The Green Vehicle Guide www.greenvehicleguide.gov.au rates vehicles on both greenhouse and air pollution. The air pollution ratings are based on the emission standard to which the vehicle is certified in Australia. As of 1 January 2006, new “Stage 2″ Air Pollution ratings took effect, to reflect the application of more stringent minimum standards for light vehicles under Australian Design Rule (ADR) 79/01 Emission Control for Light Vehicles. The Greenhouse Ratings have not changed.

The underlying principle of the air pollution ratings on the Green Vehicle Guide is that the dominant vehicle in the light duty fleet - the petrol engine passenger car - meeting the minimum emission standard of the day, should achieve a mid range score (5 out of 10). This means that when new more stringent standards are fully implemented, the ratings need to be adjusted to accommodate the improved level of performance. If this was not done, there would be a steady shift of all vehicles into the top ratings, thus inflating the overall ratings and reducing the capacity for differentiating better performers from standard vehicles. Under the new Stage 2 Air Pollution ratings, the scores for vehicles certified to the same standards will be lower than before. This does not mean the vehicles are now polluting more - it simply means that a vehicle will now need to be cleaner to receive the same rating.

Prior to 1 January 2006, all vehicles had to meet the Euro 2 emission standards under ADR79/00. From 1 January, Euro 3 became the minimum standard for petrol vehicles. Consequently, Euro 3 petrol cars - which scored 6.5 out of 10 when Euro 2 was the minimum standard - now score 5 out of 10, to reflect the new standard. The ratings for all other vehicle standards (Euro 3 diesel, Euro 4 petrol etc) were also lowered to maintain relativities with the new mid point standard. In most cases, the new ratings are 1 to 1.5 points lower. The rating for “Euro 4+“¹ vehicles was only slightly lowered (from 9 to 8.5) to recognize that vehicles meeting this requirement have exceptional emissions performance by any measure and represent best available technology. The changes in ratings for petrol and diesel cars are illustrated in the table below. A more detailed table is at Stage 2 Air Pollution Ratings

From 1 January 2007, all light diesel vehicles will be required to meet the Euro 4 standard (the current minimum standard for diesels is Euro 2). This has already been taken into account in the Stage 2 ratings. No further change to the Air Pollution ratings is anticipated until the end of the decade, when all new petrol vehicles will be required to meet Euro 4 .

¹ To meet the “Euro 4+” criterion the emissions data from the vehicle type approved for certification must be at least 65% below the Euro 4 emission limits for a petrol vehicle.

source: greenvehicleguide.gov.au

Choosing a greener car can have a direct financial benefit for you as well as helping to conserve our environment for all Australians and future generations. Buying a vehicle that is more fuel efficient can save you thousands of dollars on fuel bills and many tonnes of greenhouse gas emissions over the vehicle’s life.

As a new car buyer there will be a range of factors that are important in making your final choice of vehicle. As a major financial investment and a decision that will be with you for a number of years, it is important to purchase the car that best meets your needs.

Assess your needs carefully. In doing so, consider your day-to-day transport requirements, eg. passengers carried and cargo capacity required, and match these requirements to a vehicle that can provide them (or a good compromise).

You may wish to draw up a list of the features you want in a car. Then think about what other factors will influence your decision, and add these to the list. How important is each of these in coming to your final decision?

Consider how often, if at all, you may need certain features, such as off road capacity or a larger engine for towing. These features may come at an extra financial cost and an extra cost to the environment. Given that many of these costs will be ongoing for the life of your car/s, it is important to make the right decision.

Research all possibilities, ask friends/family about cars, visit car dealers to look at various models and search the Internet for relevant websites, including those set up by manufacturers, motor magazines, and motoring clubs, etc.

Before buying a new vehicle, refer to the Green Vehicle Guide ratings. Detailed information helps identify individual vehicle models, including the make, model and variant name, engine and transmission, body style, seating and fuel type. Further information to help you compare each vehicle’s impact on the environment includes the - Greenhouse Rating (based on CO2 emissions); Air Pollution Rating (based primarily on emission standards); an overall ‘Star’ Rating (helping you identify vehicles that emit a lower level of overall emissions, the Greenhouse Rating and Air Pollution Rating are combined to determine this Overall Rating); and Fuel Consumption (in L/100km, helping you identify the most fuel-efficient vehicle for your needs). You can use the Green Vehicle Guide to identify the vehicle with the highest ratings which meets your needs.

Ask questions! If there are any ‘car terms’ you don’t understand now is the time to ask.

Remember, larger cars and those with bigger engines often consume more fuel, which not only increases your fuel bills, but increases the level of greenhouse gas emissions. Commercial style vehicles and large off road vehicles are usually built to less stringent emission standards than “regular” passenger cars, so produce more air pollutants. If you are in a showroom, look for the Fuel Consumption Label on the front windscreen, which provides information on fuel consumption and greenhouse emissions from the vehicle.

source: greenvehicleguide.gov.au

Source: bloomberg.com/

We knew what to expect, but now the specifications for the 2009 Cadillac CTS-V are official. Its 6.2-liter supercharged V8 produces 556 horsepower at 6,100rpm and 551 pound-feet of torque at 3,800rpm. Cadillac claims the CTS-V sedan will go from 0-to-60mph in just 3.9 seconds and through the quarter mile in 12 seconds flat.

Top speed when equipped with the six-speed automatic transmission is limited to 175mph. Get the six-speed manual and you’re free to run all the way to 191mph. Looks like Lutz’s declaration that the CTS-V will put the BMW M5 on a trailer are right – at least according to Cadillac’s numbers.

source: blogs.edmunds.com