2011's Best New Cars

Many of the best new cars for 2011 have advanced safety features that keep you and your passengers more secure as well as making your insurance agent happy. Keep in mind when considering a new car the potential cost of your cover insurance, and seek an online car insurance quote to help you make the final purchase decision.

Electric

The Tesla Roadster for 2011 is the gold-standard for electric vehicles, with a price to match at £86950. Manufactured at the Lotus plant in Hethel, England, the 2011 Roadster can travel up to 386 km on a single charge - compared to the electric Nissan Leaf, which has a range of 161 km. Performance-wise, this revolutionary electric car goes from 0-96.5 km/h in 3.7 seconds. However, the manufacturer announced in January 2011 that Roadster production will be suspended until 2013, so this is the year to snap up your Tesla Roadster, available by order.

Hybrid

The 2011 Chevrolet Volt is the long-awaited electric/petrol hybrid that has been heralded as the most fuel-efficient vehicle available on the world market. Named Car of the Year for 2011 by Motor Trend magazine, the Volt can travel up to 65 km on an electric charge, at which point the petrol-powered generator kicks in to assist the electric engine. While the manufacturer is not due to release the Volt in Europe and the UK until November of 2011, carmagazine.com speculates the MSRP will be near £25,500. The Opal/Vauxhall Amper, the European spec version of the same automobile, will sell for £28,995 after deducting a £5000 government subsidy.