Of all the laurels one could rest upon, a World Green Car of the Year gong is probably the most lofty and comfortable in the current epoch.
But the Bavarians don't like resting; they like striving for continual advancement. Resting equals underachievement, so here's the distinctly precocious little brother of the BMW 118d, the 116d.
Powered by a super clean 2.0-litre oil burner, the 116d generates 116bhp and will go 64.2 miles on a gallon of fuel, all the while emitting 118g/km of CO2 and thus wearing a tax disc worth a mere £35.
It's got 192lb.ft of torque from 1,750rpm too, so will hit 62mph in 10.2 seconds and go on to 125mph, and BMW has just announced it'll be available in a new Sport trim. Its benefit-in-kind rating for business users is only 13 percent as well.
You know the drill, then: "I'll take a 116d please, de-badged if you will. Sport pack, you say? Yes please." Prices start at £17,065 for a three-door.
Mark Nichol - 8 Jan 2009