Times are achangin' at the Seattle Auto Show

Times are achangin' at the Seattle Auto Show

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Story Published: Nov 7, 2008 at 5:16 PM PDT

Story Updated: Nov 21, 2008 at 5:19 AM PDT

By Herb Weisbaum

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Whether you plan to buy or not, it's fun to check out all the shiny new models.

There's something for just about everyone at the auto show -- big trucks, tiny cars, new crossover vehicles and, of course, lots and lots of hybrids.

Looking around the Quest Field Event Center, you'd never know there's a crisis in the car business. While some come just to look, others, like Lia Roland, are in the market to buy.

"We're hoping to have another baby sometime next year. So we need room for care seats and bags and all that kind of stuff," she said.

Clearly buyers are in the driver's seat right now. Dealers are overflowing with vehicles they need to move.

Jim Hammond, who has run the show for more than 30 years, says he has noticed a distinct change in the market.

"Never before has there been a buyer's market like this. Inventories are high, dealers want to sell cars," he said.

Hammond says at this year's show, safety, economy and fuel efficiency have been so highly promoted.

Hybrids are hot. Chevy even has a special display this year to highlight its hybrids and GM's new two-mode hybrid system.

"Best of all, you don't have to sacrifice anything to get that 50-percent better fuel economy," said Hammond.

But are hybrids reliable? The auto experts at Consumer Reports say there's nothing to worry about.

"Whether you're talking (about) the Ford Escape, a Mercury Mariner hybrid, the Honda Civic, the Toyota Prius, the Lexus and Toyota SUVs, they've all had very good or above average reliability. It's not something that people really need to worry about as far as the battery of the power train," said Hammond.

Hybrids aren't the only way to boost fuel economy. The turbo-charged engine is making a comeback. It's on the 40th anniversary edition of the Shelby Mustang.

It's a way to get better performance - more horsepower - from a smaller and more fuel-efficient 4 or 6-cylinder engine.

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