LOS ANGELES, Oct. 10, 2017 /PRNewswire/ — Green Car Journal announced today its five finalists for the magazine’s prestigious 2018 Green Car of the Year® award. The 2018 models include the Honda Accord, Honda Clarity, Hyundai Ioniq, Nissan LEAF and Toyota Camry. The announcement of the winner will take place at the Los Angeles Convention Center on Thursday, November 30, at 8:00 a.m. PST inside the Technology Pavilion, alongside other green transportation announcements.
For over a decade, an increasing number of vehicle models have been considered for the Green Car of the Year® program annually, a reflection of the auto industry’s expanding efforts in offering new vehicles with higher efficiency and improved environmental impact. Green Car Journal has been honoring the most important “green” vehicles every year at the LA Auto Show, and now AutoMobility LA, since its inaugural award was announced in 2005.
“This year’s Green Car of the Year® finalists reflect the continuing evolution of the automobile and the drive toward ever-greater environmental compatibility,” said Ron Cogan, editor and publisher of the award-winning Green Car Journal and GreenCarJournal.com. “Each addresses environmental performance in distinct ways, using battery electric propulsion, highly-efficient internal combustion alone or combined with electric drive, and even hydrogen fuel cell power. Importantly, these are exciting and fun-to-drive models offering consumers varying ways to drive ‘green’ that fit their unique needs and sensibilities, and are readily available to the mass market.”
The Finalists:
2018 HONDA ACCORD
The all-new 2018 Accord champions style, efficiency, and performance with three advanced new powerplants – two direct-injected and turbocharged 4-cylinder engines and the third generation of Honda’s two-motor hybrid powertrain. Both turbocharged engines utilize high-efficiency low-inertia turbos, variable valve timing and high-accuracy direct injection to deliver immediate and powerful response, plus impressive fuel efficiency.
2018 HONDA CLARITY
Honda’s 2018 Clarity features an appealing design with a luxuriously-appointed and spacious interior. It’s distinguished as the only model offering electric, plug-in hybrid, or hydrogen fuel cell power. While electrical energy is delivered in different ways by each of these advanced vehicles, all are driven by an electric motor. The Clarity Plug-in Hybrid earns an EPA rated 47 miles of battery electric range and a total driving range of 340 miles.
2018 HYUNDAI IONIQ
The 2018 Ioniq comes in three variations including electric, hybrid, and plug-in hybrid choices, each with its own unique styling cues and character. The Ioniq Electric delivers an EPA rated 124 miles of battery electric driving range and 136 combined MPGe fuel efficiency. The Ioniq Hybrid achieves an industry-leading 59 highway mpg, while the Ioniq Plug-In drives 27 miles on battery power and features a total driving range of 654 miles.
2018 NISSAN LEAF
Nissan’s all-new generation LEAF comes to showrooms with new styling, substantially greater driving range, and a full suite of Nissan Intelligent Mobility technologies. This all-electric model is sportier with excellent aerodynamics. Its 150-mile battery electric range makes it a formidable competitor in the ever-expanding electric vehicle market, an important consideration for a model that’s been the best-selling affordable electric worldwide since its 2010 debut.
2018 TOYOTA CAMRY
Toyota’s eighth generation Camry sedan has emerged a sportier and more dynamic version of its former self, featuring edgier styling and a fun-to-drive character while also delivering welcome efficiency with three new powertrains – a 2.5-liter 4-cylinder, 3.5-liter V-6, and a Hybrid powered by the automaker’s next-generation Toyota Hybrid System. The Camry Hybrid approaches the combined fuel efficiency of Toyota’s Prius by delivering up to 53 highway mpg.
The Green Car of the Year® is selected through a majority vote by an esteemed jury that includes celebrity auto enthusiast Jay Leno, as well as leaders of noted environmental and efficiency organizations including Jean-Michel Cousteau, President of Ocean Futures Society; Matt Petersen, President and CEO of Los Angeles Cleantech Incubator and Board Member of Global Green USA; Dr. Alan Lloyd, President Emeritus of the International Council on Clean Transportation; Mindy Lubber, President of CERES; and Kateri Callahan, President of the Alliance to Save Energy. Green Car Journal editors round out the jury.
During the award’s vetting process, Green Car Journal considers all vehicles, fuels and technologies as an expansive field of potential candidates is narrowed down to a final five. Finalists are selected for their achievements in raising the bar in environmental performance. Many factors are considered including efficiency, performance characteristics, ‘newness,’ affordability and overall environmental achievement. Availability to the mass market is important to ensure honored models have the potential to make a real difference in environmental impact. Green Car of the Year® finalists must be available for testing and offered for sale by January of the award year.
AutoMobility LA will take place November 27-30 at the Los Angeles Convention Center. For additional information on AutoMobility LA or to register for the show, please visit: AutoMobilityLA.com.
About Green Car of the Year®
Since 1992, Green Car Journal has been recognized as the leading authority on the intersection of automobiles, energy, and the environment. The GCOY award is an important part of Green Car Journal’s mission to showcase environmental progress in the auto industry. GreenCarJournal.com presents ‘green car’ articles online along with a focus on connectivity. Green Car of the Year® is a registered trademark of Green Car Journal and RJ Cogan Specialty Publications Group, Inc.
Hashtag: #GreenCarJournal
About the Los Angeles Auto Show and AutoMobility LA
Founded in 1907, the Los Angeles Auto Show (LA Auto Show®) is the first major North American auto show of the season each year. In 2016, the show’s Press & Trade Days merged with the Connected Car Expo (CCE) to become AutoMobility LATM, the industry’s first trade show converging the technology and automotive industries to launch new products and technologies and to discuss the most pressing issues surrounding the future of transportation and mobility. AutoMobility LA 2017 will take place at the Los Angeles Convention Center Nov. 27-30, with manufacturer vehicle debuts intermixed. LA Auto Show 2017 will be open to the public Dec. 1-10. AutoMobility LA is where the new auto industry gets business done, unveils groundbreaking new products and makes strategic announcements in front of media and industry professionals from around the globe. LA Auto Show is endorsed by the Greater L.A. New Car Dealer Association and is operated by ANSA Productions. To receive the latest show news and information, follow LA Auto Show on Twitter at twitter.com/LAAutoShow, via Facebook at facebook.com/LAAutoShow or on Instagram at https://www.instagram.com/
