Fast cars to be banned?

[urbsy]

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Fast cars to be banned?


Make sure you’re sitting down before reading this story.
There is a proposal in a report to the European Parliament calling for a ban on the making of cars capable of more than 101mph.
It's all part of a proposal to cut CO2 emissions from cars, and many of the silliest parts come from British Lib Dem MEP Chris Davies.
Davies states that 101mph is 25 per cent over the top speed limit in most EU countries.
However, according to a report by the BBC, he then goes on to note that "between 1994 and 2004 the power of new cars went up by 28 per cent, making them a lot heavier, and so increasing the amount of CO2 they put out, even though no country raised its speed limit to allow cars to use this increased power."
Now obviously this is utterly and totally wrong, but that won't prevent members of the European Parliament from voting on the proposed ban this autumn.
Obviously what has actually happened is that increased safety legislation (much of it from the EU), has increased the weight of cars. Power outputs have also increased.
Now that cars have beneficial safety features – airbags, pedestrian impact zones and the like – they are by necessity heavier than before. But what this has to do with top speeds, we're not sure, other than the fact that it takes greater effort to start and stop a heavier car than a lighter one.
But it's not just power and weight that have increased – car's braking systems and tyres have also improved (not least because EU legislation means that anti-lock brakes are now mandatory on new cars).
We're all for increased safety – such as the proposed standard fitment of ESP stability control – but to claim that banning the making of cars capable of over 101mph would create a dramatic reduction of CO2 is incorrect.
We can't help but think that, say, Mr Davies not flying from his Stockport base to Brussels every week would help a bit more.
Oh yes, and Mr Davies was also a big supporter of GM's decision to build the new Vauxhall Astra at Ellesmere Port in April.
"This is a fantastic reward for the commitment shown by everyone involved to keeping car manufacturing alive in Ellesmere Port," said Davies.
Quite right, but seeing as every single model in the current Astra range is capable of well over 101mph, if Mr Davies' proposal succeeds at the EU, there will be no new Astra.


http://www.autocar.co.uk/News/NewsAr...llCars/225964/

urbsy

[Welsh Pete]

Ha...my Citroen Berlingo only goes 99mph...bargain!!! I`ll be the fastest on the road

[Mobileman]

I can see no reason why if the roads were upto it the speed limit on motorways etc should be raised to 100 and 80 on dual carriageways in the UK

[Over Carl]

It's a shame it was max power who did the survey, but I remember them showing that if you had the same rection times, you could drive a ford focus at something like 90-100mph and it would be just as safe as driving a ford anglia at 70 (anglia was an average car when speed limit was introduced, focus was an average car when max power did their thing).

What the article says is so true, it's not the increased power making cars heavier, its the heavier cars requiring more power.

More bollox - mandatory abs. it was talked about, but as it took off so well without any regulation, it was never actually made part of legislation. I do believe there are a few bottom end models available without abs.

Also the esp arguement is interesting. For it to be effective, there would have to be no way to turn it off. However, what happens if a very skilled driver is in a predicament, and the best way to get out of it is by loosing traction? Legal chaos. Unlikely, but it will happen.

Anyway, even if this comes in, it will be done in one of two ways. Either cars will have closer ratio gears so they can't top 100, making them reach 100 a lot quicker (doesn't sound so safe, does it now you dozy twats). Other option will be electronic limiting - like germans not going over 155. Easily removed so that's not really a biggie either. Actually I'm guessing that would probably be illegal, so there would be an "interesting" situation where coppers could only do 100, whilst criminals could do 150, 180, 200, whatever. Great idea EU tossers.

[Freddy]

Fuckoff. Petrol burning bastards are a government favourite. Make all cars efficient and the government will lose billions (not including speed fines). Same goes for all EU countries.

These carbon offset programs will take off big time before a real answer is established.

[burner1]

It's a shame it was max power who did the survey, but I remember them showing that if you had the same rection times, you could drive a ford focus at something like 90-100mph and it would be just as safe as driving a ford anglia at 70 (anglia was an average car when speed limit was introduced, focus was an average car when max power did their thing).

What the article says is so true, it's not the increased power making cars heavier, its the heavier cars requiring more power.

More bollox - mandatory abs. it was talked about, but as it took off so well without any regulation, it was never actually made part of legislation. I do believe there are a few bottom end models available without abs.

Also the esp arguement is interesting. For it to be effective, there would have to be no way to turn it off. However, what happens if a very skilled driver is in a predicament, and the best way to get out of it is by loosing traction? Legal chaos. Unlikely, but it will happen.

Anyway, even if this comes in, it will be done in one of two ways. Either cars will have closer ratio gears so they can't top 100, making them reach 100 a lot quicker (doesn't sound so safe, does it now you dozy twats). Other option will be electronic limiting - like germans not going over 155. Easily removed so that's not really a biggie either. Actually I'm guessing that would probably be illegal, so there would be an "interesting" situation where coppers could only do 100, whilst criminals could do 150, 180, 200, whatever. Great idea EU tossers.

I agree, it's nonsense, it simply doesn't do the entire maths to think it'll work. Maybe telling China to slow down with it's fossil fuel burning would be more effective globally; burn 2 tons of coal and make 3,000 Macdonald Kids meal toys.

[Mickey]

Well my turbo diesel zafira does 110mph on an open road so im still shafted. hope it wont happen

[urbsy]

My 1.4 fiesta diesel does 115 till the engine cuts out.

urbsy

[Soulassassin]

I agree with u carlover except for the line..

What the article says is so true, it's not the increased power making cars heavier, its the heavier cars requiring more power.

With the exception of more 4x4s on the roads I would say cars are getting lighter and lighter. Cars used to have solid cast blocks and heads, metal intake manifolds etc etc. Now they are alloy blocks and heads with plastic intake manifolds etc etc. The skins used to be quite strong and thick but now they 're strong (by design) and v.thin.
Cars are getting faster and faster but also safer and safer. But one thing that seems to go un-noticed cars are getting a lot more economical and therefore the government has to change its approach, i.e. not the economy of the car but the speed, hence more revenue for them. All this wet weather is a godsend for the government, watch this space and wait for the "its all down to global warming so we're gonna have shaft someone" speeches.
Soz about the rant/babble I get carried away sometimes...

[Lee Macro]

Ha...my Citroen Berlingo only goes 99mph...bargain!!! I`ll be the fastest on the road

I think 101mph is faster than 99mph unless the rules on how to add up have changed since this post

I'm guessing that would probably be illegal, so there would be an "interesting" situation where coppers could only do 100, whilst criminals could do 150, 180, 200, whatever.

If this ever did come in, and I really don't think it will, I'm sure that emergency vehicles would be exempt for precisely this type of scenario

[Little John]

1 positive thing I can see is it will reduce the number of new cars being sold therefore less resources being use makeing all the new cars. I know I wouldnt want to go for a car that can only do 101mph if I have previously been driving arround in somthing faster. Everyone knows it is impossible for manufacturers to produce a car that will only do 101mph unless they go and modify every car they sell to within an inch of its life in the way some people do just to get that extra bit of power from their stock 1.1 corsa.