UK: BMW Group takes two honours at What Car? Green Car Awards 2009

This was recognised again this year at the What Car? Green Car Awards 2009. The MINI Cooper S won the Green Sports Car category for the second year in a row and the BMW 318d took the honours in the Executive Car category.

The MINI Cooper S has a punchy, turbocharged engine which powers it to 100 km/h in just 7.1 seconds, but returns a combined fuel consumption figure of 5.1 liters/100 km and CO2 emissions are just 149g/km.

Steve Fowler, Editor-in-Chief at What Car?, said: "The MINI Cooper S is a home-grown hot hatch that's big on performance and style, yet treads far lighter than rivals because of its smaller carbon footprint."

The BMW 318d Saloon is BMW's most fuel efficient and least polluting 3 Series ever. A 318d Saloon records a combined consumption figure of 3.9 liters/100 km and CO2 emissions of 123g/km, while at the same time is capable of a zero to 100 km/h time of 9.3 seconds. It was the blend of these impressive performance figures that assured the parsimonious 3 Series model with top green honours.

BMW first offered EfficientDynamics as standard in 2007. A raft of models received Auto Start / Stop, Brake Energy Regeneration, Active Aerodynamics, low rolling resistance tyres, Electric Power Steering, on-demand ancillary systems and optimum gearshift indicator features.

These technologies built on the existing lightweight engineering principles and direct injection engine technology introduced over the previous years.

Across virtually the entire MINI range, many of the same technologies are present under the MINIMALISM title and ensure the premium small car offers an unbeatable mix of fun and frugality.

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Credits: JRC