Both the Fiat brand and Fiat Group have recorded Europe's lowest volume-weighted CO2 emissions levels, according to leading research firm JATO Dynamics.
Fiat Automobiles logged a CO2 average of just 123.1 g/km (4.7 g/km less than the 2009 average), placing it above all other brands for the fourth year running, and well ahead of the European target of 130 g/km, due to be met in 2015.
Fiat also ranked first among the automotive groups with 125.9 g/km, an improvement of five g/km on last year. The figure takes into account all of Fiat's brands, including Ferrari and Maserati.
Fiat claims that this result illustrates its commitment to protecting the environment through the creation of simple yet smart solutions such as the TwinAir engine (which is the world's most 'ecological' turbo petrol engine), the use of alternative fuels such as Methane/LPG, and the development of technology that encourages more frugal driving, like eco:Drive.
The Fiat 500 TwinAir engine range is due to hit the South African market in the second half of this year.