The Chevrolet Tahoe SUV: America's Green Car Of The Year 2008

[editor]

It would be funny if it wasn't so pathetic:

So let's take a few bets on which vehicle was just named Green Car of the Year 2008 at the Los Angeles Auto Show. The fabulous new Honda FCX Clarity fuel-cell vehicle, whose only emission is water? The 35-mpg, super-clean Mercedes-Benz E340 Bluetec, the first California-compliant diesel in years? The sensible, space-conscious Smart Fortwo? Maybe just the good old Toyota Prius? Or something that guzzles gas at the rate of 21 mpg?
Prepare to slap palm against forehead while experiencing a brand-new hybrid of tearful sadness and nauseous incredulity. Ladeeez and genullmen, the Chevrolet Tahoe hybrid.

Oh, sure, it has a 6.0-liter V-8 engine and can seat as many as eight. It can carry as much as 1,400 pounds of cargo and tow 6,200 pounds. It's 50% more frugal than a standard 5.3-liter V-8-powered Tahoe. But is 50% better than profligate really worth such an accolade?
Who could make this mistake -- sorry, award? Try Green Car Journal, Jay Leno, Carroll Shelby and the executive director of the Sierra Club, among others. To render the sight even more surreal, Arnold Schwarzenegger arrived to check out all the more eco-friendly cars on display. For those who might've looked closely, they could probably see a palm print on the Gov.'s forehead too.
http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/uptospeed/2007/11/green-car-of-th.html

I wonder what they're going to pick next year? A Hummer perhaps?

 

[_pH_]

Are they serious??

 

[Iam]

Does this award incorporate the "Sneak a tank onto the road" ugliness award?

That's a hideous looking vehicle.

 

[likesfish]

there reasoning such as it is (hang with me there Americans )
Was to show people that you could have a greener car than your typical car but not lose anything.
personally think its bollocks tahoe fine if you live 50 miles form the nearest proper road on a ranch most owners of said SUVs don't so why own such a monster.
the g whizz might be greener but its a joke

 

[Oswaldtwistle]

the g whizz might be greener but its a joke

It is, but what about the soon to be launched Fiesta, or the already launched Yaris?

 

[Cobbles]

Be reasonable, apart from the odd sleb who might buy one and then inflict it on their assistant's assistant or their nanny, nobody in the states is going to put up with the embarrassment of driving a Prius.

In that context, if a manufacturer of a popular vehicle that sells in droves manages to reduce its fuel consumption by 50% then they ought to be applauded more so than a toy maker whose products have no potential to reach the general driving population.

 

[likesfish]

how many Americans are actually going to be seen dead in a yaris or fiesta
quite a few when they get crushed by rednecks driving pick up trucks
from 12 to 20 mpg isn't much but considering its the states until recently fuel economy was seen as close to communism a 50% improvement is impressive on something people are actually going to buy

 

[Oswaldtwistle]

Be reasonable, apart from the odd sleb who might buy one and then inflict it on their assistant's assistant or their nanny, nobody in the states is going to put up with the embarrassment of driving a Prius.

I bet millions of the poorest americans who struggle to buy a car (that their lack of PT gives them little choice but to own) would give their right arm for a Prius.

And again, why not the Fiesta or Yaris?

 

[Oswaldtwistle]

how many Americans are actually going to be seen dead in a yaris or fiesta

Well presumably Ford and Toyota aren't launching em there for the good of their health, they are out to make money

Ford are considering launching the Ka in the US as well.

http://blogs.automobilemag.com/6293575/car-news/mulally-says-ford-ka-may-come-to-us/index.html

quite a few when they get crushed by rednecks driving pick up trucks

remember America isn't just Redneck country, it is also New England, the Midwest, the crowded freeways of LA and the jammed streets of New York

 

[T & P]

Be reasonable, apart from the odd sleb who might buy one and then inflict it on their assistant's assistant or their nanny, nobody in the states is going to put up with the embarrassment of driving a Prius.

In that context, if a manufacturer of a popular vehicle that sells in droves manages to reduce its fuel consumption by 50% then they ought to be applauded more so than a toy maker whose products have no potential to reach the general driving population.

The thing is, there is no need to even consider the Prius- they could have gone for loads of 'normal' cars that would still drink about half the fuel that hideous thing guzzles.

 

[g force]

there reasoning such as it is (hang with me there Americans )
Was to show people that you could have a greener car than your typical car but not lose anything.
personally think its bollocks tahoe fine if you live 50 miles form the nearest proper road on a ranch most owners of said SUVs don't so why own such a monster.
the g whizz might be greener but its a joke

I~ agree with this strangely. Yes, to us Europeans this award is a joke but lets be honest no SUV-loving Yank is suddenly going to trade that car for a VW Polo Diesel or even that diesel Merc E class.

However I'd caveat that by saying if GM (or other US car makerS) were really serious they'd make all their SUVs hybrid and do far more R&D into hybrid tech. Hell, just let Honda and Toyota do it then licence the tech off them. The only thing that will change buying habits significantly in the US will be the price of petrol rising.

 

[editor]

In that context, if a manufacturer of a popular vehicle that sells in droves manages to reduce its fuel consumption by 50% then they ought to be applauded more so than a toy maker whose products have no potential to reach the general driving population.

Why should we be applauding a manufacturer who creates such a hideously inefficient and polluting piece of resource-heavy shit? 21mpg is positively criminal in the present climate.

 

[two sheds]

Be reasonable, apart from the odd sleb who might buy one and then inflict it on their assistant's assistant or their nanny, nobody in the states is going to put up with the embarrassment of driving a Prius.

In that context, if a manufacturer of a popular vehicle that sells in droves manages to reduce its fuel consumption by 50% then they ought to be applauded more so than a toy maker whose products have no potential to reach the general driving population.

Yep, fair do's - if you leave out environmental considerations and all other cars it is by far the greenest.

 

[fredfelt]

This 'effort' at a green car is after the US car industry was awarded $25bn in soft loans so they could make 'green' cars - a subsidy worth $7.5bn. If you are looking to achieve carbon reductions I can't see how giving money to car manufactures helps. This story goes towards proving that point.

 

[likesfish]

well two of the judges make clarkson look green shelby makes mustangs ffs in fact top gear mocked them the well known green motorist programme

the sad thing is spams actually think this is a massive step fwd

 

[travellerlife]

The funny thing is GM was a leader in electric / hybrid vehicles, the VOLT electric vehicle was close to production a number of years ago, but it seem it was canned due to some rather odd pressure being applied to GM by the US government. It has been resurrected and will be available from 2010. It certainly will have the jump on other manufacturers, and make hybrids like the pious, oops sorry Prius looks rather outdated. GM could have been a world leader in electric / Hybrid technology as they were 5 years ahead of other manufacturers in terms of R&D for this type of vehicle, before making the idiotic decision to suspend the development.

Such a shame they did not pursue it properly. None the less, the VOLT looks like a genuine contender for a usable electric / semi hybrid ultra low emission vehicle. Unlike the Prius, which is a marketing triumph but average engineering attempt. A small diesel with stop start technology will get better consumption and is infinitely better for the environment over it's entire lifespan.

 

[Cobbles]

Why should we be applauding a manufacturer who creates such a hideously inefficient and polluting piece of resource-heavy shit? 21mpg is positively criminal in the present climate.

Why is is "criminal" - I know of no such Statutory provision?

 

[Lemon Eddy]

Why is is "criminal" - I know of no such Statutory provision?

And using "criminal" in such a way really is such a rare and hardly used figure of speech, isn't it?

 

[Cobbles]

And using "criminal" in such a way really is such a rare and hardly used figure of speech, isn't it?

No, it's just emotive nonsense.

 

[DJWrongspeed]

Who cares about how many mpg it does , simply buying a new car is more environmentally damaging than anything else.

 

[two sheds]

Who cares about how many mpg it does , simply buying a new car is more environmentally damaging than anything else.

Nah, buying them's fine as long as you don't use them.

 

[moose]

tbf, if it carried 8 passengers every time it went out, it'd be quite good.

 

[editor]

Why is is "criminal" - I know of no such Statutory provision?

Are you really this stupid, Cobbles?

Here's a clue for you: figure of speech

 

[editor]

tbf, if it carried 8 passengers every time it went out, it'd be quite good.

As if!
The vast majority of car journey are single occupant.

In 2006, 60 per cent of journeys were single occupancy rising to 85 per cent for both commuting and business car trips according to the Department for Transport (DfT) statistics.
http://www.easier.com/view/News/Motoring/article-211731.html

 

[Cobbles]

As if!
The vast majority of car journey are single occupant.

Exactly - that's what cars are for - point to point travel.

 

[Oswaldtwistle]

Those are UK stats,of course, although I've no reason to assume the US would be any different....

 

[axomoxia]

tbf, if it carried 8 passengers every time it went out, it'd be quite good.

Heh, my old boss bought and enormo landrover, coz you could fit nine people(in it! Less fuel than two priuseseseseses!

 

[editor]

Exactly - that's what cars are for - point to point travel.

Then don't whine and bleat to me when you get caught up in ever growing traffic jams because the road is packed full of individuals 'enjoying' their 'right to pollute the streets and ruin the tranquillity and calm of towns and villages.

 

[Pie 1]

What's criminal, on top of everything else, is the fucking designers these days.
It's all gone horribly wrong.

'Twas a time when at least these arse-mobiles looked like they were actually aesthetically born in the USA.

 

[Cobbles]

Then don't whine and bleat to me when you get caught up in ever growing traffic jams because the road is packed full of individuals 'enjoying' their 'right to pollute the streets and ruin the tranquillity and calm of towns and villages.

Nonsense, that nice Mr Brown has seen to it that motoring is inexorably reverting to being the pastime of the wealthy as fewer and fewer can afford his stratospheric levels of fuel tax and VAT on top of fuel tax.

Now if only we could get rid of all those horrid bus lanes that would free up the traffic pro tem......