Most auto makers showcased their new lineups of long-awaiting electric and hybrid cars, expected to hit showrooms as early as mid-2009 through to 2012.

Some rehashed seen-before technologies such as cars that park themselves or keep drivers from straying into oncoming lanes, and rain-sensing windshield wipers.

Chrysler and General Motors were especially restrained because they wanted to show US taxpayers what they will get for their 13.4-billion dollar bailout of the two Detroit-based auto makers, not fanciful technologies, said analysts.

Others are concerned about a global recession, and aimed to push pragmatism over splendor.

"The themes of this year's show were restraint and fuel efficiency, and more low-key," said Tom Libby, an industry analyst with JD Powers and Associates.

"There was a lot of emphasis on hybrids because that's the next shift in their product lines -- making more fuel efficient vehicles," he told AFP.

If the 2009 North American International Auto Show seemed a bit "somber," "low key" or "restrained," he said, it's because car makers "couldn't be seen spending lavishly" while clamoring for government aid to avoid ruin.

"They're trying to get that message across because that's what the US government wants them to make," he said, in the case of Chrysler and GM.

"I don't think they're ignoring other technologies, but they're under extreme pressure to satisfy Congress right now."

General Motors showed off the production version of its electric Chevrolet Volt, Chrysler its concept 200C sedan, and Daimler rolled out its concept car BlueZero, slicing and dicing it to show journalists the inner workings of battery-powered cars.

Toyota meanwhile launched its third generation Prius, which boasts 50 miles per gallon and Ford announced plans for several electric and hybrid vehicles to be launched over the next four years.

"In spite of the many challenges that we face, I can honestly say I have never been more excited about our prospects for the future," Ford chairman Bill Ford said as he outlined Ford's electric vehicle strategy.

Ford also presented an eye-catching small car Lincoln C concept, with a dashboard companion named Eva who will read you online news and emails while you drive, suggest the best routes to take to avoid traffic congestion, and remind you to rotate your tires.

It is meant to highlight Ford's "Sync" technology that gives drivers hands-free access to their smart-phones, the Internet and other gadgetry. It resembles GM's On-Star system and another by Lexus that Toyota plans to roll out in all of its vehicles.

But going a step further, Ford will soon start selling trucks that allow contractors who "use their truck as an office" to print invoices and run applications from their home or office computer from the dashboard of their vehicle.

"People want to stay connected everywhere they go," explained Ford connection guru Douglas Van Dagens in an interview with AFP.

The system will also keep track of contractors' tools marked with wireless tags so none are left behind at worksites, he said.

Ford is leveraging existing technologies for its new cars, partnering with companies such as Microsoft, to get them to market faster than if it had to develop them from scratch, he said.

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