Honda’s natural gas driven Civic has been named Green Car of the Year by the Green Car Journal at the Los Angeles Auto Show this week.
Announced last night during one of the show’s opening press days, the winning Civic natural gas car beat competition from five other finalists including electric and hybrid models; Ford Focus Electric, Mitsubishi i, Toyota Prius v and Volkswagen Passat TDI.
Unfortunately the Civic natural gas car is not available in the UK and is currently the only natural gas model in the US. That’s a shame because according to the US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), it is cleanest running internal combustion vehicle that the agency has yet to certify. It runs on a clean fuel that is almost exclusively domestically sourced and typically priced about 30 per cent less than gasoline.
"There is no other vehicle like the Civic Natural Gas on American highways, and this recognition has been a long time coming for Honda," said Ron Cogan, editor and publisher of the US publication Green Car Journal and editor of GreenCar.com. "The new-generation Civic Natural Gas features greater fuel efficiency, a handsome and roomier new design, and tailpipe emissions levels untouchable by any other internal combustion production vehicle. After manufacturing this environmentally conscious model for fleets since its introduction in 1998, Honda has now made a major commitment to bring its exceptional, American-built natural gas sedan to everyday buyers, offering an all-new array of popular consumer-oriented features and availability through 200 Honda dealers in 36 states."
Boasting 38 highway MPGe, the Honda Civic Natural Gas also features Eco Assist and a selectable ECON feature to further enhance the vehicle’s environmental efficiency. Along with fast-fills in about five minutes at stations offering natural gas, the Civic Natural Gas can be time-filled at home overnight with an available wall-mount refuelling appliance from BRC Fuel Maker. The $26,155 Civic Natural Gas can drive approximately 240 miles on a tankful of compressed natural gas, almost two-and-a-half times the range of a typical all-electric vehicle.
Jurors for the respected award include the following leaders of the nation’s top environmental organizations: Carl Pope, chairman of the Sierra Club; Frances Beinecke, president of the Natural Resources Defense Council; Jean-Michel Cousteau, president of Ocean Futures Society, and Matt Petersen, president of Global Green USA. Also, Jay Leno, noted auto enthusiast and host of the "Tonight Show," as well as automotive icon Carroll Shelby join Green Car Journal editors in rounding out the 2012 jury.
The Green Car Journal has been unveiling the Green Car of the Year winner at the LA Auto Show every year since it initiated the annual award in 2005.
