Muscle on display, and environmental sensitivity

Expect to see the 2009 Chevrolet Corvette ZR1 at the New York Auto Show from March 21-30 at Jacob Javits Center. (GM, Wieck)

It's time again for New York's biggest auto show, when the region's dealers host more than 1,000 cars and a million motorheads at Manhattan's Jacob Javits Convention Center.

Traditionally a way to drum up interest in new vehicles as the spring selling season arrives, the show comes to town amid a slowing economy, falling vehicle sales and rising gasoline prices.

As signs of the times, there'll be more hybrids than ever spread around the 846,000 square feet of exhibit space, including new entries from General Motors and Chrysler.

Mercedes will unveil the new 50-state-legal BlueTEC clean-diesel versions of its sport utility vehicles -- the R320, GL320 and ML320. All have 3.0-liter V-6s with urea injected into the exhaust stream to clean up emissions. The new 50-state diesels will go on sale as '09 models in the fall.

But not everyone at the show will be talking about hard times, dirty air and fuel economy. The scheduled unveilings also include the latest pavement-ripper from Daimler and AMG, the 518-hp., premium-gas-guzzling SL63 AMG roadster; and the upcoming 600-plus-hp. Corvette ZR1 also will appear.

Even for a car show in cosmopolitan New York, there's a decidedly international tilt to this year's event, with offshore companies expected to make most of the news during the two-day media frenzy leading up to Friday night's opening to the public.

Reborn models on display

Running through March 30, the show will provide most New Yorkers their first up-close looks at the reborn Dodge Challenger muscle car, the new Dodge Journey SUV, the redesigned Acura TSX, Nissan Maxima, Infiniti FX, Honda Fit and Pilot, Toyota Corolla and Matrix (and similar Pontiac Vibe), the Cadillac CTS-V, the facelifted Mercedes M- Class, an as-yet-unamed pickup truck promised by Pontiac for 2010, the new 400-hp. V-8 Pontiac G8 GXP large sedan and the Pontiac Solstice Coupe.

The Corvette ZR1's supercharged V-8 will make it the fastest production automobile ever created by General Motors, the carmaker says. Final testing is expected to result in a rating of more than 620 hp.

Sales of the '09 ZR1 are to begin in the fall.

Posing the most direct competition to date for "supercars" such as those from Ferrari and Lamborghini, the 2009 ZR1 is expected to cost about $100,000.

The CTS-V has a "mere" 550 estimated horsepower under its hood, courtesy of a 6.2-liter supercharged V-8.

Look for another new luxury car in a less likely place -- at the Hyundai stand, where the Korean automaker was planning to show its upcoming Genesis sedan and coupe, continuing its efforts to shed its image as a maker of cheap cars.

The $30,000-and-up Genesis, built on a new rear-drive chassis, is due in showrooms in summer as the marque's U.S. flagship, available with 268-hp. and 290-hp. V-6 engines and a new 4.6-liter V-8, the last expected to deliver 368 horsepower.

Germany's Porsche, meanwhile, was planning to display for the first time in the United States its Boxster RS 60, a limited edition mid-engine, two-seat roadster that pays homage to the legendary race car of the 1960s. Porsche says exhaust modifications increase the Boxster's engine output to 303 hp. Fewer than 800 of the 1,960 RS 60s to be produced will make it to North American showrooms -- starting in early spring of next year, at $64,900.

Redesigned pickups

Pickup truck shoppers, meanwhile, will find the redesigned-for-'09 Ford F-Series and the equally new Dodge Ram on display, posing new challenges to the competitors fielded by General Motors, Toyota and Nissan.

The new F-150, descendant of what has long been America's bestselling vehicle, is available in three cab styles, four box options and seven trim levels, including a new Platinum luxury version. Ford says the '09 will deliver better fuel economy, more power, more towing capacity and greater safety when it goes on sale later this year.

Dodge says the '09 Ram's available Hemi V-8 is new and delivers better fuel economy than its predecessor and 0 to 60 mph acceleration in 6.1 seconds. Showgoers who peek beneath the tailgate will find the only coil-spring, multilink rear suspension in the segment fitted to a solid rear axle for what Dodge claims is a better ride and better handling.

Speaking of Ford, the production version of the '09 Flex crossover will be on display, with a 3.5-liter, 260-hp. V-6 engine and available all-wheel drive. Other available features include a refrigerator and a 2,300-song personal jukebox.

Ford also will be showing off a new option for the 2009 Mustang -- a fixed glass roof, for $1,995.

Look in Lincoln's area on the main floor -- near Ford and Mercury -- for the 2009 Lincoln MKS, a full-size luxury sedan based structurally on the current Taurus and Sable, and going on sale this summer with a 3.7-liter V-6 and all-wheel drive.

Camry wagon

For another choice in family wagons, stroll over to the Toyota area and check out the answer to a prayer for anyone who has ever wished the Camry was still available as a station wagon: the '09 Venza, based on America's bestselling sedan. It goes on sale in the fall with a choice of four- or six-cylinder engines, in front- or all-wheel drive.

While you're in Toyota's neighborhood, check out the '09 Corolla, which just recently went on sale. The 10th generation of one of the world's bestselling compact cars is once again available plain or fancy, sedate or sporty, with either of two four-cylinder engines, delivering 132 hp. or 158 hp. Corolla prices start at $15,250. The wagon version, the Matrix, is available with all-wheel drive.

For a larger (or at least more affluent) family, Toyota's big Sequoia SUV also is scheduled to be on display -- redesigned for '08 and available either with a 381-hp. V-8 or a 276-hp. V-8.

For even more off-road capability (and still more money), Toyota offers the Land Cruiser SUV, also redone for '08 and powered by a 5.7-liter V-8.

Toyota's Lexus division is highlighting three new models: the LS 600h L hybrid luxury sedan, the V-8-propelled 416-hp. IS F sport sedan and the redone LX 570 luxury utility vehicle.

Redesigned Pilot

Shoppers with more modest tastes and wallets might want to check out the "prototype" of Honda's redesigned eight-passenger Pilot. The carmaker says it burns less gas than its predecessor thanks to cylinder deactivation, which allows its V-6 engine to run on three or four cylinders when all six aren't needed.

For even higher mileage numbers, the redesigned Honda Fit, a new version of the small four-door hatchback introduced in the United States two years ago, is making its debut.

For a little more flair without going overboard, Acura will be unveiling its redesigned TSX near-luxury sedan, due at dealerships this spring. Honda is promising better performance and more safety features.

The Journey is an effort by Dodge to get into the crossover SUV race (although one could count its Caliber wagon among those ranks). The five-passenger Journey can be ordered with a third row to increase seating to seven.

And the Challenger, due to arrive in showrooms soon, is an effort by Dodge to capitalize on fond memories many Americans have of the original, sold from 1970 through 1974. The hottest SRT8 version will lead the way into showrooms, starting at $40,158 with freight.

Less nostalgic but no less exciting is BMW's 2008 M3 convertible, being unveiled at the New York show. It's due at dealerships this spring with a 414-hp. V-8 and available seven-speed double clutch automatic transmission.

Look in BMW's area also for the recently debuted X6 "sports activity coupe" arriving at dealerships in May, the 1 Series coupe going on sale this month and the convertible due in summer, and the clean diesel-powered X5 xDrive35d and 335d.

Hybrids abound

Buyers looking for a hybrid will find them just about everywhere at Javits. They include GM's remarkable Chevrolet Tahoe/GMC Yukon and Cadillac Escalade gas/electrics (with 21 miles per gallon Environmental Protection agency city mileage ratings), the upcoming Chrysler Aspen and Dodge Durango Hemi hybrids, the Chevy Malibu and Ford Escape hybrids, the Toyota Camry and Prius hybrids, and more.

Not all the gas sippers are hybrids, though. Chevy's Aveo5, due at dealerships beginning in summer, is expected to deliver 26 mpg in the city and 34 mpg on the highway with a stick shift and conventional four-cylinder engine.

And GM plans once again to show off the Volt, its plug-in hybrid electric, promised as a 2010 model and in high volume -- tens of thousands a year.

Other new models to look for include the Volvo XC60 crossover, which is smaller than the XC90; the redone Subaru Forester; the upcoming Chevrolet Traverse crossover SUV and Silverado pickup hybrid; Nissan Murano; and the Volkswagen Routan, a minivan to be produced for VW by Chrysler.

Mitsubishi, meanwhile, will be showing off additions to the compact Lancer series: the high-performance Lancer Evolution, the 2009 Lancer GTS 2.4 and the turbocharged Lancer Ralliart. The GTS is getting a new 2.4-liter engine. The Ralliart gets a new 2.0-liter intercooled and turbocharged engine delivering 235 hp.

Finally, for auto buffs who want to show off their own cars, the show organizers have set up on an online "virtual garage" at autoshowny.com.

Related topic galleries: Gasoline Industry, Vehicles, Ford, Hyundai, Honda, Nissan, BMW