Earlier this year, Ecorazzi reported that Leno had started a segment on his show called the Green Car Challenge, where celebrities take turns racing around a homemade track in a specially prepared Ford Focus-based battery car. While racing, the famous contestants face a variety of challenges, including cut-outs of Al Gore and Ed Begley Jr.

About his inspiration to start the challenge, Leno told Starpulse.com:

“Whenever I would drive a green car, like an electric car, when I drove it to the show, the female guests would go, ‘What is that? Does that not use gas?’ And a lot of times, without sounding sexist, the guys are interested in cars, the women could care less. But this is something where the women will go, ‘Hey, how does that work?’ And they’re really interested.”

So how does Sheryl Crow do? You’ll have to watch the video below to find out!

Word on the street is that the movers and shakers over at PETA are planning to dress up like chickens to protest a taping of The Jay Leno Show tomorrow in Burbank.

The animal rights organization is angry at Leno for supporting McDonlads — a company which PETA claims should adopt more humane chicken slaughter methods.

PETA member Amanda Fortino told City News Service that Leno should use his influence to “benefit the millions of frightened birds who end up as McNuggets.”

PETA members will arrive in their chicken suits at NBC Studios in Burbank at 3000 W. Alameda Ave. at 2:30 p.m. Check back for more updates as we learn them.

via: blogs.laweekly.com

Well, Rush Limbaugh certainly didn’t disappoint.

After a lengthy conversation with Jay Leno on his right-wing viewpoints (which unsurprisingly ended with the government taking away our liberty, rights to happiness, blah, blah), the radio host jumped into a Ford all-electric Focus and took to the racetrack.

Unlike Barrymore, who stuck her foot to the pedal immediately, Rush seems a little unsure of the car’s responsiveness — but quickly improved. At least, that is, until he got to the cardboard cutouts of Al Gore and Ed Begley Jr. As expected, Rush hit each one, stopped, and backed up to hit them again. At one point, the vitriol for Gore poured forth when Rush spouted something that sounded like “You sack of shit.” while hitting him.

In the end, Limbaugh actually had some kind words about the Ford Focus EV — so him and Jay were able to be in agreement on at least one topic. His score on the racetrack, however, was awful. Check out the video below:

Thought it won’t be be available until 2011, the all-electric Ford Focus will be making its prime-time debut on The Jay Leno Show next week as part of the new “Green Car Challenge“. The segment has Leno taking celebrities and throwing them into electric vehicles to race around a track outside the studio. We’re not sure if the idea will have any legs with viewers, but Ford isn’t passing up the opportunity to give consumers a preview of its all-electric lineup. “Having our Focus battery electric vehicle on the show is a great way to demonstrate how fun to drive these cars really can be,” said Lisa Drake, chief engineer, Ford Hybrid and Battery Electric Vehicle Programs. “Beyond the immediate excitement of driving, it demonstrates that Ford is investing in this technology and that we’re committed to electric vehicles.”

Besides the Focus EV, Ford will also give celebs an opportunity to drive a battery electric Transit Connect (coming in 2010) and a battery electric Focus sedan (in 2011).

– Jay Leno talking about his new Green Car Challenge set to appear on the new Jay Leno Show September 14th.

Back in the beginning of August, it was rumored that Jay Leno was considering a “Green Car Racing” segment for his new The Jay Leno Show on NBC. Now, it’s been confirmed as something that will happen 2-3 times a week. There’s even a custom track being built next to the studio. It’s expected that celebrities will race around trying to beat each other’s times.

Now, even though it’s labeled as “Green Car Racing”, we don’t expect anything beyond the Ford Focus Hybrid to grace the track. The reason? The entire segment is sponsored by Ford. Visions of those terribly nauseating American Idol Ford product placements still haunt my memory. Will Leno’s segment be just as commercially cringing?

Racing challenge aside, Leno’s show may do it’s best marketing for the next-generation of eco-friendly cars with its studio design. According to The Hollywood Reporter, a large door allows Leno to drive a car directly onto the set, which is something he intends to do, albeit frequently. As we know, the former Tonight Show host is big into trying out and hyping up-and-coming vehicles with his online video series “Jay’s Garage” — might he do the same on primetime? Would be great to see him plug second-gen Smart Cars or a production Volt. Hell, why not just pull an Oprah and give everyone in the audience a new all-electric Nissan Leaf? I dream.

Check out Leno’s new show on September 14th at 10pm on NBC.

The article says that, ”One idea for a recurring comedy bit includes a ‘green-car challenge,’ in which celebrities would race electric or hybrid cars. Tom Cruise has already asked whether he could do some practice runs before competing, Leno said. (The host told him practice runs are forbidden.)”

Sounds like the segment’s not actually slated yet but might make the cut if they’re talking about it with press. A known autohound, Leno himself has a GM EcoJet in his fleet and it would be cool to see some test drives of other upcoming vehicles.  I’m sure he could get his Motor Press Guild card-carrying hands on a few.

Photo: PR Photos

As we all know by now, Jay Leno gets to play with all of the cool, green cars out there well before the rest of us can. Granted, most of them we’ll never be able to afford anyways — so living vicariously through car-hound Leno in the driver’s seat is the next best thing. We thank the Gods that Letterman didn’t decide to try something similar.

Anyways, in the latest installment of his web series Jay Leno’s Garage — the Tonight Show host takes the incredibly futuristic all-electric Aptera 2e for a test drive. As expected, he’s completely in love with the three-wheeled wonder — and wishes only that Astro from The Jetsons was sitting passenger with him. Of course, there’s another benefit (besides saving fuel) to this vehicle that Jay likes: “Almost every car we pass, someone is taking a picture of this car with their cellphone,” he says. “See, that’s the real key to selling electric cars: making them exciting. And I believe this is really an exciting vehicle.”

We couldn’t agree more. Now if they could make it fly too, we’d truly be living the dream. Check out the video below:

via autobloggreen

Cameron Diaz was a guest on The Tonight Show with Jay Leno last night — and the actress/environmentalist was keen to share her green passions.

She explained: “It’s one of those things that is just a lifestyle choice. I was brought up that way so it’s something that I automatically do. I’m rigged that way.”

Regarding green flushes (in what was obviously a pre-discussed question with Leno), Diaz said, “I do follow the, ‘If it’s yellow leave it mellow, if it’s brown flush it down’ saying. I believe in that 100 per cent. But there are a couple of rules. You can’t go more than two or three times, if it’s consecutive, if you’re drinking a lot of water, without flushing. But if you have coffee or something, it’s going down.”

Of course, people remain shocked to the whole concept of conserving water in the bathroom with this method — but it’s great to see Diaz sharing anyways. Have a look at the video after the jump below!

Thanks to Erin for the tip! Video via Radar Online.

Jay Leno always gets to play with the latest cool green toys — so it’s no surprise that he’s one of the first to review the new MINI E from BMW.

As expected Jay is a big fan of the car’s smoothness and near-silent operation — as well as its fast recharge time due to the high-capacity charger that’s included as part of the $850 per-month lease package. Once again, to be an early adopter, you have to be recession-proof. Check out the full video below for J’s impressions!