Acura, BMW, Mercedes Vehicles Win Green Car Awards

Three luxury hybrid vehicles were named 2017 Green Car of the Year category winners by Green Car Journal.

GCJ awarded its Luxury Green Car of the Year title to the Acura NSX all-wheel-drive sports car, which teams a 3.5-liter V-6 with three electric motors to generate a combined 500 hp. The car also benefits from an array of lightweight materials, including aluminum, carbon fiber, SMC fiberglass and high-strength steel.

BMW's X5 xDrive40e iPerformance plug-in hybrid was selected Green SUV of the Year. The full-size awd Bimmer is powered by a 2.0-liter 4-cylinder engine and an electric motor that deliver 308 hp and 332 lb-ft of torque. Three settings are available, including an Eco Pro hybrid mode that maximizes efficiency.

Mercedes-Benz’s C350e plug-in hybrid topped the voting for Connected Green Car of the Year. Judges touted the vehicle’s fusion of cameras and other sensors that enable autonomous and semi-autonomous features such as adaptive cruise control, steering assist, and full automatic emergency braking.

GCJ announced the awards in conjunction with this week's Washington, D.C., auto show. Winning vehicles were selected on their environmental impact and safety, performance, quality and value considerations.

Last November, the magazine selected the all-electric Chevrolet Bolt small car as the 2017 Green Car of the Year.