His catchphrase may have turned it into a 1980s icon, but surely not even TV detective Gene Hunt would be quite so keen to fire up the Quattro with eight people piling in.
That’s the number who would have to cram into the car made famous by police drama Ashes To Ashes for every journey to to make it as environmentally friendly as four of today’s low-carbon cars put together, new research has found.
In 1983 The Quattro – which also hit the headlines during last year’s election campaign after featuring in both Labour and Conservative propaganda – had estimated CO2 emissions of over 260g/km.
It was compared with four of today’s greenest cars – the Nissan Leaf (0g/km), Citroen C3 Airdream (99g/km), Volkswagen Polo Bluemotion (91g/km) and Toyota Prius Plug-In (59g/km).
They have combined emissions of 249g/km, meaning that DCI Hunt would have to carry eight people on every trip just to put it on a par economically with all four modern cars, assuming they are each transporting the UK average of around two people.
Eight people squeezed into a red Audi Quattro to highlight the advances that have been made in making motoring more environmentally and economically friendly in recent times.
The stunt was carried out ahead of eco motor show EcoVelocity, due to take place at Battersea Power Station in September.
Giles Brown, managing director of EcoVelocity, which is co-owned by Metro, said:’The motoring landscape has transformed dramatically over the past three decades in part due to ever-increasing motoring costs and environmental concerns.
‘To reflect these changes, car manufacturers have made giant leaps with the technology and design of their vehicles, switching from high-octane to high efficiency performance.’
Research also showed that petrol prices have risen by 143% since 1983 and although the average engine size has increased, the introduction of new cleaner technology such as the catalytic converter has vastly increased the number of cars with low emissions
Mr Brown said the ‘very best’ of the latest high efficiency cars will be on show at EcoVelocity, which he described as ’the most important motoring event of the year’.
A show to help you clean up…
THE latest electric, hybrid and low CO2 cars will be on show at EcoVelocity, a ‘festival of green motoring’.
It is being organised by IMIE, who run the British Motor Show, and supported by Metro. It will run from September 8-11th at Battersea Power Station in south-west London.
Test drives will be available on a specially constructed circuit in the shadow of the famous power station. A string of top brands will be attending, including Citroen, Fiat, Ford, Honda, Hyundai, Kia, Mitsubishi, Nissan, Peugeot, Renault, SEAT, Toyota, Vauxhall, Volkswagen and Mia Electric.
EcoVelocity will be a family day out, with activities including:
- The ‘SEAT young drivers’ programme for 8-12 year olds
- The ‘Honda my first licence’ introduction to motorcycling for young children
- The What Car? catwalk parade – presenting the best eco cars in each category
- The Green Supercar Paddock
- Get On – free motorcycling test ride
Event partners include What Car?, TfL, The Mayor of London, Source London, Get On and Green Fleet.
Click here to buy tickets now!