Call it a power struggle.
This year's New England International Auto Show, which is open today through Sunday at the Boston Convention & Exhibition Center, features cars that generate 400 horsepower and more, along with fuel-stingy vehicles that go easy on the environment.
The show, which has moved to the convention center after almost a quarter century at the Bayside Exposition Center, is spread over 500,000 square feet.
The Boston Globe has a sponsorship agreement with the Paragon Group of Wellesley, an event-staging company that is producing the show with its primary promoter, the Massachusetts State Automobile Dealers Association.
Autos on display include high performance models with a thirst for gas such as the Mercedes-Benz SLR McLa ren - which can reach 206 miles per hour and comes with a $3,000 gas-guzzler tax - and Toyota's massive new Sequoia SUV.
Cars such as the 416-horsepower Lexus IS 4 occupy the midrange on the fuel efficiency scale. Even though Doug Herbert, Lexus product planning specialist, called it "the biggest, most powerful V-8 engine" the company has ever sold, the IS 4 is still likely to achieve 20 miles per gallon.
The fuel sippers are represented by models like the new and larger Mini Cooper S Clubman, capable of reaching the 40-plus miles per gallon boasted by smaller models in the Cooper lineup.
And, as usual, there are concept cars for futurists. Models of note include the appropriately named Kia Cue and the Saab Aero X, both having design elements that already are appearing in their companies' production cars.
In short, the Boston show's theme is a broad one, unlike the recent Los Angeles Auto Show, which was labeled "green" because it highlighted so many alternative energy vehicles.
"It shows the American consumer has a very broad range of needs, wants, and demands," said Michael Albano, spokesman for General Motors Corp.'s global design division. "There are customers out there who need an SUV like the hybrid Tahoe, which is as good on fuel economy as a 4-cylinder Camry."
The show's highlight may be the Saab Turbo X CWD (cross-wheel-drive) sedan, because of its aggressive styling and engineering. Saab decided to hold the car's North American introduction here - a rare happening for the Boston event in years past. Steve Shannon, general manager of Saab Automobile USA, said the company resisted pleas from the Los Angeles show's organizers to introduce it there. "This new venue, which is just superb, made that decision easy," he said.
Shannon said another factor in the decision to introduce the Saab here is the fact that 40 percent of the company's national sales are in the Northeast, and its followers have been loyal for decades. Many of them will appreciate that this 280-horsepower, black-only version of Saab's legendary turbo features its original boost gauge.
Other cars of note at the show include the Nissan GT R, a 194-mile-per-hour sports car; the Dodge Journey, a midsize crossover whose flip-and-stow front seat and tilt-and-slide second row should be checked out; the Suzuki SX4 sport sedan; Ford's reborn Taurus lineup as well as its Flex crossover; and the Infiniti EX crossover luxury vehicle.
Royal Ford can be reached at ford@globe.com.
