In a closely contested battle featuring more quality options than ever before, the 2013 Nissan Leaf electric vehicle has been awarded the top spot in Kelley Blue Books 10 best green cars list. In a closely contested battle featuring more quality options than ever before, the 2013 Nissan Leaf electric vehicle has been awarded the top spot in Kelley Blue Books 10 best green cars list. 聯This year we had an embarrassment of riches,聰 says Jack Nerad, executive editorial director and executive market analyst for KBB, who was pleased with the departure from sparer competition in years past. 聯We went round and around on which car would be number one. It was a very difficult choice. Narrowly missing the top spot was the 2012 Motor Trend Car of the Year, the Tesla Model S, which was deemed 聯the electric car most likely to gain mainstream success聰 in the future. 7,500 federal tax credit) to take the top prize.
25,790. The fully electric vehicle comes with a range of 75 miles per charge, and its 聯MPGe聰 (miles per gallon equivalent) ratings are 130 city, 102 highway, 116 combined. In third place was the Ford Focus Electric, followed by the Chevrolet Volt, Toyota Prius Plug-In, Ford C-Max Energi, Jetta Hybrid, Honda Fit EV, Toyota Avalon, and Lincoln MKZ. Domestic brands accounted for half of the top 10, while Japan had four winners and Europe one. Ford was the single brand with the most winners with three, followed by Toyota with two. The wealth of available options included in the contest represents a recent commitment made by many automobile manufacturers to design more environmentally friendly vehicles. In past years, Kelley Blue Book was even forced to include higher-mileage gasoline powered vehicles to ensure that a top ten list could be filled. Today, every major brand features multiple vehicles options powered by electricity or other alternative fuel sources. Rising sales numbers are also showing that the increase in availability is wanted by the car buying, and earth conscious, public. Early versions of most hybrid and electric vehicles had severe range and power limitations, but those limitations are starting to deteriorate. Non-gasoline powered vehicles are quickly gaining in capability, able to travel much greater distances and requiring less time to recharge. Rather than being a novelty, these green cars are becoming a worthy alternative for many drivers, and continued development could see them becoming the most logical choice for new car buyers. In the meantime, there are already a number of options available on the road today, chief among them the 2013 Nissan Leaf, Kelley Blue Books Green Car of the Year.
V engine was made especially for the North American market so expect something similar for the Mk. VI (though not necessarily the 5 cylinder). Lastly, Volkswagen has begun switching to DSG instead of offering conventional automatics with the Mk. VI. Except for the base trims, all Mk. VI Golfs will be offered in either a 6-speed manual or a 6 or 7-speed DSG. So when can we expect it? Volkswagen says that launch is in October in Europe. It then launches "in succession" in Africa, Asia, Australia and North America. Take from that what you will but it looks like a North American launch sometime next year. And for those still doubting a US launch, remember this. Higher resolution images after the jump. Volkswagen is unveiling its most important automotive secret of the year: the new Golf. The car - Europe's most successful with more than 26 million sold - was improved in all areas.
Prof. Dr. Martin Winterkorn, Chairman of the Board at Volkswagen AG. The European market launch of the new Golf will begin in October; following in succession will be Africa, Asia, Australia and North America. The entry price for the German market is around 16,500 Euros. The clear and powerful design of the new Golf is showing the entire brand the way to the future. Its acoustic properties and the overall comfort of the Volkswagen tear down class distinctions. Innovative engines and transmission technologies lower fuel consumption by up to 28 percent. All gasoline and diesel engines satisfy limits of the future EU-5 standard. Assistance systems such as "automatic distance control" (ACC), "adaptive chassis control" (DCC) and the "park steering assistant" bring additional top technologies on board the Golf. The high value of the new Golf is reflected par excellence in its stylish design; all key body elements were redesigned: "We have cast the Golf's core components in a precise, new mold", explains Walter de Silva.
