Looking for a small family car? These are the 5 most popular in 2007.

• Volkswagen Golf – Great to drive and a strong image.
• Nissan Qashqai – The funky new Qashqai is ideal for young families.
• Mazda 3 – Brisk, economical and fun to drive.
• Skoda Octavia – Cheaper than the Golf but not quite as good. An excellent alternative though.
• Ford Focus – Roomy and great value for money.

Volkswagen and Daimler AG have each acquired a minority shareholding in biofuel company, CHOREN Industries. The commitment aims to support the widespread market introduction of BTL (biomass to liquid), a second generation biofuel. BTL is an ultrapure fuel, virtually free of sulphur and aromatics, which combusts with minimum emissions and is produced from various types of biogenetic feedstock and residue. The involvement of VW, as part of its ‘Driving ideas’ campaign, will provide further support to the development of BTL plants, with plans to produce 15,000 metric tons of fuel a year by 2008. To put this into context, the planned Sigma plants have potential to make a significant contribution towards the German governments climate protection targets. The company believes that 10 to 15 CHOREN BTL plants could save up to 3 million metric tons of CO2 by 2020

Story taken from http://www.cleangreencars.co.uk

1. Volkswagen  Golf
2. Ford  Focus
3. Ford  Fiesta 
4. Vauxhall  Corsa  
5. Ford  Mondeo  
6. Honda  Civic  
7. Renault  Clio  
8. Audi  A3  
9. Toyota  Yaris  
10. Vauxhall  Zafira

Information provided by SaveMoneyOnCars.co.uk

Purchasing a new or used vehicle is always a daunting process – it’s likely to be one of the most expensive financial outlays you ever make and it’s important to make the right choice when determining your method of car finance. More and more people are turning to car leasing as a cost effective way of getting the car they want without taking as many risks as with the other financial options available.

Car lease guide

1. Land Rover  Range Rover Sport
2. BMW  3-Series Coupe   
3. Volkswagen  Golf   
4. Mercedes-Benz  C-Class Saloon   
5. BMW  5-Series Saloon   
6. Audi  Q7   
7. Lexus  IS   
8. BMW  X5   
9. Audi  A3   
10. BMW  3-Series Saloon   

Information supplied by ContractHireAndLeasing.com

According to a new report cars are far less polluting then they were 30 years ago. The Ford Fiesta produces 98% fewer emssions than it did three decades ago. A 1.9 litre Volkswagen Golf emits 78% fewer diesel particulates than its 20 year old equivalent and the Mini Cooper has improved fuel consumption by 24%.

The full report is available free from www.smmt.co.uk/publications

Lexus are the forerunners of hybrid technology. They have long been combining petrol and electric power and the LS600h L is their latest offering.

The LS600h L offers 0-62mph in  6.3 seconds but the supposed economy of 30.4mpg has been put to the test and results come in at only 24mpg. The driving experience is similar to that of other LS models.

Lexus have taken the hybrid to another level put the fuel economy may be a turn-off for most motorists. With Mercedes to release their own hybrid, the Mercedes S-Class in 2009, it will be interesting to see how the two hybrids compare.

According to British Car Auctions, price is the biggest factor preventing consumers from purchasing used eco-cars. In a survey of around 3,000 motorists,just 19% said they would consider a car with lower emissions and 16% said that they would buy a smaller car. But these good intentions don’t appear to have changed buying habits. Price was the first consideration; environmental considerations came 10th behind make and model, mileage and even colour.

Men rate environmental concerns slightly higher than women at 5% ahead of women at just 4%. Those in Wales and the West Midlands are the most concerned rating the environment at 9% each. Those in East Anglia and the East Midlands are the least concerned at 1%.

The report suggests that the consumer is unwilling to buy green just for environmental consideration, and instead needs economical encouragement.

According to a new survey from Cardiff University, hybrid cars have failed to make the top ten green cars. The highest placed hybrid was the Toyota Pruis in 12th. The top five places were taken by models manufactured by Smart, Peugeot and Citroen. The number one spot being taken by the Smart Roadster. The survey took into account CO2 and NOx emissions, ability to recycle parts, size, manufacturing process, energy costs and other emissions. Still my thought is that the greenest cars in the future might well be Hybrid Superminis, after all, aren’t hybrids most economical in city driving? Surely a marriage made in heaven. Lets not hybrid bash while the technology is in its infancy.

The registrations of alternatively-fuelled vehicles went up 82.1% in September 07 according to the latest figures from SMMT. Alternatively-fuelled means pure electric, petrol-electric hybrid, and cars running on E85 bioethanol.