Cars are up to 98 per cent greener than in 1976, a report says today.
Motors do more miles to the gallon - yet their emissions are dramatically down.
And the car industry is spending £13.8billion a year to develop greener, safer cars, the Society of Motor Manufacturers said.
Spokesman Nigel Wonnacott added: "We hope these findings finally get critics, including politicians, to accept just how much the car industry is doing to tackle the environmental issues.
"We are making the greenest cars ever and investing more than any other industry in research to constantly improve the environmental credentials of modern cars."
The report, called The Evolution of the Car, shows a 1.25litre 2007 Ford Fiesta pumps out 98 per cent fewer emissions than a 1-litre 1976 model.
It would take 76 to generate the same level of nitrogen dioxide.
Yet today's model does 47.1mpg compared to the original's 36.2mpg.
Today's 1.9litre turbo diesel Vauxhall Astra emits 92.5 per cent fewer emissions than a 1990 Astra GTE 2-litre petrol, the report adds.
The Society said the improvements - also seen in 4x4s and executive cars - came even though safety features make today's cars heavier.
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