The “next generation” Toyota Prius, due out on August 1st 2009, has been awarded the “WhatGreenCar” Car of the Year for 2009.

The car was chosen from a final shortlist of ten “green” cars which were all put through their paces by six of the United Kingdom’s leading environmental and transport experts. The other nine cars in contention for the prize were the Mitsubishi i-MiEV electric, Citroen C1 ev’ie electric, Ford Fiesta ECOnetic, Toyota iQ, Volvo S40/V50 DRIVe start-stop, Volkswagen Passat BlueMotion 2, third-generation Toyota Prius hybrid, new Honda Insight hybrid, Citroen C3 Picasso compact-MPV and the BMW 318d saloon.

Having a more compact, and therefore more lighter, power-train, the Prius is greener than ever before. It has an official combined fuel economy touching 72.4 mpg and its CO2 emissions are only 89g/km, which is an impressive 14% improvement over the current model. The new Prius utilises a new 1.8 litre petrol engine (four cylinders), as opposed to the 1.5 litre engine in the current model. This improves overall fuel economy as well as giving additional driver control.

Continuing its drive to be more environmentally friendly, Mazda has launched a start-stop system going by the name of “i-stop” and it is both unique and highly efficient. It is being rolled out in the new Mazda3 MZR 2.0 DISI.

The system utilises combustion energy for restarting the engine quickly which means the use of the starter motor, and hence fuel, is kept to a minimum. It achieves this due to the positioning of the crankshaft and pistons which, along with the valve opening and direct petrol injection, are all precisely in synch with each other.

This new system actually reduces fuel consumption in the new auto by almost 14% as compared to the first generation Mazda3 cars that had conventional two litre petrol engines. When the engine is shut off by the i-stop system, all other functions of the car such as audio, climate control and illumination continue to work.

The biggest ever synchronised trial of environmentally conscious vehicles has been unveiled by the UK government. The scheme, which is reputed to be costing close to £25 million, will speed up the roll out of electric cars in the country and will allow individuals to participate in long term trials and which will include everything from electric fans to smart cars and everything in between.

Members of the public from eight locations around the UK, including London, Glasgow and Birmingham, will, from the end of the year, have about 350 vehicles to choose from. Charging points, coordination of the experiments and analysing the usage of the vehicles will fall to regional development agencies, universities and the power companies.

At this present time, almost 22% of the total carbon emission emanating from the UK came from transport, and approximately 13% of this number is from private cars. According to a Department for Transport report, if electric vehicles with a range of over fifty kilometres were adopted more widely, carbon emissions could half.

Rumours about the 2010 Nissan Titan, the successor to Nissan’s first full-sized truck, have been flying.  Nissan is selling fewer Titans than they expected, which puts the 2010 version of the truck in question.  The Titan was going to be, more or less, a slightly retooled version of the 2009 Dodge Ram.  Now, Nissan and partner Chrysler are in the process of reviewing their plans for the Titan line.

With Chrysler in its current dire financial situation, financing for the truck may fall through.  If it does, there’s a chance we won’t see the 2010 Nissan Titan and that Nissan may just abandon the full-sized truck market completely.  There are a lot of “what ifs” flying around about the vehicle, but nothing has been officially announced yet.  We may still see a 2010 Nissan Titan.

The 2010 Chevrolet Malibu is the smaller of Chevy’s sedan line.  It’s a petrol/electric hybrid that comes in a number of different versions.  The basic model features a 169 horsepower 2.4 litre engine that features four cylinders.  A four-speed automatic or a six-speed automatic are both available.  The most powerful version of the Malibu, the LTZ, features 252 horsepower and a 3.6 litre engine.

The 2010 Malibu will also feature a 2-mode hybrid engine.  This not only shuts off the petrol engine when the car comes to a stop but also allows the car to use electric power to accelerate.  The Malibu includes many safety features standard, including ABS, an antiskid system, traction control, and front side and curtain side airbags.  The car will also feature some great extras like hands-free mobile phone and iPod connections.

The Lexus IS Convertible is an incredibly luxurious car.  It’s nothing at all like the old SC convertible.  This sleek car looks much sexier, and it’s got everything a great convertible should have.  The hardtop can actually open or close within 21 seconds, and when it’s closed, the car looks like a coupe.

There will be two different versions of the 2010 Lexus IS Convertible: one is a 250C sports car that features a 204 horsepower, 2.5 litre V-6 engine, while the other, the 350C, can provide 306 horsepower and has a six-speed automatic transmission.  The convertible is also a two door instead of a four door, with each door longer than those found on most sedans.  Other tweaks to the IS Convertible

The 2010 Hyundai Genesis coupe reflects the many improvements and upgrades Hyundai has made in the past years.  Some of their newest cars have proven to be well-made and hold up in all categories.  The Genesis luxury sedan has even done well.  Now Hyundai is adding a bit of fun to this luxury car by creating the 2010 Genesis Coupe.  This sporty little vehicle combines the Genesis’s style with the fun and power of a coupe.

It features a 3.8 litre V6 engine and has great steering, something the lighter Hyundai’s haven’t always been noted for.  There are several different versions of the coupe available, including the Grand Touring version and a Track version.  While some have noted that the car is a bit hard to drive because of its bulky clutch, others note that the 2010 Hyundai Genesis Coupe succeeds in its goal.

Kia is a company known for making very solid, very dependable cars, but sometimes, people see Kia as a bit boring.  Well, with the 2010 Kia Forte, the company is trying to enhance its public image a bit.  The Forte will replace their fairly boring Spectra line.  It will feature a 173 horsepower engine with a six-speed manual transmission.

The Forte will have three different trim options: LX, SX, and EX, and it promises to be much more stylish than the Spectra.  The SX, which is the sporty package, comes with a 2.4 litre engine that is quite powerful.  While the Forte is a small car, it does have many features, including Bluetooth and iPod connectivity for music and a great amount of head room.  A large boot rounds out the list of reasons to buy a 2010 Kia Forte

Audi hadn’t really ever tried to compete with companies like Porsche in the sports car world until they created the Audi R8.  The success of the R8 has shown that Audi can build a great modern sports car, and now they’re building on that success with the 2010 Audi TT.  The TT features a front, five-cylinder turbo engine, aluminium body, and more.

The five-cylinder engine makes the TT fairly light, meaning the car can accelerate much faster and handles really well.  The motor sounds like any great sports car, purring along at top speeds.  How does the Audi TT differ from previous cars, especially the R8?  It’s got better shocks, new anti-roll bars, and some updates to the steering system.  The 2010 Audi TT takes what Audio started with the R8 and fine tunes it, making this sports car a major contender for the top spot.

Looking for some of the most amazing luxury cars on the market today?  The following five cars represent some of the best super luxury cars you’ll find.  If you want a vehicle that is luxurious and has every little extra you could possibly want, you want one of these.  Of course, remember that you’ll pay for them, too…luxury cars are not among the cheaper cars, but for many, they are well worth the cost.

1.    The Porsche Panamera.  This four door car is a very streamlined vehicle.  It is something of a masterpiece, in fact.  Porsche has always been known for fast, luxurious cars, but the Panamera realy takes the cake with its amazing exterior, soft interior, and great overall style.  This luxury car features either a seven-speed automatic or a six-speed manual transmission, a V8 engine, and more.  It’s a great combination of speed and style.

2.    The newest in Toyota’s Lexus line is another great luxury vehicle.  Sporting a 4.6 liter V8 and an eight speed automatic, the Lexus can ramp it up to 380 bhp.  Of course, the Lexus has some great features, too, like an advanced air-conditioner, parking assist, and real time traffic updates.

3.    The Bentley Continental GT Speed is a car that practically defines style and luxury.  Bentley’s have always been amazing cars, and the Continental GT Speed is no exception.  It’s powered by a 6.0 litre twin-turbo engine and can hit top speeds of over 300 km/h.  With speed and luxury, what else do you need?

4.    Another name synonymous with luxury is Rolls Royce.  The new Rolls Royce Phantom Drophead comes in both a convertible and a couple model.  Both versions feature everything that we’ve come to associate with Rolls Royce, including their amazing profile and that signature Rolls Royce grille.  The car features a 6.75 litre V12 and a six speed manual transmission.

5.    Finally, the Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution X features a completely new look for the Lancer.  The Evo 10, as it’s often called, has a 2.0 litre engine and a four wheel drive.  Of course, Mitsubishi isn’t a name one thinks of when one thinks of luxury cars, but the Evo 10 is set to change all of that if people are willing to give it the chance.  One nice benefit of the Evo 10 is that it’s typically priced a bit less than a Rolls Royce or a Lexus, making it more affordable than a lot of other luxury cars on the market.

These top five luxury cars are comfortable, stylish, and speedy.  If you’re looking for a luxury vehicle, you can’t go wrong with any of them.  Whether you want to save a bit of money and go with the Evo 10 or want to blow it all on a Rolls Royce Phantom Drophead, you’re sure to get a car that draws attention to itself and to you.