Nissan's LEAF electric car has been voted 2011 European Car of the Year, the first time the award has gone to an electric vehicle.
The award jury includes 57 motoring writers from 23 European countries, who vote for the best cars of the last 12 months.
“The jury acknowledged today that the Nissan LEAF is a breakthrough for electric cars. Nissan LEAF is the first EV that can match conventional cars in many respects,” said Håkan Matson, president of the Car of the Year jury.
The LEAF has a 109ps AC electric motor driving the front wheels, with power coming from a lithium ion battery. Nissan claims a range of 100 miles on the New European Driving Cycle.
UK deliveries begin in March 2011.