76 illegal car models being sold today!

[The Byre]

The legal limit for NOx per driven km is supposed to be 0.08g for all new cars being sold today. That is the so-called Euro-6 Class for Diesel and Euro-4 for Petrol driven cars.

Here is the latest list of shame of cars that are being sold today, that fail to even come close to that standard. The most polluting is at the top, the least polluting is at the bottom. As you can see, the most polluting car is the Ssangyong Koando, followed by the Renault Espace.

It is my contention that the time has come (well, long gone,actually) to have these models have their European Community Whole Vehicle Type Approval (ECWVTA) removed asap. Clean Diesels using AdBlue to reduce NOx emissions were introduced back in 2006 and the time has come to force manufacturers to comply with the law, not only to the letter (i.e. the notorious NEDC tests) but in spirit and in the real world.

It is an absurdity that manufacturers like Renault, Mercedes and VW produce several models that comply with the law in the real world, but choose to continue to produce cars, vans and trucks that are producing criminally high levels of NOx and other pollutants!

Make / Model / Fuel capacity / HP / wheels driven / Gear-type / level of nitrogen oxides (NOx) being emitted.

Ssangyong Korando Diesel 2.2 176 2wd Manual 12+ x legal limit
Renault Espace Diesel 1.6 160 2 Automatic
Renault Megane Diesel 1.5 110 2 Automatic
MitsubishiL200 Diesel 2.4 178 2 Manual
Infiniti Q50 Diesel 2.1 170 2 Automatic
Subaru Outback Diesel 2.0 150 4 Automatic
Renault Captur Diesel 1.5 110 2 Manual
Nissan Juke Diesel 1.5 110 2 Manual
Nissan Qashqai Diesel 1.6 128 2 Automatic
MitsubishiL200 Diesel 2.4 178 2 Manual
Infiniti Q30 Diesel 1.5 108 2 Manual 8-12 x legal limit
Mercedes CLA-Class Diesel 2.1 136 2 Automatic
Dacia Sandero Diesel 1.5 90 2 Manual
Renault Megane Diesel 1.5 90 2 Manual
Ssangyong Turismo Diesel 2.2 176 2 Automatic 6-8 x legal limit
Volvo XC60 Diesel 2.4 217 4 Automatic
Hyundai Sante Fe Diesel 2.2 200 4 Manual
Mazda 3 Diesel 1.5 105 2 Manual
Fiat 500L Diesel 1.6 120 2 Manual
Ford Ranger Diesel 3.2 200 4 Automatic
Volvo V40 Diesel 1.2 110 2 Manual
Fiat Tipo Diesel 1.6 120 2 Manual
Mercedes C Class Diesel 2.1 204 2 Automatic
Mercedes GLS DIesel 3.0 258 4 Automatic
Alfa RomeoGiulia Diesel 2.1 180 2 Automatic
Kia Optima Diesel 1.7 139 2 Manual 4-6 x legal limit
Kia Optima Diesel 1.7 139 2 Automatic
Kia Sportage Diesel 1.7 114 2 Manual
Mercedes C-Class Diesel 2.1 168 2 Automatic
Mercedes C-Class Diesel 2.1 201 2 Automatic
Mercedes E-Class Diesel 3.0 254 2 Automatic
Mercedes GLC-Class Diesel 2.1 168 4 Automatic
Mercedes GLS-Class Diesel 3.0 254 4 Automatic
Vauxhall Astra Diesel 1.6 134 2 Manual
Vauxhall Astra Diesel 1.6 158 2 Manual
Toyota RAV4 Diesel 2.0 141 2 Manual
Audi A4 Diesel 2.0 148 2 Automatic
Jaguar F-Pace Diesel 2.0 180 4 Automatic
Subaru XV Diesel 2.0 147 4 Manual
Volvo S90 Diesel 2.0 235 4 Automatic
Volvo V40 Diesel 2.0 150 2 Automatic
Mercedes CLA Diesel 2.1 136 2 Manual
Mercedes CLA Diesel 2.1 177 2 Automatic
Vauxhall Mokka X Diesel 1.6 136 4 Manual
BMW 5 Series Diesel 2.0 188 2 Automatic
Mercedes SLC Diesel 2.1 204 2 Automatic
Volvo S90 Diesel 2.0 187 2 Automatic
Citroen C4 Cactus Diesel 1.6 100 2 Manual
Audi A6 Diesel 3.0 272 4 Automatic
Mercedes E-Class Diesel 3.0 260 2 Automatic
BMW X1 Diesel 2.0 187 4 Automatic 2-4 x legal limit
Mazda 2 Diesel 1.5 104 2 Manual
Volvo XC90 Diesel 2.0 222 4 Automatic
Jaguar XJ Diesel 3.0 296 2 Automatic
Ford EcoSport Diesel 1.5 94 2 Manual
BMW 1 Series Diesel 2.0 150 2 Manual
BMW X3 Diesel 2.0 190 4 Automatic
Mini Clubman Diesel 2.0 190 4 Automatic
BMW 4 Series Diesel 2.0 190 2 Automatic
Audi A4 Diesel 2.0 148 2 Manual 1-2 x legal limit
Jaguar XE Diesel 2.0 178 2 Automatic
Jaguar XF Diesel 3.0 296 2 Automatic
Land Rover Evoque Diesel 2.0 178 4 Automatic
Skoda Octavia Diesel 2.0 181 4 Automatic
VW CC Diesel 2.0 180 2 Automatic
Mini One-D Diesel 1.5 116 2 Manual
Audi A5 Diesel 2.0 190 2 Automatic
BMW X1 Diesel 2.0 188 4 Automatic
Renault Megane Petrol 1.2 132 2 Manual

 

[Ian J]

I'm no engineer so what is the downside to producing cars that will emit reasonable real world emissions? Is it cost or performance related?

 

[The Byre]

The marginal cost of adding the AdBlue tank, Diesel filters and circuitry is minimal. The only problem is that they have to be designed into the car from the beginning, as space under the hood is hard to find. That is why retro-fitting that stuff to a truck is easier than to a car - more space to play with!

The costs to performance and fuel economy are also very small, typically a mile or two per gallon, if that!

However, those manufacturers still using older Diesel motors have a problem - they will require redesigns and that is not cheap by any means!

 

[paulears]

Thank God for Brexit then! I just cannot see the sense in having a standard for an MOT and having a different standard for a new car? I bought my first diesel when petrol engines were apparently the spawn of the devil, and now we have different scientists, it's diesel that is the evil one.

The day the railways switch off their diesels in the stations, rather than leave them running continuously all day, is when I might believe the stats. Every bus and lorry spews out far more nasties than these cars. Just imagine if the MOT standard was changed - it's just like the poor science used on foodstuffs - who really knows which product is good for you this month?

 

[The Byre]

The science behind emissions and their effects on the human body is very clear and very well established. The understanding of that science by the media and politicians is anything but clear.

The same applies to food additives. Unfortunately, in both cases, the waters are muddied by lobby companies and journalists with an agenda who throw pseudo-science around that confuses those with little or no understanding of the subject.

 

[The Byre]

On a legal note (before anybody asks!) those figures are freely available from Emission Analytics Ltd. and have been already used extensively by the press and broadcasters and are made using real world conditions and under the control of some of the World's leading scientists and automotive engineers.

 

[paulears]

I wonder who provided the data used originally when petrol was the worst? I'm sure Emission Analytics Ltd are giving the data accurately, but does this infer the previous data had errors, or simply misunderstood?

My van has about 50,000 miles to go before it needs changing - and that ties me to diesel, unless something very odd happens?

 

[Clinton]

@The Byre, you make some great points and I agree with them. What I'm about to say doesn't detract from your posts on this topic.

But I'm getting increasingly frustrated at governments blaming us for their screw ups. That we are driving diesel cars is because we were told diesel was better. But that aside....

The #1 reason for the high pollution levels in the UK are the crap governments we've had who didn't spend enough on roads and public transport.

Let's start with roads: We have some of the slowest traffic in the developed world and cars spend hours and hours in queues and congestion.

London is the #1 most congested city in Europe. And it doesn't beat the others by a whisker, it beats them by a country mile.

That's despite the fact that, unbelievable though this may sound, there are fewer cars on the road in London now than there were a few years ago ... and the number is dropping.

And it's congested because of the lack of road building ... even in areas outside of the city centre where space is actually available for road expansion.

We have the world's largest car park and we call it an orbital motorway. In some parts this motorway is only two lanes wide. Two lanes! That's absolutely ridiculous for a capital city of the world's fifth largest economy. Third world countries have 4, 6, even 8 or more lanes in each direction on their orbital motorways. We have two. There are villages in India with orbital roads that have more lanes!

And what do we do when we need another lane? We open up the hard shoulder! Anything to avoid actually investing in adding a lane!

Our M25 is so slow that we could dispense with speed cameras (no, sorry, we're supposed to be calling these cash cows by their official name - safety cameras) and replace them all with portrait painters.

The #1 reason for high pollution in the UK is not the number of cars, nor the engines, it's the crap infrastructure (roads, ancient traffic lights, roundabouts instead of flyovers etc etc).

Then public transport. I don't even know where to start with the derelict, exploitative and insanely expensive public transport system we're saddled with. So I'll stop here. If someone else fancies continuing this rant, be my guest.

But the solution to improving air quality in the UK is not in tweaking engines, it's in investing to improve public transport and to improve roads.

 

[The Byre]

The UK has one of the lowest accident rates in the World. It is almost impossible to have an accident, when you are stuck in a traffic jam!

 

[Ian J]

Our M25 is so slow that we could dispense with speed cameras (no, sorry, we're supposed to be calling these cash cows by their official name - safety cameras) and replace them all with portrait painters.

 

[Scott-Copywriter]

The #1 reason for high pollution in the UK is not the number of cars, nor the engines, it's the crap infrastructure (roads, ancient traffic lights, roundabouts instead of flyovers etc etc).

Then public transport. I don't even know where to start with the derelict, exploitative and insanely expensive public transport system we're saddled with. So I'll stop here. If someone else fancies continuing this rant, be my guest.

But the solution to improving air quality in the UK is not in tweaking engines, it's in investing to improve public transport and to improve roads.

A big problem for me is the lack of wealth equality across the UK.

The top 20 districts with the highest population densities in the UK are in London. People congregate where the wealth exists and then cause an acceleration of population growth in those areas.

Islington alone has a population density of 15,300 per square kilometre (1st place). Newcastle has a density of 2,500 per square kilometre (71st). The difference, even between developed cities, is just ridiculous.

And despite London receiving 24 times more investment in infrastructure per resident than the North East (£5400 vs £223), up here we enjoy significantly quieter roads, more reliable transport, and far cheaper transport as well.

There's plenty of space for everyone in the UK. The burden on housing, transport and public services would drop considerably if people just spread out.

It's easier said than done, of course, but one hopes that advances in technology will stop the over-reliance on the London economy. The entire UK, and London itself, would be better for it.

 

[The Byre]

I wonder who provided the data used originally when petrol was the worst?

The car companies themselves, via various testing authorities and institutions that had to adhere to the NEDC tests. Those tests are rather like doing an MOT test, to see if your car will be fit to drive in two years time - i.e. totally unrealistic!

I'm sure Emission Analytics Ltd are giving the data accurately, but does this infer the previous data had errors, or simply misunderstood?

Misunderstood, but not simply - deliberately!

All governments around the World, not just in Europe, but the whole of the World's governing classes are, one way or another, heavily invested in car and truck manufacture. Renault, Mercedes, VW, Dacia, Infiniti, Nissan, pretty much the bloody lot are branches of government, combined with huge vested interests, such as the Kuwaiti royal family, the Saudis, Norwegian trust funds (owned by their government) German banks and UK pension funds.

The whole object of the NEDC tests was to show that governments are doing something about pollution and fuel economy. But pretty soon, car engineers realised that they could simply and easily cheat those tests. For example, the Mitsubishi Outlander Hybrid claims a fuel economy of 156mpg and the Toyota Pruis claims 94mpg - both of which are totally physically impossible! (Hybrids are allowed by the NEDC rules, to run their batteries down first, before switching on their engines!)

Similar fun and games are indulged in by every other major manufacturer. All those 'magic' hybrids that appear on paper to be ultra-clean and bonkers-efficient, are, in harsh reality, often more polluting and inefficient than most. For example, the hybrid Outlander does only 37mpg.

There is a growing body of opinion, that the only way out of this mess, if for some group or groups to club together and bring massive 'class-action' legal actions against the car manufacturers, forcing them to comply with both the letter and the spirit of the lay and produce cars that comply with the Euro-6 rules on emissions when driven under realistic conditions and not on a test-bed, with over-inflated ultra-thin tyres, the alternator and the AC taken off, the engine pre-heated, the ambient temperature at 20C and the water pump pushing an extra-thin mix around the engine and ultra-thin engine oil in the sump - and not following the curve on a computer screen that requires glacial acceleration and virtually no braking whatsoever!

During those tests, the muffler, the catalytic converters and the primary Diesel filters gather the pollutants and do not blow them out. In the real world, the moment you rev up the engine (something the NEDC tests do not require) and get the filters and converters to full working temperature, they blow a cloud of pollutants out of the tail-pipe. If there is no further filtering or processing of the exhaust gasses, that is what we get to breath - well, you do, if you live near a built-up area or you are driving on a busy road.

Some of the cleanest cars on the road are Diesels - the VW group 'BlueMotion' motors and the Mercedes and BMW Blue Efficiency series for example. Yet all three produce cars that should (IMO) lose their 'Vehicle Type Approval' for high levels of pollution.

As for some of the others - just get a grip!

 

[The Byre]

It gets worse! Carbon monoxide!

Petrol vehicles tested using the NEDC standards, need to achieve 1.0g/km regulated limit. All cars tested achieve that very 'generous' limit - yes, even in the real world! Regulations to control CO emissions distinguish between the fuel types, with petrol vehicles legally allowed to emit twice as much as diesel vehicles.

However - Prolonged exposure to carbon monoxide can cause harmful effects on the body as it reduces oxygen delivery to vital organs like the heart and brain. It is a very dangerous gas, both for short-term intensive exposure and long-term low-level exposure.

Of the 90 cars tested for CO emissions, 64 new vehicles (2016 models) tested by Emission Analytics Ltd. produce no more than 0.125 grams of carbon monoxide per km driven. These included all the BlueMotion and Blue-Efficiency models and also nearly all the 'bonkers' cars tested, such as Rolls-Royces, with 563hp and a 6.6l engine, as well as all those little one litre putt-putt jobs that most manufacturers produce.

That leaves 26 cars with no excuse for producing more than that level of one of the most dangerous pollutants we deal with today. The worst - Opel/Vauxhall Astra, one litre, 105hp petrol with between 0.64 and 1 gram of CO per km driven.

These are new cars, out there in showrooms today. Cars that will be driven for the next 10-15 years.

Our M25 is so slow that we could dispense with speed cameras - and replace them all with portrait painters.

A magnificent example of a 'Wodehouse-ian' metaphoric exaggeration! Possibly the best I have heard in ages!

But the solution to improving air quality in the UK is not in tweaking engines, it's in investing to improve public transport and to improve roads.

There is no need to tweak engines, just to use the existing technology! No special tweaking required! That is what is so frustrating about the situation - it is not that manufacturers would experience much difficulty or expense - it's just that they can't be arsed! Why bother, when the tests are so lax and so easily circumvented?

But I totally agree - public transport in the UK is a joke in bad taste. The trains are slow, unreliable, polluting and expensive. The various local bus services are horrible beyond words. The roads seem only to be there, in order to discourage their use!

It is as if the various governments didn't want people to leave their houses and earn a living!

 

[Clinton]

A magnificent example of a 'Wodehouse-ian' metaphoric exaggeration!

So that's what it is?! I do love old PGW; I own his entire collection of books (the ones printed on proper dead trees, not on Amazon Kindling). Must admit, I'm not sure if the portrait painters joke is an original. After posting it I remembered I may have heard some such reference elsewhere in the distant past. Not from PGW himself though. His problem with traffic would likely have been the blasted cows meandering along the approach to Blandings with a proprietary swagger more fitting an empress.

Moving on. How do you think Brexit will change things on the pollution front?

 

[The Byre]

BW (before Wodehouse) we had writers like Jerome and before him Dickens, who relied heavily on similes. In Jerome's Uncle Podger hangs up a picture, we get the magnificent expression "with the wall all around it, looking as if it had been smoothed down with a rake." and Dickens much favoured the simile - fog so thick "as if Nature herself were hard by and brewing on a grand scale."

But Wodehouse exaggerated so beautifully, that it has since become a style much copied today. You only have to read the columns by J.Clarson and Rod Liddle, both masters of the metaphoric exaggeration.

Clarkson on Montrose, Colorado "All the men drive huge cars called the Ford Dreadful and the Chevrolet Rural Halfwit and all the women are fat and have enormous hair."

"I handed over my passport and the check-in woman wrote War-and-Peace on her computer."

Rod Liddle mixes simile and ME brilliantly, when on Dianne Abbott "She was talking slowly, as if to a nation of wholly loathsome nation of imbeciles and racists, her eyes swivelling back in their sockets, as she spouted her usual ludicrous, banal guff."

Another brilliant user of the ME is comedian Mark Steele. On political correctness "On Tuesdays we shall be getting women-only gravity!"

But PG is still the master. On the Pringle daughter, who seems to dog his very footsteps in 'Without the Option', "You know Jeeves, on taking a bath, I would not be one bit surprised to find her nestling in the soap dish!"

Meet Mr. Muliner "He was pursued across a field, chased by several local rustics brandishing pitchforks. He swore that he actually saw several of them shoot up out of the ground as he ran!"

In 'Right ho, Jeeves, "It isn't often that Aunt Dahlia lets her angry passions rise, but when she does, strong men climb trees and pull them up after them."

And I've forgotten where this one comes from, but when PG gets his teeth into a simile, it is often a real corker and uses wild exaggeration perfectly - "When Aunt calls to Aunt, like mastodons bellowing across a primeval swamp."

On pollution and cars and the effect of Brexit? Well, @Clinton, let me put it this way "You can always tell the difference between a golden ray of sunshine and a Scotsman with a grievance!"