Automakers will be showing off their flash and frugality side by side at the Geneva auto show as they introduce edgy models aimed at drivers looking for style.
But mindful that consumers are feeling the high price of gasoline, automakers at the 76th International Motor Show will also be touting new fuel-efficient engines, diesel-powered vehicles and smartly designed hybrids.
"All the manufacturers are under pressure to demonstrate their commitment to the environment," said Stephen B. Cheetham, European auto analyst for Sanford C. Bernstein Ltd. in London. "The whole hybrid issue has gained momentum in the last 18 months."
He said that while hybrids, which mix traditional gas power with electricity and alternative fuels, are gaining in popularity, they're still more expensive to build - and buy - than small cars with diesel engines.
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