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LOS
ANGELES – Green
Car Journal has identified its five finalists for the magazine's
high-profile 2014 Green Car of the Year® program. The five
2014 models include the Audi A6 TDI, BMW 328d, Honda Accord, Mazda3,
and Toyota Corolla. These five finalists are also honored as Green
Car Journal's "Top 5 Green Cars for 2014" and earn
the magazine's "Green Car Product of Excellence" honors.
An increasing
number of vehicle models are considered for the Green Car of the
Year® program each year, 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, since its inaugural award announced
at the show in 2005.
"The
diversity of this field of finalists illustrates not only that
'green' has gone mainstream, but also that there is no single
approach to achieving ever higher levels of fuel efficiency and
environmental performance," says Ron Cogan, editor and publisher
of Green Car Journal and CarsOfChange.com. "There's
something for everyone in this year's field of finalists, including
clean diesel, high efficiency gasoline, and hybrid/plug-in hybrid
power featured in mainstream, sporty, and executive models."
Finalists
are selected for their achievements in raising the bar in environmental
performance. Availability to the mass market is a factor to ensure
honored models have the potential to make a real difference in
environmental impact, and finalists must be available for sale
by January 1st of the award year.
Green
Car of the Year® jurors include auto enthusiast and Tonight
Show host Jay Leno, plus leaders of the nation's major environmental
organizations including Jean-Michel Cousteau, president of Ocean
Futures Society; Frances Beinecke, president of the Natural Resources
Defense Council; Michael Brune, executive director of the Sierra
Club; and Matt Petersen, board member of Global Green USA. Green
Car Journal editors round out the 2014 Green Car of the Year®
jury.
The
Finalists
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credit: CarsofChange.com |
Audi
A6 TDI
Audi's
2014 A6 TDI blends excellent "green" credentials with
unexpected levels of performance in a high efficiency vehicle.
Its 3.0-liter, 6-cylinder TDI clean diesel engine with tiptronic
transmission and quattro all-wheel drive provides 240 horsepower
and 428 lb-ft torque, achieving 0-60 mph in just 5.5 seconds.
A start-stop system aids efficiency, as does a lightweight body
that makes extensive use of aluminum body panels. This sedan features
an EPA estimated 38 highway mpg that enables over 700 miles of
highway driving range.
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credit: CarsofChange.com |
BMW
328d
Featuring
the first 4-cylinder BMW diesel engine in the U.S., the new 328d
combines exceptionally high fuel efficiency with the performance
expected of BMW models. EPA estimated 45 mpg highway fuel economy
is achieved with this sedan's 2.0-liter TwinPower clean diesel
powerplant, which produces 180 horsepower and 280 lb-ft torque.
Efficiency is enhanced with engine auto start-stop and brake energy
regeneration. A 328d Sports Wagon is also available. The models
are offered in rear wheel drive or with BMW's xDrive all-wheel
drive system.
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credit: CarsofChange.com |
Honda
Accord
Honda's
popular Accord sedan aims to lead in the efficiency space with
an array of efficient powerplant choices including four-cylinder,
V-6, hybrid, and plug-in hybrid versions. Even the V-6, the largest
engine option, nets 34 highway mpg with the four-cylinder rated
at up to 36 highway mpg. The bar raises considerably with the
Accord Hybrid at 50 city and 47 highway mpg, and the Accord Plug-In
with its 47 city and 46 highway mpg on hybrid power. The Plug-In
also offers an EPA rating of 115 MPGe, the highest of any mid-size
hybrid sedan in the country.
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credit: CarsofChange.com |
Mazda3
The
all-new third generation Mazda3, this automaker's best-selling
model worldwide, is lighter, more efficient, and packed with advanced
electronics. The 2014 Mazda3 features an appealing new design
and has been built from the ground-up with Mazda's award-winning
SKYACTIV technology. The 2.0-liter powered Mazda3 four-door sedan
offers best-in-class 41 mpg highway fuel economy, with the five-door
hatch coming in at up to 40 mpg. A more powerful 2.5-liter engine
with an i-ELOOP capacitor-based regenerative engine braking system
gets 38 mpg.
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credit: CarsofChange.com |
Toyota
Corolla
The
Toyota Corolla has long been a best-seller due to its blend of
efficiency and affordability. With the all-new 2014 Corolla, Toyota
adds visual excitement, improved driving dynamics, and even greater
efficiency to its popular compact sedan, achieving up to 42 highway
mpg delivered by the model's Eco version. This level of efficiency
is achieved with a 1.8-liter, 140 horsepower engine featuring
the first use of Toyota's Valvematic technology in this country.
A driver selectable ECO function moderates acceleration and optimizes
on-board systems to enhance mpg.
About
Green Car of the Year®
The GCOY
award is an important part of Green Car Journal's mission
to showcase environmental progress in the auto industry. Since
1992, Green Car Journal has focused on the intersection
of automobiles, energy, and environment. Today, the magazine is
considered the premier source of information on high fuel efficiency,
low emission, advanced technology, and alternative fuel vehicles.
CarsOfChange.com presents 'green car' articles online along with
a focus on infotainment and connectivity. Green Car of the Year®
is a registered trademark of Green Car Journal and RJ
Cogan Specialty Publications Group, Inc.
About
the Los Angeles Auto Show and Connected Car Expo
Founded
in 1907, the Los Angeles Auto Show is the first major North American
auto show of the season each year. Press Days for the 2013 LA
Auto Show® will be held on Nov. 20 and 21. The show will be
open to the public Nov. 22 - Dec. 1. The Connected Car Expo (CCE)
will be the first expo to unite automotive and technology professionals
in an effort to increase development and foster relationship-building
in the connected car industry, providing attendees with access
to the key players and top media constructing the future of the
connected car. CCE will debut on Nov. 19, and continue in conjunction
with the 2013 LA Auto Show Press Days. The 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
or via Facebook at facebook.com/LosAngelesAutoShow
and sign up for alerts at www.LAAutoShow.com.
For more information on CCE please visit http://connectedcarexpo.com/
