Highlights from the New York Auto Show 2026

I attended the media and press days on April 1st and 2nd, which allowed me to preview the 2026 New York International Auto Show (NYIAS) before it opened to the public. The show was held at the Javits Center (the former New York Coliseum) from April 3rd through April 12th. The NYIAS is a Tier 1 event, placing it among the most important shows on the auto show circuit, along with those held in Detroit and Los Angeles. Coinciding perfectly with the start of spring and tax season, the show presented one of the most extensive selections of new vehicles and test drives I've ever encountered.

To attend the preview, I traveled to NYC the day before, taking the train from Philadelphia's 30th Street station. Arriving in Midtown Manhattan at Moynihan Train Hall at Penn Station, I made my way towards Hell's Kitchen/Hudson Yards section to rest at my hotel in preparation for the two-day event. I was able to attend numerous insightful panel discussions and presentations during the media days of the NYIAS featuring leading automotive executives and the NYC DMV’s organ donor awareness program.

New York’s show also offered a different perspective and feel from some of the other shows I visited earlier this year. I will discuss the numerous new models and concept vehicle launches from the show and provide my take as RealSource™’s Editor-in-Chief and a 25-year veteran of automotive retail.

Walking into the Javits Center, located right on the banks of the Hudson River, I was struck by the sheer architectural brilliance of the building. The vast, crystalline structure—a testament to modern design—was bathed in the early morning light, its immense glass facade reflecting the city skyline and the sparkling water of the river. The sheer scale of the building felt appropriate for the gravity of the event I was about to cover: the NYIAS 2026. As I walked inside, I was immediately greeted by security and bag scanning machines before collecting my credentials and having a quick bite to eat in their Media Center downstairs.

After breakfast, I entered the Crystal Palace to experience the event. Before entering the first room, I noticed Infiniti’s QX65 display next to a Honda Fastport, which I had never seen before. Immediately after entering, I was met with Ford Motor Company’s booth, next to Nissan, and ahead of Chevy’s. I was struck not only by the sheer size of the space but also by the considerable amount of open room left, which I suspected was to accommodate anticipated large crowds and foot traffic.

Moving to the right, the ceiling shrank in a section featuring roughly a dozen exotic vehicles from makes like Porsche, Lamborghini, Lotus, Bentley, Rolls-Royce, Karma, Koenigsegg, and Zenvo.

Subaru and Volkswagen were just past the exotics, as well as Polestar, followed by Kia and Toyota. Subaru’s booth was impressive and felt like a national park, with abundant greenery and a central stage. An LED light show mimicked sunlight filtering through trees—a subtle touch I appreciated. 

The Hoonigan Subaru Brataroo 9500 was in attendance. The customized 1978 Subaru Brat, a vehicle specially built for Travis Pastrana's "Gymkhana 2025: Aussie Shred" video, was a major highlight. This reminded me that the chicken tax is still a thing all of these years later.

Situated in the far rear corner of the room, luxury and premium brands like Audi, Lucid, Volvo, Lincoln, Alfa Romeo, and Mercedes. Volvo had an XC60 Plug-in Hybrid with a Volvo-branded bike rack on top, which I admired for its minimalist design approach. For whatever reason, they stuck the Fiat booth there, too, probably to be close to Alfa, which is also a Stellantis brand. 

Sitting in the frunk of the Lucid Air allowed me to experience "Frunking"—Lucid's take on tailgating—for the very first time.

Stellantis had another section featuring some of their more popular makes like Chrysler, Dodge, Jeep, and RAM. The Genesis booth was in the front of the hall, directly next to Hyundai’s large display area, with a stage where the Boulder concept vehicle would later be unveiled for the first time. Hyundai also had a soccer net setup, where I had a chance to kick a few balls at a projection screen with targets. Sports were a major theme throughout the show, with manufacturers tying their displays to Major League Baseball and FIFA for brand marketing.

Media and press days at the 2026 NYIAS featured the launch of several new vehicles.

The biggest unveiling at the NYIAS 2026 was the Hyundai Boulder concept. I’ve never been to a concept unveil, and it was a sight to behold with representatives from Hyundai excited to present the next generation of body-on-frame off-road vehicles from their brand. Hyundai has come a long way since the late ’80s. As a kid on my family’s car lot, I remember how basic and utilitarian their cars used to be. Hyundai has really stepped up its game in terms of quality and technology. I was really impressed with the paint finishes on all the brands under Hyundai Motor Group, including Kia and Genesis.

Standing around the Boulder concept on stage, with its massive 37-inch tires, I heard murmurs from bystanders about the refrigerator-like door handles, which suggested a shift in design philosophy toward seamless integration. However, I was more intrigued by the possibility of fitting a grille guard to protect the front end from brush, an area that seems ripe for aftermarket innovation. I could see this vehicle potentially conquesting Ford Bronco and Jeep Wrangler customers looking to stand out from the crowd.

The redesigned best of show ‘27 Seltos made its U.S. debut at the NYIAS ‘26 staged at the end of Kia’s booth, very close to the Subaru booth. Longer and wider than the previous model, the new model offers passengers and cargo more room for activities. 

The display vehicle was chock-full with all the right accessories, including a Yakima roof rack with a color-matched kayak, and a hitch-mounted double bike rack. With the new design drawing more from the Telluride, I hope the quality of the new Seltos also follows this trend, but only time will tell.

The second-generation Atlas was on display with two different specs on VW’s stage. Redesigned on the inside and out, the sophisticated German-engineered, Chattanooga-manufactured machine has a refreshed focus on family with tech like a power liftgate, rear sunshades, twin wireless charging ports, and voice control. 

I visited the unveiling for the all-new Infiniti QX65, which had prime real estate in the Crystal Palace at the Javits Center. The Sunfire Red paint and swooping roofline gave the Japanese-engineered, Smyrna, Tennessee-manufactured hot rod Infiniti a muscular look. 

I especially appreciated this launch party as there were waiters serving hors d'oeuvres and wine the entire time to give it an upscale feel that matched the luxurious ambience.

The all-new, electric Getaway from Subaru made its debut at the NYIAS 2026. Featuring three-row seating and over 300 miles of range, the Getaway provides standard symmetrical all-wheel drive and 420 horsepower on tap. Its standard NACS-compatible charging port supports up to 150 kW, enabling a 10% to 80% charge in roughly 30 minutes.

I was extremely impressed with the Supersonic paint on one of the display vehicles on stage, which was as deep and dark as the universe and flip-flopped in the light from red to blue. I haven’t seen a color like it before, and it was really impressive under the light. I am sure it would appear close to black at nighttime.

Meandering down the escalator to the ground floor, there was a mix of activities for everyone. From tuner cars to overlanding rigs to law enforcement and military vehicles, the variety of automobilia in the room was diverse. 

I was able to hear Sung Kang speak passionately about his new independent film Drifter, situated next to a beautifully restored Toyota AE-86, and his words made the hair on my arms stand on end. I may or may not have gotten a bit teary-eyed as well. His authenticity and vision for the automotive community resonated with everyone in the room, and I look forward to seeing his film in the near future.

The ground floor of the Javits Center also hosted one of the nicest EV test tracks I have seen at any car show this year. The NYIAS is the place you want to be to test drive–they had more drives available than any show as well.

It was here that I had the opportunity to ride in several electric vehicles, including the Polestar 4, Kia EV9, and Lucid Air, in addition to the groundbreaking Honda Fastport. The Polestar and Lucid were my favorite of the EV ride-alongs, but I rank the Lucid as King of the bunch. It was so comfortable, powerful, and luxurious that it made me think of the certified pre-owned one I saw at the Philly Auto Show and realize how great value EVs are on the used market.

My time at the New York Auto Show also included a test drive of the revolutionary electric Honda Fastport. This pedal-propelled vehicle, with its delivery-style configuration, surprisingly shares parallels with a truck. I had a chance to interview Honda’s Head of Product, Adam Elsayed, for Real Answers on RealSource, so stay tuned for that blog post soon.

There was an awesome variety of tuners, which I appreciated, street rods, a handful of overlanding rigs in this section and some NYC police, fire, and military vehicles. 

From flexing Tacomas to a three-wheeling Geo Tracker on Dayton wire wheels–there was something for everyone at the NYIAS 2026.

 In the Elite Tuner booth sat the Vettro–a patina’d International Metro Van food truck on top of a C8 Corvette chassis. I knew the readers of RealSource would be fascinated by its uniqueness, so I had to get an interview with the owner, LJ Koch, because that thing was epic.

Some of my favorites from this bunch included the white EK Civic racecar, which reminded me a bit of my current daily driver, the Pontiac Trainwreck, along with the Red Ford F-100, and the Ford COE which gave me Jeepers Creepers vibes.

The 2026 NYIAS solidified a few core truths about the current state of the automotive world. First, the industry is accelerating its transition to electric, but with a renewed focus on making EVs practical for daily life—especially for truck and SUV owners, as seen with the impressive range and utility of the new Subaru Getaway. Second, the battle for the off-road and adventure segment is fiercer than ever, with concepts like the Hyundai Boulder showing manufacturers are keen to push the limits of capability and customization potential. For RealSource readers, this show was a treasure trove of vehicles just waiting for the right aftermarket touch.