LOS ANGELES, September 18 /PRNewswire/ --

- Green Car Journal's Award for Automotive Environmental Achievement to 
be Announced Nov. 15

The winner of the 2008 Green Car of the Year(R) (GCOY) award will be
announced on Nov. 15 at the Los Angeles Auto Show during the show's Press
Days. Green Car Journal, the leading automotive environmental magazine,
initiated this annual award in 2005 and it has continued to grow in
significance as consumer demand for more fuel efficient and environmentally
positive vehicles has increased exponentially.

(Logo: http://www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/20060612/LAM005LOGO)

"We choose the LA Auto Show each year to make this important announcement
because California -- and especially the greater Los Angeles region -- has
historically been the epicenter for both automotive and environmental
innovation, and that's what this award is all about," says Ron Cogan, editor
and publisher of Green Car Journal.

The Green Car of the Year(R) award is designed to recognize environmental
achievement in the automotive industry. After considering scores of new
vehicle models that raise the bar in environmental performance, five nominees
will be identified in advance of the press conference. The winning vehicle
will be chosen by a select jury of highly knowledgeable experts drawn from
relevant fields such as transportation technology, automotive design,
environmental protection and others.

This year's jurors include leaders of the nation's most recognized
environmental groups, including Carl Pope, executive director of the Sierra
Club; Christopher Flavin, president of Worldwatch Institute; Jean-Michel
Cousteau, president of Ocean Futures Society; and Jonathan Lash, President of
the World Resources Institute. Automotive icon Carroll Shelby joins four
Green Car Journal editors to round out the 2008 GCOY jury.

GCOY Selection Process

Green Car Journal staff narrow down all the eligible vehicles to a short
list of five finalists based upon research and the driving experience.
Jurors, including independent experts and Green Car Journal staff members,
weigh the merits of each finalist vehicle and its relevance to motorists. The
winning vehicle must be a production automobile that will be on sale by
Jan. 1, 2008.

"In judging the Green Car of the Year(R), emphasis is placed on vehicles
that advance overall efficiency and functionality while decreasing
environmental impact," says Cogan. "All current models are eligible for
consideration, although 'newness' is a factor, as well as the impact that a
vehicle and its environmentally positive technologies are likely to have in
the marketplace."

Last year, the 2007 Toyota Camry Hybrid was named Green Car Journal's
2007 Green Car of the Year(R), with jurors noting that Toyota's seamless
integration of its Hybrid Synergy Drive in a mass market model was of
particular importance. The inaugural 2006 Green Car of the Year(R)
distinction was awarded to the 2006 Mercury Mariner Hybrid.

In addition to the Green Car of the Year(R) Award, many of the world's
leading automakers are placing increased emphasis on the LA Auto Show to help
introduce "green" technologies. Last year, General Motors CEO Rick Wagoner
announced the automaker's major new plug-in hybrid program at the LA Show and
this year's show promises to deliver significant advanced technology and
alternative fuel vehicle news as well.

About Green Car of the Year(R)

The GCOY award is an important part of Green Car Journal's mission to
showcase environmental progress in the auto industry. Since 1992, Green Car
Journal has focused on the intersection of automobiles, energy, and
environment, first with an industry newsletter and then with an award-winning
auto enthusiast magazine. Today, the magazine is considered the premier
source of information on high fuel efficiency, low emission, advanced
technology, and alternative fuel vehicles. Green Car of the Year(R) is a
registered trademark of Green Car Journal and RJ Cogan Specialty Publications
Group, Inc.

About the LA Auto Show

For the second year in a row, the Los Angeles Auto Show will be held in
the fall. The show opens for media only Nov. 14 and 15. Media registration is
now open. Public days run from Nov. 16-25. Last year, new fall timing
prompted a record 36 world and North American vehicle debuts with record
media attendance and news coverage from around the globe. For general
information visit online at http://www.LAautoshow.com.

Web site: http://www.laautoshow.com