The North American International Auto Show ran its first show way back in 1907. 118 years later, it’s the premiere automotive expo show in the Western Hemisphere. For 2025, the NAIAS has made great use of its lone gap year between 2023 and 2025 to pack the re-vamped show with the best new metal on four wheels.
Across 723,000 square feet of convention space at Detroit’s Huntington Place, this year’s show is chocked full of the interesting, the tempting, and the downright desirable. This year, as many as 16 different automakers and over 30 brands from across the automotive spectrum, there’s enough stuff on display to justify coming more than once.
A consortium of new models from Alfa Romeo to Volkswagen had a chance to strut their stuff in Detroit. Elsewhere, dealership networks helped more brands like Mercedes-Benz, BMW, Mazda, Hyundai, and Ineos to join the fun as well. Elsewhere, in the sizeable exotic sports and luxury car gallery, Rolls-Royces, Bentleys, and Aston Martins mingled with Lamborghinis, Ferraris, and exotics of all kinds.
A collection of iconic movie cars from the Ferrari in Magnum PI and Ferris Bueler’s Day Off to K.I.T.T. from Nightrider and even Austin Powers’ old Beetle make for an attraction within itself.
Meanwhile, the VW ID. Buzz, Ford Ranger, and Honda Civic Hybrid took home titles for the North American Car, Truck, and Utility Vehicle of the Year (NACTOY) awards.
Of course, there was a concourse area dedicated just to classic American muscle cars in case you don’t care much for new vehicles. As a hallmark of any great auto show, this is an area in which 2025’s Detroit Auto Show gets it right.
But we’re all here for the latest and greatest, and NAIAS delivered that in droves, too. Stellantis was a particularly strong contender, coming out in force with the all-new, all-electric Jeep Wagoneer S, the production grade Dodge Charger Daytona EV, and the Chrysler Halcyon 800-volt electric supercar. Say what you will about Stellantis’ current lineup in North America, but it might not stay this way for long based on what’s on display.
Over with the GM brands, Chevrolet is showing off the powerful C8 Corvette ZR1. The return of the Z1 menaces other sports cars with staggering 1,064 horsepower and 828 lb-ft of torque. Not only that, but the Corvette ZR1 comes with a MSRP of $174,995, undercutting the price of every other hypercar on the market.
Nearby, the all-electric 2026 Cadillac Vistiq proves that GM is dead serious about challenging Tesla for the top dog spot in the luxury EV space. The Vistiq is bigger than the Lyriq but smaller than the Escalade IQ. This 3-row luxury EV seats 7, offers max cargo space of 80.2 cu-ft and has reported range of 300 miles. Cadillac is promising a 615-horsepower powertrain that has a towing capacity of 5,000 lbs. Currently the MSPR for the 2026 Vistiq is $78,790.
Over at the Ford booth, a 2025 Mustang GTD Spirit of America special edition mid-engine monster is the only vehicle at the show to challenge the Corvette ZR1’s dominance that isn’t relegated to the exotic gallery. The Mustang GTD Spirit of America maintains the same specs as the normal GTD, but its white paint is accented with red and blue strips along with some carbon fiber accents.
But that’s not all, the Mustang RTR prototype, developed in conjunction with drift icon Vaugn Gitten Jr’s tune shop, gives the old-school, front-engine Mustang form factor its own cause for excitement. Most interestingly, the Mustang RTR is powered by the Eco-Boost engine with some additional bits from the Mustang Dark Horse. Ford did not release many more details, but we can only hope that it brings back the manual transmission option for the Eco-Boost powered Mustangs.
Elsewhere, a selection of three different EV test tracks allows showgoers to get an up-close look at electric vehicles from many of the same brands taking up showroom space. As anyone who’s attended a North American auto show recently, you’ll know these drivers you ride shotgun with on these tracks don’t mess around. All in all, the 2025 North American Auto Show has everything a good trade expo needs to succeed. Lots of interactive exhibits, a healthy list of car makers, and a top-notch convention space to hold it all.
Among all the pomp and circumstance that any big trade show carries on name alone, there’s a sense that there’s not much “must see” new car models on display in Detroit. Make no mistake, the NAIAS board of executives spends 12 months out of the year preparing to make each year’s show as memorable as possible. However, people are able to check out new cars just as well from a laptop as they can at a trade show. It would seem the quality of the auto show circuit follows a correlating negative trajectory.
Well, if you’re an average Michigander who just wants something fun to do for an afternoon, the Detroit Auto Show is still a fun time. Those of us fortunate enough to enjoy the fervor and sense of occasion of a big trade show know how special those moments are. Plus, the Detroit Auto Dealers Association, which puts the show together each year, needs your support. Otherwise, the show won’t survive long enough to become a must-see global attraction again.