The Washington Auto Show, which opens to the public Wednesday, January 23, will include two vehicle debuts by Ford, the updated Ford Escape, and 2009 Mercury Mariner.

Unlike other auto shows around the country, the Washington event is often heavily attended by political and government leaders, making it a likely showcase for more "politically correct" products like hybrids.

Both of the sport utility vehicles from Ford and Mercury come in gasoline and gas-electric hybrid versions. Although the fuel economy will not improve substantially for either vehicle -- only 1 mpg for the gasoline version and no change on the hybrids -- Ford, like all automakers, is feeling the pressure of the newly raised CAFE standards. Currently the SUVs return on average 18 mpg city and 26 highway.

The recently enacted fuel economy legislation requires automakers to meet an overall average of 35 miles per gallon by the year 2020, a level many inside the automotive industry criticize as overly optimistic.

While both Ford and Toyota will be displaying plug-in hybrids in prototype form, unquestionably development will heat up in the coming year to 18 months on alternative fuel and high efficiency vehicles.

Both versions of the Escape and Mariner are powered by 2.5-liter engines at 170 horsepower. On the gasoline models there is an option for a 3-liter V6 at 230 horsepower. The 2009 models will go on sale late in the summer.