Green
Car Journal, avid news hounds for alternative drivetrains and fuel-efficient vehicles, will announce the winner of its
Green
Car of the Year award at the Los Angeles Auto Show on the second day of press days, January 5th. The judging panel
is very distinguished, too, featuring the likes of Mario Andretti, Carroll Shelby, Jean-Michel Cousteau and the Sierra
Club’s Carl Pope, among others.
The five finalists for the award are the Honda Accord Hybrid, Honda Civic
Hybrid, Lexus RX 400h, Mercury Mariner hybrid, and Toyota Highlander hybrid. The release states that while hybrids are
just one of the technologies the awards program wants to honor, these vehicles were the strongest candidates. In
choosing the finalists and the ultimate winner, the judges sought out “vehicles that advance overall efficiency
and functionality while decreasing environmental impact,” with a preference given to newer
vehicles.