Here’s What’s Set to Debut at the 2026 NY Auto Show

Auto shows. Remember them? In the years leading up to the COVID pandemic they were big events for automakers and auto buyers alike, but they’ve seemed stuck in lockdown ever since. Until now, anyway. This year’s New York International Auto Show promises to be the most exciting auto show of the decade with as many as a dozen significant previews from brands like Chrysler, Hyundai, Kia and Volkswagen. Headlight.News reports on what we expect to see debut this week.

The Big Apple is set to host the biggest U.S. auto show of the decade and we’ll get a first look at as many as a dozen new models on Wednesday during media day at the New York International Auto Show.

The event, which officially opens its doors to the public later this week, comes at a time when most manufacturers have shifted marketing resources to other opportunities. Gone are the days when virtually all new products needed to make their first appearance on an auto show stage. But, while the once-grand events in Detroit and Chicago were completely forgettable this year, New York is shaping up to make significant news.

Though there’ll still be big gaps in the list of brands, we’ll see new products rolled out from marques ranging from Chrysler to Volkswagen, as well as Dodge, Genesis, Honda, Hyundai, Infiniti, Kia, Nissan and Subaru. We could be in for a few surprises, NYIAS organizers suggest, but here are the 11 new models we know are coming to the Jacob Javits Convention Center.

Chrysler

The Chrysler brand is itself a shadow of its former glory, today operating with just one product line, the Pacifica minivan. If there’s any good news it’s that people-mover sales increased last year for the first time since the beginning of the new millennium. Chrysler hopes to take advantage of that with a mid-cycle update with a sharpened exterior, upgraded interior options, expanded technology packages and new standard features — all designed to give customers greater choice, comfort and confidence than ever before. But one thing will be missing: the plug-in hybrid Pacifica Hybrid has been dropped for 2027.

Dodge

With all that’s been going on lately, the fact that 2026 marks the 250^th anniversary of the signing of the Declaration of Independence seems to have gotten lost in the shuffle. But the folks at Chrysler’s sibling Dodge brand haven’t forgotten. They’re set to roll out a special edition SUV to mark the occasion. We’ve yet to see specs on the 2026 Dodge Durango America 250 but it’s expected to follow the same, well-equipped formula of the previously announced Ram 1500 America 250 pickup. Of course, there’ll also be a bold use of red, white and blue in the Durango’s color scheme, inside and out.

Genesis

The high-line arm of the Hyundai Motor Group has been loyal to NYIAS ever since making its original debut at the Javits Center. This year, Genesis will roll out two new models, most notably the GV60 Magma. First revealed in New York two years ago, Magma will take on the likes of BMW M and Mercedes AMG, aiming to “infuse adrenaline into the Genesis brand,” according to the brand’s creative director Luc Donckerwolke. Compared to the current, all-electric GV60, the Magma SUV will get a wider body and lots more power, widely estimated to reach as much as 650 hp.

Separately, Genesis will continue widening its range of body styles with the debut of the G90 Wingback. It’s a station wagon version of the current G90 sedan. Expect modest demand in the U.S. but stronger interest in the plush luxury package from European and Chinese buyers.

Honda Fastport eQuad

Honda may have scrapped three planned battery-electric vehicles this past month, as well as its joint venture with Sony, but its not giving up on EVs entirely. Its new Fastport eQuad is set to debut at this week’s New York Auto Show. Honda says eQuad is an electric quadricycle “designed for use in bike lanes to enable the delivery of goods in urban areas.” It will be offered in two sizes, each with reconfigurable cargo compartments. They’ll have enough power to go up to 23 miles between charges, even when fully loaded. At a max 12 mph, eQuad be faster than the typical NY taxicab.

Hyundai

Here’s what could be the biggest surprise of the show. These days, manufacturers routinely provide embargoes “backgrounders” for the automotive media to prepare stories ahead of a product’s formal debut. Not this time, one senior official told Headlight.News. But let’s just say we’ll make an educated guess at what’s coming: the production version of the wildly popular Hyundai Crater concept that made its own debut at the Los Angeles Auto Show last November. The rugged, off-road-oriented prototype “is not just a concept car,” SangYup Lee, executive vice president and head of global design told us in LA.

Infiniti QX65

Infiniti is rebuilding its line-up all but from the ground up after abandoning some of its better-known, albeit slow-selling, models. It launched a next-generation QX60 last year, targeting one of the most important segments in the U.S. luxury market. The next step is to roll out a sportier variant, the QX65 adopting the more coupe-like look popularized by competitors such as the Audi Q7 and BMW X6. Infiniti has done nothing to deny rumors the 2027 QX65 will bring a V-6 back to the line-up and it might be the foundation of a new high-performance sub-brand.

Kia Seltos

Since its debut in 2019, the Kia Seltos has grown to become the Korean carmaker’s best-selling model line. But Kia has even bigger ambitions for the subcompact crossover as it gets a complete makeover that will see it grow larg er, add more features and a variety of powertrain options. The automaker rolled out an international version of the SUV last December. Now, it’s bringing a U.S. package to the NY show. Kia plans to offer three different internal combustion engine options, depending upon market. Word has it the U.S. will share a hybrid package here tuned to balance performance and fuel economy.

Nissan Z Car and Nismo

A sporty new take on the “Z car” makes its debut at the NY Auto Show this week. The mid-cycle tweaks give the 2027 Nissan Z a fresher appearance and, for NISMO buyers, there’s a first-time manual transmission option. Other updates include a revised front end on Z Sport and Performance packages, upgraded shocks and a design change to the fuel tank on all Z models to “maintain consistent performance during aggressive track driving,” Nissan explained. The manual for the Nismo package runs counter to industry trends, making it one of the few sports cars left for buyers looking to row their own.

Subaru

The Japanese automaker was late to the EV market but, even as other brands pull back, it’s adding three all-electric options this year. That includes one debuting in NY. We’ll have to wait to learn the name the automaker has picked but the Ascent-sized three-row SUV is based on the recently launched Toyota Highlander EV. Word has it the Subaru package will make as much as 420 hp. Subaru is also racing to catch up in the fast-growing hybrid market – perfectly timed, considering the current surge in fuel prices. Its second NY debut will be Forester Wilderness Hybrid, the first gas-electric Wilderness package.

Volkswagen Atlas

We got a sneak peek at a heavily camouflaged version of the second-generation Volkswagen Atlas last month. With the colorful wrap, it was a bit difficult to fully take in all the new design details. But VW confirmed all exterior sheet metal has been replaced, except for the roof. Expect dimensions, including wheelbase, to be within millimeters of the outgoing package, a source confirmed. One likely disappointment: no hybrid is expected. Instead, VW will with its EA888 Evo5 gas engine. Specs aren’t yet available. In the Tiguan, however, it delivers 268 horsepower and 258 pound-feet of torque