2009 Green Car of the Year to be Announced at LA Auto Show
The Green Car of the Year (GCOY) award was created by the Green Car Journal in 2006 “to recognize environmental achievement in the automotive industry.” Each year, the GCOY is announced at the Los Angeles Auto Show. Ron Cogan, the editor and publisher of the Green Car Journal, says of the yearly announcement “Each year we choose the LA Auto Show 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.”
Previous Green Car of the Year Winners
In 2006, the inaugural Green Car of the Year award was given to the Mercury Mariner Hybrid. The Toyota Camry Hybrid garnered the award in 2007 and the Chevrolet Tahoe Hybrid received the GCOY Award in 2008. The Tahoe was selected because the city mpg rating was equal to that of non-hybrid mid-size cars.
2009 GCOY Eligibility
In order to be eligible for the 2009 Green Car of the Year award, the vehicle must be in production status by January 1, 2009. A team of members from the Green Car Journal staff will be weeding through all eligible vehicles and then five finalists will be announced in advance of the LA Auto Show. The official announcement will be made on November 20, 2008 at the LA Auto Show’s Press Days event.
When looking at the prospective finalists, “emphasis is placed on vehicles that advance overall efficiency and functionality while decreasing its environmental footprint” are important factors that are considered according to Ron Cogan.
Likely Finalist
There isn’t a large list of vehicles that will be eligible for the 2009 GCOY but that doesn’t mean it will be easy to guess which vehicles will make the final five. The Chrysler Aspen Hybrid fits the newness factor that judges look at but will the 19 estimated mpg city rating be sufficient for the Aspen to seal the deal and win the 2009 GCOY Award? My guess is no.
Which hybrids do you think will make the top five list for the 2009 GCOY? I’d love to hear your thoughts.
Source: PRNewswire
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I agree with you about the Aspen 19 mpg just doesn’t cut it.
I would think that if the award is to be presented “to recognize environmental achievement in the automotive industry.” the award should rightly go to an pure electric car rather than a hybrid.
EV - I agree…even the Honda FCX Clarity better meets that than a gasoline/hybrid electric that rates out in the 20s for mpg rating like the 2008 winner.
[...] Green Car Journal will be announcing its selection for the 2009 Green Car of the Year at the 2008 Los Angeles Auto Show on November 20, 2008. One of the following vehicles will receive [...]