This story is not about the Detroit Auto Show per se but is indicative as to what's happening with the mother of all car shows.

Ford announced that it will debut the 2009 Escape gas-electric hybrid and its brother from another mother, the 2009 Mercury Mariner at the Washington Auto Show.

It seems that Detroit is no longer the live all end all. Automakers seem intent on unveiling new stock in markets where there are more potential buying consumers in key markets ala Los Angeles, New York, Chicago and the DC area.

Never the less, let's look at the Escape.

Automakers typically show off their fuel-efficient technologies at the Washington show, which is heavily attended by government and political leaders. An energy law signed by President Bush last month will require automakers to meet an overall fleet average of 35 miles per gallon by 2020.

Ford said overall fuel efficiency for the gasoline versions of the 2009 Escape and Mariner would increase by 1 mpg compared with the 2008 versions, which get between 18 mpg in the city and 26 mpg on the highway depending on the engine configuration.

Both the gasoline and hybrid versions of the Escape and Mariner will have a new 2.5-liter engine that will boost power 11 percent to 170 horsepower. The gasoline versions will also offer an optional 230-hp, 3.0-liter V6 engine with similar gains in fuel economy. The 2009 versions of both models will go on sale this summer.