Henry Payne, The Detroit News

New York — The New York International Auto Show opened in 1900 at Madison Square Garden and it’s still going strong in the Javits Convention Center 126 years later.

This week the Big Apple’s big show kicked off featuring 32 brands, 10 new model reveals, two outdoor test tracks, an indoor EV track, and the World Car of the Year Awards.

The BMW iX3 won World Car of the Year, the Chinese-made Firefly won Urban Car, and the Corvette E-Ray was a World Luxury Car finalist even as Chevy announced last month it is ceasing the hybrid’s production. The show floor is littered with everything from $3 million Koenigsegg Regera to electric Lucids to a Mustang v Corvette muscle war. In addition to the sheet metal, there’s a Subaru dog pen, racing simulators, and the United States Marine Band.

Here are the new model highlights.

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Henry Payne, The Detroit News

Henry Payne, The Detroit News

New York — The New York International Auto Show has an international vibe with its exotic European car display, melting pot of attendees, and World Car of the Year awards to kick thigs off.

So, it’s fun to see a good ol’ American muscle fight break out on the show floor.

Located in the adjacent Chevrolet and Ford exhibits on Level 3 of the Javits Convention Center, Corvette and Mustang have brought more firepower to the show than the deck of the USS Nimitz.

Though the industry has been under fire by emissions regulations targeting multi-cylinder engines, the brands have remained committed to their howling, V8-powered icons. Indeed, for the eight-generation ‘Vette and seventh-gen Mustang, the two sub-brands have raised their profiles by expanding sales overseas, introducing new models, and going head-to-head on the global GT3 racing circuit from the streets of Detroit to the 200-mph Mulsanne Straight at France’s 24 Hours of Le Mans.

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Henry Payne, The Detroit News

New York — Off-road parks are gonna get crowded.

Hyundai stunned the New York Auto Show Wednesday with its brawny Boulder SUV concept. It’s the first body-on-frame, truck-based SUV from the South Korean brand, going after Detroit icons Jeep Wrangler and Ford Bronco in the off-road space.

With General Motors Co. taking a pass on the affordable, mid-size, off-road SUV space to make the Chevrolet Blazer and six-figure GMC Hummer SUV electric vehicles, Asian makers have rushed in. Toyota has added body-on-frame competitors like the Land Cruiser and Lexus GX in the space where they already sold the popular 4Runner, and now here comes Hyundai which will also offer a U.S.-made pickup on the same platform by 2030.

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Henry Payne, The Detroit News

Mt. Holly — The 2026 Subaru Outback looks like the Chevy Colorado pickup and Jeep Cherokee had a love child.

Bold, boxy, aggressive vertical grille, mid-mounted headlights. Welcome to Truck Nation, Subaru.

The iconic Outback, of course, was one of the last of the wagons. The fetching 2025 Onyx model’s streamlined roof and scalloped flanks were the last vestiges of a sleek station wagon look shared with Eurowagons. No more. “We sell fashion,” an auto engineer once told me, and trucks are all the rage. Check out Outback competitor Honda Passport, which is flying off the shelves with its new truck-like wardrobe.

Subaru, which makes Outback in the USA and sells 70% of its global product here, has dutifully followed American fashion with one tough-looking cowboy. All that’s missing is beard stubble.

But the seventh-gen, Made-in-Indiana Outback is more than just a muscled all-American fullback. This is a comprehensively remade SUV over the outgoing generation in tech, interior layout — even hands-free driving capability.

I saddled up my Outback Touring XT for a road trip.

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Henry Payne, The Detroit News

Laguna Beach, California — Subaru Corp. has established a loyal following in the United States making rugged, go-anywhere, dog-friendly, gas-powered hatchbacks and SUVs.

Though its wanderlusting customer base leans green, Subaru has struggled to sell electric vehicles because of range and charging limitations. For 2026, Subaru thinks it has cracked the code and is offering three EVs in its lineup.

Sharing a battery platform with similar Toyota EVs, the electron-powered Subies are made in Japan, while assembly of its gas-fired vehicles is split between Japan and Lafayette, Indiana. At the media test for the all-new Uncharted and Trailseeker EVs (which join the Solterra EV in the Subaru lineup), Detroit News Auto Critic Henry Payne sat down with Trailseeker product planning manager Garrick Goh.

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Henry Payne, The Detroit News

Richmond, Michigan — The compact Ford Maverick Lobo street truck is a treat. Lowered chassis, Turbofan wheels, four-wheel-drift mode. All that’s missing is a supercharged Coyote V-8 engine.

EEEEEEAHWWWRRGH! Say hello to big brother, Ford F-150 Lobo with Supercharger Kit.

The Dream Cruise is gonna freak over this beast. I exited Rapid Road in Pontiac onto Woodward in my Rapid Red Metallic-painted tester and nailed the throttle. Rapid Red, indeed. Like the bastard child of a coyote and Tasmanian Devil, the 700-horsepower, forced-induction, 5.0-liter V-8 shrieked like a banshee out of Hell. EEEEEEAHWWWRRGH!

Call it Super Lobo.

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Rivian, Rivian

Rivian Jr. is finally here.

Rivian Automotive Inc. introduced its entry-level, battery-powered R2 SUV this week aimed at the volume compact SUV segment. Prices range from $46,495 for the Standard rear-wheel-drive model to $59,485 for the high-performance, all-wheel-drive Launch edition that will be first to arrive this spring.

The R2, previewed at the 2025 Detroit Auto Show, follows the midsize R1T pickup and R1S SUV that established the Silicon-Valley-based startup as the Tesla of off-road EV makers.

True to its parent, R2 comes with signature vertical headlights, screen-centric interior, face-flattening acceleration, and plenty of ground clearance to go off-road. Like Tesla with the best-selling Model Y compact SUV before it, Rivian hope the R2 will open the luxury EV-maker to a broader sales base just as the Model Y/3 expanded the Model S/X DNA to more buyers last decade.

Read full article here.

Henry Payne, The Detroit News

Westlake, California — My 2027 Chevrolet Bolt tester is a cutie. Dressed in Habanero Orange, it merged onto Highway 101. ZOT! I nailed the throttle and instant electric torque launched me like, well, a bolt into early morning traffic north of Los Angeles.

“Hey, Google,” I barked while looking at the 13% state of battery charge. “Take me to a charging station.”

A Tesla station four miles away in Agoura Hills popped up on the 11-inch infotainment screen. I punched the NAVIGATE TO button, then self-drive.

The wheel glowed green and I removed my hands while Habanero Bolt took over driving duties at 70 mph. I reached into my grocery bag (stored in the spacious console tray at my feet) and pulled out a Snapple. The wee Chevy automatically moved to the left lane to pass slower traffic, then methodically worked its way right across three lanes before handing the driving duties back to me at my freeway exit. Thanks, buddy.

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