Super Diablo is an environmental devil Driving sports car equivalent

Sunday Herald, The, Dec 26, 2004 by Rob Edwards Environment Editor

IT'S the last word in luxury sports cars, a design classic which oozes cool. But the Lamborghini Diablo is also the least environmentally friendly of cars.

In fact, driving the Diablo is equivalent of "cutting down three fully grown oak trees every day", according to the Environmental Transport Association (the ETA).

The organisation has listed the 10 makes of car that wreak most havoc on the environment and pose most danger for pedestrians in an authoritative new guide for buyers.

Although the Diablo, which only manages 13 miles to the gallon, is the worst, it still faced competition for that title. The other major polluters are luxury Bentleys, the Rolls-Royce Phantom, an Aston Martin, a Porsche, saloons from Volkswagen and Audi, plus two 4x4s from Volkswagen and Vauxhall. None of them achieve an average of more than 22 miles to the gallon.

They pump out tonnes more of the climate-wrecking greenhouse gas, carbon dioxide, than other cars. And some of them are poorly rated for pedestrian safety, because their front-ends are more likely to cause injury in collisions.

Experts analysed and ranked more than 1300 models on the basis of five standard criteria: power, pollution, fuel consumption, noise and safety.

As well as highlighting the worst, they identified the 10 most environmentally friendly cars. Top of the list was the Honda Civic 1.4 IMA family saloon, which uses a hybrid petrol and electric engine and manages more than 57 miles to the gallon with low emissions of carbon dioxide.

Second best was the Toyota Prius, bought by eco-conscious film stars like Leonardo DiCaprio, Cameron Diaz and Jeff Goldblum. Its hybrid engine can achieve more than 65 miles to the gallon and emits five times less carbon dioxide than the Diablo.

Another good "green" car was the Vauxhall Corsa 1.3 CDTi hatchback, which uses the latest diesel technology to greatly improve fuel efficiency.

Other makes in the top 10 were Daihatsu, Smart, Ford, Volkswagen and Peugeot.

"Climate change is a far bigger threat to this country than terrorism, " says the ETA director, Andrew Davis. "The fastest growing cause of climate change is our use of transport.

Reducing our impact on the environment should be our number one priority - the car we buy makes a big difference."

Car manufacturers welcome information that helps consumers make informed choices, but are sceptical of the value of highlighting the worst performers. They accept that is it is important to minimise the environmental impact of cars.

"However, listing the top 10 performers in specific areas like carbon dioxide emissions is probably of more value to environmentally-conscious buyers than pointing the finger at cars that perform less well, " said Nigel Wonnacott, for the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders (SMMT).

"New cars are cleaner than they've ever been, however, it's no great secret that smallerengined city cars tend to be better on things like emissions and fuel consumption than larger executive and sports cars."

The ETA and SMMT both offer advice to drivers who still covet gas- guzzlers on how to minimise their environmental impact. Suggestions include emptying the boot to reduce weight, removing roof racks to cut wind drag and keeping tyres fully inflated.

But such ideas are greeted with scorn by public transport campaigners. "The best way people can reduce their impact on the environment is simply by using their cars less often, " argues Colin Howden from TRANSform Scotland.

"Even less polluting cars cause congestion and knock people over. There are far too many short journeys made in cars which would do their drivers' waistlines, and our air quality, more good if they were made on foot or by bike."

The Sunday Herald has previously reported that 4x4s emit 65per cent more carbon dioxide than other cars. They also emit 81per cent more toxic nitrogen oxides and 41per cent more tiny carbon particles, blamed for hastening 2000 deaths every year.

US research also shows that pedestrians hit by large 4x4s were two or three times more likely to die than those hit by smaller cars. Higher, blunter, more rigid front-ends cause more fatal head and chest injuries, particularly to children.

Green MSPs have suggested that 4x4s should be forced to pay double the Pounds2 a day congestion charge due to be levied on other drivers in Edinburgh.

rob. edwards@sundayherald. com

How they line up on the green grid

Ten worst

Lamborghini Diablo Roadster L144 Bentley Arnage R Rolls-Royce Phantom Bentley Continental GT Aston Martin Lagonda DB9 Porsche Cayenne S Volkswagon Phaeton W12 Audi 6.0 A8 W12 Quattro Volkswagen Toureg V8 Vauxhall Frontera MY2004

Ten best

Honda Civic 1.4 IMA Executive Toyota Prius 1.5 Hybrid Vauxhall Corsa 1.3 CDTi 16v Life Daihatsu YRV 1.3L Daihatsu Charade 1.0 L Smart City Coupe Hatchback Ford Focus C-Max 1.6 TDCi Volkswagen Touran 1.9 TDI Peugeot 407 Saloon 1.6 HDI Honda Accord 2.2 i-CTDi Sport Source: ETA

www. eta. co. uk/news/ car-buyers-guide. asp www. smmt. co. uk www. transformscotland.org.uk