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Mercury
Mariner Hybrid Named 2006 Green Car of the Year
Green Car Journal recently announced the
2006 Mercury Mariner Hybrid as their choice for the Green
Car of the Year, 2006. Mercury Mariner Hybrid is the first
gasoline-electric hybrid vehicle from Lincoln-Mercury division
and the second hybrid model from Ford Motor Company. Ron Cogan,
editor and publisher of Green Car Journal presented the award
at a press conference on 5th January 2006 at the Los Angeles
Auto Show.
According Roland Hwang, vehicles policy director at the Natural
Resources Defense Council, "The hybrid Mariner is
the right idea at the right time. To regain its competitive
edge, Detroit must come to grips with how high pump prices
have put consumers in an entirely new mindset. This vehicle
proves that a determined Detroit can win this race."
Other hybrid cars that were considered are:
• Honda Accord Hybrid,
• Honda Civic Hybrid,
• Lexus RX 400h,
• Toyota Highlander Hybrid
But the Mariner Hybrid was judged more superior
and received a majority vote by a high-profile jury of auto
and environmental leaders. Green Car Journal assessed dozens
of 2006 model year vehicles offering varying levels of improved
environmental performance before narrowing down to the five
finalists.
The team of jurors who voted for Green Car of the Year included
11 members. Four members belonged to Green Car Journal while
other seven were some of the well-established names of the
industries and they are as follows:
• Carroll Shelby
• Mario Andretti
• Carl Pope, Executive Director of the Sierra Club
• Frances Beinecke, President of the Natural Resources
Defense Council
• Jean-Michel Cousteau, President of Ocean Futures
Society
• Kevin Knobloch, President of the Union of Concerned
Scientists
• Paul MacCready, President of the efficiency-focused
firm AeroVironment.
Dan Becker, Director of the Sierra Club's
Global Warming Program stated, "Environmentally clean
cars have reached a milestone this year as experts -- from
race car driver Mario Andretti to Sierra Club executive director
Carl Pope -- recognize the Green Car of the Year with an award.
We have the technology to make cars that are green, clean,
and affordable. These are what automakers should be producing,
not the inefficient vehicles being sold today."
The 2006 Mercury Mariner Hybrid achieves an EPA estimate of
33 mpg fuel economy in the city and 29 mpg on the highway,
which are remarkably high numbers considering it is a full
function, four-wheel drive SUV. In California and other states
that have adopted California's stringent emissions standards,
it achieves AT-PZEV (Advanced Technology Partial Zero Emission
Vehicle) levels, where as in other states which have other
standards it does achieve SULEV (Super Ultra Low Emission
Vehicle). The thing to remember here is that it has an efficient
Duratec 2.3-liter four-cylinder engine and electric motor
feature a combined 155 peak horsepower.
"This award is more than an honor to an individual
model and maker of automobiles," said Jean-Michel
Cousteau. He continued "This is a challenge and an
incentive for all of those in the automotive industry to strive
to design and manufacture vehicles that are more efficient
and tread more lightly on our planet."
His thoughts were agreed upon by Jason Mark, vehicles director
for the Union of Concerned Scientists, who stated: "The
Green Car of the Year award recognizes that the future of
the auto industry is tied to delivering fuel-saving, clean
products. Ultimately, this is the only contest that matters."
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