THE all-new Jaguar XF took top honours at the 31st annual motoring Oscars', the What Car? Car of the Year Awards 2008, sponsored this year by the RAC.

The Jaguar beat 14 category winners during a glittering ceremony held at the Grosvenor House Hotel in London's Park Lane.

What Car? editor, Steve Fowler, said: "It's a crucial time for Jaguar as the sale of the company draws closer. Judging by the XF, its future looks very good indeed.

"The XF has it all - it looks fantastic and has a classy, futuristic interior that gives it a real sense of occasion. On top of that it's great to drive,whatever mood you're in, and is a sound ownership proposition, too.

"Considering the quality of opposition it beat to win our Best Executive Car Award, it was an obvious choice for the overall Award.

What Car?'s Green Award went to BMW and Mini for the first time. The award recognises the company's achievements in using clever technology to reduce carbon dioxide emissions across the whole range of BMW and Mini cars.

Fowler said: "Nobody has done more to reduce CO2 for buyers of all types of car. Whether you're a supermini buyer or looking for a large 4x4, BMW and Mini offer some of the greenest cars on the market."

British car makers did well at the awards.

Land Rover again dominated the 4x4 categories - the new Freelander 2 was named Best Compact 4x4 for the second year and the Discovery won the Best Large 4x4 award for the fourth year running - while the Oxford-built Mini Cooper S won the Best Hot Hatch award for the second year.

Audi came away with the most trophies, including Best Performance Car for the new R8 and Best Coupe for the TT.