Ford Fusion Hybrid recognized for fuel efficiency

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The Ford Fusion Hybrid has been awarded the inaugural David Hermance Vehicle Efficiency Award, presented February 10 at the Chicago Auto Show.

The award, which recognizes the vehicle that does the most to combine fuel efficiency and consumer appeal, was presented to Ford's Hybrid chief engineer Lisa Drake at the show.

"The 2010 Ford Fusion Hybrid marries a seamless, sophisticated hybrid power?train to a highly competitive and appealing package," said the judging panel chairman Bradley Berman. "The committee was impressed at every level by the Ford, which leaves no stone unturned in terms of functionality and how the car relates to the driver."

The award was founded in honor of the late David Hermance, a respected executive engineer who was Toyota's hybrid technology guru.

Judges included Bradley Berman, founder of green media firm BermanWorks, John Dicicco, a a senior lecturer at the University of Michigan's School of Natural Resources and Environment, Robert Larsen, director emeritus of Argonne National Laboratory's Center for Transportation Research; John German, senior fellow and program director for the International Council for Clean Transportation, and Lindsay Brooke, senior editor of Automotive Engineering International.

Website: www.hermanceaward.com/