Hybrid, Plug-in and High MPG Gasoline Vehicles Vie for 2013 Green Car of the Year Honor

- Winner to be Revealed at LA Auto Show Press Conference on November 29

LOS ANGELES, Oct. 25, 2012 /PRNewswire/ -- Five exceptional vehicles have been named finalists for Green Car Journal's 2013 Green Car of the Year®.  For the eighth consecutive year, the Green Car of the Year will recognize and honor environmental leadership in the automotive field.  The winner will be announced at a press conference during the LA Auto Show Press Days on Nov. 29.  This year's finalists include the Dodge Dart Aero, Ford C-MAX, Ford Fusion, Mazda CX-5 SkyACTIV and the Toyota Prius c. 

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"This is a very exciting time for the Green Car of the Year program," said Ron Cogan, editor and publisher of the Green Car Journal and president of the Green Car Institute. "For two decades now, Green Car Journal has documented the 'greening' of the auto industry, from a time of mere concepts and demonstration programs to today, when the sheer number of environmentally positive production vehicles available to consumers is just eye-opening."

Cogan points out that the shift toward 'green' vehicles is great for new car buyers who want to drive cleaner and more efficiently, while still experiencing the joy of driving. "What's tougher these days is narrowing down the universe of great candidates to a field of five nominees, as we have today," said Cogan.

This 'greenest' field-of-five – representing not only the five finalists for the 2013 Green Car of the Year award but also Green Car Journal's distinguished 'Top 5 Green Cars for 2013' – underscores the evolving auto industry's increasing focus on efficiencies and tailpipe/CO2 emissions. The high mpg Dodge Dart Aero and Mazda CX-5 SkyACTIV show that conventionally-powered, internal combustion vehicles can indeed compete with the efficiencies of hybrids. Toyota's Prius c continues this automaker's tradition of offering all-new, high mpg hybrid models under the Prius name. The Ford C-MAX and Fusion illustrate how mainstream models can present drivers multiple high-efficiency choices – with the C-MAX offering both hybrid and plug-in hybrid iterations, and the Fusion offering these power options, plus fuel-efficient EcoBoost variants. Importantly, all are affordable mass-market products that provide drivers full functionality and mainstream appeal, paving the way for making a difference in fuel use and overall emissions in daily driving.   

The winner will be selected by an esteemed jury comprised of the nation's top environmental leaders, including Sierra Club executive director Michael Brune, Ocean Futures Society president Jean-Michel Cousteau, and Global Green USA president Matt Petersen, plus Tonight Show host and auto enthusiast Jay Leno and Green Car Journal staff.

About the Los Angeles Auto Show
As the first major North American auto show of the season, the 2012 LA Auto Show will host some of the industry's most important new vehicle debuts and set the tone for the rest of the year. The dates are Nov. 28 and 29 for press and Nov. 30 – Dec. 9 for the public. Media must register online by Nov. 9 to receive credentials in the mail. Following Press Days, the show becomes one of the best attended public auto shows in the world. To receive the latest show news and information, follow the LA Auto Show on Twitter at twitter.com/LAAutoShow, visit the Facebook page at facebook.com/LosAngelesAutoShow and sign up for alerts at LAAutoShow.com.

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, first with an industry newsletter and then with an award-winning auto enthusiast magazine. Today, the magazine is considered the premier source of information on high fuel efficiency, low emission, advanced technology, and alternative fuel vehicles. The nonprofit Green Car Institute pursues a tangential mission of research and education to promote cleaner and more efficient transportation. Green Car of the Year® is a registered trademark of Green Car Journal and RJ Cogan Specialty Publications Group, Inc.