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Aston Martin DBRS9 GT3
Driven by Jonny Cocker and Paul Drayson, the DBRS9 GT3 was the first bio-powered car to win a race in any British motoring series. While running on the more explosive E85 fuel (a blend of 15 per cent unleaded and 85 per cent bioethanol) the Aston’s power was kept on the same level as its competitors, beating them fair and square.

The ultimate Aston Martins

BMW Hydrogen 7
The groundbreaking 7 uses a 260bhp engine capable of running on hydrogen or petrol. When running on hydrogen it emits nothing but water vapour and has a range of 125 miles (or 300 miles on petrol). And while it’s green, it still offers mean performance with a limited top speed of 143mph. BMW says 100 will be initially built with six coming to the UK. 

Has BMW reached hydrogen heaven?

Connaught Type-D
Another British Racing Green, the Connaught Type-D has a 2-litre V10 petrol engine and a specially developed electric motor for travelling at lower speeds. The result is 162bhp and 144lb/ft of pulling power. Accelerating from 0-60mph in 6.5 seconds, the Type-D has a top speed of 140mph, and boasts a combined 42mpg.

ECO One
The ECO One’s tyres are made of potatoes and the wheels made from grounded-up cashew nuts while the body consists of rapeseed and hemp. This outrageous machine was designed by British boffin Dr Kerry Kirwan and built by student Ben Wood for £20,000. It accelerates from 0-60mph in under four seconds, has a top speed of 150mph and manages 35mpg. And the best bit? It’s 95 per cent biodegradable, so if it gets written off it can be put on the compost heap. 

JCB Dieselmax
The JCB Dieselmax took oil-burning performance to a new level last year, when – piloted by Wing Commander Andy Green – it hit 365mph on the Bonneville Salt Flats in Utah.

We chat to Andy Green
The JCB Dieselmax

Koenigsegg CCXR
The world’s fastest, most explosive road-going green car, the CCXR could save the planet while beating the Bugatti Veyron’s speed record of 253mph. The Swedish car maker has taken the 245mph CCX and converted it to run on biofuel, which is more explosive than normal petrol, but grown from crops. The result – a 25 per cent increase in power to an interstellar 1,018bhp and more pulling power than Russell Brand. 

Koenigsegg unveil world's fastest green car
The incredible Koenigsegg CCX

Porsche Cayenne Hybrid
The German car maker has just announced plans to make a hybrid version of the popular, provocative-looking Cayenne 4x4. Only available on the 3.6-litre V6, the green Cayenne will run on an electric motor at speeds of up to 70mph before the petrol engine takes over. Porsche claim the Cayenne’s fuel consumption will be improved by up to a third.

Porsche to build green Cayenne

Saab 9-3 Convertible BioPower
Motorists in Sweden are given massive tax incentives to drive biofuel cars. As a result, Saab now offers all of its models with the green option. The sexiest model is the sleek 9-3 Convertible. With a 2-litre engine, the 9-3 has a top speed of 127mph and manages 28mpg.

We drive Saab BioPower estate

Tesla Roadster
Build in conjunction with Lotus, the Tesla Roadster is everything the electric G-Wiz isn’t; sexy, cool and supercar-quick. The electric motor in the American car produces the equivalent of 248bhp and 200lb/ft of pulling power. It accelerates from 0-60mph in a Ferrari-beating four seconds and when fully charged, the Tesla will run for about 200 miles before requiring a top-up. The company have already pre-sold 300 Roadsters, with one on its way to Oscar-winning A-lister George Clooney.

Look at the Wheels on That: The Tesla Roadster

Toyota FT-HS
The Toyota Prius may be the biggest selling hybrid, but it doesn’t win any glamour or performance contests. Toyota have developed the FT-HS Hybrid Sports Concept – a 400bhp hybrid with a 0-60mph time of sub-four seconds. While it’s just a concept at the moment, the Japanese car maker is leading the hybrid race, and some say the FT-HS will be a regular fixture on the road within a decade.

We drive:

Ford Focus FFV
Lexus LS600
Toyota Prius
Saab 9-5 BioPower

Six of the best: Green cars