SPECIALIST commercial equipment company Wessex Products has switched its 18-vehicle fleet of petrol-engined Volkswagen Passats for diesel-fuelled Renault Lagunas in preparation for the carbon dioxide-based company car tax changes.

The company's cars, a mixture of Dynamique hatchbacks and Sport Tourers, are powered by 1.9-litre dCi common-rail units that emit 150g/km of carbon dioxide.

This guarantees a tax bill of 18% for the first two years of the tax - even with the 3% penalty on diesel vehicles that do not meet Euro IV emission standards.

The Laguna also boasts a combined fuel economy figure of 51.3 miles per gallon, making it one of the most economical cars in the UK.

The cars, supplied by Newton Abbot Renault dealer A J Blackler, will be used by the company's sales team which covers the whole of the UK.