Forget chrome, automakers prefer green look

Sandy Stojkovski, a fuel economy expert and director of vehicle engineering at Ricardo Inc., estimated that more than half of the vehicles by 2020 will need some kind of hybrid configuration to meet the new standards.

"There has to be some additional technologies brought in and in greater volume such as the hybrids and mass quantities of the improved engines," Stojkovski said.

Still, auto industry officials note that many consumers are turned off by the higher costs of a hybrid vehicle, typically $4,000 to $5,000 more, and more modest alternatives are needed.

Ford Motor Co. is taking a practical approach through its new EcoBoost engine, a more fuel-efficient powertrain that it plans to use in about 500,000 vehicles in North America during the next five years. The engine is much more cost-effective than a hybrid, using direct-injection and turbocharging technologies.

"We needed a solution that would affect millions of cars _ not thousands or hundreds but millions. And a lot of the advanced technology stuff, which eventually will play in the future, is a ways away," said Sue Cischke, Ford's senior vice president for sustainability, environment and safety engineering.

Others are pointing to diesels, which can provide about a 25 percent boost in fuel efficiency.

Daimler showed its GLK compact sport utility vehicle, offering a diesel option that can get up to 35 mpg. BMW AG, meanwhile, showed advanced diesel versions of the X5 sport utility vehicle and a 3-Series passenger car.

Car makers have been testing advanced vehicles for several years, including hydrogen fuel cells and plug-in hybrids, with the hopes that the technologies will improve and become more viable.

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Chrysler LLC, which has ranked near the bottom in fuel efficiency ratings, on Monday is showing the prototypes from a new green strategy: a Jeep with a lithium-ion battery pack and diesel hybrid engine, a Dodge ZEO electric concept sports wagon, and a Chrysler fuel-cell vehicle.

While analysts caution that futuristic vehicles frequently receive attention and acclaim at auto shows but rarely reach the showroom floor, this time may be different.

"The No. 1 rule of auto shows is to not get lured in by the hype because a lot of it could be concept cars," said David Friedman, research director at the Union of Concerned Scientists' Clean Vehicle Program.

"But I do think that at least early signs are that this auto show may be different from the past and it may actually be giving a real good glimpse for some of the consumers of what might be out on the road in the next few years," he said.

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