Motoring Newsbriefs

Sep 22 2009 Chris Russon

CLEAN SWEEP FOR FIATFIAT has come top of a league of car companies for reducing average CO2 emissions from its models.

The Italian car maker is the only manufacturer to have achieved the goal of reducing average emissions to below 130g/km per vehicle five years ahead of a deadline set by the EU.

During the first half of this year the average CO2 emissions from Fiats sold in Europe was 129.1g/km.

Of the top 10 brands, Fiat is ahead of Toyota at 132.9 g/km, Peugeot (134.5 g/km), Citroën (138.1 g/km), Renault (138.9 g/km), Ford (140.4 g/km), Opel/Vauxhall (149.5 g/km), Volkswagen (152.5 g/km), Audi (162.6 g/km), and Mercedes (178.8 g/km).

AWARD FOR JAG MANPAUL Cope, director of manufacturing for Jaguar Land Rover, has been named the 2009 Automotive News Eurostar for Manufacturing.

The annual awards, which recognise excellence in the automotive industry, are regarded as a key benchmark of success and were announced at this year's Frankfurt Motor Show.

Cope, 55, oversees production at Jaguar Land Rover's three manufacturing sites at Castle Bromwich and Solihull in the West Midlands and Halewood in Merseyside.

Jason Stein, Automotive News editor said: "Copes' commitment to lean manufacturing, continual improvement and eliminating waste has led Jaguar and Land Rover to improvements in independent quality studies.'

RETRO RECORDA RECORD number of motor racing enthusiasts and retro-fashion fans flocked to the Goodwood Revival - the world's largest historic motor race meeting.

More than 134,000 people attended the event in Sussex last weekend where Sir Stirling Moss was honoured as he turned 80.

A collection of 80 cars associated with the racing knight's career paraded in his honour, lead by Sir Stirling in the Aston Martin DBR1 in which is clinched the Sports Car World Championship at Goodwood in 1959.

BEEMER BIKEBMW Motorrad has announced that the UK price for the S 1000 RR motorcycle will be £10,950 for the standard model.

The S 1000 RR will also be available in a Sport specification costing £12,235 and will be factory fitted with Sports ABS, Dynamic Traction Control and Gearshift Assist.

Orders can be placed now for delivery in mid-January.

OFF-ROAD ONLINEA WEBSITE which shows off the capabilities of 4x4 vehicles has been launched by Nissan.

The site, www.which4x4areyou.co.uk, is aimed at owners of regular cars thinking of upgrading to a 4x4.

They first find out 'which 4x4 they are' via interactive criteria of towing weight, load capacity, number of seats and type of use.

Their ideal Nissan 4x4 - either X-TRAIL, Pathfinder or Navara - is then pitted against rivals from other manufacturers in a variety of tests.

VITAL ADVICESTUDENTS returning to universities across the country are being encouraged to know their artic from their elbow as part of a new campaign to improve road safety.

Launched by the Freight Transport Association, the campaign is hoping to reduce the number of injuries and near-misses experienced by student cyclists, particularly around lorries and larger vehicles.

The campaign urges cyclists to stay VITAL: