Green Car Awards 2015 have been carefully selected from a green car shortlist featuring 40 new models competing across 10 vehicle segments. 

The awards seek to provide an independent assessment of the best new cars on the market and, coupled with the NGC Rating and the suite of Next Green Car tools, aim to help car buyers make good choices when looking for a more economical and lower emission car.

The Next Green Car Rating is based on the environmental impact of each model, including CO₂, NOx and particulate emissions, throughout the entire life cycle of a vehicle. With the current focus on emissions testing, the recently updated NGC Rating 2.0 has taken on a more significant role than ever in assessing the real-world impacts of CO₂ and NOx.

According to Chris Lilly, Content Manager, Next Green Car, “FIAT has taken the popular and successful 500 and made it even better. Economy figures rival the best in its class and the characterful city car offers a great blend of frugal fun and practicality.”

Sebastiano Fedrigo, Country Manager FIAT UK, commented, “We are delighted that the New FIAT 500 has been recognised by the Next Green Car judging panel not only for its efficient and eco-friendly engines but also for its fun-to-drive characteristics, its quality and technological enhancements for 2015. 

In December we’re adding another environmentally-friendly version, the 1.3-litre MulitJet II turbo diesel which has an official combined cycle fuel economy figure of 83mpg and CO₂ emissions of 89g/km, while in 2016 a new “Eco” version of our most popular engine, the 1.2-litre, will join the award-winning FIAT 500 range.”

The new FIAT 500 has a range of advance technologies available, depending on the engine, including second-generation MultiJet diesel injection technology, MultiAir induction technology, a variable geometry turbo charger, smart alternator, rapid engine warm-up, variable oil pump displacement and Start & Stop.

Prices for the FIAT 500 TwinAir 85hp start at just £13,065 OTR, with prices for the FIAT 500 starting from just £10,890 OTR for the 1.2 litre Pop.