Sir Paul McCartney was disappointed to learn this week that his new Lexus LS600 Hybrid was flown especially from Japan for him with a carbon footprint of 38,050kg. The £84,000 car was a gift from Lexus for helping to promote its green cars.

Usually the cars are shipped by sea with an estimated carbon footprint of 397kg, a fraction of the environmental impact of air freight. However his concern hides other issues, the Lexus LS600 Hybrid does just 30.4mpg and produces 219g/km of CO2. Tax band is an F for this model, it is not so much green as a slight improvement on the regular LS600 which does 25.4mpg and 261g/km of CO2 and is road tax band G.

Paul could always try driving a Polo Bluemotion at 74mpg and 99g/km of CO2.

 Faye Sunderland