As a principle the hit should not be taken retrospectively by the consumer. If you want to reduce overall emissions then force the manufacturers to go even cleaner to balance overall emissions. They can do it if forced to. Like Steve said, most people get a car to lug them, their kids and their stuff from A to B. Our enthusiasm and passion for dirty noisy cars is a by-product of that. And there is good reason to believe that the Chinese and Indian governments would like a nice clean world for their children to live in as well so cleaner cars are not just a Western liberal do-gooder daydream. Rant over.
