This year's New York Auto Show delivered contradictory themes: a glimpse of a fuel-frugal future, as well as a return to retro cool.
Confirming that the green-car movement is not a passing trend, the major automakers unveiled these new fuel-efficient designs:
Toyota showed off its second-generation Prius gas-electric hybrid. Its reworked powertrain boosts electric power by 50 percent over the current model and increases fuel efficiency 15 percent;
Honda touted its FCX EPA-certified hydrogen-powered fuel-cell vehicle, which it doesn't yet plan to mass-produce; and
Ford showed off its hybrid SUV Escape, which pairs cargo capacity and off-road capability with 35-40 miles per gallon fuel economy and a nearly 50 percent reduction in CO2 emissions in city driving.
The show wasn't all about the future, though. Chrysler and Ford continued the retro craze of recent years (from the PT Cruiser to the new VW Beetle) with sporty, classic models.
One thing they all have in common: they're sure to turn heads on any road.
