New cars get greener as carbon emissions tumble

Average C02 emissions fell 4.2 per cent in 2011 and have reduced by 23 per cent since 2000, the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders (SMMT) said.

But the average new-car figure of 138g of CO2 per kilometre (138g/km) was still higher than the 2015 European target of 130g/km.

In 2011, 46 per cent of new cars had emissions below the 130g/km figure. But more than 65,000 vehicles were exempt from having to pay vehicle excise duty as they were below 100g/km.

Executive cars (down 9.5 per cent) and specialist sports cars (down 7.0 per cent) showed the biggest fall in emission levels, while executive cars (down 34.9 per cent) and cars in the Mini sector (down 29.9 per cent) had made the biggest emissions improvements since 2000.

New cars in 2011 were 18 per cent cleaner than the UK average and diesel cars took a 50.6 per cent share of the market last year.