Fuel Economy a Focus of New York Auto Show

by Jeff Gilbert
WWJ AutoBeat Reporter

Green is the color of this year's New York Auto Show.  With gas prices topping the four dollar a gallon mark in many parts of the country, carmakers are trying to out do each other with fuel efficient vehicles.

GM offering a surprise with an "eco" version of it's 2013 Chevy Malibu, that will get 38 miles per gallon highway.  It will have a mild hybrid system—that GM calls eAssist—and get 38 miles per gallon, with a price less than that of a conventional hybrid.

"We're going to have those options," says GM North America President Mark Reuss, talking about conventional hybrids.  "Not everybody can afford those, we know that, and not everybody has to downsize to a smaller car."

Reuss says the "Eco" Malibu will debut first, in early 2012.  It will then be followed by the conventionally powered version.

While the GM Detroit-Hamtramk plant is being prepared to build Malibus, if extra capacity is needed, Reuss said it's too early to tell if they'll need that capacity.

There's also an abundance of small car product at this show, including a new Hyundai Accent, a redone Honda Civic and a new Nissan Versa subcompact.  Analysts say the price of entry for small cars is a 40 mile per gallon fuel economy.

There are fewer electric vehicles at the New York show, but Nissan is showing a concept version of it's Leaf, that could be used as a race car.

"The statement is very simple," says Carlos Tavares, Nissan America's President.  "It's that zero emission vehicles are fun."

Nissan says to make electric race cars a reality, car companies will need more powerful batteries.  The high speeds needed for racing deplete batteries quickly.

As for the more conventional Nissan Leaf, Tavares says Nissan has sold about 500, with more vehicles on the way from Japan.

Jeff Gilbert is "tweeting" photos and videos from the New York Auto Show.  Follow him @jefferygilbert.