2009 New York Auto Show, Sobriety Reigns

General Motors Corp. is still viewing a full set off of models but has engrave its financial plan for the show in half. At its cubicle, the company is relinquish the thick, hoist glass terrazzo it usually uses for its Cadillac exhibit and as an alternative has parked the cars on cheaper aluminum frames.

Honda Motor Co. is using realistic panels made of fabric in place of most of the high-tech LED screens it used in the earlier period as milieu. It also mount cheaper enlightenment and carpet. Honda's come within reach of this time "is to let the vehicle technology speak for itself," said Charles Schnieber, manager of auto shows and show signs of for Honda's U.S. unit.

Toyota's Scion gave an idea about a hypothesis car called IQ on Wednesday at the New York auto show. Car makers have extent back their displays to diminish costs.

Chrysler LLC has abolish its popular test track in the vault of the Jacob K. Javits Convention Center, for which it once trucked in tons of muck, rocks and logs and where attendees could go for a petite whirl in a Jeep. Ford Motor Co.'s Volvo, however, will have a examination track for visitors to try a laser expertise that scans the road for barrier and brakes the car without human intervention.

Automotive marketers depend a lot on car shows to produce enthusiasm for their models and bring buyers into display area. About half of auto-show attendees buy a vehicle in the next year, commerce insiders guesstimate.

Companies also are sending smaller amount decision-making to fuse during the show. Several auto makers, GM and Chrysler among them, decided against holding dinners where they naturally wine and dine reporters, analysts and industry insiders.

The New York car show isn't the only one operating under a cloud. In January, Nissan Motor Co. didn't participate in the big Detroit show, which took place just after GM and Chrysler were saved from bankruptcy by federal bailouts. Many exhibitors toned down their displays and skipped the glitz they typically deploy.

35 new models are expected to inauguration, only a handful fewer than last year, show director said. It routinely takes three or more years for a new car to strike the market.

Chrysler divulge a redesigned Jeep Grand Cherokee sport-utility vehicle, GM showed the GMC Terrain "crossover," and BMW AG versatile the X6M, a souped up description the X6, a cross between an SUV and a sports car.