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Two Nissan GT-R supercars have been purchased under the new scrappage scheme.

The buyers pounced within five hours of the initiative starting this morning.

The scrappage scheme was intended to boost new car sales while encouraging people to buy more fuel-efficient cars.

The Nissan GT-R is a 480bhp, 3.8-litre supercar which goes from 0-62mph in 3.8 seconds and hits a top speed of 194mph.

It reaches 22.8mpg and emits 298g/km of CO2, placing it into the most-polluting tax band (M) at £405 per year.

Other European countries including France and Italy set CO2 emission caps for new cars purchased under their schemes, but the UK didn’t.

AA president Edmund King said at the time of the Budget: “Cleaner, greener and safer cars will replace some of the older gross polluters.

“If every ten-year-old vehicle were replaced with today's equivalent we would see a 30 per cent increase in fuel efficiency and almost 30 per cent decrease in CO2 emissions.”

Friends of the Earth also supported the scrappage scheme, insisting it would encourage drivers to switch from thirsty cars for more fuel-efficient models.

Gallery: Nissan GT-R Supercar