New C02 emission targets for new vehicles in Australia will see a number of cleaner and more affordable 4 x 2 versions of our most popular family SUVs dropped from car company line-ups. The first models to be culled under the New Vehicle Efficiency Standards which whilst introduced on January 1 will not start tracking vehicle imports and attracting fines until July 1. A new clause in the new C02 regulations hits 4 x 2 versions of large off-road SUV’s harder than their 4 x 4 equivalent – as such Ford will drop two-wheel-drive variants of its popular Everest SUV, as the lack of a 4 x 4 transmission will categorise them as passenger vehicles rather than light commercials. The move surprising as 4 x 2 versions are lighter, more fuel efficient and emit less C02, the very purpose of the new C02 standards. I’m David Berthon

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