Two 'Oxford-built Minis' are among the 64 vehicles entered for the RAC Brighton to London Future Car Challenge on Saturday, November 6.

Ex-rally star Paddy Hopkirk will put his driving skills to the test in a MINI Cooper D while Banbury's Prodrive chairman and former rally ace David Richards handles the MINI E – the model is undergoing field trials in the UK as part of BMW Group’s Project i – the company’s research into emissions-free driving.

Two of the world's first electric 4x4 vehicles have also been entered by Oxfordshire-based Liberty Electric Cars. The company's E-Range is a zero emission version of the Range Rover capable of 100mph and with a range of 200 miles.

This inaugural Royal Automobile Club event is a very public showcase for low-energy vehicles. As a measure of the importance of the event, many major motor manufacturers have decided to debut models previously unseen in the UK.

The exceptional entry list establishes one of the largest live promotions of eco-friendly motoring in the world, showcasing 19 electric vehicles; 25 hybrid vehicles and 20 low-emission internal combustion engine vehicles.

Volkswagen will debut its new 2013 Golf blue-e-motion, a prototype electric vehicle developing 115 PS and 199 lbs ft of torque through an electric motor which is powered by a series of lithium-ion batteries with a total capacity of 26.5 kilowatt hours.

The manufacturer claims that despite its advanced drivetrain, the Golf blue-e-motion is as versatile as a conventional vehicle with the ability to accelerate to 62 mph in 11.8 seconds and has a boot volume of 279 litres.

Three hydrogen fuel cell powered cars have been entered – one each by Honda UK, Toyota GB and Mercedes-Benz UK.

The Honda FCX Clarity has rarely been seen before and has zero tailpipe emissions. The FCX Clarity FCEV is an electric car. The fuel cell combines hydrogen with oxygen to make electricity. The electricity then powers the electric motor, which in turn propels the vehicle. Water is the only byproduct the FCX Clarity FCEV leaves behind.

Having started work on hydrogen fuel cells in 1992, the company's latest fuel cell hybrid is the Toyota FCHV-ADV (based on a Highlander) which it has entered in the RAC Brighton to London Future Car Challenge. The vehicle has a range of nearly 500 miles and can reach speeds of 96mph. Toyota aims to make fuel cell vehicles commercially available in 2015.

Not due to be launched officially in the UK until December, the Mercedes-Benz B-Class F-Cell is powered by a 136 horsepower electric motor and has a range of 250 miles.

Also new to the UK is the Nissan Leaf – a five-seater car with an 80kW electric motor and a lithium-ion battery giving a cruising range of about 100 miles.

Vauxhall Motors has entered a prototype Ampera hybrid electric vehicle. The car is electrically driven and uses a lithium-ion battery. It is also fitted with a generator driven by a small internal combustion engine, which charges the battery and extends the Ampera's total range to 310 miles. For trips up to 50 miles it runs from the battery and so produces zero emissions. The battery can be fully recharged in two hours via a standard household outlet.

So-called 'clean-tech millionaire', Dale Vince, will be driving his 134-mph Nemesis electric sports car. Vince is the founder of Ecotricity – claimed to be the UK's leading supplier of green energy.

No fewer than three Tesla Roadster Sport electric sports cars are entered – the only series production electric sports car currently on sale.

Also on show will be the Tata Indica Vista Electric which was unveiled in India earlier this year. A four-seater car with a range of around 100 miles it is claimed to have a top speed of nearly 80mph.

Trophies will be awarded in different categories for vehicles judged to have made the least energy impact during the 60-mile Brighton to London run.

While much interest centres on alternative technology vehicles, a number of manufacturers – BMW, Ford, Renault, Vauxhall, Volkswagen and Skoda – have entered low-emission (110 CO₂ or less) internal combustion engine vehicles in order to demonstrate the efficiency of their vehicles. With a combined economy figure of 80.7mpg, the Volkswagen Polo BlueMotion is expected to complete the 57-mile run from Brighton to London using just 3.21 litres of diesel (0.70 gallons), costing £3.78 based on current average fuel prices.

A handful of Light Commercial Vehicles will take part: internal combustion and electric vans from Ford, including the new Transit Connect Electric; the Maxi EV electric van based on a VW Caddy Maxi and developed by a partnership between RLE International and Energetique; two Citroën Nemo electric vans developed by Nicholson McLaren.

Ex-Formula One World Champion, Damon Hill, said: "This event is an excellent way to bring sustainable motoring to the attention of the public. It's essentially a live public demonstration of the latest technology.

"Spectators will see a wide variety of environmentally friendly vehicles – city cars, family cars, sportscars and vans – in action on the public highways.

"There can be no better way to convince people that this is the future of motoring. The UK is a world leader in automotive technology, particularly in the cutting edge and highly competitive field of motor sport, and we are sure to play a central role in developing solutions to our global environmental challenges.”

Special guests participating in the event include ex-Formula One driver, Perry McCarthy, Pink Floyd Drummer and avid car collector Nick Mason, TV presenter Vicky Butler-Henderson, UK Electric Land Speed Record Holder Don Wales and Sally Boazman ('Sally Traffic' from BBC Radio 2) Ben Cussons, Chairman of The Royal Automobile Club Motoring Committee, said: "The quantity and quality of the entry list is testimony to the importance and appeal of the RAC Brighton to London Future Car Challenge.

"That so many major manufacturers have chosen this event to debut their latest environmentally friendly models to the UK public is further proof that the RAC Brighton to London Future Car Challenge already has a high profile."

The RAC Brighton to London Future Car Challenge takes place the day before The Royal Automobile Club’s world-famous London to Brighton Veteran Car Run. Starting at Madeira Drive, this unique live event will use the traditional 60-mile veteran car run route in reverse.

Start (Madeira Drive, Brighton) at 8.00 to 09:00 (note earlier start time)

Halfway stop (Crawley) 09:30 to 10:30

Finish (Pall Mall, London) 11:15 to 12:30

Presentation (Regent Street, London) 12:30 to 16:00.