Green Car of the Year 2008, allegedly

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So let’s take a few bets on which vehicle was just named Green Car of the Year 2008 at the Los Angeles Auto Show. The fabulous new Honda FCX Clarity fuel-cell vehicle, whose only emission is water? The 35-mpg, super-clean Mercedes-Benz E340 Bluetec, the first California-compliant diesel in years? The sensible, space-conscious Smart Fortwo? Maybe just the good old Toyota Prius? Or something that guzzles gas at the rate of 21 mpg?

Prepare to slap palm against forehead while experiencing a brand-new hybrid of tearful sadness and nauseous incredulity. Ladeeez and genullmen, the Chevrolet Tahoe hybrid.

Oh, sure, it has a 6.0-liter V-8 engine and can seat as many as eight. It can carry as much as 1,400 pounds of cargo and tow 6,200 pounds. It’s 50% more frugal than a standard 5.3-liter V-8-powered Tahoe. But is 50% better than profligate really worth such an accolade?

Who could make this mistake -- sorry, award? Try Green Car Journal, Jay Leno, Carroll Shelby and the executive director of the Sierra Club, among others. To render the sight even more surreal, Arnold Schwarzenegger arrived to check out all the more eco-friendly cars on display. For those who might’ve looked closely, they could probably see a palm print on the Gov.’s forehead too.

-- Colin Ryan