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Despite being an overwhelmingly urban nation, the British public is enamoured of four-wheel drives. They are particularly popular among families and the style-conscious
The 4x4 market is up against it as drivers face a barrage of criticism from all quarters. The media, environmentalists, road- safety campaigners and even London Mayor Ken Livingstone have tried to appeal to the consciences and, more significantly, hit the wallets of those who own these gas-guzzling giants of the highway.
The critics argue that 4x4s, or "sports utility vehicles" (SUVs) take up excessive road space, use too much fuel and are downright dangerous to those around them. But despite the accusations, registrations of new SUVs were up by 12.8 per cent in 2004, according to data from the Society of Motor Manufacturing and Traders. Alongside the burgeoning multi-purpose vehicle (MPV) and sports coupe market, four-wheel drive vehicles are doing very well, and for car manufacturers they represent a cash-rich market that has yet to reach its peak.
The number of SUVs in the UK has risen by 40 per cent over the past five years. New research from data services company Acxiom shows that this sector now accounts for more than six per cent of the new car market.
With manufacturers such as Fiat, Porsche and...