Bill Shorten’s Euro-style emission standards could see a number of popular cars taken off roads

Some of Australia’s favourite cars could become extinct on the roads if Bill Shorten pushes strict Euro-style emissions standards. SEE THE LIST OF CARS.

Some of Australia’s favourite cars could become extinct on the roads if Bill Shorten pushes strict Euro-style emissions standards.

The Coalition will today identify cars that it believes are on “Bill’s hit list” — vehicles that are not offered under Europe’s and the UK’s strict emissions standards.

These include Toyota’s Kluger, Land Cruiser SUV and Ute, and Tarago models, Nissan’s Pathfinder and Patrol and Ford’s Everest and the Ranger’s Raptor and Wild Track models.

Energy Minister Angus Taylor said “Bill Shorten and Labor’s car tax will see a host of popular vehicles and engines Australians want stripped away from them”.

A 2018 Toyota Tarago.

The 2019 Nissan Patrol.

The 2018 Ranger Raptor.

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Mr Shorten has accused the government of mounting a “scare campaign” over cars.

The EU has already phased in a vehicle emissions target of 130 grams of carbon per km, with an plan to move to 95g/km by 2020.

A Shorten Labor government wants to move Australia towards a target of 105g/km.

The Coalition will argue that not only are the European car market and roadways vastly different to Australia, but also that the European and UK experience proves popular models of Australian cars could be phased out.

Australia’s favourite cars could be extinct under Bill Shorten’s Euro-style emissions standards. Picture: Kym Smith

An analysis of the UK vehicle market conducted by the Coalition found that most purchases as sub-compact small cars, making it easier for automakers to meet emissions standards.

Overall, the European market offered fewer models and fewer engine variants in Australia’s most popular brands.

It found that of the top 10 vehicles sold in Australia, many of their equivalent in the UK market was sold without the model or engine options preferred by Australians.

For example, the top car sold in Australia — the Toyota Hilux midsize pick-up — was not available in 2.8L turbo diesel and petrol models in the UK.

The Ford Ranger is not available in ‘Wildtrack’ and ‘Raptor’ models in the UK and the Toyota Corolla is not available in the cheaper 2L petrol engine in the UK.

And the Mazda3 is not available in the larger 2.5L engine in the UK.

A 2019 Toyota Land Cruiser.

The most popular vehicles in the EU are mostly compact or super mini models, such as the Volkswagen Golf, Renault Clio, Volkswagen Polo and Ford Fiesta.

Mr Shorten has said he would not mandate his electric vehicle targets and would consult on a timeline to phase in his emissions standards.

“Let’s just kill off this scare campaign once and for all. Labor doesn’t mind what car you drive,” he said this week.

“But what I do mind is if we have a government, a climate-denying, stuck in the past, technophobic government afraid of new technology denying Australians new car models and cheaper options in terms of petrol and maintenance which we see from this.”

Mr Taylor said Labor’s policy was “a tax on the vehicle you choose to drive, the vehicle you want to tow your boat, caravan, camper trailer, the car you can fit your family in or the car you want to take off road.”