Victoria has removed Restriction on High Performance Vehicles for p-platers on 'family' vehicles.
A wider choice of safe cars will soon be open to young drivers.
An easing of the limits under the High Performance Vehicles restrictions means probationary drivers will have access to a number of turbocharged and supercharged cars from Saab, Mercedes-Benz, BMW and other makes which had been banned.
None of them is a genuine performance car and models on the list include the family-focussed Mercedes B200 turbo and cruisy low-pressure 9-3 Saab turbo models.
The changes have been made by Victoria's Minister for Roads and Ports, Tim Pallas, and are expected to be copied by authorities in NSW and Queensland.
His decision follows a technical presentation by the Federal Chamber of Automotive Industries and extensive lobbying from several carmakers, led by Mercedes-Benz.
There was an extensive assessment of the HPV criteria by VicRoads, which also consulted with the NSW Roads and Traffic Authority and Queensland Transport.
The difference in the new regulations is that the power-to-weight formula for cars on the HPV list has been changed to 100 kiloWatts-per-tonne.
Vehicles in the 100-125 kiloWatt-per-tonne can also be exempted from the restriction if they are considered to be 'family' and not a 'sports' type vehicle. The full list of eligible vehicles will soon be updated on the VicRoad website, but probationary drivers will need to apply for an exemption permit.
Mercedes-Benz Australia has at least eight models on the extended HPV list, from the C200 Kompressor to the upcoming E250 CGi, and has welcome the decision by Pallas and VicRoads.
"We are very pleased that the Victorian Government has taken the very reasonable position of recognising that some turbocharged and supercharged vehicles that could not be classified as HPVs will now be granted exemptions and that true HPVs will continue to be banned for young and Probationary drivers," says the managing director of Mercedes-Benz Australia, Horst von Sanden.
"Mercedes-Benz takes road safety seriously and has been a safety pioneer since we invented the motor car in 1886. This is an important road safety initiative of the Victorian Minister and we acknowledge his strong advocacy with his NSW and Queensland colleagues to develop and maintain a consistent and relevant set of criteria for HPVs."
