Plug-in hybrids are seen by many, including Magna, as the next great  frontier.

By John O'Dell, Senior Editor

Another entry in the plug-in hybrid race, this time from a competitor with really powerful potential.

Magna International, the top-tier Canadian auto parts maker, says it will roll out a plug-in car late next year or in 2010.

So as not to foul relationships with the major automakers that it already supplies with scores of parts, Magna says it won't sell a competing plug-in but will sell them the bits and pieces needed to make their own.

In markets where its customers don't sell cars, though, Magna intends to field a complete plug-in under its own brand.

The company, which reported $26.1 billion in sales and a $663 million net profit last year, is serious about becoming a car maker.

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New York -- The New York International Auto Show features a smattering of eco-friendly vehicles this year that, while unusual or even quirky, are not quite showstoppers. These include the Mitsubishi iMIEV and Subaru R1e electric minicars, and the Nissan Denki Cube Concept.

But one eco-friendly show car here is an attention grabber: the Saab 9-X BioHybrid, which made its world debut earlier this month at the 2008 Geneva Auto Show.

To improve aerodynamics and fuel economy at speed, the sleek and sporty two-door hatchback features a rooftop spoiler that automatically extends at speeds above 43 miles per hour, lengthening the roofline, while a rear diffuser automatically extends from beneath the rear bumper.

Wheels styled like turbines recall Saab’s heritage with jets. And like an aircraft’s fuselage, the body of the 9-X BioHybrid has no side door mirrors or visible handles. Inside, an arch-shaped main instrument panel features 3-D graphics designed to look as though they’re frozen in ice.

As befits a green car, it pairs a small 1.4-liter, E85-compatible “BioPower” turbocharged four-cylinder engine with a next-generation GM Hybrid system that uses a lithium-ion battery  and electric motor to provide a power boost to the engine on acceleration.

Of course, there’s no greater source of energy in the world than the sun, and the 9-X BioHybrid taps that power source, too. A large solar cell in the car’s glass roof charges the hybrid system’s battery pack – but not while the car is stuck inside a convention center.

Robert E. Calem, Contributor