Face it: 4×4s are awesome. They’re all-wheel driving, off-road-racing grin generators, but the scourge of the eco-friendly brigade. But that’s all about to change, thanks to a new system that snatches emissions before they belch out the back, saving them for recycling later on.

How does it work? It’s not vehicular voodoo, but the exact details are still very much hush-hush. The system is the work of Origo Industries, and the technology behind it simply dubbed “carbon capture”.

The idea is that a device roughly the size of a briefcase is installed in the car, capturing carbon dioxide before it can escape the exhaust pipe. That’s then offloaded at a base station, run through algae which feed on it, and used to create more gas and oil to fuel the car.

Testing of the system is currently underway between Origo Industries and “three major manufacturers” although Origo boss Ian Houston has already fitted it to his own Mitsubishi Shogun, pushing its emissions below the 100g per km threshold to win him exemption from road tax.

Sound too good to be true? It doesn’t end here. Once testing is complete, Origo plans to bring in an additional seven companies from the telemetry, engine control, chemical production and algae industries which, once combined, “will smash the 100mpg barrier.”

TBC | £TBC | Origo Industries