PHOENIX -- Hundreds of new, eco-friendly and futuristic cars are on display this weekend at the Arizona International Auto Show at the Phoenix Convention Center, KPHO-TV reported.

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Rick Fornes said he came to see the new Camaro, but what caught his attention was the shift in sizes of the vehicles on display.

"I think it's quite interesting to see the change from the larger cars to the smaller cars this year -- a lot more smaller cars," Fornes said.

He said it appears the struggling auto industry is trying to adapt to the struggling economy as drivers demand smaller, more fuel-efficient cars.

"It's the consumers that drive the marketplace," said Nox Ramsey, president of the Valley Auto Dealers Association. "They're the ones who determine what the product mix is going to be."

The Big Three automakers are going to submit plans to Congress on Tuesday outlining how they'd use a $25 billion government loan to stave off bankruptcy.

Another show attendee, Jim Licata, of Gilbert, said one way to start turning things around would be getting motorists what they want in a car so they'll buy.

"Pretty good gas mileage, obviously got to have some interior room," Licata said.

People in the auto industry, stress it's not all doom and gloom.

"What we're finding with the auto shows across the country, people are still coming out," said DeeDee Taft. "It's not about just getting from A to B. There's still a love affair with the car."

Wayne Mitchell, of Phoenix, said he liked what he saw. "There are some interesting new models," he said.

Eric Hershberg test drove the new Chevy Traverse. "They let us try out two different models: the base and the LTZ," he said. "We recommend to anybody that comes out here, to try the LTZ. It's a little bit quicker."

Dealers hope the large crowds will head to showrooms and ease the auto industry's economic slump.