Up to 20 per cent of any motoring ad could be taken up with information on CO2 emissions. It comes as EU bosses get tough on the industry, which they feel has not done enough to improve its green credentials.
But motor manufacturers are furious because they feel they are being blamed for all the world's environmental problems and being unfairly compared to the effects of smoking.
The original proposal to hit car firms in their multi million pound advertising campaigns was made by British MEP Chris Davies, the Liberal Democrat representing the north nest.
He claims the industry has 'cynically betrayed' an agreement to reduce emissions in favour of 'chasing bigger profits'.
He wants 20 per cent of all car industry ads to highlight CO2 emission levels and his proposals have been accepted by the European Parliament's environment committee.
It would be similar to the style of warnings used on tobacco adverts - efore they were completely banned - and which still exists on cigarette packets.
The idea would mean that the biggest offenders, such as 4x4s, could no longer hide behind the small print.
Rugged images
Many show rugged images of the giant 'Chelsea Tractors' going across a variety of terrains, yet in reality they are rarely used off-road and are more likely to be seen on the school run than the country.
The fact that many have much greater CO2 emissions that a standard saloon car is often buried in tiny detail.
Not surprisingly, the moves have angered the motor industry which believe car adverts are already restricted in what they can and cannot show.
Cars cannot be shown to go too fast in case it encourages drivers to break the speed limit and they must carry details of CO2 emissions already.
Lexus and Mitsubishi have recently been ordered to change adverts which made misleading claims about low emissions on their 4x4s.
The Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders called the restrictions 'a bridge too far' following Tory proposals to tighten restrictions on car ads.
Spokesman Nigel Wonnacott said: "Any talk of cigarette-style restrictions on car ads is an absolute nonsense.
"To suggest we are making planet-destroying products and need the same kind of restrictions as something as patently harmful as cigarettes is just headline grabbing."
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Lets face it, not many people really need an SUV 4x4, especially those that live in suburban areas, we all know it’s predominantly about willy waving
Regardless of the global warming effect pollution still kills. Not that these people and their customers care.
chriss wrote:
"we all know it’s predominantly about willy waving"
Which doesn't explain why at least 50% on the school run are driven by females.
It is about choice, why should the car you drive be more inportant than the amount of fuel you put in it.
After all you would just go in & out the garage if it was what you suggested they were for.
Chris: I agree. The 4x4 fraternity are the middle class version of the big dog cretins you see round council estates. It's a substitute for a part of their anatomy they feel they have a problem with.
Right, Catcher. There are only 3 categories of people who need four wheel drive : 1, The army, 2, Hill farmers and 3, people who live and/or work in remote locations. All the others just have them as a fashion accessory and are pathetic. When I was at junior school we did'nt have a car, I used to walk
Mr Angry: me too. We had an outside bog and no hot water system. Great days!
mr angry. calm down and think before you speak. only 3 types of people who need a 4x4?
what about anyone who pursues country sports?
what about anyone who works in the building industry and regularly traverses building sites?
what about people who tow large trailers?
what about people who tow caravans?what about people who tow horseboxes (who also need to tow them over fields at shows etc)?
older 4x4's were very bad polluters. newer ones are not. the new jeep does over 40 miles per gallon. equate that with a 5 yr old rover25 etc.
old bangers are the main polluters, and almost 100% of the powerful sports cars too.
what does a ferarri, porche or tvr do to the gallon? 10-12mph? how many modern 4x4's do you know that do so little? i know of one, the hummer.
so, before you get on your high horse (which you wont have been able to tow to the field!)think.
rather than a 4x4 be a replacement for a body part, i suggest anti-4x4 people are over endowed with jealosy!
remember, arguements are only valid when reasoned and sensible. anything else is mearly band-wagon chasing!!
Trsam Vet: so are you arguing that 4x4 are generally environmentally friendly?
Are you arguing that to many numpties having a 4x4 is anything more than an outward display of wealth?
I can assure you I am not motivated by jealousy. I have a wonderful cabriolet which rockets along at 58 mpg.
My suggestion to anyone who fancies a 4 x 4 but can't afford one - sticj some socks down your undies.
Same old rubbish - 4*4 cars are damaging etc etc etc. 4*4 is a transmission system. It means i can pull my caravan safely (seen how many idiots pull a caravan with too low a kerbweight car)So you're safer. I don't go on a plane - so there's my saving to the environment. Have you not heard of LandRover's 48,000 CO2 emmissions policy - thoought not. My car is CO2 neutral for 48k miles. Is your Cadillac? I have been abused because it's too log (how long is a Volvo) Abused because its too wide - 1.91 Metres - same as a Mondeo. Get your facts right. I also have a Z4 - same MPG/emmissions comparable but no abuse. Seems you have been taken n by the publicity to get more tax - green is not an issue. Wake up and smell the coffe - do we really need LR to go out of business? Does my Landrover effect anything - read the report from yesterday. Phone China and America - and tell them to join the green debate. The Uk is losing tax - how better to get it back than to get us all fighting over something that no one knows the full facts. I have no issues with mu husbands manhood, I don't need to tell the world I can afford a Landrover. I can. I do. I enjoy it. Get a life
As if I will be bothered by 'health' warning on an ad. I had found out that my carbon output is LOWER than average, so I had just booked myself a second long haul holiday for this year. Since this planet is going down anyway, I might as well enjoy screwing it as much as possible on the way out.
Tram vet, calm down dear, I use public transport most of the time and only do about 1000 miles a year in my 26 year old Ford Cortina
MJC: do you wear green wellies and a wax jacket too to fool people (and you) that you are country gentry?
Quote: "It comes as EU bosses get tough on the industry,"
When the same EU bosses find out that Mount Etna knocks out 5000 tonnes of Sulphur Dioxide a day are they are going put a big sticker on that.
MJC...Me thinks you protest too much, a 4x4 AND a Z4? Man you were hard done by in the trouser department :-)
I cycle by the way ;-)
Joey: a very good point. Imagine how bl&&dy disappointed we are all going to be when we have completely altered our lives to reduce carbon and one morning the Yellowstone super volcano blows its top and we all die due to natural pollution?
That's why I have no intention of worrying about my carbon footprint. The earth will design it's own disaster with no help from me and my two-stroke mower.
What about those folk who cycle on those bikes whereby the cyclist is lay horizontal, feet first with a twee flag fluttering above them?
Clearly suffering from some kind of attention deficit disorder. Willy wavers of the two wheeled world.
I'm on my 4th "4x4" paid for by my own hard earned money. It's my right to buy what I want and until it's against the law, that's how it's always going to be.
I've never done a "School Run" in my life. My 4X4 is 15 years old and has not been near a city or large town this last six years and if I never have to go near one again I will be the happier for it. The term "Gas Guzzler" was invented in that place where all these things start, California and referred to the massive 7 litre V8 engines used there.
My Land Rover is diesel and I get well over 30 MPG which is more than many medium and large saloon cars which, because they are not so different in looks from other cars, go completely uncommented on. And yes, my 4X4 has been bogged down on more than one occasion in muddy fields.
As usual, the hysterical response to these vehicles, as with so many other things, is because people's imagination takes over from actual facts when somebody comes up with a good catch phrase. Ban 4x4s? I'll just convert to a van which will probably take up more space on the roads and have a larger engine.
What a bunch of fools people are. Once the transport taliban have finished their anti 4x4 campaign they'll start on other types of car. The tactic is called divide and conquer.
The 4x4 is a legal vehicle that might not be to some peoples taste but then 10 years of New Labour has encouraged intollerance and judgementalism. They provide the sound bite 'gas guzzler' and let peoples pettiness and jealousy do the work for them.
"What a bunch of fools people are. Once the transport taliban have finished their anti 4x4 campaign they'll start on other types of car. The tactic is called divide and conquer.
The 4x4 is a legal vehicle that might not be to some peoples taste but then 10 years of New Labour has encouraged intollerance and judgementalism. They provide the sound bite 'gas guzzler' and let peoples pettiness and jealousy do the work for them."
Excellent comment & very true too. Once the 'greens' have done away with 4x4's they'll move onto sports cars/executive cars/estate cars....so on & so forth. They are already trying similar with motorcycles (a call to 'downsize' them has been made by the usual suspects) so they are clearly out to get everyone eventually.
Face it, there are plenty around & about plus on here who won't be happy until all private transport has gone....even if we had zero-emission & silent electric cars they would whine about congestion or invent something else to hit the ordinary motorist with.
Road users should stick together!
I Don't like 4x4's much and some people do juast buy them because they are fashionable but the environazis annoy me much more. The climate is changing but it has NOTHING TO DO with carbon and all the rest of the pseudo science which these green anoraks witter endlessly on about. The world will end in it's own time, by act of God or president George Dubya, nothing we can do about it. Drive what you want, when you want, where you want.
Chris, Irlam, good point about road users sticking together. I forgot to include in my previous rant. I am an old car enthusiast and I like cars from the 50's, 60's and 70's. A few years ago the transport fascists were targeting us as polluters etc but it was pointed out that the vast majority of classic cars are maintained in very good condition and do very little annual mileage and as they are only on the roads in small numbers anyway their environmental impact was actually virtually nil. The environazis then went away and resurfaced attacking 4x4's. They are the same kind of people who object to you flusing the toilet more than twice a day, ignore them
Mr Angry - my point exactly. If they 'win' with 4x4's then no private motorised vehicle will be safe - I am no fan of 4x4's but will defend anyone's right to own & drive one. If a vehicle is taxed, insured & MOT'd then it has a right to be on the public roads no matter what the 'greens' think.
Again, road users should stick together - motorbikes, cars, 4x4's, vans, HGV's....even the dreaded caravanners! We pay the tax and duties demanded by government so don't be ashamed or bullied by the 'greens'!