Among the 10 best-selling automotive manufacturers in Europe, Fiat Automobiles recorded the lowest average CO2 emissions value for vehicles sold in 2007, according to a recent analysis by JATO Dynamics, world leader for consultancy and research in the automotive field.

The JATO analysis placed the Fiat brand (137.3 g/km) ahead of Peugeot (141.9 g/km), Citroën (142.2 g/km), Renault (146.4 g/km), Toyota (148.8 g/km), Ford (149.1 g/km), Opel/Vauxhall (152.9 g/km), Volkswagen (161.7 g/km), BMW (176.7g/km) and Mercedes-Benz (188.4 g/km).

“The results of this important analysis reward Fiat’s ongoing commitment to finding innovative solutions to reduce levels of polluting emissions and CO2,” explains Lorenzo Sistino, managing director of Fiat Automobiles. “Fiat’s aim is always to stay as close as possible to people’s real needs, and its commitment does not end here.  Irrespective of what is decided by European politicians, our aim is still to achieve the lowest average adjusted level of CO2 emissions for Fiat cars by 2012.

“Fiat intends to achieve this result by introducing an action plan on engines and transmissions, in addition to the use of Eco Drive, an innovative application developed with Microsoft that is able – via the USB Port of the versatile Blue&Me system – to analyse motorists’ driving styles, helping them to optimise behaviour in terms of fuel consumption and hence emissions.”

Fiat is one of the motoring brands providing the best response, anywhere in the world, to the need to limit the impact of transport on the environment. Fiat is proposing specific solutions that are within reach of everyone and are available today to achieve this significant goal. This is borne out by Fiat products already present on the market; by its research and development plans; by sustainable mobility initiatives promoted in conjunction with governments – and investments in new product development.

Fiat is European leader in the production of compact cars that are, by definition, the most respectful of the environment: For example, two years ahead of legislation, the Fiat 500 and the Fiat Bravo have already been introduced with Euro 5-ready power units (petrol and diesel). By the end of 2009, most engines in the entire Fiat range will be Euro 5-ready.

Fiat is also the first manufacturer to develop the MultiJet technology that drives all new-generation diesel cars, and the Company is a world leader in the field of methane-driven OEM cars (more than 50,000 were sold last year in Italy). Fiat also believes that methane propulsion systems are currently the most appropriate and readily available technology for resolving pollution problems in urban areas. This is because the use of methane has positive implications in terms of environmental benefits (reduction of approximately 23% in CO2 emissions and reduction of PM to practically 0), and also in financial terms.

Fiat, a leader in this technology, is the first manufacturer to offer Natural Power in its low-emissions range, a wide array of vehicles with methane-petrol dual fuel systems which are able to meet the mobility requirement of an extensive category of users, including the trade sector. Currently these categories embrace the Doblò (and Doblò Cargo), Multipla, Panda (and Panda Van) – and in the Grande Punto due to go on sale by the end of the year.

As it continues its quest for alternative fuels, Fiat is also downsizing its diesel and petrol engine vehicles, as demonstrated by the new 1.4 T-Jet and 1.6 MultiJet
families. In particular, the adoption of new-generation turbochargers, combined with smaller capacity engines, allows Fiat to achieve performance levels that are comparable to or even better than higher capacity power units, but with lower fuel consumption and emissions.