Los Angeles, California – For 2010, the Golden State's largest auto show once again starred a host of new environmentally-friendly vehicles. The industry is putting so much emphasis on alternative energies and sustainable mobility that the L.A. event served as a launching pad for a wide array of hybrids and all-electric cars.
The
Chevrolet Volt added yet another award under its belt, this time earning the 2011 Green Car of the Year trophy. The six juries from Green Car Journal chose the Volt over the Ford Fiesta,
Hyundai Sonata Hybrid, Lincoln MKZ Hybrid and
Nissan LEAF.
The show organizers were also proud that no less than 50 hybrids and EVs currently or soon to be released on the market were on display, either for the first or second time, including some that were available for short test drives.
I now present you my Top 5 green cars from the 2010 Los Angeles Auto Show:
1) Chevrolet Volt — Talk about being quiet and making noise at the same time! The electric Volt represents a radical shift in the way General Motors and North American car buyers are thinking. In fact, the projected success of the world's first mass-produced electric car with a range-extending onboard engine will show just how much people are now looking at the automobile in a different way.
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| Photo : UnitedPictures |
2) Honda Fit EV – Visually similar to the regular Fit, the new Honda Fit EV will soon become an interesting solution for commuters. With a range of 160 kilometres, this small electric car will make distances an afterthought – at least within city limits. What's more, owners will benefit from the same outstanding interior flexibility that has made the Japanese subcompact so popular.
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| Photo: Luc Gagné/Auto123.com |
3) Toyota RAV4 EV – It made perfect sense for Toyota to unveil the second-generation RAV4 EV in the City of Angels. After all, the automaker did conduct fleet testing in California in the early 2000s and even sold 328 units to enthusiastic Earth lovers. Once believed by some to be headed nowhere, the RAV4 EV is making quite a return with the help of Tesla Motors. This distinctively-styled green variant of the world-renowned compact SUV should find many more takers this time around – and not just on the West Coast.
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| Photo : Newspress |
4) Mitsubishi i-MiEV – The i-MiEV is coming to our shores. However, in order to satisfy North American consumers, the Japanese brand literally went the obesity route. Compared with the Asian and European models, our ''little'' i-MiEV boasts wider tracks and beefier lower cladding around the front and rear fascias. The interior has also been revised and displays a much more upscale look. Overall, though, it still resembles a 5-door smart fortwo. The available range is approximately 160 kilometres.
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| Photo : Mitsubishi |
5) Coda Sedan – Is canary yellow the new green? California-based Coda seems to think so. ''We wanted to stand out from other EVs at the show,'' confessed one of their spokesmen, smiling. The Coda Sedan is one of many products recently developed by American entrepreneurs who want to take advantage of the electric car Eldorado by combining local and foreign technologies. The unibody construction is the work of Chinese manufacturer Hafei, while the electric powertrain offering a range of 160 kilometres has been engineered in-house by Coda. Sales will begin in California and Hawaii, but Canada isn't part of their plans, at least for the time being.
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| Photo: Luc Gagné/Auto123.com |
