New York auto show glum, not glam

In the past, it took a critical eye to see through the dry ice, glittering mirrors, ear-splitting videos and free lunches to get to the truth behind the hype and marketing glitz traditionally associated with media days at big-time car shows.

Not here in the Big Apple. This year, you could have been wearing sunglasses and had your eyes closed and still got the sense of how tough times are in the auto industry.

The "new" economy has irrevocably changed auto shows' usual Wizard of Oz atmosphere.

Dorothy's been sent back home to Kansas.

Take for example Government, er, General Motors' presence (or lack thereof) here on the banks of the Hudson River.

Just 12 months ago, it trotted out rapper 50 Cent in a bling-filled presentation to introduce its trio of new Pontiacs. This year, those Pontiacs – as well as GM's other orphan brands: Saab, Saturn and Hummer – are tucked away in a dimly lit corner with a minimum of branding or display graphics.

Across the show's main hall, Chrysler president Jim Press took us all by surprise by driving onto the stage in a Mini Cooper-sized blue Fiat 500.

"Bet you didn't expect me to come in that, did you? Ciao!"

You're right, Jim, we didn't.

He might have shown some faith in the company that's currently signing his paycheques and appeared in one of its minivans or full-size pickups, which are about the only vehicles moving off Chrysler's dealer lots these days.

Instead, Press only illustrated his employer's dire straits: If the hoped-for alliance with said Italian automaker isn't consummated by the end of April, Chrysler won't qualify for up to$6 billion more in U.S. federal loans. That's in addition to the $4 billion it has already received.

At least Chrysler had the courage to get up in front of the media.

With no press presentation, and only another concept of its forthcoming Transit Connect compact commercial van to debut, Ford seemed to be keeping its head down at this year's show.

And it wasn't alone.

Other major mainstream automakers like Nissan/Infiniti and Toyota/Lexus also passed on presenting to the media. Honda's only big news was an Element outfitted with dog-friendly features.

So there were less fireworks, booth babes and free trinkets for us media. Why should you, the new-car buyer, care?

Because the development of "green" car solutions also seems to be either put on hold or in serious danger of disappearing altogether. And that is truly worrisome.

Though Volkswagen and Scion are considering selling micro-cars (the Up and iQ, respectively) in North America, U.S. President Barack Obama's rejection of the business plans of GM and Chrysler on March 30 has sent the industry into a kind of purgatory.

And that means that money needed to continue fuel-efficient new vehicle programs – like Chevy's electric Volt and Chrysler's ENVI electric cars – has been put on ice.