Whether choosing your own company car or a fleet for your staff, plenty of attractive options are rolling off the production line in 2010

Despite the bitter downturn in new car sales affecting every manufacturer, there seems to be no shortage of fresh models ready to hit the road. That should come as no surprise because cars take between four and five years to get from the designer's sketch pad to the showroom and the car companies have had to see these projects through from start to finish, some of which seem to make little sense in these less ostentatious times.

So what we are seeing manufacturers bringing to the fore are advancements more in tune with environmental awareness than fiscal prudence. Fortunately, though, these things often go hand-in-hand with good fuel economy and low carbon emissions, making financial sense for company directors and fleet managers alike.

The green issue is something that manufacturers are still struggling with and we won't have a clear direction for a few years yet. Hybrid technology has its detractors. If you can get a 3-litre BMW 5-Series to offer better all-round fuel economy than a Toyota Prius then obviously there's much room for improvement, and the driving range offered by all-electric cars is still pitifully small.

Hydrogen fuel cells, as championed by Honda, BMW and others are a long way from series production because of the sheer cost of the technology and the fact that the refuelling infrastructure simply isn't in place yet. Still, the prospect of driving a car whose only emission is water vapour is an appealing one.

For now, then, we are mainly stuck with traditional methods of car propulsion, but that's not necessarily bad news because engines are getting cleaner and more efficient all the time. So what, exactly, do manufacturers think will appeal to company directors, either for their own means of transport or that of their staff?

Luxury
Large luxury cars are still expensive to run. Lots of room and lots of equipment equals a great deal of weight and many cylinders are needed to propel such cars. This inevitably means high carbon emissions and large amounts of fuel going through the tank. But if your conscience and the company's finances will allow it, 2010 could see you driving, or being driven in, one of a handful of spectacular cars.

Maybach has two models out this year, both named Zeppelin, and they cosset and flatter like no other automobile. Diamond-encrusted cushions, bespoke champagne flutes and a fragrance dispenser anyone? These are definitely cars for rear-seat passengers rather than drivers but Rolls-Royce's new Ghost is another matter. Smaller in stature than its big brother, the gargantuan Phantom, the Ghost still dwarfs practically everything else on the road. It's everything you expect a modern Rolls to be, except for one thing: it's a fabulous thing to drive. So sack the chauffeur and sit up front for a change. Something this big and heavy shouldn't be able to move so quickly. Whatever the travelling speed, one feather of this car's accelerator sees this mobile palace move with astonishing force, and not just in a straight line either.

This year sees Bentley replace the antiquated Arnage range with the new Mulsanne and while the jury may still be out regarding its exterior styling, there will be little to touch it when it comes to sheer presence. The Arnage managed to make the Continental GT feel like a Mondeo, such was its opulence inside the cabin, and the Mulsanne carries this forward with a touch more modernity. Soon Bentley will be nailing its green credentials to the mast by enabling all its models to run on E85 bio-fuel (the new Continental Supersports is the first one thus fitted). It will be proof that even small-volume manufacturers are taking notice of popular opinion.

The four-door sports car has recently come of age, with Maserati having set the tone with its lovely Quattroporte and both Porsche and Aston Martin getting in on the act with their Panamera and Rapide models. Porsche's Panamera may be cursed with looks not even a mother could love, but it's a fine car with plenty of room for four adults and exciting levels of performance in turbo guise. For a cross-continent dash, there's little to touch it.

Aston's Rapide is an altogether more glamorous affair and could lay claim to the title of the world's most beautiful car. That it's a fine, rewarding and involving steer as well makes it an obvious choice for the executive who wants to make an impression. It's the first proper four-door in the company's history and, while it's not especially spacious in its rear quarters, there's enough room to seat two adults in snug, refined comfort. It's not a car to be driven in; it's a car to drive and deserves to sell well.

Executive
Without a doubt, the most eagerly awaited new car of 2010 is BMW's new 5-Series. The quirky looks have been toned down, the engines made even more refined and frugal, and the handling is sharper than ever thanks to active steering and dampers. The auto is a new eight-speed unit and a full-length panoramic roof is on the options list—expect to see these everywhere, and rightly so.

The most important executive car from Britain this year will be the Jaguar XJ. With the overdue execution of the X-Type and the introduction of this all-new XJ, Jaguar's transformation from heritage-obsessed timewaster to youthful and dynamic manufacturer will be complete. The XJ utilises aluminium to reduce weight and thus pollution. But it also promises to be an exciting drive and complements the best-selling XF to put the big cat back on the map.

Jaguar's sister company, Land Rover, has been making enormous strides, though admittedly not in external design. Under the skins, though, the 2010 Discovery, Range Rover and Sport models are accomplished luxury cars that won't necessarily break the bank. Handy, too, if that business meeting requires you to traverse rivers and muddy fields. Both Jaguar and Land Rover are leading the way with astonishingly good in-car entertainment systems so if you do get stuck in the rough you won't be bored while waiting to be rescued.

Mercedes will be offering a plethora of new models, but the most relevant for the executive market will be the CLS. The styling has been refreshed and, thankfully, the car is all the better for it. V6 diesel and petrol engines will be available alongside V8 petrols and a much anticipated twin-turbo V8 CLS63 variant. Expect 570bhp from that and enough torque to tow your house.

Another German manufacturer, Audi, will be trying to tempt buyers with its new A8. Looking like a stretched A4, it's a bit dull but the maker reckons the latest S-Class is its closest rival while Jaguar's new XJ is a "secondary competitor". That could be tempting fate. It's big-even bigger than an S-Class. But it's also clever, having been blessed with a raft of novel safety features such as the automatic activation of hazard lights when you slam on the brakes. It's fast, too, with a punchy diesel engine that is quicker to 62mph than the V8 petrol (5.5 seconds is rapid in anyone's book).

Simon Harris, deputy editor at Fleet News magazine, points to another reason the A8 might appeal: "There will be an A8 that will duck the 160g/km CO2 threshold, where companies gain a more generous tax break than for vehicles above 160g/km. There's an advantage for chauffeur fleets as it will be the only large luxury saloon to fall into the more generous writing-down allowance category."

Fleet
Fleet buyers aren't short on choice in 2010, either. There's sense in encouraging greener motoring, with increased miles per gallon and lower tax rates reducing overall costs, but you still don't see many Priuses being driven by reps up and down the country. This could change if company bean counters get their way, as Harris explains: "The significant tax threshold for company car drivers at the moment is set at 120g/km. Choosing a car with CO2 emissions of 120g/km or lower reduces tax liability by five percentage points over a car with emissions of 121g/km to 130g/km. Although this will change in 2013, there is still an advantage in choosing a car with up to 120g/km now."

Many companies would face nothing short of a coup if they tried to force staff out of their BMWs or Insignias into smaller, greener cars. "As more hybrid vehicles arrive on the market," says Harris, "user choosers may become more interested. The Toyota Auris would probably not appeal much to company car drivers who could choose a number of models in that class. But a sub-100g/km hybrid version, with high equipment levels and which is well-priced against 'eco' diesel rivals, should do well."

But what about saving face in the car park? Harris reckons that while brands such as the Honda Insight and Toyota Prius advertise advanced powertrains and green credentials with oddball designs, the Auris hybrid will be almost invisible. "Lexus will launch a compact car with the same hybrid power as the Auris that should achieve less than 100g/km," he adds.

The Honda CR-Z will bring excitement to the hybrid sector, offering a compact 2+2 coupé with sharp handling, lively performance and CO2 emissions around 117g/km. It's won't appeal to reps, though, as space is at a premium. For many, load space is a necessity and the current crop from Ford, Vauxhall, Volkswagen, Skoda and others includes some astonishingly good cars.

Peugeot's crossover 3008 has won plaudits, such as What Car's Car of the Year 2010, for its combination of 4x4 looks and space with a fuel efficiency of over 55mpg. Vauxhall's Insignia has also been a success, having overturned the old Vectra's reputation by offering brilliant driving dynamics and a better perceived quality thanks to interior design and higher-quality trim. The estate is a handsome thing and the 2.0-litre diesel engines allows 40mpg-plus. It offers on-board sat-nav as well as full MP3 player and Bluetooth connectivity.

The Insignia's main rival, the Mondeo, gets a visual tweak and new engines this year that will be cleaner and more efficient. It will use the new 200bhp turbocharged EcoBoost engine, which produces under 190g/km and achieves over 35mpg. The big seller, though, will be the 2.0-litre diesel, available in 113bhp, 138bhp or 161bhp tunings. The 2.2-litre diesel will also get revisions to bump its output over 180bhp, while Ford's double-clutch PowerShift gearbox will be an option.

Volvo will try to make an impact in 2010 with its new S60. A curvaceous and attractive car, Volvo hopes it will draw buyers away from their 3-Series and A4s. Harris at Fleet News says that Volvo is making strides with low-emission models. "There are new 119g/km versions of the Volvo S80 and V70 DRIVe range," he says. "Although they are powered by a 109bhp 1.6-litre diesel, they don't feel slow."