Unwrap a Star Bar and lean back - we're in an 80s revival and I'm going to tell you why. The growing tide of new cars claiming magically low carbon dioxide levels isn't new. In fact it's a weird facsimile of a trend that began 25 years ago.

Back in the early 80s, manufacturers launched a rash of models with trick economy features. Some of which are eerily reminiscent of today's eco-tech.

Then VW launched a Formel E version of its 1.1-litre Golf, which bumped the economy from 40mpg to 55mpg (at a steady 56mph). A lengthy fourth gear helped, but some Continental versions had stop-start, which switched the engine off in traffic. Today BMW has its Efficient Dynamics technology, including stop-start.

Back in 1983, BMW came up with the 525e (e for efficiency again), which boasted longer-ratio gears for economy into the 30s - not bad for a six-cylinder petrol. Today we have the VW BlueMotion models, which boast longer-ratio gears.

This being the 80s, things got a little crazy for a while. The '83mpg Metro' of BL advertisement fame turned out to true, but only if you cruised everywhere at a constant 30mph. The Mitsubishi Colt 1400 GLX even had a second set of Economy gears, engaged in exactly the same way a farmer selects his low-ratio off-road gears.

The reason for the economy rash has parallels. Back then petrol was horribly expensive, having more than doubled in three years from 76p a gallon in 1978 to £1.60 in 1981, largely as a result of Middle East instability (Iran-Iraq war).

Today some analysts are predicting we're going to see the $100 oil barrel by the end of the year, prodded ever upwards by Middle Eastern instability (Iraq war). Of course these days it's more about carbon dioxide and damp polar bears. Combined with the imminent arrival of 'peak oil', it seems this is one 80s revival that's here to stay. Unlike the lime-green tank top.