Toronto New Car

 

I read this fantastic Yahoo article today listing the worlds top gas guzzling cars.  We all know that small frugal hatchbacks are more fuel efficient than large SUVs, and that diesels and hybrids are more fuel efficient than their conventional gas-engined counterparts.

But, we wondered, which cars on roads are the absolute worst for the owners’ pockets, not to mention the environment?

This data does not include personal imports, kit cars or exotic cars like the Bugatti Veyron or Bristol Fighter, which are sold in statistically insignificant numbers (more on the Bugatti at the end).

The figures listed are the emissions (in grams per kilometre) and the combined fuel efficiency (in miles per gallon). Or, perhaps, more accurately, fuel inefficiency…

10) Aston Martin DBS (388g/km; 17.2mpg)

Aston Martin’s DBS got into the record books thanks to the death-defying stunt in the 2006  Bond movie ‘Casino Royale’ in which it rolled seven times (though, in reality, it was DB9 dressed up to look like a DBS). Here it’s in the record books for the wrong reasons.

9) Mercedes Benz ML 63 AMG 295 (392g/km; 17.1mpg)

 

It may surprise many that this is the only SUV to make the top 10. When it comes to real fuel guzzling, it’s supercars and luxury limousines that show the greatest thirst. But this sports SUV combines supercar performance (0-60mph in 4.8 seconds) with the interior space and stance of a ‘Chelsea Tractor’.
Bentley Continental - all models (396g/km; 17.0mpg)

 

The most successful Bentley of all time has seen sales of the brand increase by several thousand percent. The handsome coupe combines Volkswagen’s engineering know-how with British craftsmanship. It’s great, but it isn’t half thirsty.

7) Lamborghini Gallardo (400g/km; 16.6mpg)

It’s the first Lamborghini in our list, but you’ll probably guess that Lambo’s baby model won’t be the last. Having said that, it’s a lot less thirsty than the last ‘baby’ Lamborghini, the Jalpa.

6) Aston Martin DB9 (421g/km; 15.8mpg)

The Gaydon-based carmaker is back on our list at number six. However, there is a way for Aston Martin owners to improve their fuel economy: from next year, according to recent reports, when you buy a new Aston you will get the option to buy an Aston Martin-branded supermini, the Cygnet (based on the frugal Toyota iQ) for those urban journeys.

5) Ferrari 599 GTB Fiorano (415g/km; 15.8mpg)

Our first prancing horse and - you’ve guessed it - not the last. But, come on, you don’t expect Ferraris to be competing with Toyota Priuses, do you?

4) Bentley Azure/Arnage/Brooklands (465g/km; 14.5mpg)

If you want proper, old-fashioned, coach built-emissions, those emissions don’t come any more old-fashioned and coach-built than the traditional Bentleys. Based on designs pre-dating the Volkswagen era, they represent a truly British way of using fuel in the least frugal manner possible.

3) Ferrari 612 Scaglietti (470g/km; 13.8mpg)

There’s one thing to know about Ferraris: they are brilliant cars but they’re really not practical for a trip to the grocery store and Ikea. You can’t fit a weekly shop in them and their fuel economy in town is less than pleasing.

2) Dodge SRT-10 (488g/km; 13.4mpg)

Otherwise known as the Viper, the SRT-10 is genuine American muscle. The golden era of American muscle cars was immediately prior to the oil crisis of 1973. But nobody told Dodge that the golden era was over.

1) Lamborghini Murcielago (495g/km; 13.3mpg)

As befits Lamborghini, the tractor manufacturer that tried to beat Ferrari at its own game, the Murcielago is a hefty, thirsty beast of a car. They say the devil has all the best tunes. It would seem he has all the best cars as well.

If you were to put a Bugatti Veyron in the list it would knock the Murcielago clean off the top, with emissions of 596g/km (999g/km in urban traffic) and a combined fuel efficiency of just 11.7 mpg.

At full throttle (a mere 254mph) its efficiency is just 2.46 mpg - keep driving at full whack and you’ll be out of fuel in just 12 minutes. Gulp, Gulp, Gulp…..Now that is thirsty!