Motoring: Diesel’ s award-winning stand,
THEY’RE not dead yet despite being under fire. Indeed, Peugeot’s new diesel 3008 sports utility vehicle has just been named car of the year by motoring magazines Diesel Car and EcoCar — leading a field of 50 vehicles powered by the now controversial fuel.
Diesels give much better miles-pergallon fuel efficiency than petrol variants and the latest generation Euro VI diesel engines are far cleaner than their predecessors, as car-makers point out.
They also pump out far less carbon dioxide which is blamed for global warming.
But they are under siege for polluting the atmosphere — particularly nitrous oxides — which are blamed for breathing disorders and thousands of premature deaths.
Judy Murray, tennis coach and mother of Wimbledon champion Andy and his brother Jamie, recently took delivery of a two-litre BlueHDi 180 GT model from dealer Hardie’s of Stirling, near the family’s hometown of Dunblane in Scotland, for use with her Tennis On The Road coaching initiative.
The Peugeot 3008 SUV was also named Best Medium SUV, having already been crowned European car of the year at the Geneva Motor Show in the spring.
Judging chairman and Diesel Car editor Ian Robertson said: ‘ Peugeot has created a real winner. Its engines are refined and economical, while its suspension is ideally set up to smooth out British roads.’
Making up the rest of the top ten diesels were: the SEAT Ateca; Kia Sportage; Jaguar XE; Skoda Kodiaq; Land Rover Discovery; Volvo XC90; Skoda Superb; Volkswagen Golf; and Jaguar F-Pace. Peugeot’s award comes a week after the Govern- ment was forced by the High Court to publish its draft clean air policy following a challenge by campaigning eco-lawyers at ClientEarth. THE first car ever to receive a speeding ticket — more than 120 years ago — is to go on show at the Concours of Elegance 2017 at Hampton Court Palace this September. The 1896 Arnold Benz Motor Carriage was travelling at 8mph — four times the speed limit.