"While a new Volkswagen Touareg TDI will be out on the market to provide a clean-burning diesel option in 2009, the 2008 version ranks as the vehicle that emits the most pollutants.

Forbes, using Environmental Protection Agency data, said that the turbo-diesel powered Volkswagen SUV gets the EPA's lowest air pollution score of one on a scale of 10.

Despite the pollutants put out by the Touareg, auto emissions are 75 percent to 90 percent cleaner than they were before stringent federal emissions standards were enacted in 1970, said EPA spokesperson Catherine Milbourn.

"Even the worst polluters on the road today are far cleaner than most vehicles were a few decades ago," Milbourn told Forbes.

According to EPA data, the Touareg emits 83 percent less nitrogen oxide and 89 percent less carbon monoxide than the average vehicle built in 1970.

The Touareg and other diesel-powered vehicles will start getting cleaner, thanks to special catalytic converters and a system that injects urea into the exhaust stream to neutralize pollutants and drastically reduce emissions, Forbes reported.

When the new diesel engines hit the market late in 2008, they are expected to get an EPA air pollution score of 6, which will allow them to be sold in California, Connecticut, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, New Jersey, New York, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Vermont and Washington.

The EPA provides consumers with air pollution scores, fuel-economy estimates and greenhouse-gas-emission ratings for all passenger cars and light-duty trucks at www.fueleconomy.gov and www.epa.gov/greenvehicles.

Europe is ahead of the U.S. in requiring that such information be readily accessible to consumers.

"In Europe, vehicle specifications now regularly list a model’s CO2 emissions," said Francois Gravigny, an adviser for market research firm R.L. Polk and Company in Southfield, Mich told Forbes. "Everybody in Europe knows what their vehicles’ CO2 emissions are."

Top Polluters

1. Volkswagen Touareg V10 TDI
2. Jeep Grand Cherokee CRD
3. Mercedes GL320 CDI
4. (tie) Mercedes-Benz ML320 CDI, Mercedes-Benz R320 CDI
5. (tie) Chevrolet Suburban 2500, GMC Yukon XL 2500, Hummer H2
6. (tie) Jeep Commander Flex Fuel, Ford F-150, Lincoln Mark LT
7. (tie) Chrysler Aspen Flex Fuel, Dodge Dakota Flex Fuel, Dodge Durango Flex Fuel, Dodge Ram 1500 Flex-Fuel, Jeep Grand Cherokee Flex Fuel
8. (tie): Chevrolet Avalanche 1500 RWD; Chevrolet Suburban 1500 RWD; Chevrolet Tahoe 1500 RWD; GMC Yukon 1500 RWD; GMC Yukon XL 1500 RWD
9. (tie): Jeep Grand Cherokee SRT8, Mercedes-Benz ML63 AMG, Mercedes-Benz G55 AMG
10. (tie): BMW M5, BMW M6, Mercedes-Benz CL600/CL65 AMG, Mercedes-Benz S600/S63 AMG/S65 AMG, Saab 9-7X Aero"

 

Really? Everybody in Europe?
Cars that emit less than 130g CO2/km gets tax breaks of $1k, free parking, no congestion charge etc. here, but dealers rarely show the emissions of cars that aren't classified as eco firendly. I can't say I know how much my car pollutes the environment.

By the way, this gotta be the first time ever that Saab has been tied with BMW's M-models and high end Benzes. Maybe they should do a pr stunt?

 

Wahooo!

We made #10 with the M5.

 

 

Thanks for the info; I'm going to go open my windows and turn the A/C all the way up now...