The Geneva Motor Show, which closed last week, featured a record number of small cars, hybrids and other alternative-fuel vehicles as the auto industry put on its most environmentally-friendly face in decades.  Don't expect the same as the New York Auto Show opens this week.  AutoWeek reports, "Instead of a long list of world debuts for hybrids and other gasoline-saving technologies, the show will concentrate on redesigns of current models, a few doses of high-horsepower V-8s and, of course, some new names and models never seen by the public."

Motor Trend reports that Pontiac will unveil a pair of V8-powered vehicles in the G8 GXP and Sport Truck.  The two are part of a push to repair Pontiac's image as a high-performance brand.  The automaker is also sponsoring a "name this truck" contest, offering a free Sport Truck to the winner.

Other debuts include the 2009 Nissan Maxima.  Jalopnik releases teaser photos.  Details on the vehicle are sketchy, but Autoblog notes "the ‘4DSC' sticker on the rear passenger window, which harkens back to the day when Nissan referred to the Maxima as a ‘4-Door Sports Car.'"

Hyundai's Genesis sports coupe will be unveiled Wednesday.  Motor Trend offers the first official photos, but details on what powers the Genesis won't be made available until Wednesday.

Autoblog notes that legendary tuner Steve Saleen, the man behind a long series of high-performance Ford Mustang modifications, will use the New York show to announce that "he'll be adding one more brand to his portfolio focused solely on ‘high-end of the diverse American Muscle Car and Global Supercar markets.'"  SMS Limited will "develop and distribute high-end supercars developed in-house, i.e. having nothing to do with Ford."  Edmunds Inside Line says the first of these will debut in New York.  The mid-engine S5S Raptor is "a sports car designed primarily for the street instead of the track," with an estimated top speed of 200 mph, and an expected price tag "in the $150,000 range."

Dodge will continue to feature its Challenger muscle car.  AutoWeek says, "Although the 2008 Challenger has yet to go on sale, Dodge will debut the 2009 model line in New York. The display is expected to feature the lowest-priced Challenger, with a 3.6-liter V-6, as well as the 5.7-liter Hemi V-8 model."

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