The award-winning Fiat 500 supermini has received further confirmation of its green credentials after scooping top honours for its 1.2 Pop version in the Green Supermini category of the What Car? Green Awards in London.
The awards, which took place on Press Day (22 July) at the British International Motor Show in the city’s ExCeL, were designed to highlight and recognise the UK motor industry’s most economical and environmentally-friendly cars.
The Fiat 500 is currently Car of the Year 2008 and has won a host of other accolades including British CAR Magazine Car of the Year, Fifth Gear Small Car of the Year, EuroCarBody 2007 and Auto Europa 2008.
Commenting on the latest honour, Steve Fowler, editor-in-chief of What Car? says: “The Fiat 500 is the perfect green city car. It’s small, chic and, with an efficient petrol engine, it’s low on CO2 and equally harmful local pollutants.”
Andrew Humberstone, managing director, Fiat Group Automobiles UK adds: “In the current economic climate, increasing numbers of customers are looking for more environmentally-friendly cars that offer greater value for money at the fuel pumps.
“But they must be great to look at and enjoyable to drive too. We think we have what those people are looking for – and I am delighted to see that What Car? judges think so too. We are delighted with this award.”
Fiat’s the green number one
Of interest is the fact that Fiat has the lowest average CO2 output of any mainstream manufacturer, having just pipped Mini to retake the Number One spot for the period January to June 2008 (source: www.cleangreencars.co.uk)
With an average CO2 g/km across the range of just 138,15, Fiat is the envy of its competitors. Furthermore, Fiat Group CEO, Sergio Marchionne, has promised that it will have the lowest average CO2 emissions of all car-makers in Europe by 2012, the year in which tough European Union emissions legislation is expected to come into force.
Fiat has a significant advantage here because the bulk of the models it sells are small, with already-low carbon footprints, but it is nevertheless planning substantial improvements to its cars for the future. Although Fiat specialises in small city cars such as the funky 500, its range climbs to the larger, more practical Multipla MPV family car. All of Fiat’s models are available with a choice of at least one of its highly-efficient and state-of-the-art turbo diesel engines.
The new Fiat 500 was the first car launched in Europe whose engines all comply with the upcoming Euro 5 emission regulations, two years ahead of when the new limits are made mandatory.
Greenest Fiat models currently on sale in SA:
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Fiat 500 1.2 Pop
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Fiat Panda 1.1 Active
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Fiat Grande Punto 1.3 16v Multijet Dynamic
