producers could stop providing individual options on new cars in the future to meet the new, tougher emissions tests, car express can exclusively reveal.
From next month, a new worldwide harmonised Light cars test procedure (WLTP) will replace the existing new European Driving Cycle (NEDC) for type approval and, eventually, tax purposes.
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For the first time, the way options affect CO2 emissions and fuel economy will be considered. Each car configuration will be given a CO2 figure identified by the added weight of options, such as sunroofs.
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HM Treasury told car express that WLTP will be used to calculate car Excise responsibility (VED) in the future, although it failed to give a date, suggesting that adding options could push buyers into different tax bands.
WLTP will place producers in a problem as offering too numerous options would complicate the type approval and purchasing process, according to Peter Mock, managing director at The international Council on clean transportation (ICCT).
“Makers will have to generate a CO2 emissions value and weight figure for each car that they offer to the customer – for each variant,” he said. “In purchase to decrease complexity they will bundle packages and offer consumers only limited choice.”
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Greg Archer, clean cars director at campaign group transport & Environment, added that once WLTP is used for taxation purposes “you could end up in a situation where you can have a particular sunroof or heated seat, but that pushes it up in terms of CO2 and you finish up in a higher tax band”.
SEAT told car express that because of WLTP, the way it will offer options on its new Arona SUV will be done “slightly differently” and hinted the car could be provided with only packs of equipment, rather than individual choices.
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