DETROIT -- Gas power gave way to the future yesterday with the Toyota Prius, a so-called "hybrid" vehicle, driving away with North American car of the year honours. If last year's hype was about horsepower, this year's North American International Auto Show in Detroit puts the spotlight on new ways to motor -- hybrids that combine electric power with another energy source, such as fuel cells or low-emission gasoline engines.

The show at Cobo Center on the Detroit riverfront opens to the public Saturday. Yesterday was the start of a three-day media preview.

Yoshio Ishizaka, executive vice-president of Toyota Motor Corp., said the company's strategy with the Prius was "to move our gas-electric technology into the mainstream."

The Prius is scoring big with consumers.

Sales in Japan exceeded 17,500 in the first month, while U.S. buyers have placed more than 16,000 orders. Response has been so positive, Ishizaka said, production for the U.S. market has increased 30 per cent to meet the demand.

The Prius beat out the conventionally powered Cadillac XLR roadster and the Mazda RX8 for car of the year.

Toyota also unveiled a "husky hybrid" yesterday. To meet demand for larger sport utility vehicles, the Highlander Hybrid's battery and electric motor are bigger. Expect it in showrooms in about a year.

General Motors and Lexus also are unveiling hybrid SUVs at this year's show, while Ford promised its Escape Hybrid will be in showrooms by the summer.

The Ford F-150 pickup was selected as the 2004 North American truck of the year.

This year's auto show also features more than 30 new production models. The parade started yesterday with the unveiling of a couple of Detroit auto icons, the redesigned Ford Mustang and the sixth-generation Corvette.

GM took the wraps off the production version of the Pontiac Solstice, while Ford revealed its 2005 F-150 King Ranch Super Crew pickup, the 320 km/h Ford GT supercar, a redesigned Focus compact and the 2005 Five Hundred, a full-size family sedan.

Chrysler showed off three concept models it says take each brand's identity to the extreme -- among them, the Jeep Treo, a unique three-seater that could be powered by fuel-cell technology.

But the Chrysler highlight was the ME-Four-12, a prototype super sports car that can accelerate from a standstill to 100 km/h in 2.9 seconds and hit 400 km/h.

Honda confirmed it is joining the pickup market, unveiling its SUT Concept, a preview of a production model truck that will be built at its Alliston assembly plant.

The show runs until Jan. 19.