UPDATE 1-McCain to push new measures to lower auto emissions

(Adds quotes from speech)

By Jeff Mason

PHOENIX, June 22 (Reuters) - White House hopeful John McCain will push on Monday for car makers to build more environmentally friendly vehicles, threatening new legislation if they do not comply and proposing tax breaks to encourage consumers to buy "cleaner" cars.

According to excerpts of his speech obtained by Reuters, the Republican presidential candidate will call for auto manufacturers to speed the process of making engines that can use alcohol-based fuels.

"Whether it takes a meeting with automakers during my first month in office, or my signature on an act of Congress, we will meet the goal of a swift conversion of American vehicles away from oil," he will say.

The Arizona senator, who has wrapped up his party's White House nomination, will also propose tax incentives to prod Americans to buy vehicles that generate less pollution.

"For every automaker who can sell a zero-emissions car, we will commit a $5,000 tax credit for each and every customer who buys that car," he will say.

"For other vehicles, whatever type they may be, the lower the carbon emissions, the higher the tax credit."

Car makers have argued in the past that consumers do not always favor fuel-efficient cars and that government incentives would help encourage people to buy them.