IF an electric revolution represents the march forward for the motor industry, then its car manufacturers have been paving the way with an eruption of green shoots. This year has seen everything from exotica to clever crossovers and multi-purpose magic, with an upsurge in quality, kit and technology common to most. But above all, 2010 has proved the year of the clean machine as car makers everywhere have rolled out emissions-busting models featuring the likes of Start/Stop systems and ever more economical engines. They all have a different name for their most eco-friendly models, BlueMotion, BlueEFFICIENCY, ECOnetic, GreenLine and ecoFLEX being just a few of them. SEATs go under the umbrella of Ecomotive and the Spanish company that boasts the youngest average age of car buyers in Europe was swift to show it meant business, in terms of both choice and green credentials. The Ibiza ST arrived to show off its blend of supermini style with extra space while late spring saw the dawn of three Ecomotive-badged models – the Leon, Altea and Altea XL – each aimed at cutting emissions and improving economy. But then there were very few among the 100 or so models launched during the year that didn’t claim some sort of cut in CO2 emissions or improvement in miles per gallon. The new calendar was barely out of its packaging when Volvo, always quick off the mark when it comes to pioneering, rolled out a trio of updated models. The C30 SportsCoupe – one of the finest premium hatchbacks on the market – the latest XC60 off-roader and C70 Convertible all hit the streets at the same time. Being in Austria it was more a case of chasing cars on a snow patrol, but the wintry conditions said much for just how upmarket and insulated the C70 has become. And there was no let-up from the Chinese-owned Swedes, as the launch of the next generation S60 saloon heralded a new level of safety features. Topping it was Pedestrian Detection with Full Auto Brake, part of an optional but essential, £1,250 driver support pack that also includes lane departure warning, a blind spot warning system and adaptive cruise control. If Volvo was pushing ever onward its Scandinavian rival Saab, also under new ownership, was just getting started, eventually serving up an all-new 9-5 and revised 9-3 as well as premiering the company’s new 9-4X mid-size crossover model, which arrives in late 2011. No manufacturer has made greater strides in recent times than Kia, and the Koreans continued their relentless progress with a trio of models that raised the bar for quality in their respective areas of the market. The family-friendly Venga –a car that despite being confined to a mere four metres can comfortably accommodate a family of five and bootload of clobber – arrived at the same time as the next generation Sorento 4x4. But the Koreans were keeping the best for last as the new Sportage, designed by style guru Peter Schreyer, is a crossover that ticks every box – whether you are an eco warrior, fleet buyer or private motorist. Sister company Hyundai was also kept busy, its ix20 and Tucson replacement the ix35 being launched to nationwide acclaim. The big guns of Ford and Vauxhall are rarely quiet for long and both had aces up their sleeve. Ford produced a double whammy with new versions of the S-MAX and Galaxy people carriers, heralding the new Ford EcoBoost petrol engines and PowerShift transmission, and later unveiled the all-new C-MAX in two versions – a regular model and seven-seat Grand. And Vauxhall, whose Astra - for a short period at least – usurped the Fiesta to become Britain’s No 1 seller, celebrated the autumn unveiling of a real car of the year contender in the new British-built Astra SportTourer. Performance brands like Aston Martin with its new Rapide and Maserati with the cool GranCabrio were joined by Porsche’s Boxster Spyder and fiery 911 GT3 RS along with the new Mercedes SLS AMG, though the model that seemed to turn more heads than any other convertible was the magnificent Audi R8 Spyder. There was also plenty to cater for the executive traveller as Jaguar launched the long-awaited new XJ, BMW introduced its latest 5 Series and new boys on the block Infiniti began to gain a UK foothold. Busy as always, Audi delivered models at opposite ends of the line-up – their new luxury A8 being followed by the A1 premium supermini. But then there were new cars in 2010 to suit every style and pocket – from drop-top marvels like the Renault Wind to people friendly MPVs like the Mazda5, style icons like the Alfa Giulietta to the cleverly packaged Nissan Juke. And for Volkswagen fans, the German company heralded a launch bonanza with the likes of the Caravelle, Golf Estate, Phaeton, Touran, Polo GTI and new Touareg all hitting the streets. The final word though goes to a pair of models that have really stood out for their combination of design, performance, image and value for money – the Citroen DS3 hot hatch and Peugeot RCZ coupe have simply got the lot. | 
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