Do you actually know what green means when it comes to automobiles? The term refers to a fully electric vehicle or a hybrid that has a traditional combustion engine to kick in as a back up to the electric motor. With the rising cost of fuel and a growth in environmental responsibility, it’s not just conservation enthusiasts who are considering green cars these days.

From teenagers to moms to grandfathers, the eco-friendly car is at the forefront of the auto world. If in the market to help save the Earth, you are sure to find the perfect fit for your personality and your pocketbook. Even if your credit is especially low, dealerships work with bad credit auto loans from AZ to NY. From sporty to outdoorsy to luxury, there are so many green cars to choose from.

Luxury

If luxury is high-priority, Lincoln has got the green car for you. Included on Kelley Blue Book’s list of the 10 Best Green Cars of 2013 (1), the Lincoln MKZ is every inch the luxury car while being thoroughly green at the same time. This mid-sized sedan boasts an electric/gas hybrid powertrain as well as a high-tech infotainment system dubbed the “MyLincoln Touch” to give you all the perks of an extravagant car without the gas-guzzling tendencies.

Greenest of the Green

When the New York Times hails a car as “one of the most powerful and energy-efficient vehicles available”, you have to sit up and take notice, especially if you’re looking for the greenest of the green cars. Sure, the Honda Fit is a subcompact car, but that doesn’t take away from the comfort factor; four adults can ride with ease in Honda’s Fit. Added bonus: with a price tag of less than $17,000 it’s affordability applies to more than just the energy to power it.

Fun Ride

Few other cars can match the fun-to-drive features of the typical European sedan, but the Volkswagen Jetta is the first to bring fun to the green table. According to Kelley Blue Book, the 2013 VW Jetta is the first hybrid Jetta and possibly the first green car to successfully pull off the hat trick of having stellar gas mileage (45 combined mpg), being a blast to drive and coming with a reasonable $26,000 price.

Zippity Doo Dah

The other family car of the 21st century still combines practicality with significant value, but gone are the days of the boat-like station wagon. Contemporary families who appreciate energy efficiency along with economy will love the Nissan Leaf. Entirely electric, this impressive four-door has plenty of power to zip the kids to school or soccer and take you on errands, and when it’s time for a recharge, Mother Earth News reports that the average cost of a full re-juicing will only run you a paltry $2.88.

Teens

Buying a car for the kids to tool around in is difficult because you want them safe and they want to look sharp. Steer clear of the subcompacts when you go car shopping; the Wall Street Journal notes that they don’t put a sufficient amount of metal between obstacles and teen drivers in the event of a collision.

That doesn’t mean counting out green cars altogether. The Ford C-Maxi Energi is just the right size car that has just the right amount (21 miles) of all-electric range. Teens can go to school, work and to hang out with the gang before even needing the gas engine to kick in.

When it comes to buying a family car, safety is paramount, but it’s not always clear which cars offer occupants the best protection. Luckily, the European New Car Assessment Programme puts all new cars through rigorous safety tests, giving you all the information you need. Here are some of the Euro NCAP’s favourite vehicles and some of safest cars available in the UK.

Volvo V40

Voted the safest car for 2013 by carbuyer.co.uk, the V40 stands proudly above its competition, so it’s not surprising that it comes from the safety experts over at Volvo.

It’s the darling of the European New Car Assessment Programme, who can’t give this car enough praise. Its test scores were more than impressive, achieving near perfection for adult protection at 98% and fully perfect score of 100% for Safety Assist. Pedestrians also get added protection from the new ‘pedestrian airbag’, which can help prevent serious head and acquired brain injuries in the event of a collision.

It scored well in all other areas too, getting an overall score of 88%

BMW 5 Series saloon

As the most expensive car on the list, the BMW 5 Series is the perfect large family car for those that want to drive with a little style.

When it went through safety tests back in 2010, it impressed Euro NCAP with its adult protection scores, though faired a little less well when it came to pedestrian protection. It also comes with a speed limiter as an optional extra, which adds to its Safety Assist score, though it isn’t standard.

Hyundai Santa Fe SUV

It has the space and it has the size, so by logic it should have the safety too. In this case, the logic is not disproved. Well, at least for the occupants.

The Hyundai Santa Fe scored a very high 96% for adult occupant protection and slightly less for children, at 89%. Unfortunately, since this is a rather large vehicle, it scored quite poorly in pedestrian protection, at 71%. It also comes with electronic stability control and seatbelt reminders as standard.

Renault Clio hatchback

For those of you that like your cars a little smaller, the Renault Clio hatchback fared the best out of all the smaller vehicles. In fact, it gives some of the larger cars a run for their money.

It scored a very impressive 99% for its comprehensive safety technology, along with a not unimpressive 88% in its adult occupancy test. Unfortunately, despite being a smaller car, it scored poorly when it came to pedestrian safety, even more so than the Hyundai. It came out with a disappointing 66%, due to the shape being more likely to cause head and brain injuries if an accident were to occur.

Mitsubishi Outlander SUV

As you’d probably expect from a Japanese design, the Mitsubishi Outlander makes it into the list due to its impressive list of safety technology features.  It comes with electronic stability control, seatbelt reminders and driver-set speed limitation as standard, which combined got it a score of 100% in the safety assist category.

Not only that, but it also impressed Euro NCAP with a solid passenger compartment, scoring it 94% for adult safety occupancy. Though again, like so many cars on this list, it was let down by its pedestrian safety score of 64%.

From Model year 2014 onwards, Volvo Car Ireland has announced the addition of Bluetooth® as standard across all of its models.

This feature is part of the High Performance Audio system on all models (excluding the XC90 range) which includes USB connectivity, AUX-input, 8 speakers and Steering wheel audio controls.

“Bluetooth® technology allows safe hands-free phone calls whilst driving. This is becoming an increasingly important feature for drivers particularly in light of recent moves by the government to double penalty points for motorists caught using a mobile phone when they are driving” said Adrian Yeates Managing Director of Volvo car Ireland.

The High Performance Audio system provides USB audio connection for iPod, iPhone and USB 2.0 memory sticks. The audio streaming and USB capability enables the driver to play music through the High Performance Audio system. The driver can control the music selection through the use of the steering wheel controls. Information such as the artist name, album and track is displayed on the multi information display.

The fact that High Performance Audio system is now standard across all Volvo models (excluding the XC90 range) also allows customers to upgrade to a 7” display screen for a small additional cost.

The 7” display screen is required for the new Sensus Connected Touch – connectivity on a new level

The all-new Sensus Connected Touch enables connectivity and Internet in the car and turns the 7-inch display into a state-of-the-art infrared, beam-scanned touch screen that can be used even when wearing gloves – a world first in cars and handy in winter

The High Performance Audio system normally retails at €500-€952 (version dependant). The addition of this option as a standard feature will further enhance the already generous specification levels of these models.

Volkswagen, Ireland’s number one car brand, has introduced a 0% finance offer across its range of passenger cars from today, April 23^rd, for a limited period.

The decision to offer 0% finance on Hire Purchase agreements across the Volkswagen range comes on the back of a successful first quarter for the brand. Volkswagen currently commands 12.4 per cent of the market – almost 2 per cent ahead of its nearest competitor, Toyota.

Commenting on the initiative, Paul Burke, Operations Director for Volkswagen Group Ireland said: “Volkswagen continues to be the most popular passenger car brand in Ireland however we know that many potential customers are struggling to put finance in place with many banks reluctant to lend.  Our customers have become more astute and recognise that by availing of a finance offer from Volkswagen bank they are able to access a more attractive, flexible finance offer.”

VW Bank has been operating in Ireland since 2008 and offers finance arrangements across the Volkswagen Group. It currently offers finance through Hire Purchase (HP)   agreements or PCP’s (Personal Contract Plans).

A Personal Contract Plan is a fixed rate, fixed term car funding arrangement with a guaranteed minimum future value underwritten for the car. This value is deferred to the end of the loan, reducing monthly payments during the term of the finance arrangement. At the end of the term the customer can decide to pay off the balance or give the car back and enter into a new agreement with a new model.

The typical term for a finance arrangement with Volkswagen bank is approximately 40 months – this has reduced from 51 months – which was the normal term in 2008. Amounts borrowed have also reduced in the past five years with customers now borrowing, on average €14,700, a reduction of €1,000, on the average sum borrowed  in 2008.

Kia Motors Ireland have renewed their  partnership with the Olympic Council of Ireland through to the completion of the Olympic Games in Brazil in 2016 ..During this period Kia will provide vehicles to the Olympic Council of Ireland and will also provide vehicle support in Brazil during the Games.

When cars were first invented and made for the mass market, safety wasn’t the immediate concern of the lucky few who could afford to drive. However, its’ growth in popularity has had an unwelcome side-effect: the potential for accidents which could result in serious injury. Fortunately, a handful of inventions have helped to minimise that risk.

As this infographic by first4lawyers details, the seat belt, airbag and more recently, auto braking have helped to reduce the risk of drivers being involved in crashes on the road. Despite that, over 2,000 people in the UK over the past few years have died in road traffic accidents, which is an alarming statistic.

The future for care safety does look brighter though. Should Google’s prototype for a driverless car become available, there’s a strong chance that accidents on the road could become a thing of the past. For now, there are still a few kinks that may have to be worked out, especially in terms of the cost.

See loads more info in the linked picture below

With all the financial uncertainty brought about by the current economic climate, many workers are choosing to work beyond retirement age.

The default retirement age was previously 65. However, it has now almost been phased out completely: most people can now work for as long as they want to. With both state and private pensions dropping substantially, it seems many people might have no other choice.

In conjunction with this, it seems the average age of a workforce is on the rise. The high rate of youth unemployment suggests employers are looking for workers with experience. However, along with the positives of experience come some financial negatives: an ageing workforce can push up a business’s insurance premiums.

Income protection

It is estimated that around two million people above the age of 65 will be in employment by 2022, well above the current figure of 870,000. With the government actively encouraging people to say in work for longer, this doesn’t seem unfeasible. This is going to cause a rise in Income Protection Insurance.

Typically, Income Protection Insurance stops at retirement age, but will need to be extended for any employee that stays on. To extend the cover up to 70 has the potential to add 20 per cent to premiums. Full cover must be taken out for all employees, regardless of age, in accordance with equality laws. It’s wise for firms to plan their future costs with this in mind.

Employer liability insurance

As employees grow older, the chance of injury grows. If the job involves heavy lifting or delivery, then back problems are a possibility and even repetitive strain can be a danger in less physically demanding positions. It’s possible that this could affect your premiums, especially if any of your workforce has suffered injuries in the past and you’ve had to claim.

Of course, this is more a potential risk. It’s not necessarily true that an older employee will be more easily injured – but it is a risk worth keeping in mind.

Fleet Insurance

Motor fleet insurance is the easiest and cheapest way to protect your company’s vehicles. It can cover any kinds of vehicle, from transit vehicles to company cars.

But like with all motor vehicle insurance, motor fleet insurance can be affected by the age of the vehicle drivers. Motor insurance is rather cyclic, as in costs are high when a driver is younger, becomes cheaper as they become more experienced, then rise again as the driver becomes older. Generally, things like reaction time, eyesight and general health become issues with insurance companies, and these are seen as potential risks that could increase the chance of a claim in older drivers.

It’s a good idea to do your research and find the best deal for your fleet and your drivers to keep your insurance costs down. You can find deals online, like Fleet insurance from Flint that offer policies for fleets of any size, made up of any kinds of vehicles with drivers of any age – all at competitive rates.

Your Nissan Micra or other suitably inappropriate vehicle is ready and you’ve summoned up your sense of adventure. To get to the starting line for this year’s Mongol Rally, you now just need to raise the entrance fee and charity donation – and this starter guide should help you on your way.

An epic – and crazy – adventure

The Mongol Rally is a unique rally in which participants aim to get 1.2 litres cars and 125cc motorcycles 10,000 miles from the UK to Mongolia. If you’re in one of the 250–300 teams expected to take part this year, you need to raise at least £1,000 for charity plus £980 for your entrance fee and enough for your costs.

Get organised and get online

Once you have chosen whether to raise £1,000 for the Official Rally Charity or to give them half and the other half to another charity, my advice is to set up a JustGiving web page that lets people know who you are and what you hope to achieve. Once you’ve done that you can create a Facebook page and Twitter account for your team so you can post regular updates and tweets to all your potential sponsors.

Shameless self-promotion

If you’re serious about raising shed loads of cash, you need to master the art of shameless self-promotion: you will have to attract lots of attention if you’re going to persuade people to part with their money and sponsor your adventure.

As well using social media to spread your message, it’s advisable to contact your local media, who are usually very happy to make a news item out of such missions. After the initial story, keep their interest by arranging newsworthy events or stunts as well as sending regular updates about your progress.

Friends and family

Friends and family are always a reliable source of funds. Get your Christmas card list out and call, write, text, email or Facebook everyone on it and you’ll be amazed how much you raise.

Give people a good time

People are always more willing to open their wallets if they’re promised some fun doing it. Hire venues and put on fund-raising events then, when the drinks are flowing, make sure your fundraising buckets are close at hand.

Flog your possessions

Surveys vary in their estimates for the value of the unwanted stuff each and every one of us has in our homes, but some suggest averages of over £3,000! Clothes are the prime example: many of us have wardrobes full of things we never wear. Yet, these are among the easiest things to sell. To sell my clothes quickly I use a website that offers cash for branded clothing, post them off and wait for my money.

Use these ideas and any others you can come up with – the more unusual the better – and you’ll soon be on your way to Ulan Bator!

Picture credit http://www.theadventurists.com/ http://www.telegraph.co.uk/travel/activityandadventure/9461364/The-Mongol-Rally-2012.html?image=4 

Road tested by Blake James in Austria. 

Pros: Makes you smile when driven hard. Engine is a slingshot at any speed in any gear. Ride is unbelievably smooth for such a car.

Cons: Dare I say, the car is too refined. Don’t let the M-arketing fool you.

Listen to the sound of the M135i - BMW M135i HD

I suspect the head of sales and marketing at BMW has been set a near unachievable target to get his yearly bonus. Recently his team dreamed up the X6, for example. If I spent enough time in a mood room I could convince myself that a frog sitting on top of a van was a good basis for car design as well. Now they are using the power of the their Motorsport division to woo a new set of customers into a car with an M badge.

First, you must get your head around the new M nomenclature. BMW now divide cars with M badges into two categories. ‘M Automobiles’ is the name for their traditional, full on M products. Such as the M3, M5 and M6. These cars have around 80% changed or completely newly developed parts compared to the car on which they are based. If you changed 80% of yourself, you would have to say you probably won’t come across anything like you did before you began.

The second category is BMW ‘Powered by M’. These cars have around 30% changed or completely newly developed parts compared to the car on which it is based. The M135i, along with the M550d, X6 M50d, X5 M50d all fall into this new category. 30% is enough to notice a difference, but you’re still you, if you know what I mean.

So, the M135i is not a full on M car. It is a car that you can use every day in total comfort and quietness (even on rough roads), discretely going about your business. Apart from the M badge at the back and the silver mirrors, no one would know you’re not in an ordinary 1 series. However, unlike a normal 1 series, when the mood takes you, you can thrash the car like you have been set on fire and the car will relish the punishment.

Driving along the autobahn heading south to the Austrian alps the car was unbelievably quiet. I could hear myself breathing at 160km/h. No rattles, no suspension knocks, very little wind noise. Even tyre noise was subdued.

Several hours later a massive alp appeared, with a smooth road draped down the side. Basically a race track with a view.

This is a great car. As a piece of engineering, it is astonishing. How can a car that just rode so smoothly on the motorway then go around a corner with the back hanging out and the wheels smoking with no detectable body roll? Few cars achieve such a balance of ride and handling. I highly recommend you purchase the optional adaptive M suspension as fitted to the car I drove.

You have four driving modes. Eco Pro, Comfort, Sport and Sport Plus. Eco Pro is for efficient driving. The steering lightens and the throttle becomes very heavy. This makes it easy to drive slowly. Comfort is your every day mode that works fine even when you push the car hard. Sport sharpens the throttle response, makes the steering heavier and makes the gear changes more aggressive. Sport + turns the traction control partly off, so you can get the tail out just a little bit before the electronics shuffle you back into line (with a bit of work from the driver as well).

I found that most of the time I was in either Comfort (when I was on the motorway, in traffic or needed a rest) and then in Sport the rest of the time (with it configured so that the gear changes were normal, rather than more aggressive). This can all be configured on the iDrive system to your liking.

Engine and transmission

BMW M began with the single turbo 3.0liter straight six engine found in the latest 335i, and tuned it to develop 10kW and 50Nm more power and torque respectively. So you get 235kW @ 5800rpm and 450Nm of torque from 1250 – 5000rpm. 1250! That is 450Nm from just above idle.

The end result is that this car feels like a slingshot in almost any gear, at any speed. Go for a full throttle overtake the first time and you will not believe how quickly the manoeuvre is performed. In the automatic model you get from 0-100km/h in just 4.9 seconds. And it feels that fast.

However, along with the cars looks, there is a polarising fact about the engine. 10% of the sound you hear from inside the cabin is synthesised via pre recorded engine noise that is piped through the cars stereo. I don’t necessarily have a problem with that. I just wish from inside the cabin the noise was a little louder. I can understand BMW need to find a balance between performance and comfort with this car and that is what they have done. The noise itself is quite nice. The bass from low down that turns into a mid range thrum and then a very angry scream. Typical BMW straight six. With the windows down, it sounds even better, thanks to the noise coming out of the exhaust.

You can choose from a 6-speed manual gearbox or an 8-speed ZF automatic. My test car had the $4000 automatic option. The automatic gearbox is generally behind the scenes when in Eco Pro or Comfort mode, quickly and smoothly changing gears. In Sport, Sport +, or when changing gears manually, the changes tend to be a bit more deliberate and some of them are ‘banged in’ for lack of a better phrase. This makes the car feel more sporty.

Ride and Handling 

Here is where BMW have outdone themselves. If anything, this car rides more smoothly than the standard M sport equipped 1 series models. Again, this car had the option adaptive M suspension fitted. All road surfaces are dealt without fuss, smoothing broken tarmac and settling into a comfortable cruise on the motorway.

The ride is so good, after a while you simply forget about it, allowing you to focus on the cars handling.

While you do not feel exactly where the tyres are sitting on the road to the mm, you can place this car accurately through bends carving your chosen line. The steering feel is excellent and gives you confidence and reward when you really stick it into a bend. The M leather steering wheel is also a treat to hold.

Brake hard, turn in and feed the mountain of power on as you exit the corner with a massive smile on your face. Put the car into Sport plus mode, feed a bit too much power as you exit the corner and feel the rear of the car slide. The dynamic traction control will actually make you work to get the car back into line. It doesn’t step in too early. This is extremely addictive and allot of fun.

Practicality 

It is the same as an ordinary 1 series. Which is to say, good enough. You get the usual array of cup holders, split folding rear seats, keyless entry, and a decent boot. The ground clearance is not so low that you have to creep over every speed hump, which is nice.

The driving position is excellent, if ever so slightly cramped for very tall people like me. The seats are comfortable enough and the side bolsters can be adjusted to hug you more in the corners. There is also adjustable under thigh support and lumbar support. If I’m being picky, I don’t think the optional lumbar support went down far enough, to where my spine needed it.

Rear leg room is fine for children and not bad for adults on short to medium length trips. The air conditioning works as well as any other BMW as do the optional heated seats.

Another nice touch is the speed limit indicator displayed under the speedometer, so you don’t have to second guess what speed you should be doing when a camera appears. This is an option along with the Professional Navigation system.

The standard interior (in Germany) as fitted to my test car was the soft Alcantara (feels like a soft suede) with hexagonal blue stitching. It does add to the sporty feel and makes the car feel more cosy in the cold climate. Cars in Australia and Ireland come standard with leather. You have a choice of black, coral red or oyster.

Design 

It’s not stunningly beautiful, is it? But at least from the inside you don’t have to look at it. And the cabin is a nice place to be.

Verdict

The most important thing you need to know about this car, is that on the right road it is huge fun. For me, BMW have made just enough M tweaks to make you want to get out of bed early and go for a drive somewhere. Only just, but just is enough. And to be fair, I was nursing a cold at the same time.

I suspect this is a car that will get better with time. Because you will be able to drive it everywhere in complete comfort, it will not wear you out. And so you will be able to indulge in the joy of driving whenever the mood strikes you.

As an all rounder, this car is without question a 5 star machine. The M135i may not be a match in the thrill stakes for the outgoing M3 (primarily because of the M3’s epic V8 engine), but forget about that, and it is stunning.

Log in and leave your comments below.