NY Auto Show Bringing Plenty of Previews – Here’s What You’ll Find

At least a half-dozen brands will be making news at this week’s New York International Auto Show, products such as the next-generation Subaru Outback and Kia EV4 among the mix. We may even get a few surprises. Here’s what we already know is on the list of debuts.

Over the last several years we’ve begun thinking of auto shows as anachronisms. Gone are the days when we automotive scribes could count on witnessing the debut of numerous new products. These days, most shows are little more than “cars on carpet” events minus the big announcements – and the costly, multi-story display.

Apparently, the organizers at the New York International Auto Show didn’t get that memo. This year’s event reminds us of the good old days, with a wide range of new products from Europe, Japan and South Korea breaking cover for the first time – though Detroit automakers are notably absent from that list.

Among the products we’ve already confirmed, we’ll be looking to check out the next-generation Hyundai Palisade and Subaru Outback, along with the Maserati GranCabrio Trofeo. We’re still trying to confirm a few specifics about Volkswagen and Toyota, but they’re on the show’s media preview schedule, as well.

Here’s what we know so far:

Genesis

As has become the luxury brand’s norm, it will use the 2025 NYIAS to show off some intriguing new concepts that could hint at what’s coming to the luxury brand. (More precisely, they’ll make their North American debut at a private event ahead of the official NYIAS media day.

Genesis has made it clear it wants to move even more up-market, perhaps even taking on Britain’s Bentley. Based on the current G90 flagship, two concepts will move in that direction. First making an appearance at the Seoul Mobility Show earlier this month, the X Gran Coupe and X Gran Convertible Concepts aren’t confirmed for production, though the automaker has hinted it is looking at entering new “white spaces” where it currently doesn’t compete. What’s clear is that these prototypes underscore the Genesis brand’s ambitions and we expect to see them influence an even more lavish flagship to com.

Hyundai

The carmaker will have some big news as it rolls out the next-generation Palisade crossover. We’ve gotten a first look at the popular three-row SUV in South Korean form already, but this marks its North American debut.

There are likely to be some minor tweaks to reflect both U.S. consumer demand and regulatory requirements, but the basic updates will cross the Pacific, the 2026 Hyundai Palisade adopting a boxier design echoing what we’ve already seen with the latest update to the smaller Santa Fe line. Expect to see several new powertrain options, including a hybrid and a turbo-four.

Kia

The three Korean brands have been pumping new life into the struggling U.S. auto show circuit and Kia is certainly not going to miss the opportunity to show off its latest wares at the Jacob Javits Convention Center in Manhattan this year.

One of the most important products bound for the Big Apple is the new EV4 battery-electric vehicle which will come in as a more affordable option than the automaker’s current EV6 package. It’s a production version of the concept vehicle first shown at the 2023 Los Angeles Auto Show. If it stays true to that prototype it will closely resemble the bigger, more expensive crossover, albeit with a lower stance and a more coupe-like roofline. Also on tap is another battery-electric vehicle which is widely expected to be the yet-smaller EV3 that also debuted in concept form at the 2023 LA event. As for the third debut, based on what the automaker has previously talked about, we’ll bet on the arrival of the K4 five-door. As with the current K4, expect this to rely on a “normally aspirated” powertrain.

Maserati

While we’ve already seen most of what the Italian brand has in store – abroad – we’ll finally get the full Maserati line-up on American shores and that will give us a chance to see how it’s “distinctive flair” translates into models including the  GranCabrio Trofeo, GranTurismo Trofeo and Grecale Trofeo.

It’s also planning to provide the media with a closer look at the new street-legal version of the MC20 track car, the GT2 Stradale. And, according to reports, new North American chief Andrea Soriani will provide some insight into Maserati’s plans. Considering the challenges it faces with the new Trump tariffs on imported automobiles, he may have a lot to say.

Subaru

The Japanese automaker is having a banner year when it comes to sales and it’s determined to keep momentum building with an assortment of new products, such as the Forester Hybrid we recently reviewed, as well as the WRX tS.Now comes the next-generation Outback which Subaru confirmed as one of two models coming to this year’s NYIAS.

Based on the teaser image showing the new Outback tossing a rooster tail of sand on an off-road course, we’d not be surprised if the more rugged Wilderness package also makes its appearance in the Big Apple. What’s clear is that Outback has been freed from its ties to the now abandoned Subaru Legacy and is expected to adopt a boxier SUV design. But, like the Koreans, Subaru will have more to show off in New York. There’s speculation we could see an updated version of the all-electric Solterra. Meanwhile, the Japanese automaker has put out another teaser, this one of something it’s dubbed the Trailseeker. Could that be an entirely new model – or an alternative name for the Outback Wilderness. Stay tuned.

Toyota

There’s been plenty of speculation about what Toyota will show off during NYIAS media days since the Japanese giant is on the schedule for Wednesday, April 16. So far, however, it’s been unusually mum, without so much as the usual teaser ahead of time.

Speculation has thus run rampant, possible debuts including the updated version of Toyota’s all-electric bZ4X – the virtual twin of the Subaru Solterra – at the top of the list. We could see some variant of the new 4Runner. But there’s also a possibility Toyota might bring out something like GRMN, a sporty take on the familiar Corolla hatchback its Gazoo Racing arm reportedly has been working up.

Volkswagen

We know Volkswagen has something it considers important enough to invite a number of automotive journalists to fly to New York for the preview. But what precisely is on the docket remains a closely held secret.

At least, VW wants it to be. But, unless it’s really pulled off a slight of hand we’re expecting to get a first look at the Tayron X Coupe. The Tayron name might ring a bell as it’s a name that’s been used for a while in China. This would mark its expansion across the Pacific where it will be used for a stretched, three-row version of the German automaker’s familiar Tiguan SUV. It will feature markedly different sheet metal, with a more coupe-like roofline, as the name makes apparent.

What else is coming to the 2025 NYIAS?

As has been the case with most auto shows since the COVID pandemic struck, this year’s New York Auto Show will be downsized from its golden days when it filled pretty much every available inch of floor space at the Javits.

There will be a number of brands sitting out this year’s show – or, if they do land a spot that will be in a collection of brands sponsored by local dealers.

Other marques intending to have at least a small floor presence range from A, as in Acura, Alfa Romeo and Audi, to V, as in Volvo. The latest list from the Greater New York Automobile Dealers Association lists 28 brands coming to the 2025 NYIAS which has its public opening on April 18.