Discussion
Car Makers:
How about - decoupled cylinders as standard - car is delivered with only two or four cylinders connected. Activating the other six to ten (for towing a heavy caravan sir) would require a quick bit of spanner work - Bingo, a zero-rated V12.
The VED CO2 system can't last much longer can it? A flat £100 a car per year, or something similar would be quick, simple, and stop the current wave of odd engineering going on (gear ratios chosen for a lab test, not actual road use - automatics getting better results than manuals etc. etc.)
How about - decoupled cylinders as standard - car is delivered with only two or four cylinders connected. Activating the other six to ten (for towing a heavy caravan sir) would require a quick bit of spanner work - Bingo, a zero-rated V12.
The VED CO2 system can't last much longer can it? A flat £100 a car per year, or something similar would be quick, simple, and stop the current wave of odd engineering going on (gear ratios chosen for a lab test, not actual road use - automatics getting better results than manuals etc. etc.)
Should be on the cost of fuel, you use more (pollute more 
), you pay more, would make a government agency who's sole responsibility it is to send out a throwback to the 1920's (see: tax disc); redundant, surely that'll save some money not having them on the books? Will never happen though.
), you pay more, would make a government agency who's sole responsibility it is to send out a throwback to the 1920's (see: tax disc); redundant, surely that'll save some money not having them on the books? Will never happen though.
It would be horrendous to try and do, an engine is a complex and has critical timing requirements, effectively locked in its operation, varying anything once on the move is difficult, ok there is variable valve timing and lift but little else, to decouple it would mean having a crankshaft that is split in some way and most of the strength in an engine is through the crank, even having less main bearings to support it drastically reduces its strength so having a break in it would be pretty difficult.
The only possible way would be six two cylinder, three four cylinder or two six cylinder engines in a shared block, but then you have to scale everything up for the highest duty and that adds weight so thats where the emissions come from, to move a certain mass you need to use a certain amount of energy.
Good thinking though.
The only possible way would be six two cylinder, three four cylinder or two six cylinder engines in a shared block, but then you have to scale everything up for the highest duty and that adds weight so thats where the emissions come from, to move a certain mass you need to use a certain amount of energy.
Good thinking though.
My thinking was really that you would just run it uncoupled for the EU test figures - get a zero rate, or at least a low one because your 2 cylinder car is more frugal - and then couple it all back up permanently for road use, rather than have a system that could be uncoupled on the move or anything (that would get complicated for sure) - basically cheat a bit for the test just to get a low tax bracket.
True, it doesn't make much difference for the first buyer (a few hundred on lots of thousands), but down the line after the value has dropped like s stone it does start to count. With big old Jags and Mercs the annual tax can equal a good proportion of the cost of the car.
It is a test which lends itself to such tomfoolery
True, it doesn't make much difference for the first buyer (a few hundred on lots of thousands), but down the line after the value has dropped like s stone it does start to count. With big old Jags and Mercs the annual tax can equal a good proportion of the cost of the car.
It is a test which lends itself to such tomfoolery
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