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British motorists greener than expected

Wednesday, 21 May 2008 14:19
The Ford Focus has been praised by Co-operative Insurance for its low emissions rate
Co-operative Insurance has revealed that, according to research it has conducted, the average British motorist is greener than one might imagine.

Conclusions drawn from the research indicates the top ten best-selling cars in the UK are far greener than headline-grabbing 'gas guzzlers'.

The Ford Focus was top of the green leaderboard, especially now it has received an eco-friendly makeover. The Ford Focus Econetic has a CO2 output if just 114g/km - one of the lowest on the market.

The seventh most popular car in Britain was the Peugeot 207, coming in second in the lowest emissions table. in third place was the Vauxhall Corsa.

The Vauxhall Vectra, family favourite the Volkswagen Passat and the Vauxhall Zafira were all criticised for having the highest emissions of the ten cars.

The Zafira has an emission level of 228g/km, double the CO2 output of the Ford Focus.

However, in comparison to the 'gas guzzlers' from Land Rover, Range Rover or Hummer, all ten cars are doing well. The average CO2 emissions for these larger vehicles ranges from 299 to 376g/km.

Co-operative Insurance believes this vividly illustrates the clear difference between an average family car that is attempting to cut emissions and other vehicles which are not.

David Neave, Co-operative Insurance’s director of general insurance, commented: “We are extremely encouraged by the results of the survey as it appears that more people are becoming aware of the environmental impact of their car.

"Motorists are aware that excessive use of a car can cause serious damage to the environment and this poll illustrates that drivers are actively doing something about it by investing in more eco friendly cars.

"We are firm believers that every person can make a 'tiny difference' to climate change. There is now firm evidence that suggests motor vehicle emissions are having a detrimental impact on the environment.

"The combination of more 'greener' cars being manufactured and the wider use of unique motor insurance products like our own, that offsets some of the damage that their car’s carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions contribute to the environment, at no extra cost to them, allows drivers to do just that."

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