The Volvo XC90 T8 Plug in hybrid has been awarded the green car of the year award.

• XC90 T8 plug-in hybrid crowned Green Car of the Year at the Professional Driver Car of the Year Awards
• Honoured for its luxuriousness, affordable running costs and low CO₂ emissions
• Volvo’s comprehensive chauffeur programme also praised

The Volvo XC90 T8 Twin Engine Inscription has been voted Green Car of the Year at the 2016 Professional Driver Car of the Year Awards.

The awards celebrate the best in the private hire, chauffeur and taxi industry, and the Green Car of the Year category was open to any vehicle with CO₂ emissions of 70 g/km or below. 

The XC90 T8 sits comfortably below that figure, with CO₂ emissions of just 49 g/km, helped by its innovative petrol-electric plug-in hybrid drivetrain.

That’s not the T8’s only impressive figure. It can be driven for up to 27 miles in zero-emission, virtually silent electric-only mode, and its official combined fuel economy figure is 134.5 mpg. 

The XC90 T8 has space for seven adults in its luxurious interior, while its boot provides an impressive 967 litres of luggage space when the two rearmost seats are folded down.

Drivers and passengers will certainly appreciate the XC90 T8 Inscription’s beautiful cabin. Nappa soft leather upholstery, natural wood inlays and leather door tops are all standard, as are rear footwell and side step illumination, and integrated sun curtains in the rear doors. Every XC90 T8 also comes with a panoramic glass sunroof and four-zone climate control.

Class-leading connectivity comes as standard, too. The ground-breaking Volvo On Call app allows you to control numerous functions of the car from your mobile device, including the ability to heat or cool the cabin so it’s at the perfect temperature when you and your passengers get in the car. The innovative touch screen control system offers pinch and zoom functionality, and you can even use it while wearing gloves. You can also turn the car into a WiFi hotspot using the increased signal strength of the car’s antenna, while Apple CarPlay and Android Auto integration are available.

As you’d expect from a Volvo, safety is paramount. Every XC90 comes with automatic emergency braking, which works day or night, along with pedestrian, cyclist and large animal detection. There are also advanced safety aids to prevent the car from inadvertently leaving the road, while the standard Pilot Assist semi-autonomous drive system takes the strain out of long motorway journeys by helping to regulate the car’s speed, distance from any vehicle in front, and position in its lane.

Volvo’s bespoke chauffeur programme also won praise from the judges. This includes a three-year, 100,000-mile warranty, a like-for-like replacement vehicle, direct aftersales support and service plan options. Contract hire offers of up to 50,000 miles a year are available, too.

Commenting on the award, Mark Bursa, the editor of Professional Driver, said: “The Volvo XC90 T8 Twin Engine offers a great combination of luxury, low running costs and great manufacturer support through a benchmark chauffeur programme.”

Selwyn Cooper, Head of Business Sales for Volvo Car UK, said: “The XC90 T8 is already proving a huge hit with Volvo buyers, and for it to win this award is an honour, especially because it is chosen by leading chauffeur and private hire professionals. The XC90 T8’s blend of space, luxury, tax-efficiency, refinement and safety makes it the perfect car to drive or be driven in.”

The MINI Hatch has taken, for the fourteenth time, Supermini Of The Year award from BusinessCar magazine.

• MINI Hatch takes home the prize for the fourteenth year running
• Awards voted for by BusinessCar magazine readers

Readers of BusinessCar magazine have voted the MINI Hatch as Premium Supermini Car of the Year 2016. This marks the fourteenth consecutive year that the MINI Hatch has won the coveted award.

Excellent performance alongside low running costs and CO₂ emissions, coupled with strong residual values are just some of the qualities of the MINI 3-door Hatch which have continued to win over BusinessCar magazine readers for nearly a decade and a half.

New to the range in 2014, MINI 5-door Hatch has been a runaway success since launch. As well as sporting two extra rear doors, MINI 5-door has improved legroom, a practical third rear seat and larger boot.

Commenting on the award, James Morrison, Corporate Development Manager at MINI UK, said: “We are delighted to win the award for Premium Supermini of the Year for the fourteenth year in a row. The corporate market is extremely relevant for MINI and has grown even more so with the addition of the MINI 5-door Hatch in 2014.

“We’re therefore very proud to receive this award as voted for year after year by drivers and readers of BusinessCar magazine, as it is testament to the importance we are continuing to place on this segment.”

Editor of BusinessCar magazine, Paul Barker said: “This is an incredible fourteenth BusinessCar Award for the Mini hatch, a car that continues to offer incredible residual values, premium branding, a top-notch driving experience and the charm and cheeky looks that Mini is renowned for.

“The continued success is well deserved in the face of ever-increasing competition, but it’s still no surprise to see that our readers have once again chosen the Mini as BusinessCar’s Premium Supermini of the Year.”

Volkswagen and British Gas continue it's partnership with a further 1000 Caddy Vans added to the fleet.

• British Gas turns again to Volkswagen Commercial Vehicles to renew its fleet
• 1,000 new Caddy 4 models to be supplied this year
• New three year contract will see over 8,000 Caddy Maxi vans supplied
• Whole life costs and aftercare package key to securing deal

The nation’s leading energy supplier, British Gas, has once again turned to Volkswagen Commercial Vehicles to renew its fleet, as part of the company’s planned vehicle replacement programme. The new three year contract will see the energy company become one of the first fleets in the UK to take delivery of Volkswagen’s new Caddy 4 model.

Over 8,000 Caddy Maxi vans will take to the roads in the iconic British Gas livery, comprising this year over 1,000 new Caddy 4 models. Compact yet remarkably capable, the Caddy Maxi’s fantastic drivability and ample load carrying capacity ensured it remained the number one choice for British Gas.

British Gas helps to keep the nation’s homes stay warm, working and safe, and the service provider wanted a manufacturer that could match its reliability. With city-friendly dimensions and a car-like drive, the most compact vehicle in the Volkswagen range was the ideal choice for British Gas engineers. 

The common-rail diesel engine of the Caddy Maxi will also help reduce the carbon footprint of the business due to its low CO₂emissions.

The new three year deal was awarded to Volkswagen Commercial Vehicles thanks to the quality of vehicles and aftersales support already received by British Gas, which currently runs 8,500 Caddy models. With a sizeable, well-used fleet, whole life costs were essential to securing the new contract.

Converted to British Gas specification by Bri-stor, the fleet will be supported in the long term by Volkswagen’s extensive aftersales program. Engineers will be able to access any of the 71 Volkswagen Van Centres across the country for regular servicing to help reduce vehicle downtime, and ensure the business continues to run smoothly.

Colin Marriott, Fleet Manager at British Gas, commented: “In order to provide a fantastic service to our customers, we depend on our fleet to travel the length and breadth of the country. 

It was the reliability of Volkswagen’s engineering and aftercare support that was once again a key factor when it came to renewing the fleet, and we look forward to taking delivery of the vehicles.”

Chris Black, Head of Fleet at Volkswagen Commercial Vehicles UK, commented: “Securing a new three year deal with British Gas is a great success, and testament to the quality of the Caddy model and excellent service provided by the Volkswagen Van Centre network.

“British Gas will be one of the first fleets in the UK to take delivery of the new Caddy 4. We continue to work extremely closely with the team from British Gas and were extremely pleased that representatives from the company were able to visit the factory recently to see the first of their Caddy 4 models roll off the line, painted in their distinctive blue colour.”

Skoda wins yet again, The brand is definitely at the pinnacle of all things auto.

• ŠKODA tops two categories at 2015 Fleet News Awards
• ŠKODA Octavia Estate crowned ‘Best Estate Car’ for second year running and Fabia named 'Best Small Car'

ŠKODA UK has bagged two enviable accolades at this year’s Fleet News Awards which took place at the Grosvenor House Hotel in London.

The most prestigious event in the fleet calendar, the Fleet News Awards recongnises the best-performing businesses and individuals within the sector over the last 12 months.

For an unprecedented second year running the panel of judges, including members of the Fleet News editorial team as well as industry experts, voted ŠKODA Octavia Estate, ‘Best Estate Car’ for its unrivalled space, functionality, comfort and affordability, in addition to its range of efficient power plants. With exceptional value and high quality after care, the ŠKODA Octavia Estate has once again proven to be an essential for any fleet manager.  

It has already been a brilliant year for the new ŠKODA Fabia. The What Car? 'Car of the Year' swooped to victory in the Fleet News 'Best Small Car' category, beating off fierce competition from its rivals. The most economical Fabia ever was praised for its versatility, space and style.

Judge Stephen Briers, Editor of Fleet News commented: "Value-for-money, spacious and efficient, the Octavia Estate benefits from low running costs and strong customer support from the manufacturer and its retail network. It adds up to a compelling estate car for both business and personal use.

"The all-new Fabia offers an excellent choice of engines and bodystyles for fleets. High quality, competitively priced, low CO₂ emissions and with a five-star EuroNCAP safety rating, the Fabia is an excellent all-round car – perfect for fleets in this category."

Patrick McGillycuddy, Head of Fleet for ŠKODA UK said: "We are extremely pleased that the Octavia Estate has been awarded the ‘Best Estate Car’ for the second year running; reaffirming that it is best in class for affordability, space and innovation."

He added: "ŠKODA's second winner, Fabia, is a versatile small car with the benefits of space and adaptability needed for business driving. These accolades mean a great deal to the ŠKODA Fleet team, and are testament to ŠKODA's core offering, which continues to offer class-leading C02 emissions and excellent whole life costs without compromising on style or efficiency.”

Skoda takes two awards at carBuyer awards ceremony 2015.

• ŠKODA scoops Best First Car and Best Tax-Exempt car in the 2015 Car Buyer Awards
• Octavia Estate and Citigo add to their growing trophy cabinets
• Citigo praised for its running costs and sophistication
• Octavia Estate wowed judges with its low CO₂ emissions and class-leading space

The ŠKODA Citigo and Octavia Estate have secured yet more silverware courtesy of car review website CarBuyer. The online giant handed the Best First Car award to the Citigo and bestowed the honour of Best Tax-Exempt Car on the Octavia Estate.

In a change to previous years, the CarBuyer judges looked at some of the most requested searches on its site, and chose these as the categories. Having won a number of CarBuyer awards in the past for its best in class models, ŠKODA also triumphed under the new procedure – reinforcing their overall appeal with buyers. 

Commenting on the Citigo’s award for Best First Car, CarBuyer Editor Stuart Milne said: “The Citigo is fun, sophisticated and cheap to buy and run. In the closely fought small-car market ŠKODA's reputation for great customer service sets it apart.”

As many newly-qualified drivers have already discovered, the Citigo’s intuitive controls, great visibility and compact dimensions make it the ideal car for first-timers. To highlight this, ŠKODA is a partner in the Young Driver programme – a scheme that provides driving lessons for children aged 11 to 17. 

With access to a fleet of Citigos, The Young Driver programme uses 30 specially designed training facilities across the country to give the next generation of drivers the best possible start to their driving careers. To date, more than 100,000 lessons have been delivered by instructors.

At the other end of the size scale, CarBuyer also judged the Octavia Estate to be its Best Tax-Exempt Car, with Editor Stuart Milne saying: “The Octavia Estate is a big car with a massive boot, which makes it all the more incredible that some versions emit so little CO₂ that they're free to tax.”

A total of six models in the Octavia Estate range have CO₂ outputs low enough (Band A – up to 100g/km) under to qualify for zero rated car tax. This includes the generously equipped Octavia SE Business GreenLine III (£21,170) that features Amundsen satellite navigation, acoustic parking sensors and alloy wheels.

Renault group celebrate becoming the best carbon friendly manufacturer in the first half of 2013

Renault Group has become the European leader in terms of low CO₂ emissions based upon its sales of passenger cars over the first half of 2013. This ranking is the fruit of the rejuvenation of its range, the success of its Energy range of engines and the growth of its electric vehicle sales.  

Renault Group has moved into pole position in Europe in terms of low CO₂ emissions, with an average of 115.9g of CO₂/km* per vehicle (source: AAA-DATA**) based on its passenger car sales over the first half of 2013.

Renault Group owes this performance to the recent rejuvenation of its ranges, notably including five models that return less than 100g of CO₂/km (Twingo, New Clio, Captur, Mégane and Dacia Sandero). Indeed, in the small five-seater diesel car sector, New Clio Energy dCi 90 eco² is the class leader with 83g/km. Overall, the New Renault Clio range emits 18.5g of CO₂/km less than the model’s previous generation.

Meanwhile, Renault is Europe’s number one brand for electric mobility, and its electric vehicle sales have also contributed significantly to the Group’s low average CO₂ emissions.

Taken as a whole, the average level of CO₂ emissions per kilometre across Renault Group’s entire range has improved by nearly 10g in the first half of 2013 over 2012, falling from 125.5g/km to 115.9g/km.

“This position of market leader is proof that the combination of our powertrain strategy – with our range of Energy engines – and our electric vehicle strategy is bearing fruit. Thanks to these innovations, Renault Group is achieving tangible results and maintaining its objective to significantly reduce the long-term environmental footprint of its activities. At the same time, these improvements are beneficial for both the planet and our customers.”

(Jean-Philippe HERMINE, Director, Renault Group, Environmental Plan)