You’d think that the title of “World’s Greenest Automaker” would go to a company like Toyota or Honda, but when it comes to being efficient and using renewable resources, BMW is apparently way ahead of the pack.

According to the Dow Jones Sustainability Index, the German manufacturer is the leader in practicing sustainability by using more eco-friendly materials and properly recycling their cars. This is why they were named the “most sustainable automobile company worldwide” by the respected environmental authority for the fifth year in a row.

It’s not terribly surprising though when you look at the company’s push to introduce clean diesel cars to the U.S. and their newest effort called “BMW Efficient Dynamics,” which places priority on a car’s low-carbon footprint as well as the heightening of the driving experience.

2009 BMW 335d

A great example of this ideology is the 2009 BMW 335d, which emits 20% less carbon-dioxide emissions than a comparable gasoline-powered car and goes from 0-60 mph in just six seconds. Talk about having your cake and eating it too.

Cash for Clunkers is a federal program designed to stimulate U.S. auto sales and improve the environment by providing an economic incentive for consumers to replace old, gas-guzzling vehicles with new, more fuel-efficient models, such as the 2009 smart fortwo.

So, not only do you get to put $4500 towards a brand-new 2009 smart fortwo, but you also get the added benefit of getting 20 more mpg than your old vehicle.   The national average for gas today is $3.03.  A 40-mile trip on your old 17-mpg vehicle would cost you $7.13.  The same trip in a 2009 smart fortwo would only cost $3.28.  It doesn’t get any better than that.

Nearly a decade ago, Honda introduced the world to the Insight hybrid coupe, the first in a line of next-gen fuel efficient cars. With a sleek body that boasts one of the most aerodynamic designs of all time and a combined 83 horsepower from its gasoline-electric drive train, the first generation Insight remains as a major milestone in the development of hybrid technology.

Now, with the national release of the 2010 Honda Insight only days away, we wait anxiously as new information regarding the pricing of the Insight comes trickling in. Not only is it a hybrid with cutting-edge technology like the Eco Assist fuel economy monitoring system and regenerative braking system, but the new Insight will apparently undercut the base price of Toyota’s Prius by $2,000 or more!

That’s quite a savings when you consider that the Insight and the Prius offer comparable fuel economy (40 city/43 highway mpg for the Insight and 48 city/45 highway mpg for the Prius). The Insight’s 4-cylinder hybrid-electric power plant delivers a combined 111 horsepower, allowing for better acceleration over the previous generation. Low rolling resistance tires combined with the car’s ultra-low drag coefficient of 0.28 allow the Insight to cruise effortlessly along the highway.

Seating for five, as opposed to only two in the previous generation, gives the Insight yet another level of practicality. As more details surface about the 2010 Honda Insight, we can only imagine what else Honda may have up their environmentally conscious sleeves. But much like the launch of the first Insight, you can expect whatever Honda has in store to have a tremendous impact on the modern automotive landscape.