"Dutch Gas Guzzler Tax Hammers Exclusive Cars"

AMSTERDAM - Buying a Hummer just became 19,000 euros (US$28,000) more expensive in the Netherlands.

A new "guzzle tax" came into force on Friday, penalising cars that exceed a limit on emissions of the greenhouse gas carbon dioxide as the Netherlands seeks to reduce its contribution to global warming.

Dick Braakhekke, spokesman for General Motors Corp's Cadillac, Corvette and Hummer in Europe, said that of the usual annual volumes of Hummer H2 vehicles sold in the Netherlands, some 60 to 70 percent had already been sold before Feb. 1 as buyers sought to avoid the guzzle tax.

Mercedes-Benz said some of its high-end AMG sports cars would also be hit.

"It varies a bit, but if you take the high-end V8 vehicles, it will easily go up by up to 10,000 euros," Mercedes-Benz Netherlands spokesman Hubert Dubbelman said.

But the companies said drivers might continue buying gas guzzlers anyway.

"It is not clear if a customer who is willing to pay 160,000 euros for such a car is affected by the fact that he has to pay 10,000 more," Dubbelman said.

Braakhekke said: "Corvette and Hummer are such specific brands that we don't expect an enormous sales decline."