Honda Civic Natural Gas Named 2012 Green Car of the Year

LOS ANGELES, November 17, 2011 /PRNewswire/ --

- Winner Announced at Los Angeles Auto Show Press Conference, Nov. 17

Green Car Journal announced the Honda Civic Natural Gas as the highly-anticipated 2012 Green Car of the Year® winner at a press conference Thursday morning during the Los Angeles Auto Show's press days.  The cleanest running internal combustion vehicle certified by the EPA, the all-new 2012 Civic Natural Gas is the fifth generation of this alternative fuel vehicle and the only assembly-line produced natural gas passenger model manufactured for sale in the United States.  It runs on a clean fuel that is almost exclusively domestically sourced and typically priced about 30 percent less than gasoline.

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"There is no other vehicle like the Civic Natural Gas on American highways, and this recognition has been a long time coming for Honda," said Ron Cogan, editor and publisher of Green Car Journal and editor of GreenCar.com.  "The new-generation Civic Natural Gas features greater fuel efficiency, a handsome and roomier new design, and tailpipe emissions levels untouchable by any other internal combustion production vehicle.  After manufacturing this environmentally conscious model for fleets since its introduction in 1998, Honda has now made a major commitment to bring its exceptional, American-built natural gas sedan to everyday buyers, offering an all-new array of popular consumer-oriented features and availability through 200 Honda dealers in 36 states."

Natural gas is a clean-burning, versatile fuel found in abundance in the United States, making the Civic Natural Gas a practical solution for consumers across America, and a well deserving vehicle for the 2012 Green Car of the Year award.  Boasting 38 highway MPGe, the Honda Civic Natural Gas is an Advanced Technology Partial Zero Emissions Vehicle and also features Eco Assist and a selectable ECON feature to further enhance the vehicle's environmental efficiency.  Along with fast-fills in about five minutes at stations offering natural gas, the Civic Natural Gas can be time-filled at home overnight with an available wall-mount refueling appliance from BRC Fuel Maker.  The $26,155 Civic Natural Gas can drive approximately 240 miles on a tankful of compressed natural gas, almost two-and-a-half times the range of a typical all-electric vehicle.

"The Civic Natural Gas is not only a great vehicle, it also demonstrates Honda's commitment to provide a variety of alternatives to gasoline," said Michael Accavitti, vice president of marketing at American Honda Motor Co., Inc. "The Civic Natural Gas and the all-new Fit EV that we introduced yesterday at the Los Angeles Auto Show are the latest additions to a rapidly expanding family of alternative energy Honda vehicles aimed at cutting petroleum use and reducing our carbon footprint."

The Green Car of the Year jury, comprised of six environmental and automotive experts along with Green Car Journal editors, selected the 2012 Honda Civic Natural Gas from a field of five finalists that also included the Ford Focus Electric, Mitsubishi i, Toyota Prius v and Volkswagen Passat TDI.  Green Car of the Year honors are reserved for exemplary vehicles that forward environmental performance in meaningful and quantifiable ways, with all nominees on sale by Jan. 1 of the award year.

This year's jurors include the following leaders of the nation's top environmental organizations: Carl Pope, chairman of the Sierra Club; Frances Beinecke, president of the Natural Resources Defense Council; Jean-Michel Cousteau, president of Ocean Futures Society, and Matt Petersen, president of Global Green USA.  Also, Jay Leno, noted auto enthusiast and host of the "Tonight Show," as well as automotive icon Carroll Shelby join Green Car Journal editors in rounding out the 2012 jury.  Green Car Journal has been unveiling the Green Car of the Year winner at the LA Auto Show every year since it initiated the annual award in 2005.

"This year's Green Car of the Year finalists underscore that there is no single solution to our transportation challenges," said Cogan.  "Virtually every automotive manufacturer is exploring green technology in several forms.  The Honda Civic Natural Gas, is a prime example of an alternative fuel that is viable, efficient and practical, making it  worthy of the 2012 Green Car of the Year award."  

About Green Car of the Year

The GCOY award is an important part of Green Car Journal's mission to showcase environmental progress in the auto industry.  Founded in 1992, Green Car Journal is considered the premier source of information on high fuel efficiency, low emission, advanced technology, and alternative fuel vehicles.  Subscription information, along with a downloadable sample issue, can be found at GCJUSA.com.  Green Car of the Year® is a registered trademark of Green Car Journal and RJ Cogan Specialty Publications Group, Inc.

About the L.A. Auto Show

As the first major North American Auto Show of the season, the 2011 L.A. Auto Show will host approximately 50 World and North American debuts. Press Days, Nov. 16 and 17, will feature more than 25 press conferences from manufacturers around the globe. Join the L.A. Auto Show conversation by following the Show at Twitter.com/LAAutoShow, Facebook.com/LosAngelesAutoShow and sign up for alerts at LAAutoShow.com.