While starting from a higher base of CO2 emissions, companies such as Ferrari have made the biggest improvements, according to automotive data and intelligence provider, JATO Dynamics.

Ferrari is leading the CO2 volume reduction race, with a 40.4g/km improvement in its CO2 output so far this year.

This is the greatest volume reduction among brands on sale in Europe and is a 9.5 per cent improvement.

Ferrari’s net reduction puts it well on the way to achieving its stated aim to reduce CO2 emissions from 400g/km to 280-300g/km by 2012.

Ferrari can claim the greatest CO2 volume reduction.

However, when it’s expressed as percentage improvement, it is Alpina that is the outright best performer, although on a small sales base. The next best in percentage improvement is Porsche, with a 10.6 per cent reduction.

Meanwhile, 96 per cent of the top 25 brands of European new cars sold so far this year have reduced CO2 output by an average of 6.2g/km.

New car sales for Smart, Fiat and Mini are already under the 130g/km CO2 average required under EU legislation by 2015.

The outright biggest improvement of all mainstream marques over the past year belongs to Alfa Romeo, whose average new car CO2 output fell by 19.9g/km.

The top spot is taken by Chevrolet, whose diesel Cruze model and three-cylinder, 0.8-litre, 119g/km Matiz helped its new car sales to a 15.2g/km average CO2 improvement.

In second place is Audi, whose 2.0-litre TDi engine helped it to an average of 163g/km.

Toyota, Suzuki, Hyundai and Mazda have also recorded double-digit improvements.

Ford was best of the biggest European volume sellers, improving average CO2 by 8g/km through its ECOnetic range.

The cleanest of the range is the new 98g/km Fiesta ECOnetic, which will not be released in Australia until November.

However, Ford Australia is bringing the car out for next month’s 3000km Eco Challenge trial from Darwin to Adelaide.

source: Courier Mail