As it counts down the final hours to the release of the 458 Italia (top) in Frankfurt today, Ferrari has been named as the sports car manufacturer making the most improvements over the last year in reducing the CO2 emissions of its cars which include the 599 GTB Fiorano (bottom).

As it counts down the final hours to the release of the dramatic new 458 Italia in Frankfurt today, Ferrari has been named as the sports car manufacturer making the most improvements over the last year in reducing the CO2 emissions of its cars. While not traditionally associated with their environmental credentials, sports car makers are proving just as committed and effective as volume brands in reducing their average CO2 performance, according to a special report released today by the world’s leading provider of automotive data and intelligence, JATO Dynamics. 

JATO analysis shows Ferrari leads the CO2 volume reduction race, with a 40.4 g/km improvement in CO2 output of new cars sold in H1 2009, compared to the same period in 2008. This is the greatest volume reduction of any brand on sale in Europe and represents a 9.5 percent improvement, which matches that of the best performing volume brand of H1 2009, Chevrolet. Ferrari’s net reduction puts it well on its way to achieving its stated aim to reduce CO2 emissions from 400 g/km per vehicle to 280-300 g/km, by 2012.

Commenting on the figures, David Di Girolamo, Head of JATO Consult, says: "Of course, supercars are starting from a high base and have more scope to reduce emissions than mainstream cars, but the speed with which they are improving their CO2 performance should be credited." JATO was founded in 1984 and provides the world’s most timely, accurate and up-to-date intelligence on vehicle specifications and pricing, sales and registrations, news and incentives.

"Sales volumes might be on a smaller scale, but those manufacturers we studied sell close to 100,000 cars combined each year, and we know well that the days of supercar makers being excluded from the environmental debate are over," he continues. "Of course owners of these types of cars are also now acutely aware of their own environmental responsibilities, although this is clearly not top of the wish list when considering a supercar."

JATO’s analysis shows the scale of CO2 improvement made by the top supercar makers, but also the effect of small sales volumes. While Ferrari can claim the greatest CO2 volume reduction, when 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, whose 10.6 percent reduction on a H1 2009 sales volume of 18,126 compares well to volume car makers.

Selected Supercar Performers in Detail