Green Car of the Year at the L.A. Auto Show

LOS ANGELES, Dec. 29, 2005 -- What do Carroll Shelby, Mario Andretti, Jean-Michel Cousteau, and the Sierra Club's Carl Pope have in common? While their interests and backgrounds are diverse, all have a strong desire to see vehicle choices that include higher fuel efficiency and lower environmental impact. Their votes, along with those of other noted jurors, will help determine Green Car Journal's "2006 Green Car of the Year," which will be awarded at a press conference held at the Los Angeles Auto Show on January 5 at 2:00 p.m.

The Green Car of the Year jury consists of these and other environmental and auto icons including Frances Beinecke, president of the Natural Resources Defense Council; Kevin Knobloch, president of the Union of Concerned Scientists; and Paul MacCready, president of AeroVironment and a specialist in environmental transportation. Four Green Car Journal staff round out the 11 member jury.

Five finalists are being considered by this jury for the Green Car of the Year honor. These 2006 model vehicles include the Honda Accord Hybrid, Honda Civic Hybrid, Lexus RX 400h, Mercury Mariner Hybrid, and Toyota Highlander Hybrid.

"These five gasoline-electric hybrids stood apart as most worthy of consideration for the 2006 Green Car of the Year distinction," says Ron Cogan, editor and publisher of the Green Car Journal. "While hybrids represent but one type of vehicle expected to be finalists in future Green Car of the Year award programs, they clearly dominate the field at this point in time."

Green Car Journal staff reviewed scores of vehicles offering varying degrees of environmental performance, comprising a wide variety of fuels and technologies. Narrowing down the field to five finalists was not an easy task since an increasing number of vehicle models now offer environmental attributes. Gasoline-electric hybrids, near-zero emission gasoline models, advanced diesels, and an array of vehicles capable of operating on alternative fuels were among those considered.

The Green Car of the Year program is designed to recognize environmental leadership in the automotive industry. Emphasis is placed on vehicles that advance overall efficiency and functionality while decreasing environmental impact. While all current models are eligible for consideration, "newness" is a factor, with vehicles in the early phase of their production cycle given particular weight in identifying finalists.

The award-winning Green Car Journal is the "auto enthusiast magazine of today," offering mainstream auto coverage with a focus on the intersection of automobiles, energy, and the environment. Green Car previously produced "Automobiles and the Environment" conferences at the L.A. Auto Show. In recent months, Green Car Journal has hosted ride-and-drives of hybrids and other advanced technology vehicles for the Society of Environmental Journalists and the Sierra Club.

Copies of Green Car Journal (a retail value of $5.99) will be provided as a bonus to attendees who purchase the official L.A. Auto Show Program, while supplies last. Content from previous Green Car Journal issues is available on the magazine's companion website at www.greencar.com, where subscriptions and back issues of the magazine can also be ordered.