What's driving today's car industry?

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Despite difficult economic times, the motor industry continues to move from one success to another. For the first time in a generation, the technology behind vehicle design has seen a dramatic shift as road users and car manufacturers move toward a greener future.

The reasons behind this shift are not difficult to decipher, with the UK's 28 million cars responsible for 70 million tonnes of CO2 on emissions . The Western World's attitude towards our environmental responsibility is changing rapidly and this is beginning to be reflected in the sales of green cars. Not only is the environmental cost of road traffic reaching worrying levels but the financial cost of staying on the road has also jumped, with petrol prices at an all time high.

Fortunately, the motor industry has responded to these changes in a positive way, with companies like Honda pioneering the advancement of effective green technology. The release of new models like the Civic Ti continue to cement their reputation as the market leaders, reaching fuel efficiency of over 50mpg with emissions nearing 120g/km.

When Honda's early hybrid models were released over ten years ago, the green car market was limited to mid-sized, small engine vehicles. While these vehicles were the leading cause of a revolution within the industry, they left a lot to be desired by customers in search of a practical car with great performance. The market today tells a different story.

Now, it is not uncommon for thebest family car on the market to see very high fuel efficiency and rock bottom emissions levels. New green technology also makes it possible for the consumer to look for sports models which will not cost the environment. Performance in green cars is better than it’s ever been before and this is a result of increased consumer interest and ongoing investment from the main car manufacturers operating within the market.

Even the market for 4x4 cars has taken note of the environmental concerns which are growing amongst the public. This has made it possible for buyers to find large and practical vehicles which are not only affordable to buy, but also to run. Indeed, there is not a corner of the market where buyers cannot make the decision to opt for a high performance vehicle which is environmentally friendly.

In the US, pioneering cities such as San Francisco are experimenting with new schemes which are aimed at introducing electric vehicles into city life. Moves such as these highlight the sincerity and depth of the shift within the car industry as manufacturers look to make sustainability one of their main priorities.

The economic benefits of running an environmentally friendly vehicle are nothing short of attractive either. On top of the benefits of requiring considerably less fuel than a regular vehicle, those which are capable of achieving low emissions are exempt from both road tax and congestion charges which are set to become more prevalent across the country in coming years.