Off-roaders made up 7.6% of new car sales in the first five months of the year, compared with 7.2% in the same period of 2005. The bestselling luxury petrol 4x4 was the Range Rover
Sport Supercharged, which is in the new top band for vehicle excise duty and has an urban fuel consumption figure of 12.6mpg.
The Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders insists car makers are making huge improvements in fuel economy and carbon dioxide emissions. The average car now emits 9.7% less CO2 per kilometre compared with 1999, while emissions from new 4x4s are down an average of 19%, said a spokesman.
But environmental groups raised concerns that buyers are using increased fuel economy as an excuse to buy more powerful motors. Average engine capacity has increased from 1.7 litres and 103bhp in 2000 to 1.8 litres and 119bhp in 2006. Sales of luxury saloons are up 20% compared with the first five months of 2005.
DVLA sells data for millions
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The government agency that stores drivers’ details made more than £6m by selling the information to commercial organisations in 2005-6.
The admission followed an article in last week’s Sunday Times Driving (There’s a parking fine in store) that revealed supermarkets were tracking down motorists and demanding payments of up to £150 for parking.
Stephen Ladyman, the transport minister, said the Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency (DVLA) was on course to make £6,364,000 for the year from April 2005 to the end of March 2006 by selling motorists’ home addresses. That compared with £5,007,000 for the year 2004-5 and £4,854,000 for 2003-4.
The DVLA charges £2.50 per inquiry from companies who use the information to pursue motorists and threaten them with court action if they do not pay.
The Department for Transport expressed concern about the “number and breadth” of companies accessing information after an earlier Sunday Times exposé last August. It is expected to conclude a review of the practice before the end of the year.
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Ken goes to Washington
Ken Livingstone could take the US embassy to court in America to retrieve £375,000 in unpaid congestion charge fines. Transport for London (TfL), the Mayor of London’s transport body, is taking legal advice about pursuing the embassy in the US courts for charges outstanding since its diplomats stopped paying in July last year. Diplomatic immunity prevents any action in a British court. Foreign embassies account for £3.6m in unpaid congestion fines. They claim the Vienna convention exempts them.