On Wheels Media and an independent panel of 15 automotive journalists have announced Ford Fusion Hybrid is the 2010 Urban Green Vehicle of the Year.

 The award will be presented during the 14th Annual Urban Wheel Awards event at the MotorCity Casino Hotel's Sound Board Theater in Detroit on January 12, 2010. Tickets are available at Ticketmaster.com. 

Urban Green Vehicle of The Year finalists included Toyota Prius and Volkswagen Golf TDI.

According to On Wheels Media editor-in-chief, Lyndon Conrad Bell, "As time goes on, I think we'll see the Green category become the mainstream category." Of the finalists, Bell said, "All three of these cars demonstrate eco-consciousness does not have to mean compromise. The Fusion Hybrid stood out for the judges because it represents something new, and yet it blends in so well. In other words, it's so ‘normal', yet it's also good at saving fuel and reducing emissions."

Urban Vehicle Awards categories are based on the best automobiles for urban lifestyles. An independent panel of 15 automotive journalists went through three rounds of voting and evaluations before settling upon the Ford Fusion Hybrid as the best Urban Green Vehicle of The Year for 2010.

Of the Fusion Hybrid, freelance reviewer Chris Jackson said, "All three of the nominees in this class are great cars, but while two of them are slightly improved versions of what they've been all along, the Fusion carries the hybrid class forward with new innovations and a significant improvement in efficiency and operation."

Regarding the Urban Vehicle of the Year Awards, Randi Payton, On Wheels Media president and publisher said, "The Urban Vehicles of The Year resonate with the majority of new car buyers who live in urban and suburban areas. The vehicles chosen are cost and fuel efficient and have performance and safety characteristics relevant to consumers in metropolitan areas."

Awards will be presented at the Urban Wheel Awards event at the Sound Board Theater, located in the Motor City Hotel and Casino in Detroit on January 12, 2010. The Urban Wheel Awards (UWA) gala event is held during Press Week of the North American International Auto Show and is attended by more than 2,000 auto executives, media, suppliers, dealers, celebrities, and community leaders. The UWA also honor the auto industry for outstanding achievements in diversity and minority business development.

Proceeds from the event benefit the Edward Davis Education Foundation (EDEF), a non-profit 501(c) 3 organization established by On Wheels Media, Inc. The mission of EDEF is to provide scholarships, internships and mentoring to students pursuing careers in the automotive industry and communications.

For more information or to sponsor the event, visit the Urban Wheel Awards web site, or contact Randi Payton at (301) 390-0468, or by eMail at rpayton@onwheelsinc.com.

On Wheels Media, Inc. is a multi-media communications company that produces consumer-oriented print and digital publications, Web sites, broadcast media, and events. Publications include the all- new DECISIVE, A comprehensive multi-media platform for multicultural consumers. It also produces African-Americans On Wheels and Latinos On Wheels magazines, which are distributed in more than 100 newspapers throughout the United States and have a combined readership of 8 million. The company also produces consumer events and launched the first automotive magazine Web site, www.onwheelsinc.com in 1995. Visit www.onwheelsinc.com for more information and to sign up for your complimentary digital subscription.