High-performance car prices could be set to soar under new proposals to cut emissions.
The European Commission has drawn up plans to introduce a four-year phase-in period for fines on manufacturers whose range exceeds an average of 120 g/km of carbon dioxide.
It is feared the system will hit the makers of luxury and performance cars forcing steep price rises.
Those who go green and buy a low polluting car will enjoy cheap fuel bills, it is argued.
German chancellor Angela Merkel is understood to have protested against the proposals on behalf of the country’s big car makers such as Mercedes, BMW and Porsche.
The measures are designed to reduce CO2 fumes from cars by one fifth and make the EU a world leader in cutting greenhouse gases.
Stavros Dimas, the EU Environment Commissioner, told reporters: ‘If the EU is to meet its ambitious targets for reducing emissions of greenhouse gases, the burden must be shared by all sectors.
‘This will send a strong signal to the world about the determination of the EU to take bold measures on climate change and is an important step as a follow-up to the Bali conference.’
The targets will be enforced by fines and according to reports EU officials have admitted that all this would raise the average cost of a new car by at least £935 because of the improvements in technology needed.
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