4X4 or against?
Beemer or the Chelsea tractor. Which of these motors produce more CO2?
A BBC News Magazine feature, titled ‘4X4 OR AGAINST?’ included a thought-provoking, inter-active quiz on motor vehicle emissions.
The three questions, accompanying photos of the vehicles, were:
1) Roller or the Jeep. Which of these vehicles has the highest CO2?
2) Beemer or the Chelsea tractor. Which of these motors produces the most CO2?
3) Family hatchback verses the executive wheels. Which throws out more CO2?
The correct answers were:
1) The Rolls Royce Phantom A6, with a petrol engine, has an emissions rating of 385g/km. The Chrysler Jeep Cherokee 3.7L, petrol engine, has a rating of 318g/km.
2) The BMW 6 Series Coupe, with a petrol engine, has an emissions rating of 357g/km. The Land Rover Discovery 3 (LR3), with a 2.7L, diesel engine, emits 249g/km.
3) The Jaguar XJ Super V8, with a 4.2l petrol engine, has an emissions rating of 289g/km. The Renault Scenic, 2l petrol engine, emits 192g/km.
The feature included some interesting comments:
Nigel Wonnacott, from the Society for Motor manufacturers and Traders, said that prejudice often gets in the way of rational argument. “Some people say it’s the green-eyed monster, I think it’s just a comfortable stereotype to rail against – a large car with a little lady driving her kids to school.”
“Not all off-roaders are out-sized road hogs,” he says. “Last year’s three top sellers: the Land Rover Freelander, Honda CRV and Toyota Rav4 are all shorter than a Ford Mondeo or Vauxhall Vectra.”
Chris Patience, head of technical policy at the AA, said, “Car makers are ‘putting all their efforts’ into developing ‘sacrificial structures’ in big cars, such as 4x4s, designed to absorb much of the energy in an impact. In terms of pedestrian harm, 4x4s are often no worse than ordinary family cars, according to NCAP results.”
“Typically, pedestrians hit by cars wrap around the front of the car and their head hits the bonnet (hood). The key factor then is how much give there is in the bonnet before the victim’s head hits the engine – causing serious head injuries. All-wheel drive cars tend to have more space, effectively creating a crumple-zone for the head.”
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