What will drive visitors to an auto show these days?

Hub event offers hybrids, up-and-comers, as well as some entertainment in tight times

The 800-plus horsepower Iconic GTR Roadster, to be on display at the New England International Auto Show, is priced at $600,000. (Iconic Motors)

The New England International Auto Show comes to town next Wednesday through Sunday amid an industrywide financial crisis that threatens to bring down Detroit's Big Three automakers. A push to prop up General Motors Corp. and other companies with a bailout loan has stalled, fewer consumers than ever are visiting showrooms, and those that are in the market for a new car are finding credit harder to come by.

No doubt, auto enthusiasts are desperate for a shred of good news, and there is some - increasingly, US carmakers have been producing a good product after years of lagging behind Japanese automakers. Today's US-made vehicles are safer than those of even a decade ago.

They also run better, last longer, and overall are more fuel-efficient - though still not nearly efficient enough.

So will this year's Boston show be more like a wake than the traditional industry celebration?

Maybe not.

"It doesn't cost anything to look," said Joe Phillippi, president of Auto Trends Consulting. "That's a bit facetious, but true."

John Wolkonowicz, senior auto analyst for North America for IHS Global Insight in Lexington, said he expects the show to be well attended. "People are looking for cheap entertainment so the show should be a success," he said.

But looking doesn't necessarily translate to sales.

"We're at a low point in consumer confidence where nothing is going to sell cars," said Wolkonowicz. "People have lost home equity. They're concerned about their jobs. They've lost money in the market or their retirement funds. They're not wanting to make long-term purchases."

Phillippi sees that trend continuing. "There's a decided somber tone from a lot of manufacturers these days, and that's going to be the case for at least a couple of months," he said.

The 52d edition of the show, produced by the Needham-based Paragon Group, is being held at the Boston Convention & Exhibition Center for the second year, instead of the much smaller Bayside Exposition Center.

The move has helped it to grow even as the auto industry sinks, and it's one of the reasons the New England show is included in Tradeshow Week's "Fastest 50," a list based on growth between 2005 and 2007.

Here are some highlights to check out on the convention center floor:

Hybrids. They reign as mileage kings, at least until the advent of fuel-cell-powered offerings or a big drop in the cost of diesel fuel. The growing list of hybrids remains topped by Toyota's Prius, Camry, and Highlander. Honda's Civic is right up there, too, and folks will want to take a look at Nissan's Altima along with the Ford Escape and its Mercury (Mariner) and Mazda (Tribute) siblings. Also, a growing number of GM vehicles, including the Malibu sedan and an array of pickups and SUVs, are now available with hybrid technology.

Diesels. They're much cleaner these days. I'm particularly interested in Volkswagen's Jetta TDI Sportwagen. Two other manufacturers' displays to visit are Mercedes-Benz, to get a look at the BlueTEC diesel technology used to power a sedan, crossover, and SUV; and BMW, which is putting a diesel in the X5 and also in its 3 Series sedan.

The little guys. They're standing tall these days. A used car dealer told me last winter that the four-cylinder vehicle was going to rule. So stop by to see the redone Honda Fit, the baby of the Honda lineup, but now available with big-car amenities such as built-in navigation and a long list of standard features.

The littler guys. Four cylinders? Try three in the tiny Smart fortwo with its 61 cubic inches (1 liter) and 70 horsepower. It figures to draw attention in inverse proportion to its size.

A Las Vegas touch. What happens in Vegas no longer stays there, at least when it comes to the Specialty Equipment Market Association. The trade group grew to an almost untenable size in Vegas. Then came the recession. Now, for the first time, SEMA has sanctioned an exhibit for the public outside of its own show. In Boston.

An (outrageous) new US-built car. It's the Iconic GTR Roadster, an 800-plus horsepower behemoth that has lines reminiscent of the AC Cobra.

Aerosmith's Steven Tyler? His custom motorcycle company, Red Wing, is part of the show.

Safety. Sometimes it's a hard sell because safety improvements are usually invisible to the auto show browser. But Volvo's City Safety system for avoiding low-speed collisions (up to 19 miles per hour) will be explained through an easy-to-follow display. City Safety is being introduced with the company's XC60 crossover model and is designed to avoid and/or minimize the slow-speed collisions that account for 75 percent of reported collisions.

The system is being recognized at the show with the New England Motor Press Association's Yankee Cup for technological ingenuity.

More models to see. Don't miss the Acura TL, Cadillac's 556-horsepower CTS-V four-door sedan, the Chevrolet Camaro, the new Ford F-150 pickup, Saab's 9-3 convertible (25th anniversary edition), Nissan's new 370Z, Hummer's H3T pickup, and Toyota's Venza crossover.