Nissan is the latest carmaker to launch a sub-brand for its most environmentally-friendly vehicles.

From early next year, all Nissan models which emit less than 140g/km of CO2 will wear a ‘Pure Drive’ badge.

The range will include 1.2-litre petrol and 1.5-litre diesel Micras, 1.4-litre petrol and 1.5-litre diesel Notes and the Qashqai 1.5-litre diesel in five and seven-seat formats.

The recently-announced Pixo city car, which emits 103g/km of CO2, will also join the sub-brand when it goes on sale next year.

This car is a joint venture with Suzuki, and offers 65bhp from its 1.0-litre, three-cylinder petrol engine.

Nissan claims combined fuel economy of 61.4mpg for the five-door city car.

Elsewhere, Nissan is rebranding models fitted with a continuously variable transmission. Qashqai and X-Trail models with this gearbox will now be known as Xtronic CVT.

The company’s European vice-president for product planning, Pierre Loing, said: “By introducing Pure Drive, Nissan has made it easy for customers to identify which cars emit the least CO2.”