Green Car of the Year Announced

LOS ANGELES, Sept. 18 — The winner of the 2008
Green Car of the Year(R) (GCOY) award will be announced on Nov. 15 at the
Los Angeles Auto Show during the show’s Press Days. Green Car Journal, the
leading automotive environmental magazine, initiated this annual award in
2005 and it has continued to grow in significance as consumer demand for
more fuel efficient and environmentally positive vehicles has increased
exponentially.

“We choose the LA Auto Show each year to make this important
announcement because California — and especially the greater Los Angeles
region — has historically been the epicenter for both automotive and
environmental innovation, and that’s what this award is all about,” says
Ron Cogan, editor and publisher of Green Car Journal.
The Green Car of the Year(R) award is designed to recognize
environmental achievement in the automotive industry. After considering
scores of new vehicle models that raise the bar in environmental
performance, five nominees will be identified in advance of the press
conference. The winning vehicle will be chosen by a select jury of highly
knowledgeable experts drawn from relevant fields such as transportation
technology, automotive design, environmental protection and others.
This year’s jurors include leaders of the nation’s most recognized
environmental groups, including Carl Pope, executive director of the Sierra
Club; Christopher Flavin, president of Worldwatch Institute; Jean-Michel
Cousteau, president of Ocean Futures Society; and Jonathan Lash, President
of the World Resources Institute. Automotive icon Carroll Shelby joins four
Green Car Journal editors to round out the 2008 GCOY jury.
GCOY Selection Process
Green Car Journal staff narrow down all the eligible vehicles to a
short list of five finalists based upon research and the driving
experience. Jurors, including independent experts and Green Car Journal
staff members, weigh the merits of each finalist vehicle and its relevance
to motorists. The winning vehicle must be a production automobile that will
be on sale by Jan. 1, 2008.
“In judging the Green Car of the Year(R), emphasis is placed on
vehicles that advance overall efficiency and functionality while decreasing
environmental impact,” says Cogan. “All current models are eligible for
consideration, although ‘newness’ is a factor, as well as the impact that a
vehicle and its environmentally positive technologies are likely to have in
the marketplace.”
Last year, the 2007 Toyota Camry Hybrid was named Green Car Journal’s
2007 Green Car of the Year(R), with jurors noting that Toyota’s seamless
integration of its Hybrid Synergy Drive in a mass market model was of
particular importance. The inaugural 2006 Green Car of the Year(R)
distinction was awarded to the 2006 Mercury Mariner Hybrid.
In addition to the Green Car of the Year(R) Award, many of the world’s
leading automakers are placing increased emphasis on the LA Auto Show to
help introduce “green” technologies. Last year, General Motors CEO Rick
Wagoner announced the automaker’s major new plug-in hybrid program at the
LA Show and this year’s show promises to deliver significant advanced
technology and alternative fuel vehicle news as well.
About Green Car of the Year(R)
The GCOY award is an important part of Green Car Journal’s mission to
showcase environmental progress in the auto industry. Since 1992, Green Car
Journal has focused on the intersection of automobiles, energy, and
environment, first with an industry newsletter and then with an
award-winning auto enthusiast magazine. Today, the magazine is considered
the premier source of information on high fuel efficiency, low emission,
advanced technology, and alternative fuel vehicles. Green Car of the
Year(R) is a registered trademark of Green Car Journal and RJ Cogan
Specialty Publications Group, Inc.
About the LA Auto Show
For the second year in a row, the Los Angeles Auto Show will be held in
the fall. The show opens for media only Nov. 14 and 15. Media registration
is now open. Public days run from Nov. 16-25. Last year, new fall timing
prompted a record 36 world and North American vehicle debuts with record
media attendance and news coverage from around the globe. For general
information visit online at http://www.LAautoshow.com.

SOURCE Los Angeles Auto Show