RENAULT has ruled out introducing a particulate filter on its new common rail diesel engine as too expensive despite the pressure manufacturers are coming under to tighten up on urban emissions.

The issue of filters has been brought to the fore in the UK by the Inland Revenue, which says diesels will be subject to a 3% penalty under the new benefit-in-kind tax laws in order to take account of the harm diesels are said to cause in towns and cities through particulate emissions .

Peugeot and Citroen have said that their commitment to filters will make such a policy redundant. However, Yves Dubreil, Renault's car programme manager, said: 'Such technology would add 10% to the price of a car. This is too much.' He said greater efforts should instead be placed on preventing pollution by older cars.