Gas-guzzling sports cars, 4x4s and people carriers could be priced off the
road within five years after a crackdown on carbon emissions to be announced
by the European Commission this month.

The average new car in 2012 will have to emit no more than 120 grams of
carbon per kilometre under proposals to be announced by Stavros Dimas, the
European Environment Commissioner. The rule change could add more than
£3,300 to the cost of a vehicle.

He said yesterday that they were needed because of the failure of European
car makers to keep to a voluntary agreement signed in 1998 to reduce
emissions by 25 per cent by 2008. They have managed 13 per cent and the
agreement ends next year.

 thanks to the Telegraph web page this morning