Chevrolet Volt claims top honours as AJAC's 2016 Canadian Green Car of the Year

What is a Green Vehicle?
It is a vehicle which, for its size and purpose, provides the Canadian consumer with environmentally-friendly returns that compare favourably with other vehicles in its class.

2016 Canadian Green Car of the Year and 2016 Canadian Green Utility Vehicle of the Year

VANCOUVER, March 23, 2016 /CNW/ - In a press conference at the opening ceremonies of the Vancouver International Auto Show, the 2016 Chevrolet Volt claimed top honours from the Automobile Journalists Association of Canada (AJAC) as the 2016 Canadian Green Car of the Year (CGCOTY).

The annual award was presented by Kevin Corrigan, Chair of the CGCOTY Committee. The Chevrolet Volt was chosen from among three finalists, winning over the 2016 Honda Civic and 2016 Hyundai Sonata Hybrid. The finalists were earlier announced and recognized at the Canadian International Auto Show (CIAS) in February, and "crowned" with special green car toppers for the duration of the show. The winning Chevrolet Volt, as well as its running-mates, will wear the same crowns for the duration of the Vancouver show, identifying them as finalists for the Canadian Green Car of the Year Award.

"Chevrolet is honoured to receive AJAC's Green Car of the Year award, as it reinforces our commitment to being a leader in electrification," said Laura Pacey, brand director, Chevrolet in Canada. "The second-generation Volt is a no-compromise electric car, delivering up to 80 kilometres of EV range, greater efficiency and stronger acceleration, making it the most innovative plug-in vehicle in the industry."

The Canadian Green Car of the Year entries are selected from eligible entries in the Canadian Car of the Year program. All vehicles are part of the "TestFest" program, in which more than 70 of Canada's top auto journalists drive entries back-to-back for evaluation, including the Green vehicles. The Green entries are then re-evaluated against each other under a separate set of specific Green criteria, with their original category scoring is factored in. Vote tabulation and results are handled by the international accounting firm KPMG. Of the four entries vying for for CGCOTY, Chevrolet, Honda, and Hyundai beat out the Smart ForTwo Coupe for the three finalist positions.

"A Green vehicle isn't always just the electric car, or the smallest car," Kevin Corrigan says. "A fuel-efficient gasoline four-cylinder, or a six-cylinder luxury hybrid, can also be considered a Green vehicle in its segment of the market. Canadian consumers require environmentally-friendly transportation that meets their needs, whether it's a small city runabout, or a large but fuel-efficient luxury product. Our intention with the Canadian Green Car of the Year program is not just to make consumers aware of environmental vehicles, but to know that we've tested them extensively and have chosen what we feel is the year's best."

PRESS ROOM FOR MEDIA: You didn't have to be at Canadian Tire Motorsport Park for the Canadian Car of the Year Awards program in order to produce media coverage of the event.  AJAC has set up a virtual press room online where you may peruse and download the following: 

PHOTOS:  the process of evaluating 150 vehicles back-to-back at TestFest is captured in photographs. 

VIDEO:  B-roll of the 5 day event as well as short 90-second videos, ideal for YouTube

AERIAL VIEW: Drone footage of the event from the sky. 

QUOTES & TESTIMONIALS:  Comments from our journalists on the cars, trucks, and SUVs driven at TestFest.

FACT SHEET: Including recent press releases.

Link is:  http://ajac.ca/web/ccoty/pressroom.asp 

SOURCE Automobile Journalists Association of Canada

For further information: regarding the Canadian Green Car of the Year Awards program, please contact Justin Pritchard ([e-mail]), Charles Jolicoeur ([e-mail]) or Kevin Corrigan ([e-mail]).