In describing the finalists for the 2013 Car of the Year, Motor Trend stated that this is the most competitive field of vehicles they have ever assessed. One of the criteria used to assess the winner is efficiency which, according to Motor Trend is up across the board for 2013.
As the unanimous winner for all of the judges, Motor Trend editors lauded the Tesla S saying:
"The 2013 Motor Trend Car of the Year is one of the quickest American four-doors ever built. It drives like a sports car, eager and agile and instantly responsive. But it's also as smoothly effortless as a Rolls-Royce, can carry almost as much stuff as a Chevy Equinox, and is more efficient than a Toyota Prius. Oh, and it'll sashay up to the valet at a luxury hotel like a supermodel working a Paris catwalk. By any measure, the Tesla Model S is a truly remarkable automobile, perhaps the most accomplished all-new luxury car since the original Lexus LS 400. That's why it's our 2013 Car of the Year."
The importance of this decision cannot be overstated. Finally a fully electric car has bested combustion vehicles in a wide range of criteria that go well beyond efficiency. These criteria include:
ADVANCEMENT IN DESIGN Quality execution of exterior and interior styling; innovation in vehicle packaging; good selection and use of materials.
ENGINEERING EXCELLENCE Integrity of total vehicle concept and execution, clever solutions to packaging, manufacturing and dynamics issues; use of cost-effective technologies that benefit the consumer.
EFFICIENCY Low energy consumption and carbon footprint, relative to the vehicle's competitive set.
SAFETY Primary safety -- the vehicle's ability to help the driver avoid a crash -- as well as secondary safety measures that protect its occupants from harm during a crash.
VALUE Price and equipment levels measured against those of vehicles in the same market segment.
PERFORMANCE OF INTENDED FUNCTION How well the vehicle does the job its designers and product planners intended.
The time has come for those who have been waiting for an electric vehicle that does it all better than cars powered by a combustion engine. Motor Trend's selection of the Tesla S signals that the electric vehicle has arrived and is here to stay.
© 2012, Richard Matthews. All rights reserved.
Related Articles
WWF Canada's Goal of 600,000 EVs by 2020
US Fuel Efficiency Standards Surpass European Standards
The Obama Administration's New Vehicle Fuel Efficiency Standards of 54.5 MPG
America's Fuel Efficiency Standards of 35 MPG
Car Sharing Programs a New More Efficient Way to Drive
American Electric Vehicle Strategy
Competition in Green Vehicles
The Top 10 Green Cars of 2011
Global Demand for Hybrid Vehicles
EV Sales Predictions in the US
Factors Determining Adoption Rate of EVs
Electric Vehicles Increasingly Competitive
The US is Positioned to Lead the Global Demand for EVs
ISO Standards and Greener Vehicles
Greening Vehicle Fleets
The Value of Electric Vehicle Subsidies
Assessing the Environmental Impact of Electric and Hybrid Vehicle
Hybrids Could Substantially Reduce US Fossil Fuel Consumption
Electric Vehicles Will Drive Demand for LithiumJaguar F Type a True Hybrid Sports Car
Jaguar C-X75 Electric Hybrid Supercar
Jaguar XJ: A Greener Luxury Car
BMW Investing in EVs
Porsche's Electric e-Boxter Sports Car
Porsche and Audi`s Greener Vehicles
Mercedes-Benz Hybrid and Electric Cars
The Nissan Esflow Debuts
Honda's CR-Z and Second Generation Hybrid Sports Car
8 Greener Cars at the 2011 Detroit Auto Show
BMW Investing in EVs
Porsche's Electric e-Boxter Sports Car
0 comments:
Post a Comment