Technology

The Committee on Climate Change report, Building a low-carbon economy - the UK's innovative challenge, was issued today.

Aside from its electric LEAF, Nissan has been relatively slow to 'green' its cars, but that's about to change.

In a competition dominated by downsizing, Volkswagen's new 1.4-litre TSI Twincharger engine has won the 'International Engine of the Year' award - for the second year in succession.

Leasing of 20 Toyota Prius Plug-in Hybrids, capable of 108.6 mpg and 59 g/km CO2, will start in London in July 2010.

Following the continuing success of the Nissan Qashqai, Mitsubishi are the latest manufacturer to enter the compact crossover market. Mitsubishi are hoping to steal customers through a combination of rugged looks, keen pricing and efficient engines.

To coincide with the foundation event held in Berlin for a National Platform for Electric Mobility and in the presence of German Chancellor Dr. Angela Merkel, Volkswagen has unveiled the Golf blue-e-motion and has outlined its future programme for electric and hybrid production vehicles.

Making vehicles much lighter is one of the next big things for green cars, and a study by one of the leaders in this area, Lotus, shows that cars can be 38% lighter for just 3% extra cost.

Following re-homologation the 1.6HDi and 2.0HDi C4 Picasso and C4 Grand Picasso models now have revised fuel consumption ratings.

Mazda isn't seen as a leader in green cars at the moment but the company says that is set to change due to the introduction of a range of green technologies, and a partnership with Toyota to bring hybrids to market.

We can categorically state that Green-Car-Guide.com has never featured a news story about Ferrari since the site was founded in September 2006 - however today that has just changed, and it shows how all manufacturers are now taking the issue of greening their cars seriously.