NEW YORK -- Leave it to Ford design boss J Mays to sum up the New York Auto Show in one sentence: "You just have to put two and two together to realize that if you don't have all-wheel drive (at least) as an option, you're not in the game."

From Cadillac to Acura, from Land Rover to Jeep to Infiniti, to Nissan, Buick and Lincoln, New York's Jacob K. Javits Center is stuffed with new models this week boasting or promising traction at all four wheels. Even General Motors' Saab division is getting into the act with an Ohio-built, Saab-badged all-wheel drive (AWD) Chevrolet Trailblazer called the 9-7X -- not to mention Saab's 9-2X, which is a stylistically tweaked version of the AWD Subaru WRX.

You'd expect sport utilities like the Land Rover LR3 (the new-generation Discovery) and Chrysler's new Jeep Grand Cherokee to come with AWD. That's a must for any self-respecting ute.

But just look at all the AWD cars unveiled in New York for the first time: Cadillac STS (the new Seville), new versions of the Infiniti M45 (a thinly disguised concept) and Q45, the Acura RL (another thinly disguised concept) and the Lincoln Zephyr.

Those models come on the heels of a slew of already-announced new AWD models such as the Ford Five Hundred sedan and the Chrysler Magnum wagon. Add in the current sales explosion in AWD and four-wheel drive pickups and sport-utes and it's enough to confound Ford chairman and CEO Bill Ford Jr.

How so? AWD and 4WD vehicles use more fuel than their rear- or front-drive counterparts. Sending power to both ends requires turning more driveshafts and wheels, which in turn uses up more energy, taking a toll on fuel economy.

Yet Bill Ford, a Sierra Club member who tries to be the capitalist environmentalists can respect, took reporters by surprise when he hinted at the need for a 50-cent-a-gallon increase in the U.S. fuel tax bump and perhaps subsidies of up to $3,000 (U.S.) for fuel-efficient hybrid electric vehicles. (Hybrid technology uses an electric engine when idling and at low speeds and switches to a gas engine at higher speeds.)

"I would support some combination of a gas-tax increase . . . and incentives on hybrids," he said last week, while noting gas taxes are politically difficult to raise, especially during an election year.

Indeed, the Bush campaign has been running television ads attacking Democratic presidential candidate John Kerry for suggesting higher gas taxes might help reduce U.S. dependency on Middle East oil.

In any case, it must have been merely a coincidence that Ford is showing off its latest version of the Escape hybrid sport ute at the show. The Escape hybrid will go on sale later this summer. Ford Motor also used the New York show to announce plans for a Mercury hybrid called the Mariner (not to be sold in Canada).

That will bring Ford's fleet of hybrid models to a total of three. Ford earlier revealed plans to sell a hybrid version of a new midsize sedan which will be built on a modified Mazda6 architecture or basic frame design. The Escape hybrid will duel with the Honda Civic and Toyota Prius hybrids, as well as a hybrid Honda Accord and Lexus RX330 luxury SUV. Toyota also plans to sell a hybrid version of its Highlander SUV, perhaps as early as next year.

These fuel-efficient, less-polluting hybrids cost more to build than regular gas-only vehicles because they have two engines and more sophisticated computer controls. But tax credits such as the $1,000 (Canadian) offered in Ontario offset sticker prices that are thousands more than conventional vehicles. Higher fuel costs, meanwhile, act as an ongoing incentive to own them. Ford Motor expects the hybrid Escape to be 75 to 100 per cent more fuel efficient than a conventional V6-powered Escape.

Chairman Ford says the company's product strategy assumes that fuel prices will remain relatively high and that "customers in every segment will be more interested in fuel economy going forward." In fact, research firm J.D. Power & Associates says that in its 2003 U.S. study of "escaped shoppers" -- consumers who walked away from a certain vehicle -- fuel economy moved to the fifth most-cited reason for rejection, up from 13th a year earlier. So Ford may be on to something.

However, this show underscores the seemingly contradictory actions of a car business trying to reconcile the left- and right-brain urges of consumers. On the left side is the rational, analytical thinking that drive us towards hybrids. On the right side, many buyers are directed by an emotional and intuitive approach that responds viscerally to vehicles like the 440-horsepower Mustang GT-R show car Ford unveiled in New York.

As Ford says, "There is a real disconnect between what society says it wants and what individual customers want."

So at the very time the hybrid debate was raging on the show floor, Cadillac took the wraps off the upcoming 320-horsepower Cadillac STS. The STS luxury sedan is aimed at BMW's 5-series and the Mercedes-Benz E-class and is based on the Sigma mechanical architecture of the Cadillac CTS sedan and SRX sport utility. It will come in both rear- and all-wheel-drive versions mated to a five-speed automatic transmission. The base engine is a 252-hp, 3.6-litre V6; a 320-hp, 4.6-litre V8 is optional.

Just across the hall, Acura made a big impression with the 2005 RL all-wheel-drive sedan. The new RL is a spectacular step forward from the dowdy-looking 2004 RL. Though billed as a concept, the 2005 RL will look pretty much like what Acura is showing on the stand.

The next RL sticks with a V6 engine but at 300 hp it rivals the V8s offered in other luxury sedans. The RL also gets a novel, high-tech AWD system plus a fancy navigation system. It's a pretty potent technology package. Add in a dynamic looking new design that echoes the stylish TL sedan and Acura may finally have a player in the $55,000-$60,000-plus class.

Here's a quick look at a few other New York notables:

Buick Velite concept car: This four-seat convertible points to Buick's future intended to styling direction, says GM design vice-president Ed Welburn. The Velite's hood has Buick's signature portholes and a long hood reminiscent of classic models from Buick's past. The interior features three colours of leather and oriental-style gold lacquer trim for what Buick calls "a jazz-lounge atmosphere." The car rides on GM's new Zeta rear-wheel-drive architecture, but an all-wheel driver version is possible. Welburn says he'd really like to see Buick make this concept a real production car.

Lincoln Zephyr concept car: Lincoln officials call this a "teaser," but the Zephyr is a thinly disguised 2006 production car slated for sale next year. It rides on the underpinnings of the front-wheel-drive Mazda6 but will likely come with an all-wheel-drive option later. It will compete with the BMW 3-series, among others.

Infiniti M45: This 2005 luxury sedan model will go on sale in the spring of 2005. The design is extraordinarily dynamic, especially when compared to the current and very boxy M45. The M45 is based on the FM platform used in the G35, but has a longer wheelbase. The rear-drive M45 flagship version has a 4.5-litre V8 with an adaptive six-speed automatic transmission. An AWD V6 version is also expected. Infiniti also is showing a revamped Q45 to go on sale this summer.

Jeep Grand Cherokee: It's bigger, more powerful and more technically advanced than the 2004 model it will replace this fall. The Grand Cherokee will be the first Jeep to feature the company's acclaimed 325-hp Hemi V8 engine.

Lexus LF-C concept: This is where Lexus plans to go with its next-generation, entry-level coupe. The four-seat luxury sport coupe also hints at the character of the next-generation IS 300 sports car, say Lexus officials. The LF-C concept features a complex folding hard-top that allows the car to be driven as a coupe, targa or full convertible.

Saab 9-7X: Saab's first sport utility is based on the Chevy Trailblazer but has a Saab grille and other Swedish styling cues. Saab CEO Peter Augustsson promises extensive suspension modifications to give the 9-7X the ride and handling characteristics fit for the marque.

Land Rover LR3: Land Rover, the sport-ute provider of Ford's luxury-oriented Premier Automotive Group, has a new truck with a bolder look and a longer wheelbase than the Discovery it replaces. It is powered by a Jaguar-derived 4.4-litre, 300-hp V8.

Nissan Xterra: Nissan's basic off-roader grows up for 2005. This all-new Xterra uses a modified version of Nissan's F-Alpha platform that underpins the full-size Armada SUV and Titan pickup. A more powerful 4.0-litre V6 with 250 hp arrives with the 2005 model.