World Car of the Year? Duhhh?

[niky]

http://www.thecarconnection.com/blog/?p=832

World Car of the Year Finalists Announced

Which car will be the World Car of the Year? Even here at TheCarConnection.com, we’re unsure — but the picture became a little clearer today with the announcement of the ten finalists for the competition, as well as the finalists for World Performance and World Green Car. The winners of the awards — which are selected by a panel of 47 auto journalists from around the world — will be announced on March 20, 2008, at the New York auto show.

Now for the finalists:

World Car of the Year

Audi A5 Coupe / Audi S5 Coupe
Audi R8
Cadillac CTS
Ford Mondeo
Ford S-Max
Mazda2 / Mazda Demio
Mercedes-Benz C-Class
Nissan Qashqai/Dualis
Nissan Skyline Coupe/Infiniti G37 Coupe
Volvo C30

The finalists for World Performance Car:

AMG Mercedes-Benz S 63
Aston Martin V8 Vantage Roadster
Audi R8
Audi S5 Coupe
BMW M3
Honda Civic R (Japanese & European spec)
Maserati GranTurismo
Mercedes-Benz CLK63 AMG Black Series
Renault Clio F1 Team R27
Mercedes-Benz CL 63

And the ten finalists for World Green Car:

BMW 118d with Efficient Dynamics
Chevrolet Equinox Fuel Cell Electric
Chevrolet Tahoe/GMC Yukon Hybrids
Chevrolet Malibu Hybrid
Lexus LS 600h L
Nissan Altima Hybrid
Saturn Aura Green Line
Saturn Vue Green Line
SmartForTwo cdi
Volkswagen Passat 1.9 TDI BlueMotion

A final round of voting will determine the winners prior to the New York auto show, which has its press days on March 19 and 20.

I can think of maybe... uhhm... a few dozen cars more economical and "greener" than half that "green car" list. Isn't hybrid marketing great? Maybe they should name this "World Hybrid Car" list, because some of those things are too mean to be green.

 

[Philly]

I wouldn't consider the S63 to be a performance car...

And, again, the Yukon Hybrid is not a green car. A battery pack does not automatically make a car green.

 

[Omnis]

Not to mention 1 gallon of corn ethanol takes more than 1 gallon of gasoline to produce.

 

[Philly]

Not to mention 1 gallon of corn ethanol takes more than 1 gallon of gasoline to produce.

None of those cars were designed to run on Ethanol.

 

[YSSMAN]

And, again, the Yukon Hybrid is not a green car. A battery pack does not automatically make a car green.

You're yelling at the wrong GM hybrids. The Two-Mode system found in the Tahoe and Yukon is more complex (and arguably more efficent) than the Hybrid Synergy Drive system found in your given Toyota or Lexus.

...Its the Malibu "hybrid" and Aura "hybrid" that worry me. Thats just an on/off switch for the engine that comes with a battery pack...

For non-GM types: Anything without the Two-Mode Hybrid badge is a LIE. Even as a GM guy, I will openly admit that they are some of the worst marketing jobs ever done on a new car. Thank the lord above that people have realized it...

====

Per the other nominees?

World Car
It comes down to the CTS and the Mondeo for me. I can't think of any other cars that are any better at being absolutely awesome at almost everything. A damn shame that we don't have the Mondeo here...

Sports Car
I think this is the R8's award to lose. I don't know how it won't win, other than being a bit expensive of course. I think only the M3 could upset this win, this is something that has been building for Audi for a while now.

Green Car
My guess is as good as yours. I'd love to piss off the world and have the Tahoe/Yukon Two-Mode SUVs get the nomination, but with diesel power clearly leading the way in terms of cost-savings and overall efficiency, I see no reason why a car like the BlueMotion Passat couldn't win...

 

[Jim Prower]

Lexus LS600hL

Green?

HAH. You listen to too much marketing hype.

 

[SagarisGTB]

You're yelling at the wrong GM hybrids. The Two-Mode system found in the Tahoe and Yukon is more complex (and arguably more efficent) than the Hybrid Synergy Drive system found in your given Toyota or Lexus.

Youre missing the point. The car is still huge and has a V8. Thats not green.

 

[Car-less]

World Car
It comes down to the CTS and the Mondeo for me.

Sports Car
I think this is the R8's award to lose.
I think only the M3 could upset this win,

Green Car
My guess is as good as yours.

World Car - agreed. I'm leaning more towards the Mondeo, but only beacause the CTS is almost unknown over here.

World Sports Car - Absolutely.

World Green Car - Are those GM vehicles even known of outside the USA? Hardly Worldly are they? The others hardly shout green either. This whole category is a bunch of marketing and PR - nothing environmental about it at all.

 

[YSSMAN]

Youre missing the point. The car is still huge and has a V8. Thats not green.

Since when could a Prius carry six kids and tow a boat? I think you're missing the point of the concept as well; These trucks are meant to show that highly capable vehicles can if fact be just as "green" as everyone else if the need be. Simply put, the 20 MPG in the city is just plain awesome for a vehicle thats nearing three tons.

Is it the best solution for trucks like this? No, not hardly. But considering that its a 5-10 MPG improvement over standard versions of the same vehicle, its a large step forward...

Thing is, I suspect that when the 4.5L diesel versions show up at the end of this year, they'll blow them out of the water in combined fuel economy...

 

[SagarisGTB]

I understand that GM has no control over this, but not many Yukon owners drive around towing boats. Most I see are used as commuters, usually without a single passenger, and that includes my own parents! My mother uses her boat... i mean yukon, as a commuter. It has never towed anything. They do make use of the size, it is great for their skis and camping trips, but the fact remains that it is mostly used as a city car. Even the new hybrid at 20 mpg isnt a very "green" city car. Its completely flawed reasoning, so you have to think outside the box, but the fact remains that most cars are used like this and that there are much greener alternatives. Its the unfortunate truth.

 

[niky]

The Tahoe has actually won one green contest already. I'll have to concede that the judges had a point... if the market needs a vehicle this big and capable, it's good to give them a choice that has all the capabilities of a full-sized SUV, with the addition of a sophisticated hybrid system that provides great fuel economy. And it does advance the state of the art, where others don't actually do much.

But personally, I still don't like it... there is probably much more to be had out of that vehicle... maybe if it were diesel, used a smaller engine and/or used bigger electric traction motors to help do the towing. Oh well... we'll see come Detroit.

 

[YSSMAN]

The diesel option is coming, and those electric motors will help with the towing if it is under a full-charge. No, its not the perfect hybrid out there, but it certainly is a leap forward to people who "need" the capability of an SUV, but want far-less guilt.

Would I get one?

No, I'd wait for the diesel model. But thats just me...

 

[Philly]

Since when could a Prius carry six kids and tow a boat?

If you are towing a boat, being green is the least of your concerns. "Green" people are the ones who use their car just as city transport and try to avoid using as much fuel as possible. You are a motorhead if you own a boat, two jet skis, four motorcycles, three snowmobiles, a 40 foot boat and a full size SUV to top it off. Motorheads are almost always the opposite of green. Got six kids? Sorry, bro. Get a minivan.

I think you're missing the point of the concept as well; These trucks are meant to show that highly capable vehicles can if fact be just as "green" as everyone else if the need be.

When was 20 MPG "just as green as everyone else?" It seems that 30 MPG is the newest standard in the industry. You can't say that something that is below the standard is on par with everybody that is above it. That's like saying your Jetta is just as green as a Prius.

Simply put, the 20 MPG in the city is just plain awesome for a vehicle thats nearing three tons.

True. Just don't glorify it as the car that will "save Mother Earth."

Is it the best solution for trucks like this? No, not hardly. But considering that its a 5-10 MPG improvement over standard versions of the same vehicle, its a large step forward...

It's a large step forward. But they are still many, many steps behind. If somebody starts at the back of a race and manages to get in the top few drivers, you don't give them the win for a job well done or "A for effort." And there are other hybrids that can get 5-10 MPG over their normal counterparts. What makes this one so much more special?

Thing is, I suspect that when the 4.5L diesel versions show up at the end of this year, they'll blow them out of the water in combined fuel economy...

I'm going to have to partially agree on this one. I don't think anybody will be blowing anybody else out of the water, but yes, the diesel version will be interesting to watch.

 

[YSSMAN]

Well, lets look at it this way: Neither Toyota or Honda offer hybrid versions of their full-size SUVs. Even then, GM already pretty much has Nissan and Toyota beat when it comes to capability compared with fuel economy. That fancy 5.7L iFORCE V8 won't swing it against the 6.0L L76 that GM offers.

No, its not the best solution, but that doesn't mean that they shouldn't have done it. GM knows its not the answer, but I'm pretty sure that as $4 a gallon gasoline creeps around, those who are in need of an SUV may make the educated decision and spend the extra money on one of these... And I don't think there is anything wrong with that.

 

[Philly]

This is true. In the SUV market, GM could be said to be leading the way or whatever with the Yukon hybrid. You can compare those all day and I would be fine with it. It's just putting a member of the brownest segment above every member of the greenest segments that I have issues with.

Opting for this SUV over another "regular" version certainly isn't bad. You could argue that nobody at all needs them and that they are useless, but that would probably be like arguing the same point about sports cars here.

 

[BayConRong]

I vote for the Tesla Roadster or the Electrum Spyder...

 

[SlipZtrEm]

Reading all the stuff about BMW's Efficient Dynamics, I'd swing that way. It's awesome how a few little tweaks can really improve their models, and while it wasn't mentioned, the diesel Mini matches the Prius' CO2 output and beats it's mpg. I find it odd the Altima hybrid gets a nod when Nissan purchased the car's hybrid drivetrain directly from Toyota... and where's the Camry?

Anyways, the 118d is really quite impressive in my mind, considering you'd still get a car you would actually enjoy caning on a back road. My non-hybrid vote, if I could add a car in there, would be the Mazda 2 for taking the road less travelled.

 

[McLaren]

Well, lets look at it this way: Neither Toyota or Honda offer hybrid versions of their full-size SUVs. Even then, GM already pretty much has Nissan and Toyota beat when it comes to capability compared with fuel economy. That fancy 5.7L iFORCE V8 won't swing it against the 6.0L L76 that GM offers.

That may be true, but where Toyota isn't offering a 20Mpg Sequoia, they are offering a 26MPG Highlander which is just as nice, and nearly as big except for being almost a foot shorter which is fine because the last thing the US needs is long SUVs that can't fit in parking spaces.