Diesel Car Sales Expected To Out Sell Petrol By 2011
Not too long ago, car buyers were often put off from buying a diesel motor on the grounds that they are dirty, slow, noisy and smelly. In recent years, this conception has changed with many new diesel powered cars making use of turbo’s and in general have been much quieter, cleaner and with better performance.
With the technology available today, car manufacturers have been able to ensure the diesel engine has comparable efficiency to a petrol engine. Although still not as powerful, diesel engines have come along way and car buyers certainly have a different attitude towards diesels nowadays.
According to the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders, diesel car sales are expected to outsell petrol by 2011. Diesel car sales accounted for 40.2 per cent of 2.4 million cars sold in Britain last year, compared with only 13.8 per cent in 1999. It has already overtaken petrol in terms of the total fuel consumed by all vehicles in Britain. Statistics show that last year, drivers purchased a total of 25.5 billion litres of diesel and 24 billion litres of petrol.
Although at the pump, diesel costs around 5p - 10p more per litre but drivers are obviously aware of the 10% - 20% greater fuel efficiency of a diesel engine.
The new showroom tax announced in the budget last week will see some new car buyers having to pay up to £950 in tax for bigger gas guzzling vehicles. By picking a diesel car, buyers will be able to have a larger engine as they produce less carbon dioxide emissions than petrol engines.
