Nothing says "new car" better than the scent of virgin upholstery and the feel of a smooth glide of the hand over the body paint.

You can fantasize up close and personal about your next wheels at the 2006 First Hawaiian International Auto Show, which opened last night and continues through Sunday at the Hawai'i Convention Center.

Talk about going car-razy. Several hundred mint-condition vehicles await your inspection and admiration. If you're thinking of acquiring a new car over the next few months, this is a one-stop window-shopping destination.

With gasoline prices around the $3-per-gallon mark, fuel-efficient hybrids are expected to be a draw. New hybrid models from Toyota, Lexus, Ford and Chevrolet, offering better mileage, will be on view.

If you have a particular favorite make, you're likely to it at the show, which includes includes Acura, Audi, BMW, Buick, Cadillac, Dodge, Honda, Hummer, Hyundai, Infiniti, Jaguar, Kia, Land Rover, Lincoln, Mazda, Mercedes, Mercury, Mitsubishi, Nissan, Pontiac, Porsche, Saab, Suzuki, Volvo and Volkswagen.

Clearly, there's something for everyone — and at low- to high-end pricing. And the fleet will include not just cars, but trucks, SUVs and minivans, too.

If European dream machines are what you're searching for, check out the latest numbers from Ferrari, Maserati, Lotus and Lamborghini.

If you savor vintage, the Porsche Club of America will feature a 50th-anniversary display of models past and present.

Classic Corvettes and Camaros also will be on view, along with customized vehicles that have accessories you mostly drool about.

Sunday is Kids Day: The first 500 youngsters entering the show will receive a McDonald's Happy Meal toy, and the Golden Arches' Hamburglar will make appearances from noon to 4 p.m.

Reach Wayne Harada at wharada@honoluluadvertiser.com.