Switzerland is not the most car-friendly place on earth. (Odd, then, that after Monaco, the mountainous country is one of the most popular residence choices for F1 drivers.) But this just puts it over the top. The Swiss Green Party is proposing legislation that would effectively ban supercars. Most sportscars, actually. And SUVs. More than a few luxury sedans, too. Even some small hatchbacks.
The proposed regulations would ban any vehicle over 4800 lbs in weight, producing more than 250 grams of CO2 per kilometer, burning diesel without a new-fangled particulate filter or possessing a front end deemed less than optimal for pedestrian impact. Many of the vehicles on the proposed list of non-compliant new cars would seem logical, according to the Green Party mindset: Aston Martins, Bentleys, HUMMERs, pretty much anything from Italy bigger than a Fiat Panda, most American cars offered in Europe... but wait a second, the Hyundai Getz? Kia Rio? Nissan Micra? Even the Dacia Logan. Somebody's getting carried away in Switzerland, and we hope with the country's populist approach to governance that the Swiss populace will keep their tree-hugging elements in check. Otherwise, we might be riding bikes to next year's Geneva show.
[Source: Asphale.ch via AutoblogGreen]
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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 5)
Pacman @ Aug 7th 2008 1:06PM
To me this is much more frieghtening than terrorists from the middle east.
Seminole @ Aug 7th 2008 2:00PM
What I find scary is the Swiss have actually taken a side on something. What the hell is the world coming to!
DesiAuto @ Aug 7th 2008 2:13PM
"To me this is much more frieghtening than terrorists from the middle east."
To me your kind of thinking is much more frieghtening! :-)
... let'see terrorist can kill you, you can die.
While these ban on heavy vehicles can preserver good nature and thus give one a better life.
This is a superb idea, go for it swiss.
Pacman @ Aug 7th 2008 2:21PM
The car in your picture would be banned.
How will your life be better if such a ban is put in place? Please provide tangable data derived from cause and effect of enacting this legislation.
Leo M. @ Aug 7th 2008 2:37PM
semi...you obviously have no idea what you're talking about huh?
We, the swiss, as a population make so many more choices than you do every month. It's called a direct vote, and it happens often. We make choices, and take sides all the time.
Pacman @ Aug 7th 2008 2:40PM
Leo - it is just a joke. Reference to WWI and WWII. I am sure Semi did not intend to infer that the Swiss are never able to make a decision.
jackalope @ Aug 7th 2008 2:50PM
Everybody just take a chill pill. It is most unlikely to happen. Just because the Green party wants to ban it doesn't mean it'll happen. Green party is a small party in Switzerland.
Seminole @ Aug 7th 2008 3:42PM
Leo,
I was just poking fun at the Swiss neutral stance when it comes to world affairs. I didn't mean any harm.
Mobius_1 @ Aug 7th 2008 9:33PM
No cars = no life
They must understand that many of us are passionate about cars, not necessarily as transportation but a means of reaching enlightenment (maybe I'm exaggerating, but cars are fun, especially the ones they are trying to ban), also racing is probably in most males' genes, or otherwise how did Gran Turismo become one of the biggest selling games?
CH @ Aug 8th 2008 3:32AM
I live in Switzerland and this proposal only gathered this much signatures by misleading the people on the streets. The first name of the proposal was "Anti-Offroad-Initative" but when you look at the list most SUV type cars emit less CO2 then normal cars and have a lower consumption but would be prohibited due to the front part being to dangerous for pedestrians. The Majority of the cars on the list are normal cars. For example there is a VW Golf (yes the R32) on the list and also some small diesel hatch from other manufacturers.
On a side note Land Rover would be forced to close business in Switzerland, Porsche could keep on selling the most basic Cayman and the most basic Boxster nothing else, Cadillac would remain with only the BLS in Switzerland...
...and the list goes on. The attention this idea gets in media is huge and even if the proposal gets abandoned (which I hope) the young green party will claim a big success for the proposal and will surely come out with something slightly different which will then be disguised again as something completely harmless.
mike @ Aug 7th 2008 1:08PM
It’s their country, let them do what they want. They have nutcases who want to ban everything, they have bastards who sold their country to the environmental lobby, we have bastards(bush, republicans) who sold country to auto lobby(ford,GM,Toyota,Chrysler) and much much worse (oil lobby, saudies).
geo.stewart @ Aug 7th 2008 2:09PM
They have nutcases who want to ban everything,
so do we...
oZ @ Aug 7th 2008 2:10PM
Bush hasn't given anything to Detroit.
CarlosMC @ Aug 7th 2008 3:48PM
Remember Ralph Nader and what the industry reaction?
Did we became pedestrians or tree huggers because of him or are we (most likely) thankful?
What would happen is others following and the industry ending up complying, after lenghty moaning, bitching and whining - as usual.
We, we would just keep picking our choice from the available offering and doing our usual moaning, bitching and whining about anything else.
CarlosMC @ Aug 7th 2008 3:54PM
Btw, EU plans are for a 120 gram limit...
dm789 @ Aug 9th 2008 10:48AM
I Agree with mike
"It’s their country, let them do what they want. They have nutcases who want to ban everything, they have bastards who sold their country to the environmental lobby, we have bastards(bush, republicans) who sold country to auto lobby(ford,GM,Toyota,Chrysler) and much much worse (oil lobby, saudies)."
We must respect other people if we want to be respected. If we forced everyone to think like us, thats mean we do not respect their freedom to think or to be different. Hey if they don't like those vehicles then go for it its same like we don't like unsafe and slow cars in this continent. They have their reasons and we have ours.
John P. @ Aug 7th 2008 1:10PM
It never would have come to this if they just properly inflated their tires and got regular tune-ups. tsk tsk.
Aki @ Aug 7th 2008 1:52PM
You can expect great--er, environmental strides coming from Obama when he becomes president. Since McCain has no chance of winning, we'd best be prepared for zany "green" ideas on our side of the pond.
For every Lambo I see (almost never), I see thousands of Prius drivers driving like maniacs on the road--driving at 75mph (when drag reduces fuel efficiency), tailgating and slamming brakes whenever traffic stops. Their horrid habits probably yield them 35 mpg. Except unlike Corrola's that can get the same gas mileage, their Prius will have to deal with the horrible mess of throwing away/replacing those giant batteries after 7-8 years.
Hurray for myopic, dim-witted liberals.
mike @ Aug 7th 2008 1:59PM
Yeah, imagine the insanity of reminding people that relatively cheap to free maintenance on current units could save quite a bit of energy starting immediately.
Many experts say up to 3 to 4% of current consumption.
It is insane.
I don't understand how any of his buddies in huge companies are going to make any money of that idea at all.
Maybe he could give them a huge gov't no-bid contract to produce tire gauges!!??
hahaha... silly liberals.
- mike
John P. @ Aug 7th 2008 2:20PM
Hey Mike, when's the last time you got your car tuned-up? A simple "low cost to free" "Tune-Up" at your local garage will set you back big $$$$. So much for saving money there.
Besides, People don't even own cars long enough to need tune-ups today, since most cars go on a 100,000 mile tune-up schedule.
As far as checking your tires. That's only groundbreaking news to ignorant people like Obama who probably never checked the tire pressure in his cars.
Me? I ride my bike to work every day, and save way more than Obama and your Buddy Al Gore could ever "Hope" of doing.
By the way, this is auto enthusiasts blog, don't you have a bus to catch or something?