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Green Car of the Year
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Story Filed: 11/17/2007 2:49:15 PM EST
By Perry Stern
General Motors dominates the finalists and wins this year’s honors.
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Ron Cogan of Green Car Journal presents the award for Green Car of the Year to Chevrolet general manager Ed Peper. Photo: Rod Hatfield
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2008 Saturn Aura Green Line Hybrid Photo: Rod Hatfield
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2008 Nissan Altima Hybrid Photo: Rod Hatfield
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2008 Chevrolet Malibu Hybrid Photo: Rod Hatfield
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2008 Mazda Tribute Hybrid Photo: Rod Hatfield
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It's safe to say that when Americans think of fuel-efficient cars that are friendly to the environment, they're probably picturing a small, lightweight sedan or coupe. However, the 2008 Green Car of the Year announced at the Los Angeles Auto Show will shatter that perception.
The winner is a 5,000-plus pound V8-powered full-size SUV—the all-new Chevrolet Tahoe Hybrid. Not only can this year’s winner carry up to eight passengers or tow 6,000 pounds, it is rated at 21 mpg in the city and 22 on the highway. The city mpg rating matches that of the Toyota Camry passenger sedan.
“This is a milestone in many respects,” said Green Car Journal editor and publisher Ron Cogan. “People don’t think ‘green’ when SUVs are concerned, and for generally good reason since SUVs often get poor fuel economy compared to most other vehicles. Chevrolet’s Tahoe Hybrid changes this dynamic with a fuel efficiency improvement of up to 30 percent compared to similar vehicles equipped with a standard V8.”
The Green Car of the Year is selected by a jury of environmental and industry leaders, along with four Green Car Journal editors. Invited jurors this year included Carroll Shelby, Jay Leno, Carl Pope (Sierra Club), Christopher Flavin (Worldwatch Institute), Jonathan Lash (World Resources Institute), and Jean-Michel Cousteau (Ocean Futures Society).
Other finalists for Green Car of the Year included the new Chevrolet Malibu Hybrid, Saturn Aura Green Line, Mazda Tribute Hybrid and Nissan Altima Hybrid. Although the top five vehicles were hybrids, that’s not a requirement for winning this award. In fact, Cogan told us that vehicles using a variety of technologies were considered; however, to be eligible a vehicle must not only be new but also widely available to the public.
Production volume and likelihood that the technology could be used in other models was also part of the selection process. The dual-mode hybrid system in the Tahoe was developed along with DaimlerChrysler (prior to the separation of Daimler and Chrysler) and BMW. Dodge introduced its first use of this technology in its Durango Hybrid at this year's LA show.
Although the Tahoe Hybrid’s fuel economy is not nearly as impressive as other vehicles on the road, it’s the improvement over the standard Tahoe, with no loss of utility, that put the Tahoe Hybrid at the top of the list.
Click image to enlarge
Story Filed: 11/17/2007 2:49:15 PM EST
By Perry Stern
General Motors dominates the finalists and wins this year’s honors.
Click image to enlarge
Ron Cogan of Green Car Journal presents the award for Green Car of the Year to Chevrolet general manager Ed Peper. Photo: Rod Hatfield
Click image to enlarge
2008 Saturn Aura Green Line Hybrid Photo: Rod Hatfield
Click image to enlarge
2008 Nissan Altima Hybrid Photo: Rod Hatfield
Click image to enlarge
2008 Chevrolet Malibu Hybrid Photo: Rod Hatfield
Click image to enlarge
2008 Mazda Tribute Hybrid Photo: Rod Hatfield
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Related Multimedia
It's safe to say that when Americans think of fuel-efficient cars that are friendly to the environment, they're probably picturing a small, lightweight sedan or coupe. However, the 2008 Green Car of the Year announced at the Los Angeles Auto Show will shatter that perception.
The winner is a 5,000-plus pound V8-powered full-size SUV—the all-new Chevrolet Tahoe Hybrid. Not only can this year’s winner carry up to eight passengers or tow 6,000 pounds, it is rated at 21 mpg in the city and 22 on the highway. The city mpg rating matches that of the Toyota Camry passenger sedan.
“This is a milestone in many respects,” said Green Car Journal editor and publisher Ron Cogan. “People don’t think ‘green’ when SUVs are concerned, and for generally good reason since SUVs often get poor fuel economy compared to most other vehicles. Chevrolet’s Tahoe Hybrid changes this dynamic with a fuel efficiency improvement of up to 30 percent compared to similar vehicles equipped with a standard V8.”
The Green Car of the Year is selected by a jury of environmental and industry leaders, along with four Green Car Journal editors. Invited jurors this year included Carroll Shelby, Jay Leno, Carl Pope (Sierra Club), Christopher Flavin (Worldwatch Institute), Jonathan Lash (World Resources Institute), and Jean-Michel Cousteau (Ocean Futures Society).
Other finalists for Green Car of the Year included the new Chevrolet Malibu Hybrid, Saturn Aura Green Line, Mazda Tribute Hybrid and Nissan Altima Hybrid. Although the top five vehicles were hybrids, that’s not a requirement for winning this award. In fact, Cogan told us that vehicles using a variety of technologies were considered; however, to be eligible a vehicle must not only be new but also widely available to the public.
Production volume and likelihood that the technology could be used in other models was also part of the selection process. The dual-mode hybrid system in the Tahoe was developed along with DaimlerChrysler (prior to the separation of Daimler and Chrysler) and BMW. Dodge introduced its first use of this technology in its Durango Hybrid at this year's LA show.
Although the Tahoe Hybrid’s fuel economy is not nearly as impressive as other vehicles on the road, it’s the improvement over the standard Tahoe, with no loss of utility, that put the Tahoe Hybrid at the top of the list.
