MADRID, Sept. 6 (Xinhua) -- Studies by American company Equa Index show a gap of around 40 percent exists between the amount of CO2 emissions claimed for the 20 most popular cars sold in Spain and that actually emitted, according to an article published in the online Spanish newspaper La Tribuna de Antomocion on Wednesday.
The average actual level of CO2 emissions for the most popular cars in Spain is 155.43 grams per kilometer, while the official claims 110.35 grams per kilometer.
Equa Index found the 125 CV Ford Focus has the largest CO2 emissions difference; official data claims 108 grams per kilometer, while tests show 174.7 grams per kilometer. There is a 55.5 percent difference for Open Astra 1.4 gasoline 125 CV and a 53.68 percent difference for the Renault Megane.
The data is significant as cars emitting over 120 grams of CO2 per kilometer should pay a matriculation tax in Spain. Equa's data shows that only two of 20 popular models in Spain need not to pay the tax.
However, CO2 emissions were not the only data in conflict with official statistics. The tests also showed that while the average claimed fuel consumption for the top 20 models in Spain is 4.7 liters per 100 km, the actual level of consumption measured in the tests was 6.5 liters per 100 km, 38.3 percent higher.
