Car of the Year Award 2011: Goes Green, Red, White and Blue

General Motors and other US car manufacturer's have "come a long way baby" to reach this award. General Motors went through a bankruptcy restructuring in 2009, and received government assistance, which Tom Stephens, Vice Chairman of Product Development credits as a help to GM in an effort to "produce the best cars with innovative technology." "When we announced this several car years ago at this show, there was a lot of skepticism among all the press," Stephens said. "And to be here today ... and have the honor of being named North American Car of the year, I think says it all."

The North American Car and Truck of the Year awards are not the only ones impressed with this new "electric" vehicle. It has also been named Motor Trend Car of the Year, Automobile Magazine's Car of the Year and the Free Press Car of the Year.

The Chevy Volt has been talked about a lot over the four years while car critics and consumers anxiously awaited the "final product;" which is neither a hybrid nor an electric, but called by GM an "extended range electric vehicle." Hopefully there won't be a lot of disappointment once they are rolled out off the assembly line. The Chevy Volt has a starting price of approximately $41,000 before a $7,500 federal tax credit. But what has been most impressive about this car of the year is that the Volt can travel between 25-50 miles on an electric charge before a gasoline-powered generator switches on to produce more electricity.

This car also has several other environmentally friendly features including design aerodynamics that maximize the distance per charge and miles per gallon of fuel; an energy-efficient Bose Sound System and Goodyear Assurance Fuel Max tires.

Chevrolet reports that approximately 326 Volts have been sold since it was introduced to the public last December.

The Chevrolet Volt, Hyundai Sonata and the Nissan Leaf were not the only "green" cars in Detroit for this event, but several new small cars, electric cars and hybrids were also introduced and consumers should expect to see more the Nissan Leaf (approximately 32,000), Tesla Roadster (approximately $100,000) and Toyota RAV4 EV (approximately $60,000) as well as a new Prius Wagon, a small Ford minivan and a Volkswagen sedan.

Not everyone is impressed with the "environmental friendliness" of the Volt; mentioning the 10 hour long electric charge as well as the falling back on gas power after about 25-50 miles of battery use. Once used a turbocharged 1.0-liter 3-cylinder gasoline engine is used, to supply electrical current directly to the batteries and motor to provide more than 200 extra miles in range. They also question the amount of fossil fuel that will be used to charge electric vehicles and the costs of the Volt which is higher than the Nissan Leaf, as well as some other hybrid cars.

For some this may get you back and forth to work on electric power only, so we can only hope that the Volt can do long distance driving on electric power, long before there are as many charging stations as there are gas stations. Wouldn't it be nice to see a charging station at your place of work, mall or grocery store?

But at least it doesn't get the gas mileage of the Ford Explorer 2011 The Explorer may be the "head of its class for fuel economy" but at 25 miles per gallon on the highway and 17 miles per gallon in the city, that doesn't say a whole lot for the other SUV and trucks on the road.

It may be awhile before consumers are able to be shocked by the "greenness" of this car, as it is not yet available in many markets. Reports indicate that the Volt is available in California, New York, New Jersey, Connecticut, Michigan, Washington DC and Texas. Research in my area of Houston showed that Chevrolet dealerships are hopefully to have the Volt on their lots starting in February 2011. I know I look forward to taking it for a test drive, but let's hope that I don't end up driving off the lot with it for "keeps" as I did my Honda Insight Hybrid.

Could this mean a new trend for car buying? Not only are manufacturers providing more environmentally friendly choices in power, design and other features, but US manufacturers took the highest marks in many categories. Could we possibly be going green, red, white and blue?

Sources:
Interview with Westside Chevrolet

US News and World Report

Chevrolet.com

The Christian Science Monitor