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EU Environment Commissioner fixed on 2012 120g/km CO2 limit

EU Environment Commissioner fixed on 2012 120g/km CO2 limit

Viknesh Vijayenthiran August 24th, 2008 Viknesh Vijayenthiran By Viknesh Vijayenthiran Author August 24th, 2008
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December 31st, 1969 The European Union's Environment Commissioner, Stavros Dimas, has said that a staggered introduction of stringent new CO2 emissions requirements will not be taking place. Despite numerous protests from the auto industry, most notably from Aston Martin and Porsche, Dimas recommended that a fleet-wide limit on CO2 emissions of just 120g/km will be put in place by 2012. Dimas argued that the imposed regulations have been known to auto manufacturers "for more than ten years", and that the European Union had little sympathy for renewed protests, reports Automotive News Europe. The new regulations mean that manufacturers breaching the limit will be penalized, and representatives of France and Germany have agreed on a staggered penalty system which will impose penalties gradually between 2012 and 2015. While the American CAFE regulations impose a mileage requirement, the European Union Commission's CO2 regulations have been deemed to be much harsher - most sub-120g/km cars are superminis with diesel engines, although hybrids are now becoming more and more commonplace as the only solution to an expensive problem. Manufacturers such as Ferrari and Lamborghini, owned by Fiat and Volkswagen respectively, are able to use their parent companies' model ranges to offset their own high CO2 emissions, while independent manufacturers such as Aston Martin are unable to do so.
EU Environment Commissioner fixed on 2012 120g/km CO2 limit

EU Environment Commissioner fixed on 2012 120g/km CO2 limit

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The European Union's Environment Commissioner, Stavros Dimas, has said that a staggered introduction of stringent new CO2 emissions requirements will not be taking place. Despite numerous protests from the auto industry, most notably from Aston Martin and Porsche, Dimas recommended that a fleet-wide limit on CO2 emissions of just 120g/km will be put in place by 2012.

Dimas argued that the imposed regulations have been known to auto manufacturers "for more than ten years", and that the European Union had little sympathy for renewed protests, reports Automotive News Europe.

The new regulations mean that manufacturers breaching the limit will be penalized, and representatives of France and Germany have agreed on a staggered penalty system which will impose penalties gradually between 2012 and 2015.

While the American CAFE regulations impose a mileage requirement, the European Union Commission's CO2 regulations have been deemed to be much harsher - most sub-120g/km cars are superminis with diesel engines, although hybrids are now becoming more and more commonplace as the only solution to an expensive problem.

Manufacturers such as Ferrari and Lamborghini, owned by Fiat and Volkswagen respectively, are able to use their parent companies' model ranges to offset their own high CO2 emissions, while independent manufacturers such as Aston Martin are unable to do so.

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Comments (6 total)

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  1. By Eljay #1, Posted: 8/24/2008

    Too bad CO2 is NOT harmful to the environment.Makes it all a bit pointless,really.

  2. By bambam #2, Posted: 8/24/2008

    I won't be driving if the fuel prices keeps going up like the last few months.
    Forget the CO2 limit when its too expensive to even drive your vehicle.

  3. By Tony #3, Posted: 8/25/2008

    Not that I could afford one of these beasts (even winning Lotto, anything less everyday-practical than a Porsche is just not me), but perhaps for cars like these which emit more than your average commuter, just do a road tax based on mileage covered. I seriously doubt Lamborginis and Ferraris do more than 5,000 km/year. I'd be more concerned about a 2-litre Accord emitting half the CO2 of a Lambo, but driven 20-30K km/year.

  4. By NaBUru38 #4, Posted: 8/25/2008

    Eljay: I don't care at all about CO2 either, But it is important for the mankind to reduce car fuel consumption. Think it this way: petroleum is needed for other stuff: plastics, motor oil, asphalt... We can't produce oil from scratch, so we must burn as little oil as we can. Do you agree with this?

  5. By SteveSteve #5, Posted: 8/25/2008

    to be honest if I won the lottery I would have a Gallardo as my everday car...infact I would probably have a no-too-silly, Reventon styled bodykit fitted to it, Mercialgo doors and twin turbo the V10

    why not have an SLR - perhaps a little too mundane in looks, why not have a Mercialago? too big

  6. By Tony #6, Posted: 8/25/2008

    Have you ever seen someone trying to parallel-park a supercar, or even do something as simple as back into a parking space at a supermarket? Too cumbersome. That's why I'd get a Porsche, because it's the one brand you can use as a daily driver, take to work, pick up groceries in, easy enough to park, has reasonable fuel economy, but handles and goes like a sportscar.

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