Currently reading: Ferrari wins race to cut CO2
Prancing horse leads way as EU pressurises luxury marques to reduce emissions

Ferrari is making the most significant progress of Europe’s high-end supercar makers in reducing its fleet CO2 emissions, Autocar has discovered.

Ferrari recorded an average of 326g/km in 2010, down 46g/km, according to figures from JATO Dynamics in its yearly report into the European industry’s progress towards a 130g/km fleet average.

Ferrari’s cut is equal to 12 per cent, about half the total reduction that volume car makers are expected to manage by 2015. “Manufacturers have made significant improvements in 2010, and it will be fascinating to see how they respond as emerging high technology goes more mainstream,” says JATO.

Figures are calculated around the mix of sales of individual cars, so Ferrari is benefiting from the larger proportion of Californias in its sales. Averaging 301g/km, the California contributed 46 per cent to Ferrari’s sales last year, versus 33 per cent in 2009.

Among the competition, Aston Martin managed a 0.6 per cent reduction, Bentley 1.9 per cent and Lamborghini 1.5 per cent. Aston’s fleet average dropped to 357g/km, Bentley’s to 397g/km and Lambo’s to 372g/km.

For Bentley, the new Mulsanne was a major contributor; its CO2 output of 393g/km is a big improvement over the old Arnage’s 465g/km.

Only Lotus managed more at 3.2 per cent, aided by greater sales of the Elise and a significant reduction in its tailpipe carbon from 204g/km to 198g/km.

These figures show the importance of a sports car maker being owned by a major manufacturer, whose fuel-efficient superminis can offset its supercars.

That applies to Fiat-owned Ferrari, VW-owned Bentley and Lamborghini and Proton-owned Lotus, but not Aston Martin. This is why Aston is launching the Cygnet city car, whose 99g/km average will help balance out its model range.

The EU will fine car makers for missing targets, starting at five euro per car for the first gram/kilometre and rising to 95 euro for the fourth. Fines could run into millions.

Julian Rendell

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