Gallery: Leaf, Volt Among 'Green Car of the Year' Finalists

  • nissanleaf
    Jonathan Snyder
    01

    nissan-leaf

    For the first time in, well, ever, cars with cords are among the finalists for the "Green Car of the Year." It should come as no surprise that Ron Cogan and the crew at *Green Car Journal* would put the [Nissan Leaf](http://stag-komodo.wired.com/autopia/tag/nissan-leaf/) and [Chevrolet Volt](http://stag-komodo.wired.com/autopia/tag/chevrolet-volt/) on the short list of cars up for the annual award. After all, the award honors the vehicle with the best mix of efficiency, performance and innovation, and these two cars are at the vanguard of the coming Electric Era. Joining them on the list of finalists are the [Hyundai Sonata Hybrid](http://stag-komodo.wired.com/reviews/2010/10/2011_hybrid_sonata/), the [Lincoln MKZ Hybrid](http://stag-komodo.wired.com/autopia/2010/07/lincoln-mkz-hybrid-price-parity/) and the Ford Fiesta. The fact that most of the cars are electrified in some way underscores both the accelerating adoption of hybrid and electric technology by the auto industry and the role such vehicles will play in meeting tightening fuel economy and emissions regulations. "These five 2011 Green Car of the Year finalists reflect an auto industry in transition," Cogan, editor and publisher of *Green Car Journal* and editor of [GreenCar.com](http://www.greencar.com/), said. "It wasn't long ago when electric drive was a novelty. Now, it's expected that auto manufacturers will include electric drive in some form among their model offerings." Although four of the five cars have big batteries and electric motors in some capacity, the inclusion of the [Ford Fiesta](http://stag-komodo.wired.com/autopia/tag/ford-fiesta-world-tour-2010/) underscores the fact that internal combustion will remain the dominant means of propulsion for awhile yet. We've driven all the cars on the list and were impressed by each of them. The judges, which include Jay Leno and Carroll Shelby, along with greenies like Frances Beinecke of the Natural Resources Defense Council, have their work cut out for them. __Above: the 2011 Nissan Leaf__. *Photo: Jon Snyder / Wired.com*
  • chevyvolt1a
    James Merithew
    02

    chevy-volt-1a

    The 2011 Chevrolet Volt. *Photo: Jim Merithew / Wired.com*
  • The New 2011 Lincoln MKZ Hybrid
    Ford
    03

    the-new-2011-lincoln-mkz-hybrid

    The 2011 Lincoln MZK Hybrid. *Photo: Ford*
  • 2011HyundaiSonataHybrid
    04

    2011-hyundai-sonata-hybrid

    The 2011 Hyundai Sonata Hybrid. *Photo: Hyundai*
  • Fiesta World Tour 2010
    Ford
    05

    fiesta-world-tour-2010

    The 2011 Ford Fiesta. *Photo: Ford*
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