A Green Trend ; Vehicles on Display at This Year's Auto Show Emphasize Fuel Efficiency

The theme for this year's New Mexico International Auto Show could accurately be described as: out with the retro, and in with the enviro.

Where last year's crop of concept and production cars skewed toward gas-hungry remakes of models like the Chevrolet Nomad and Dodge Hornet, automakers this year are trotting out their greenest offerings ever.

The show, which runs Friday through Sunday at the Albuquerque Convention Center, will feature more than 300 cars, trucks, SUVs and other models.

Front and center this year will be hybrid, diesel and flex-fuel production model cars and concepts for everything from recycled car seats to hydrogen fuel cell vehicles. These cars are aimed at satisfying increasing consumer demand for cars that produce fewer greenhouse gasses and use less fuel derived from foreign sources.

"Several trends are emerging this season, with fuel efficiency leading the pack," Matt Stone, executive editor for the show's producer, Motor Trend magazine, said in a news release. "High gas prices continue to spur consumers' interest in nonconventional gas, diesel and hybrids that can offer improved mileage."

The show, which was first held in 2004, annually attracts more than 50,000 visitors eager to see, touch and even sit in automakers' latest offerings.

This year's show will feature at least four hybrids -- cars that employ gassipping engines and electric motors to squeeze 20 percent to 40 percent better fuel economy than conventional models. The offerings will include Nissan's new Altima hybrid and the Saturn Vue Green Line, a hybrid SUV that gets an estimated 32 miles per gallon on the highway.

Visitors will also get to compare three tough-to-find subcompacts from Japan's Big 3 -- the Honda Fit, Nissan Versa and Toyota Yaris.

As of late March, this year's show was set to feature five concept cars -- nonproduction designs used to gauge buyer interest.

Ford's Reflex concept is a hybrid diesel-electric sportscar with seats made of recycled sneakers, solar panels to recharge the battery, and a roof with solar-powered fans.

The Blue Oval will also bring its F-250 Super Chief -- a concept tri-fuel truck that runs on hydrogen, E85 ethanol or gasoline and designed to run 500 miles between fillups.

GM's Graphyte concept is an SUV that features separate fuel settings for stop-and-go or highway traffic that can slash fuel consumption by 25 percent. It also has adjustable ground clearance.

Charles Henson, president of event sponsor the New Mexico Auto Dealers Association, says the green cars and concepts are all consumer driven.

"The manufacturers across the board are becoming aware of the demand for these automobiles," he said.

Other concept vehicles at the show include:

Cadillac's Sixteen concept -- a powerful luxury sedan with 24- inch wheels shoved out to the corners, an all-glass roof and a decidedly non-green V-16 engine.

Ford's Fairlane family wagon, which includes a twoway tailgate, built-in refrigerator and a sunroof that stretches from aft to fore, creating what Ford says will be the family hauler of the future.

This year's auto show will also showcase another trend that automakers are still trying to perfect -- crossovers.

"Consumers want the versatility of a truck or SUV, but the comfort, smooth ride, luxury and performance of a car," Stone said.

The 2007 show will feature crossovers like the Acura RDX, Saturn Outlook, the new Ford Edge, Hyundai Santa Fe, Lincoln MKX and Mazda CX-7.

Besides ogling cars, visitors can participate in a variety of activities:

Toyota Trucks Off Road On Site Adventure, in which drivers 18 and older can test drive Toyota's 4X4 Tacoma, Tundra and FJ Cruiser on a course containing logs, dirt mounds, sand pits and something called the "frame twister."

An outdoor display of Pontiac GTOs on Saturday, and Chevrolet Corvettes on Sunday.

The Chevrolet Magician -- a demonstration of fuel cell, ethanol and hybrid technology every half hour in the Chevrolet display.

A Kids' Autobahn -- where children can drive around in pint-size electric cars.

Preview gala

Want to get an early peek and help a worthy cause?

A preview gala on Thursday will benefit the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation, which funds worldwide research into treatments for juvenile, or type 1, diabetes.

The event begins at 6:30 with a parade of kids driving company- sponsored toy electric cars and will feature live entertainment, gourmet refreshments and a chance to mingle among the vehicles.

Cost is $100, and formal attire is suggested.

The New Mexico Auto Dealers Association donated $10,000 to sponsor the event, said Jill Zack, event chairwoman and board member of Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation of New Mexico.

For more information, visit the foundation's Web site at www.jdrf.org/newmexico or call (505) 255-4005. Tickets may also be purchased at the door.

(c) 2007 Albuquerque Journal. Provided by ProQuest Information and Learning. All rights Reserved.