
LOS ANGELES - The 2010 Audi A3 TDI was named 2010 Green Car of the Year on Thursday at the Los Angeles Auto Show, by Green Car Journal magazine.
The new sports wagon was cited for its "rakish styling", torquey turbocharged diesel engine, its impressively low tailpipe emissions and its 42 m.p.h. highway fuel economy rating.
The winner was chosen by the magazine's editors and a panel of "experts" that included television host and car enthusiast Jay Leno and former racing driver Carroll Shelby.
Johan de Nysschen, Audi of America's president, accepted the award by saying the smallest Audi sold in North America represents a "labor of love" for the company.
The A3 edged out a tough field of finalists that included the newest Toyota Prius, the 50 miles-per-gallon mileage champ; the Honda Insight, the lowest price hybrid available; the Mercury Milan hybrid, a "reasonably priced mid-luxury" sedan; and the Volkswagen Golf TDI, which is a very similar machine to the A3 - except that it costs about $7,000 less, while getting the same fuel economy.
Perhaps the deciding factor was that "rakish styling."