The Chelsea tractor - the urban behemoth blamed for wreaking environmental carnage, making roads impassable during school runs and terrifying cyclists -- may finally have met its match.
Arnold Schwarzenegger, the Terminator star turned Republican governor of California, is backing tough new moves by his state to drastically reduce the poisonous chemicals emitted by gas-guzzling transport such as Sports Utility Vehicles.
In a landmark ruling on Friday night, environmental officials appointed by the former action hero voted to force motor manufacturers to make all new vehicles sold in the state after 2009 significantly cleaner. Producers will have to reduce emission of carbon dioxide gases, which have been linked to global warming, by up to a third.
The decision has profound implications for Britain, where there is now a rising backlash against the use of these powerful Sports Utility Vehicles. Dubbed 'Chelsea Tractors' because they are fashionable with middle-class families in well-off areas, they are loathed by environmentalists as 'Yank tanks'. Statistics show that people involved in an accident with an SUV are more likely to die or suffer serious injury than with an ordinary car.
SUVs are a source of concern across the political spectrum. The Liberal Democrats last week pledged to slap extra taxes on 4x4s because of the environmental damage they cause, and the Conservatives have said that something needs to be done.
'If you drive a huge American people carrier or four wheel drive, you are going to pay more than if you drive a small, fuel-efficient family car,' declared Liberal Democrat chairman Matthew Taylor. 'I think Chelsea tractors can expect to pay more.'
Despite that, sales of vehicles bearing names such as Explorers, Avalanches and Navigators have risen sharply over the last few years. Although designed for off-road driving by country people, and named to evoke a spirit of adventure in wild terrains, ironically only a minority have ever been driven in such conditions.
They are increasingly common sights in Britain's cities and are often used for short hops, such as trips to collect offspring and go shopping. Their exact contribution to global warming is unknown, but emissions from vehicles and planes are two of the biggest sources of carbon dioxide pollution.
While environmentalists hailed the California decision as historic, the motoring industry condemned the move. Manufacturers will be forced to make a series of modifications, for example to engines and air conditioning systems, during the construction of cars and trucks to comply with the regulations, adding up to £2,000 to costs.
'The fact is that this will not do anything about global warming. But it will be very costly for California consumers,' said Gloria Berquist of the Alliance of Automobile Manufacturers, which represents nine big car producers.
The motor manufacturing industry is worried that California's move will prompt lawmakers elsewhere in America and beyond to follow suit. It is threatening lawsuits to try to stop the plan. The move could also pit the governor against the federal government led by his friend President George Bush.
Schwarzenegger is fully behind the scheme, despite owning at least five Humvee H2s, the notoriously fuel-inefficient 4x4 which is closely modelled on an American light military vehicle. Once a champion of SUVs, the one-time ultimate Hollywood tough guy argued during last year's gubernatorial race that Californians should consider switching to more environmentally-friendly modes of transport such as hydrogen-fuelled cars.
It was a bold move in a country where sales of SUVs and trucks now outnumber those of traditional cars, and especially in a state widely seen as the capital of the car-obsessed United States. Now in office, Schwarzenegger supports the decision taken by the California Air Resources Board. He appointed its eight members, who voted 8-0 in favour.
California's action met with a mixed reception in Britain. The RAC warned ministers that if they took similar action, motorists would revolt. 'If Government was to enforce the same thing here, you would get an enormous backlash from the 28 million motorists who regularly drive in this country, because without effective alternatives to the car, such as decent public transport, people will feel that they don't have a choice', said spokeswoman Rebecca Bell.
But last night the Government's senior transport advisor, David Begg, raised the prospect of ministers eventually following California's lead. 'The Government may ultimately end up forcing motor vehicle manufacturers to do something similar here on emission standards, as part of its efforts to reduce greenhouse gas emissions,' he said. 'If it's successful in Los Angeles, then it could come in here.'
Ken Livingstone, the capital's Labour mayor, also welcomed California's stance. 'Measures like this are long overdue,' he said. 'Vehicle exhausts are also a major contributor to the pollutants which cause or aggravate chest complaints, killing hundreds of people each year in London alone.'
Rise of the 'Yank Tank'
There are 1.2 million 4x4 vehicles in Britain, and a further 150,000 are bought every month. A typical SUV does only eight to 10 miles per gallon, whereas a standard car does more than 40. Mr Livingstone, recently described 4x4 drivers as 'complete idiots' and condemned the vehicles as status symbols which were 'bad for London'. SUVs and trucks now outsell cars in America. The French government plans to impose a tax of up to 3,200 euros (£2,175) on new 4x4s. The Liberal Democrats support similar action.