Beware the changes proposed to cut energy debt, says Paul Lewis

THE UK GOVERNMENT has been urged to delay its ban on sales of new pure petrol and diesel cars following the EU’s decision to modify its own deadline to make it more lenient. Senior automotive industry

February 2026

PERFORMANCE: This is the manufacturer’s claimed acceleration time for a car, and is measured from 0-60mph or 0-62mph (0-100km/h), in seconds. ECONOMY/EMISSIONS/RANGE: Combined WLTP economy in miles pe

PERFORMANCE: This is the manufacturer’s claimed acceleration time for a car, and is measured from 0-60mph or 0-62mph (0-100km/h), in seconds. ECONOMY/EMISSIONS/RANGE: Combined WLTP economy in miles pe

Just 30 years ago, diesel cars were a bit rubbish. They were loud, clattery, vibrating, smelly and usually appallingly slow. But politicians thought they were the bee’s knees, because they were margin