Automakers have to learn how to make cars greener and sexy too.A new generation of electric cars, hybrids and fuel-efficient small cars took center stage at the New York International Auto Show.
Pushed to the back were vehicles boasting big horsepower and glamorous styling, but with little fuel efficiency.
Ford Motor Co (F.N) touted its upcoming Fiesta small car as its most important launch this year, while the Chevy Volt plug-in hybrid by General Motors Co [GM.UL] and Nissan Motor Co's (7201.T) Leaf electric car were focal points.
"It's exciting technology, but the cars themselves are not that exciting to look at," said Jessica Caldwell, an analyst at auto industry tracking firm Edmunds.com.
"Auto shows used to be about fantasy and glamour. It has been a cheap way to entertain," Caldwell said. "You don't want to look at small subcompacts here, you want to see what you don't see in the streets everyday."
But compacts, crossovers and electric cars dominated the show's main hall at the Jacob Javitz Center, while trucks and big SUVs were displayed to a much-smaller space two floors down.
"There is a real push on getting the products people want, rather than feeding their fantasy with extravagance," said Dave Champion, director of auto testing at Consumer Reports. "Small cars are where the market is going."
Don Romano, chief marketing officer for Mazda Motor Corp (7261.T) North America, said two clean cars by California start-ups -- the Fisker Karma luxury plug-in hybrid and the Tesla Roadster electric car -- show the auto industry could go green and stylish at the same time.
But the vehicles do not play in the mainstream and it will take some time for carmakers to roll out vehicles that are not only environmentally friendly, but also fun to look at, Romano said.
source: reuters
