Saab 9-5

Yet it is a car that will also be popular with conservationists when it goes into production next year, as its 2.3-litre engine uses a renewable fuel. The car will be built in small numbers by Saab to persuade Europeans to drive on ethanol - the fuel made from agricultural crops such as sugar cane.

A new range of 2.0-litre 9-5 BioPower models reaches Swedish showrooms in June, and orders are already being taken. They will cost no more than conventional 2.0-litre petrol cars, and provide improved performance.

What's more, the government there has made ethanol 15 per cent cheaper than petrol, decided the cars using it are exempt from congestion and parking charges, and lopped 20 per cent off the tax paid by business drivers. Let's hope the UK authorities follow suit in future.