It?s no secret that car manufacturers are focusing most of their efforts on smaller vehicles. While SUV?s saw a huge jump in popularity in the ?90s and early 2000?s, concerns about the environment and rising fuel costs have seen that trend far in the other direction. Savvy car brands are listening to their customers, and what they want is efficiency. It?s better for the earth and better for the wallet. While Toyota?s Prius has led the way in the hybrid market for quite some time, U.S. auto manufacturers are beginning to make some serious inroads, based primarily on the quality of their offerings. The Chevy Volt has found a strong fanbase in the niche electric market, but it is Ford?s Fusion that may have the largest chance at long-term success. Ford showed just how seriously they are taking that challenge with a strong appearance at the Los Angeles Auto Show, and the jury rewarded their efforts, naming the midsize Fusion sedan their ?Green Car of the Year? for 2013.
The Ford Motor Company has made it clear they are aiming for increased fuel efficiency, while simultaneously trying to entice a large fanbase with a full gas, a hybrid and a plug-in hybrid electric version of the Fusion sedan. And that overall focus towards sustainability is certainly something to celebrate. But what won them the award, according to representatives from the Green Car Journal that sponsors the ?Green Car of the Year? prize, are the variety of powertrain options.
The Chevy Volt and Honda?s natural gas Civic have both won the award previously, and the hope at the LA Auto Show is that continuing to acknowledge the work of these car companies will help increase the prevalence of hybrid vehicles on the road. As of now, fewer than 3% of all new cars sold in 2012 are hybrids. Obviously that?s not going to make the sort of impact needed to stem mankind?s effect on climate change, or help push off the day the earth is finally bled dry of fossil fuels. Fully electric vehicles aren?t selling as well as industry experts have hoped, even as the price of gasoline hovers around all-time high numbers. The problem is that the batteries required to fuel cars like the Chevy Volt or Nissan Leaf are quite costly, which keeps the sticker price elevated and scares off shoppers worried about having to buy replacements. Traditional gas engines are also becoming more efficient, making the need to go hybrid less obvious than before.
Ford?s Fusion may be the best of both worlds. The gas model gets as much as 34 mpg when driving on the highway. The hybrid Fusion reaches just under 50 mpg. The plug-in model, known as the Ford Fusion Energi, has a hybrid powertrain but can also run 20 miles solely on electric power. That makes it ideal for quick trips around town, while still making it a useful vehicle for highway travel. It?s great news for consumers, and further proof that Ford is serious about fuel economy. In fact, they?ve raised the average economy of their entire fleet of vehicles more than three mpg over the past five years.
The winning vehicle was chosen by a panel of environmental leaders, and the finalists were all vehicles that are currently available for consumers. That?s a nice change as well,. If you?re in the market for a new vehicle and want to find low priced car insurance, you can pick up a hybrid and receive the green discount most agencies provide. So if you?d like to find out more about the nominees, head online and check out the Ford C-Max, the Dodge Dart Aero, the Mazda CX-5 SkyACTIV and the Prius c.
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Source: http://www.oureverydayearth.com/ford-fusion-wins-green-car-of-the-year-award-at-la-auto-show/
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