Hybrid Car Review

It's strange to think about, but a hybrid may win the 2008 North American Truck of the Year award. The Chevy Tahoe Hybrid has been nominated along with the Buick Enclave and Mazda CX-9.

Winning truck of the year would certainly be more meaningful than the 2008 Green Car of the Year. An international (US and Canada) group of automotive journalists voted to place the Tahoe Hybrid on the final list.

To be eligible, the cars and trucks must be "all new" or "substantially changed" from the previous model. To win, the vehicle must be "designed to recognize the most outstanding vehicles of the year based on factors that include innovation, design, safety, handling, driver satisfaction and value for the dollar." The Tahoe Hybrid may have a really good shot on that basis.

Previous winners include the Ford Escape Hybrid (2005) and the Toyota Prius (2004), which was also nominated in 2001. It lost out to the PT Cruiser, which I bet the organizers are kind of embarrassed about by now.


Press Release Follows:

    DETROIT, Dec. 12 /PRNewswire/ -- General Motors has four of the six
finalists for the North American Car of the Year and the North American
Truck of the Year, it was announced today.

  An international group of automotive journalists voted the Cadillac
CTS, the Chevrolet Malibu and the Honda Accord finalists for the 2008 North
American Car of the Year.

  The Buick Enclave, the Mazda CX-9 and Chevrolet Tahoe Hybrid are
finalists for the 2008 North American Truck of the Year.

  The awards are unique in the United States because -- instead of being
given by a single publication, radio or television station -- they are
given by 46 automotive journalists from the United States and Canada.

  The jurors represent outlets such as the MSN Autos, the Toronto Star,
Car and Driver magazine, AutoWeek, The Chicago Tribune, MotorWeek, USA
Today, Autoline Detroit, Edmunds.com, Road & Track magazine, the San Jose
Mercury News, Consumer Guide, the Boston Globe, Automotive News and
Fortune.

  The awards are designed to recognize the most outstanding vehicles of
the year based on factors that include innovation, design, safety,
handling, driver satisfaction and value for the dollar.

  To be eligible, vehicles must be "all new" or "substantially changed"
from the previous model.

  Michelle Collins, Vice Chairman Automotive at Deloitte & Touche, was
responsible for counting the ballots, which jurors sent directly to the
accounting firm.

  The finalists were announced today at a news conference during a
luncheon held by the Detroit Economic Club and the North American
International Auto Show.

  Now the jurors begin a second round of voting. No later than January
2nd jurors must vote on the three car and three truck finalists.

  As with the first round of voting those ballots go directly to Ms.
Collins at Deloitte.

  Ms. Collins will be the only person who knows the winners, which will
be announced January 13th at the North American International Auto Show.

  Although the winners are disclosed at a news conference at the North
American International Auto Show the show does not give the awards.

  Last year the North American Car of the Year was the Saturn Aura and
the North American Truck of the Year was the Chevrolet Silverado.

  While more than 50 new vehicles were eligible jurors finally voted on
15 cars and 13 trucks.


  Here are the vehicles on which the jurors voted:

  2008 North American Car of the Year nominees

  Audi TT
  Audi A5/S5
  Cadillac CTS
  Chevrolet Malibu
  Chrysler Town & Country
  Dodge Grand Caravan
  Honda Accord
  Infiniti G37
  Infiniti EX35
  Mercedes-Benz C-Class
  Nissan Altima Coupe
  Scion xB
  Smart ForTwo
  Subaru Impreza/WRX
  Volvo C30

  2008 North American Truck of the Year nominees

  Buick Enclave
  Chevrolet Tahoe Hybrid
  Hyundai Veracruz
  Jeep Liberty
  Jeep Patriot
  Kia Rondo
  Land Rover LR2
  Mazda CX-9
  Nissan Rogue
  Saturn Vue
  Toyota Highlander/Hybrid
  Toyota Tundra
  Volvo XC70
  More information on the awards -- including previous finalists and
winners -- is available at: http://www.northamericancaroftheyear.org.