Study Shows that Supercar and Luxury Automakers Reduced Average CO2 Emissions in 2009

It's not only volume brands that are reducing their average CO2 performance across their fleet, so are supercar and luxury vehicle makers, according to a report by auto consultancy JATO Dynamics that compares the average CO2 output of vehicles sold by selected specialty car brands in the first half (H1) of 2008 to the same period in 2009. With the exception of Maserati that recorded a 20g/km increase in CO2 output, all other makers included in the study showed a reduction in the average CO2 emissions of the cars they sold in the first half of 2009 compared to H1 2008.
"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," commented David Di Girolamo, Head of JATO Consult.
"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," Girolamo added.
Ferrari showed the highest reduction in CO2 emissions as the Italian supercar maker recorded a 40.4 g/km improvement in CO2 output of new cars sold in H1 2009 over the same period in 2008.
JATO Dynamic claims that this is the greatest volume reduction of any brand on sale in Europe representing a 9.5% improvement matching that of the best performing volume brand of H1 2009 (in Europe) which is Chevrolet.
This also shows that Ferrari is well on its track to achieving its goal to trim down CO2 emissions from 400 g/km per vehicle to 280-300 g/km, by 2012.
Percentage-wise, the overall winner in CO2 volume reduction is Alpina, a German maker that sells modified BMW cars, with a 14.1% improvement over H1 2008 - although notably on a smaller scale than many of the other companies included in the study.
However, readers should be aware of a significant factor when it comes to CO emissions and that is none other than the annual km / miles covered by these specialty cars. Meaning a Ferrari or a Lamborghini may deliver for example 350g of C02 per km, but many of these cars are driven less than 30,000 km / 20,000 miles in a period of ten years. Do the math and that comes to a (theoretical) average of 7 tons of CO2.
A VW Golf 1.4 TSI 122HP with a manual transmission for example returns 144g of CO2 per km but will cover an average of around 20,000km or more per year which comes to 28.8 tons of CO2 in ten years of use (that is, if the car has been well serviced during that time).

Hyundai Pulls Out of 2009 Tokyo Motor Show, Alpina and Lotus the Only Foreign Brands to Participate!

Less than a month before the 41st Tokyo Motor Show opens its doors to the members of the press and the public alike, and the last major foreign automaker that was planning to take part at the car show, South Korea's Hyundai Motors, decided to drop out from the event, according to the show's organizers.
If you take a look at the list of the participating brands, you'll see that aside from eight domestic automakers - Subaru, Toyota, Honda, Mitsubishi, Mazda, Daihatsu, Nissan and Suzuki, the only foreign carmakers that will have a booth at this year's Tokyo Motor Show are Germany's Alpina that builds special edition versions of BMW cars and Britain's Lotus! Not much of an International show...
Toyokazu Ishida, manager of the international exhibition for the Japan Automobile Manufacturers Association (JAMA) told Automotive News that the South Korean maker announced its plans to cancel its participation just last Friday, September 25. "Hyundai called last week and orally confirmed their intent to cancel. It's unbelievable," Ishida was quoted as saying.
JAMA officials said that Hyundai has yet to send a written confirmation of its decision to pull out of the show. According to JAMA, the South Korean automaker has already paid 10.9 million ($122,000) in nonrefundable fees for a 4,300-square-foot exhibit at the Show.
Earlier this year, JAMA announced that due to the weakened interest in the event, the overall exhibition space will be about half the size of the previous show at 22,877 sqm (vs 44,587 sqm in 2007). The organizers also decided to shorten the even by four days and as such, the 2009 Tokyo Motor Show will be held for a period of 13 days (instead of 17) from October 23 to November 4, 2009.
Among the cars that are expected to make their debut at the 2009 Tokyo show are the production version of the Lexus LF-A V10 supercar and a new Subaru Justy.

New BMW Alpina B7 BiTurbo Long Makes World Debut at Tokyo Show

Alpina was one of only two foreign car brands (the other one being Lotus) to make its way to this year's Tokyo Motor Show floors. The BMW customizer brought along several vehicles, the most important being the new Alpina B7 BiTurbo Long as it had its world premiere. As you've probably figured out by now, the only difference between this model and the B7 BiTurbo that was first saw in Geneva is that it is based on the long wheelbase BMW 7-Series offering a few more inches of space for the rear passengers.
Like the 'base' Alpina B7 BiTurbo, it too features a twin-turbo 4.4-liter V8 producing 507 horsepower and 516 lb-ft of peak torque thanks to the larger turbos and a new intercooler. Power is transferred to the rear wheels through a tweaked six-speed automatic transmission.
Other highlights include a subtle aero kit with front and rear aprons, and a discreet boot lid spoiler, plus a bespoke interior, 21-inch alloy wheels and a retuned suspension.
Photo Credits go to our Tokyo Motor Show reporter, Phil Alex

2011 BMW Alpina B7 with 500HP to go on Sale in the U.S. this Spring

The Alpina-prepped B7 sedan will be returning to BMW's U.S. lineup this year offering American buyers an alternative to Mercedes-Benz's S-Class AMG models. Boasting a bevy of performance and styling upgrades over the standard 7-Series sedan, the Alpina B7 is probably the closest thing you'll get to an M7, which as you already know, BMW has no plans to build.
The second Alpina B7 to be sold in the States after the first generation model that was offered as a limited edition for the 2007 and 2008 model years, will be available in both short- and long-wheelbase models.
The formal introduction of the car in the U.S. will take place at the 2010 Chicago Auto Show in February, and go on sale in Spring of 2010.
BMW's official performance partner has fitted the B7 with a modified version of the Bavarian firm's twin-turbocharged 4.4-liter V8 engine with direct-injection that delivers 500-horsepower (compared to the standard 750i's 400HP V8) and a hefty 516 lb-ft (700Nm) of torque.
Linked to a six-speed sport automatic transmission with Sport and Manual modes, the V8 unit accelerates the rear-wheel drive sedan from 0-60 mph (96 km/h) in just 4.5 seconds.
Alpina also recalibrated the car's Dynamic Damping Control and Active Roll Stabilization while the B7 sits 15mm lower up front and 10mm at the back thanks to the new, shorter springs. In addition, the Bavarian firm notes that the stability control now allows noticeably more slip at the driven wheels.
The B7 rides on newly styled 21-inch alloy wheels shod in MICHELIN PS2 tires size 245/35 R21 at the front and 285/30 R21 at the rear.
On the outside, the B7 is fitted with front and rear aprons, and a boot-lid spoiler which are said to reduce lift at the front by 30% and rear by15%.
As for the interior, the 7-Series-based model has been upgraded with blue illuminated door sill trims, an Alpina SWITCH-TRONIC steering wheel in hand-stitched LAVALINA leather, Black-Panel LCD screen instrument cluster branded with ALPINA and specific decorative trim. An additional ALPINA plaque indentifying the car is mounted on the inner roof panel just ahead of the sunroof
Prices for the new BMW Alpina B7 will be announced closer to the on-sale date.