As carmakers geared up for tighter European emissions standards being introduced in the coming year, a big focus of 2011 remained the development of hybrid and battery technology, and also cleaner, more efficient petrol engines. Not content to let bureaucracy take all the fun out of motoring, however, a fair number of cars with shamelessly sporty specifications still found their way onto our roads. We take a look at some of the favourites that were launched in Hong Kong this year.
The all-rounder: BMW M5
It's nothing spectacular in the looks department, but the 'M' logo on the back signals that there's more to this car than meets the eye, even if it otherwise looks little different from a regular 5 Series BMW. The M5 - from the carmaker's motorsports division - is widely considered the ultimate BMW. And it's versatile, too. Essentially a luxury executive sedan, it's sporty enough to pose in and yet sufficiently conservative to serve as a small family car. The 2011 version of this legend, launched in Hong Kong last month, discards the thirsty V-10 for a more economical turbocharged V-8. It's nevertheless a more powerful engine, unleashing 560 horsepower - 57 more horses - and 680Nm of torque, while using 30 per cent less petrol.
Most controversial: Aston Martin Cygnet
The question has already been asked: can this reimagined Toyota iQ really be classed as an Aston Martin? But perhaps the more pertinent question is whether sports car enthusiasts will see the Cygnet as an alternative city runaround, or instead buy one for the wife. We'll find out after the Lunar New Year when the first made-to-order Cygnets are delivered to local customers. It may not be as rapid as a Rapide, but on a drive around Central and Wan Chai during lunchtime, it was impressively nippy when dealing with aggressive bus, truck and taxi drivers. Aston's way of negotiating Europe's fleet-wide average emissions quotas, the Cygnet may look dinky on the outside but is wide enough that, once in the driving seat, size is not an issue. It's comfortable, too, with as much interior leather as there is in one of Aston's sports cars. Although James Bond would probably be more shaken than stirred, we expect it to be a hit as the city car of choice among luxury-loving tai-tais.
Greenest: Nissan Leaf
The government gave Nissan's reasonably priced green Leaf the seal of approval when it was launched here in March, announcing it would buy 200 of the plug-in cars for use by its departments, power companies and others. Costing about HK$420,000, including tax, the Leaf has a range of 175 kilometres on a fully charged battery, which shouldn't present a problem in Hong Kong. Its lithium-ion battery pack produces 110hp and 280Nm of torque, which is just enough power to prevent most people from losing their self-esteem. As of last month there were 330 electric-vehicle chargers in the city, covering all districts. The government says there will be more than 1,000 by the middle of next year, which could encourage hesitant motorists to buy one of these multiple award-winning, zero-emissions cars.
