Style and Ration

In these times of austerity and dwindling fossil fuel supplies, petrol consumption is a concern for many drivers not to mention the planet. For many, an unfashionable set of wheels that will simply get you from A to B is more than sufficient. But for some others, the whole point of driving is the style and performance of the machine they will have invested so much time and money in. Fuel efficiency has always been seen as an enemy of true performance. However, manufacturers have in recent times had to pull out all the stops to find a solution to the desires of their style conscious customers while respecting the pressures that today’s drivers face in filling up their tanks.

I have been interested in how far car makers have gone in the quest to combine efficiency, performance and style and have identified these surprising models that fit a range of pockets.

Performance: Battery only powered 375-volt electric motor produces 248bhp and 0-60mph in 3.9 seconds.

Average Fuel Economy: The equivalent of 256mpg with a range of 220 miles per charge.

Price: £92,000

Performance: Voltec hybrid electric propulsion system will provide 150bhp delivering 0-60 in 9 seconds.

Average Fuel Economy: Predicted to be the equivalent of 200mpg+ with a range of 300 miles.

Price: Estimated to be around £30,000

Performance: 204 bhp, 0-62mph in 7 seconds, the most powerful 2.0 Litre diesel engine ever.

Average Fuel Economy: 55.4mpg

Price: £27,000

Performance: Its turbo charged 16-valve 1.4 Litre engine produces 135bhp and 0-60mph in 7.8 seconds.

Average Fuel Economy: 52.3mpg

Price: £14,500

Performance: 170 bhp delivers 0-60 in 7.5 seconds.

Average Fuel Economy: 53.3mpg

Price: £28,000

Performance: 1.4 Litre 1.4 turbocharged tour de force petrol engine produces 135bhp delivering 0-60 in 8.2 seconds.

Average Fuel Economy: 50.4mpg

Price: £15,000

Performance: 2.0 Litre Turbo diesel delivers 160 bhp and 0-60 in 8.2 seconds

Average Fuel Economy: 53.2mpg

Price: £24,500

Performance: Five Cylinder Turbo Diesel produces 203bhp delivering 0-60 in 7.7 seconds

Average Fuel Economy: 60.1mpg

Price: £25,000

Performance: 1.5 supercharged IMA electric motor to deliver 200bhp and 0-60 in 7 seconds.

Average Fuel Economy: 56mpg

Price: Unknown

Performance: 1.6 Turbocharged petrol engine plus a 34bhp electric motor powered by a small battery attached to the rear axle (itself charged by regenerative braking) produces 200bhp.

Average Fuel Consumption: Predicted to be 56.5mpg

Price: Unknown