The finalists for the 2013 Green Car of the Year have been revealed ahead of the reveal of the overall winner at the Los Angeles Auto Show next month.
This year’s finalist line-up consists of Dodge Dart Aero, Ford C-MAX, Ford Fusion, Mazda CX-5 SkyACTIV and the Toyota Prius c, which are all in the running to claim the final prize.
Presented by the Green Car Journal, the awards, now in their eighth year, are designed to honoured new cars which demonstrate “environmental leadership in the automotive field”.
"This is a very exciting time for the Green Car of the Year program," said Ron Cogan, editor and publisher of the Green Car Journal. "For two decades now, Green Car Journal has documented the 'greening' of the auto industry, from a time of mere concepts and demonstration programs to today, when the sheer number of environmentally positive production vehicles available to consumers is just eye-opening."
The list consists of a mix of ordinary combustion cars and hybrids. The Dart Aero and CX-5 Skyactiv were chosen for their strong fuel economy despite being fitted with combustion-only drivetrain. The Ford C-Max and Fusion are both available with a choice of powertrains; with combustion-only and hybrid models to be joined by plug-in hybrid Energi models from next year.
But one website seems unimpressed by the list of finalists. Jalopnik.com writes (see story) the awards has drawn up a shortlist which includes ‘gas-powered cars that aren't remarkably more efficient than main competitors’.
The final winner will be selected by a jury of experts consisting of Sierra Club executive director Michael Brune, Ocean Futures Society president Jean-Michel Cousteau, Global Green USA president Matt Petersen, plus Tonight Show host and auto enthusiast Jay Leno and Green Car Journal staff.
On November 29, the second press day of the Los Angeles show, Green Car Journal will hold a press conference to announce the winner.
Last year's winner was the Honda Civic Natural Gas, while the Chevrolet Volt won the 2011 award.
Faye has been writing about cars and environmental issues since 2007. A suspected eco-warrior working on the corporate inside, Faye mainly likes the weird, quirky vehicles that show a distinct environmental advantage. Her ideal car has enough room to fit a bale of hay in the boot. When not working, she likes nothing better than to head out on her bicycle and explore the countryside.
No comments yet.