Toyota Prius gasoline-electric hybrid is North American's 2004 Car of the Year and one of Car & Driver's '10 Best' for 2004. The second-generation Prius' 'aerodynamic mono-form' design produces one of the lowest drag co-efficients of any production vehicle in the world. Prius is certified as an Advanced Technology Partial Zero Emission Vehicle (AT-PZEV), meaning there are near-zero tailpipe emissions, zero evaporative emissions and a special extended warrant on emission control components. One of the most uniquely-styled vehicles on the road, Prius is unconventional and forward-thinking and unlike anything the world has ever seen.

Congratulations to all the nominees:

Honda SmartCar General Motors UPS
< a nod to past achievers
Honda Insight, first-ever hybrid
a wink > to future favorites
Lexus RX400h, first luxury hybrid