The test cycle is being proposed as a replacement to the current NEDC regime to provide stricter test conditions and more realistic CO2/fuel consumption values for cars and vans.

Following the decision reached this week between member states, the European Commission and the European Parliament, the draft implementing act will be sent to the European Parliament and Council shortly.

If the current text is endorsed, the new WLTP test will be mandatory for all new vehicle types from September 2017 and for all new vehicles from September 2018.

Commenting on the decision, Miguel Arias Cañete, Commissioner for Climate Action, said: “This is a crucial step to restore credibility. Based on this new solid testing methodology, the Commission will propose new ambitious CO2 standards for the car sector for the period after 2020.”

The test will be used alongside the Commission's work to reduce the level of NOx emissions through Real Driving Emissions testing, and the Commission proposal for a full overhaul of the type approval system.

Sustainable transport group Transport & Environment (T&E) welcomed the latest decision, with Greg Archer, clean vehicles director at T&E, saying: “This is a victory for drivers who will get more realistic fuel efficiency information to help them choose better cars.”

However, it stressed that “although the new WLTP test is a good step forward, it is still a standard laboratory test executed under set conditions and hence prone to new forms of vehicle ‘optimisation’ – by 2025 the gap is expected to be over 30%. Therefore it is necessary to complement lab testing with random, spot checks on the road.”