Porsche in court fight against £25 charge

Porsche is writing to the Mayor claiming his new engined-scheme - unveiled last week - is "unjust" and says he must axe it or face a judicial review.

The firm says the increase - a 3,025 per cent rise for central London residents driving the biggest polluters who lose their 90 per cent discount - is disproportionate. It also claims the plans will do almost nothing to achieve the stated aim of decreasing vehicle emissions.

Today Porsche Cars GB managing director Andy Goss said Mr Livingstone had 14 days to respond to its letter, sent this week. If the courts give the review the go-ahead, Porsche will challenge Transport for London's right to launch the revamped charge - due to take effect in October if Mr Livingstone is re-elected.

Porsche said it would seek a "quashing order" to overturn the new charge - which would hit most of its range.

Under the Mayor's plans, which include a 100 per cent discount for cleaner small-engined cars, the congestion charge will rise from £8 to £25 for vehicles that emit over 225g of CO2 per kilometre. This covers many 4x4s, plus some family cars, sports cars and people-carriers.

About 33,000 motorists will have to pay the charge each day. Their weekly congestion charge bill will rise from £40 to £125 a week, or nearly £6,000 a year.

Congestion charge zone residents with bigger cars also lose their 90 per cent discount, which means their costs will soar from 80p a day to £25 a day.

A Porsche spokesman said the proposal "appears motivated by politics rather than sensible policy making".

TfL said: "It is unfortunate that a manufacturer of some of the most CO2 polluting and expensive cars in the world should challenge a decision which is in the interests of London and the protection of the environment."