The size of cars allowed on Bermuda's roads is set to go up on safety grounds, it was revealed yesterday.

And tougher regulations to cut down on vehicle emissions are also in the pipeline, according to Transport Minister Ewart Brown.

But car buyers could be in for bad news on the import duty on vehicles, according to some motor sector insiders.

Dr. Brown said increasing car sizes would mean hi-tech, bigger bumpers could be left on cars and tougher emission controls would slash pollution.

But the news was greeted with mixed feelings by some in the car trade -- who backed keeping the current size restrictions.

One insider said: "A number of dealers are against it because they believe we already have around 45 different choices of vehicle in Bermuda.

"Dealers are not only responsible for retailing but for servicing and stocking parts -- and it's not an easy science.'' He added: "There has also been a genuine concern about the number of vehicles on the roads.

"If they make them bigger, that will just increase the problems.'' It is understood that the size of cars allowed on the Island could go up by as much as seven inches in length and three in width.

That would increase the current 169 inches by 67 inches to as large as 176 inches by 70 inches.

Modern car design is also moving towards wider vehicles, while larger safety bumpers are often designed as part of the overall bodyshell.

Dr. Brown insisted that the increase in size was motivated purely by safety measures -- as current practice means the larger-size bumpers on current cars are often cut down to bring vehicles into the right size range.

Gov't to allow bigger cars: Fears of budget tax hike on car imports He said: "We are still working on it -- something will be tabled in Parliament this year.'' But he added: "I think that the dimensions are likely to be increased in order to allow cars to have proper safety and avoid them being cut and modified. Our emphasis, if we change any dimensions, it is for the sake of safety and nothing else.'' Dr. Brown added: "We're adjusting to new cars, not just dimensions but emissions. There will be legislation there this year as well.

"All of this is very much in the pipeline and I hope legislation will be tabled in the first half of the year.'' The news came as a tax hike on car imports was said to be a possibility for the Budget. And speculation is thought to have sparked a rush of imports to beat a feared Budget increase.

One dealer alone is said to have brought in 90 vehicles instead of the usual order of between 10 and 20.

The basic rate of tax -- 75 percent on a vehicle listed at $12,000 or less by manufacturers -- could rocket by more than a quarter to over 100 percent, added one insider.

And some motor trade experts predicted that the tax rate above that -- currently 150 percent on any value above $12,000 -- could go up even more, hitting would-be buyers of larger vehicles.

One said: "I've heard suggestions from some people that the duty is going to go up by a lot.'' But he admitted that new car imports and sales prior to a Budget generally increased sharply to beat any potential increases around the corner.

Finance Minister Eugene Cox -- currently working on next week's Budget statement -- declined to comment on his plans for the Island's yearly financial blueprint.

He said: "I'm not going to be talking about any such things.'' But he appeared to quash fears of large-scale increases in taxes on vehicle imports.

He said: "I wouldn't respond to that because I don't think it's true, anyway.'' Shadow Finance Minister Grant Gibbons said: "I would have two reactions -- if indeed this is a leak from Government to whomever and it's true, it's clearly unprofessional and unethical as well because it gives certain members of the business community an advantage over another.'' Buyers of large, expensive and gas-guzzling cars in the UK have been penalised in successive Budgets for some years -- partly to cut down on the use of non-renewable fossil fuels and pollution.

And Bermuda is keen to pull the country into line with international standards on vehicle emission controls -- as well as quell mounting concern over traffic congestion and accidents.

And any increases in tax would be likely to have some impact on the sales of new cars.

Dr. Gibbons said: "It's difficult to say what kind of impact it would have on the cost of living as far as transportation is concerned and on sales.''