The award-winning Fiat
500 supermini has received further confirmation of its
green credentials in the UK after scooping top honours
in the Supermini category of the What Car?
Green Awards for the second year in a row. The
awards, which took place last night at Twickenham
Stadium, Middlesex, are designed to recognise and
highlight motoring’s most economical and
environmentally-friendly cars.
The What Car?
judges chose the 1.2-litre version of the Fiat 500 for
top supermini honours in this year’s competition – the
same award as the one picked up by the popular city car
in 2009. The vehicle is fitted as standard with Fiat’s
fuel-saving Start&Stop system – as are all 500 models.
The Start&Stop system stops the engine automatically
whenever traffic conditions bring the car to a complete
halt, and restarts it when the driver wants to move off
again. “It’s everything that a green supermini should be
– affordable, fun and easy on the environment,” says
What Car? editor-in-chief Steve Fowler. “It’s no
surprise Fiat’s brilliant 500 has won this category for
the second year in a row. Nothing else in this class can
mix as much style, affordability and fun with such green
credentials.”
“Part of the 500’s
attraction to customers is that it delivers great value
for money at the fuel pumps,” adds Elena Bernardelli,
marketing director, Fiat Group Automobiles UK. “Add in
the fact that the car is great to drive, stylish and
fantastic to look at, and we think we have a winning
formula. I’m delighted that the What Car?
judges agree with us.” Available with a choice of three
frugal, ultra-low emissions, Euro 5-compliant engines:
69bhp 1.2-litre and 100bhp 1.4-litre petrol, or 95bhp
1.3-litre MultiJet turbodiesel, the new Fiat 500 can be
ordered in three different trim levels – Pop, Sport and
Lounge – along with a limited edition 500byDiesel
version. UK prices start at £9,465 OTR for the 1.2 Pop.
The new Volkswagen
Golf 1.6 TDI 105 Bluemotion 5dr walked off with the
overall award in the Green Car of the Year at the
What Car? Green Awards, last night. Fowler said:
'Volkswagen has built a hugely desirable car that's big
on ability, but small on running costs. The Golf
Bluemotion does an enviable 74.3mpg and emits just
99g/km of CO2, which means it is exempt from road tax,
while company car tax will be based on just 13% of its
£18,685 list price. It's a package that's hard to beat.
VW dealers are going to be busy.' Collecting the award
on behalf of Volkswagen was Professor Dr Stefan Gies,
head of chassis development. He said: 'Ever since the
first Bluemotion model was launched in 2007 our strategy
for this environmental sub-brand has been to produce
class-leading vehicles which are efficient, sustainable,
practical, comfortable and competitively priced. This is
what our customers want and all these values are
encapsulated in the Golf.'
The Golf was also named best Green Small Family Car
as it beat the eight other category winners to the
overall Green Car of the Year title. VW also won
the family car category with its Passat 1.6 TDI 105
Bluemotion. The judges said: “This is the green family
car that families will want rather than the one they
think they should have.” At opposite ends of the market,
the 500 was awarded best Green Supermini, while the
British-built Jaguar XJ collected the award for the
greenest luxury car. Another British-built winner was
the Nissan Qashqai in the Crossover category, which won
for its cost-effectiveness, practicality, comfort,
drivability and environmental credentials.
BMW's 3 Series was the best Green Executive Car
for the second year running, but this year it was the
320d Efficient Dynamics model that won for its brilliant
package of great driver appeal, 68.9mpg economy, low tax
liability as well as low NOx and particulate emissions.
The Peugeot 5008 is the best Green MPV you can
buy. It offers seven seats, 53.2mpg and 140g/km C02 plus
top-level safety kit and security features. Honda's new
CR-Z hybrid is the What Car? Green Sports Car 2010.
Judges praised its low CO2 and high mpg, and said: 'The
CR-Z is small and light, so it doesn't need a massively
powerful engine, and that means it's clean, efficient
and good to drive.'
