Hello

Thank you for reading Fleettorque in 2008, we look forward to bringing you more fun and interesting articles in 2009.

With the New Year approaching, we've made a minor change to the day we send Fleettorque. Instead of receiving Fleettorque on the last day of the month, you will now see your monthly newsletter delivered to your inbox on the first Tuesday of every month.

As Santa gets down to waxing his surfboard ready for the big day, we can look forward to all the Australian traditions this Christmas.

Gift shopping, carol singing and decorating the house with Christmas cheer are all part and parcel of the run-up to the holiday, and whatever you do on Christmas Day itself - a barbie on the beach, a picnic in the park or a quiet meal at home - it's a great time to share some seasonal spirit with friends and family.

Food is an important part of the Christmas festivities. Whether it's a roast turkey with all the trimmings or sizzling seafood from the barbecue, it's sure to bring you Christmas cheer. Why not check out Taste.com.au for some more festive foody favourites?

From all at Fleetcare, Happy Christmas!

Way back in 1950, the fastest, most efficient car on the American road ran not on petrol, diesel or gas, but on electricity.

Perhaps it's no surprise that in these modern times, with oil supplies diminishing and CO2 emissions contributing to global warming, electric cars are beginning to shine again and new models are hitting the market every year. From sporty roadsters to luxurious saloons, there is an electric model to suit all tastes.

One of the latest is the Tesla Roadster, which is currently only available in the US, but has set a standard for speedy electrics. It zooms from a standstill to 100kph in four seconds and can go for 400km without re-charging.

But one electric-powered car we can see on our roads is Toyota's Prius, described as an environmental petrol and electric hybrid. The third generation of this environmentally more friendly vehicle so beloved of the Hollywood A-listers is expected to arrive here in 2010 and will be bigger and even greener than the current model. It'll plug into the mains when it's low on juice, won't require any of that pesky gear changing thanks to its Continuously Variable Transmission and will start at the push of a button.

Not to be outdone, BMW is about to launch its MINI E, which looks just like a regular Mini but is powered by an electric motor producing 204bhp and 220Nm of torque which propels it for 150 miles on a single eight-hour charge. But owners will be able to slash this to only two-and-a-half hours if they have MINI's high-voltage 'wallbox' fitted in their garage. The only drawback is that there's only room for two - the rear seats have been removed to create space for the sizeable battery pack - and that the first run of 500 cars is destined to stay in the US.

It's also possible to convert a standard petrol-guzzler into a green machine. Blade Electric Vehicles, based in Castlemain, has so far reconfigured four Hyundai Getzes to run on electricity. Dubbed The Blade Runner, the eletric Hyundai rockets from zero to 60 km/h in just over seven seconds, compared with six seconds for a standard vehicle, and can travel comfortably at 110 km/h. The catch is the price - $49,000. But savings in fuel are sure to attract more takers - the car is expected to be cost-neutral after just five years, and much more friendly to the environment.

Cut down on fuel this month and you'll be giving a Christmas present to the planet as well as saving your money for more seasonal goodies.

It's not hard to do either - just follow our handy guide:

If you're buying a new car... ask yourself if you really need a big one. Today's mini models are well designed, safe, roomy and, above all, much more economical than larger vehicles. Also consider diesel and LPG-powered models, which have lower carbon emissions than petrol guzzlers. Hybrids, which are part-electric, part-petrol can reduce your emissions by around 40% as well as your fuel bill, so don't forget to take the dollar savings into account when you consider the up-front cost of the car. Popular hybrids now available in Australia include the Toyota Prius, Honda Civic Hybrid and the Lexus GS450h.

Look after your vehicle... because regularly serviced engines use less fuel. Dirty air filters, for example, restrict the flow of air to the engine and increase fuel consumption. Clear out the car and the boot often - 50 kg of added weight in tools, bikes and other clutter can add 2% to your fuel bill - and ditch the spoilers. Extras on the outside of the car can increase drag and up fuel consumption by as much as a fifth. So, if you want to cut back, take off the spoilers and even the roof rack when it's not in use. And close the window! But remember to use the air-con sparingly too. At speeds of more than 80 km/h, air-con use is better for fuel economy than an open window, but it can cost you up to 10% in extra fuel. Make sure that your air conditioning system is properly serviced to prevent CFCs leaking from the seals.

Drive like your grandma... sensible driving saves fuel and emissions. Accelerate smoothly through the gears for the best consumption and maintain a constant speed. Sharp accelerating and braking and constant gear-shifting only waste fuel. Drive in high gear as much as possible, because engines run most efficiently at around 1500 to 2500 rpm (though lower in diesel cars). Automatic cars shift up gears more quickly if you ease off on the accelerator once you get going. And slow down - at 110 km/h your car uses up to 25% more petrol than it would cruising at 90 km/h. When you stop, switch off the engine. Idling, even for just 30 seconds, uses up more fuel than is needed to restart the engine.

Share... find a buddy to share rides to work, social events and sports practice and, when you are out in the car, do several errands at once to avoid multiple trips. For the first couple of minutes of a car journey the engine is cold and this ups your fuel consumption per kilometre.

Keep your tyres pumped up and you'll be saving on fuel consumption, according to tyre manufacturer Bridgestone.

Properly inflated tyres maximise a vehicle's fuel economy and minimise its impact on our environment. However, a recent European study concluded that as much as 8.4bn litres of fuel is being wasted on the continent every year because vehicles are being driven on under-inflated tyres.

Of the vehicles checked as part of the survey, 94 percent were found to have at least one under-inflated tyre that would lead to rolling resistance. This additional fuel consumption equates to an extra 19 mega-tonnes of carbon dioxide being pumped into the atmosphere every year.

So make sure your tyres are inflated to the optimum level and you'll be cutting down on your fuel consumption and reducing the environmental impact of driving.

This tyre tip was proudly provided by Bridgestone.

If you've got your eye on a sporty Porsche but can't think of a way to squeeze the kids in the back, then the new Panamera could be for you.

Although it has true sports car good looks and takes its design inspiration from the iconic 911, the Panamera is also completely family-friendly, with four doors, four full seats, easy access to the rear, and a good-sized luggage compartment.

Porsche's new model is scheduled to be unveiled at the Geneva motor show next year and is expected to give the Mercedes CLS and the new Aston Martin Rapide a run for their money when it hits the streets soon after.