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Announcement of the "Green Car of the Year" winner is one of the major events at the Los Angeles Auto Show. The five finalists for this year's award have been announced.
This year's selection not only includes hybrids, which have been part of the contest since its inception, but for the first time includes electric vehicles, and -- surprisingly -- a gasoline-powered vehicle, as well. The Hyundai Sonata Hybrid and the Lincoln MKZ Hybrid represent the hybrid entries. (Lincoln sibling Mercury Milan Hybrid, which has now been discontinued, was a finalist in last year's contest.)
The Nissan LEAF and the Chevrolet Volt are the first electric vehicles to be named as GCOY finalists. The Volt recently was embroiled in controversy as details of its range-extender engine clashed with previous GM pronouncements. Finally, the Ford Fiesta joins as a finalist due to its 40 mpg highway range. "These five 2011 Green Car of the Year® finalists reflect an auto industry in transition," Ron Cogan, editor and publisher of Green Car Journal and editor of GreenCar.com, said in a statement. "It wasn't long ago when electric drive was a novelty. Now, it's expected that auto manufacturers will include electric drive in some form among their model offerings."
No diesel vehicles made finalist this year.
GCOY judges again include Frances Beinecke, president of the Natural Resources Defense Council; Jean-Michel Cousteau, president of Ocean Futures Society; Matt Petersen, president of Global Green USA; Carl Pope, chairman of the Sierra Club; television host Jay Leno; and automotive icon Carroll Shelby.
Source: LA Auto Show
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