(April 28, 2011) SANTA MONICA, Calif. — With gas prices soaring to record highs, redesigned models of smaller fuel-efficient new cars have set a tone of sensibility at the 2011 New York auto show, according to Edmunds' InsideLine.com.

"Even with the introduction of new luxury offerings from Audi, Mercedes and Maserati, a lot of our attention at the New York auto show was focused on smaller, more affordable vehicles," said Scott Oldham, editor in chief of Edmunds' InsideLine.com. "Consumers are increasingly considering these inexpensive, fuel-efficient cars to combat skyrocketing gas prices and manufacturers are using this show as a platform to fight for this growing market."

Some of the new fuel-sippers unveiled at the 2011 New York auto show include:

2012 Nissan Versa — With an anticipated starting price of $11,750, the Versa was the most inexpensive car introduced at the New York auto show. The new model will be available only with a 1.6-liter engine that will deliver up to 37 MPG.

2012 Kia Rio

2012 Kia Rio — The Rio will be the newest member of the 40 MPG club when it goes on sale this summer. Both the sedan and the hatchback will be priced under $13,000.

2012 Hyundai Accent — Another 40 MPG club candidate, the Accent offers an Active ECO feature, which tweaks engine and transmission control to optimize fuel economy and, according to Hyundai, can be switched on to increase fuel economy up to 7 percent.

2012 Honda Civic — As the top-selling compact car of the last decade, the new Civic's debut was one of the most anticipated at this year's show. The base Civic sedan falls just short of the 40 mpg benchmark, even as its HF trim gets 41 mpg.

2012 Volkswagen Beetle — The new Beetle, another highly-anticipated debut, was cautiously redesigned in hopes of offering a broader market appeal. The new model will have three engine options, including a TDI clean diesel engine that is expected to touch 40 mpg on the highway.

For more details on these and other new cars debuting at the New York auto show, visit MotorwayAmerica's auto show page and InsideLine's auto show preview page.