Here’s What to See at the 2026 Canadian International AutoShow

We’ve just had a sneak preview of the 2026 Canadian International AutoShow in Toronto and (spoiler): it’s a hot one. Even if you’re not especially into cars, consider it a showcase of industrial design. Nearly all of the car companies we care about brought their A-game this year, delivering a veritable smorgasbord of fresh automotive delights. Audi and Cadillac have their F1 cars on display, ahead of their inaugural season. Mercedes-Benz and BMW brought out their good stuff. Jeep is running its gnarly indoor test-track again, and there are 50-plus car models available for test-drives.

Whatever you’re into — ‘90s classics, EVs, exotica from Italy, V8 trucks, family-hauling SUVs or selfish little sports cars — the show has it. Oh, and if you’re wondering what the most valuable car of the show is? It’s silver. It’s insured for $30 million. It’s from the ‘90s, and it’s even more spectacular in person than you dared imagine. (More on that below.) Read on to see our highlights from the 2026 Toronto auto show:

Audi Revolut Formula 1 Car

Audi Haus, the stunning sci-pavilion designed by the great Omar Gandhi, is back. Step inside and walk to the inner-most sanctum of this brutalist gallery and you’ll find Audi’s first ever Formula 1 car. (Okay, so it’s technically a 1:1 replica — the real car is out doing some last-minute testing in Bahrain before the 2026 season kicks off.) It’s still early, but the Audi Revolut F1 team already feels like a lock for our unofficial livery-of-the-year award.

Mercedes-Maybach SL680

It’s a divisive one, this Maybach SL. Some (extroverts) will love the monogrammed hood, others will loathe it, but we’ll say this: See it in person before making up your mind. The sheer level of craft is impressive. Also on display was the all-new 2027 GLC 400 4MATIC with EQ Technology. Translation? That’s the brand’s new compact electric SUV, now with a fast-charging 800-volt system.

Cadillac Formula 1

The 2026 season hasn’t even started, but coming hot on the heels of that Brad Pitt blockbuster, F1, and with two new factory teams on the grid, it could be the most-watched season in the sport’s history. Cadillac brought a replica of their F1 car to the show. But, they also brought a one-off example of the $500,000 Cadillac CELESTIQ to the show. This build, we were told by Cadillac Canada managing director Mike Speranzini, was inspired by the Canadian landscape. (Expect to see more on this car, and Cadillac’s future, in an upcoming feature.)

Defender P400 Widetrack Urban Kit

While neither Range Rover nor Defender had an official presence at the show, Grand Touring Automobiles stepped up with a trio of beautifully-optioned examples from both brands. This Defender P400 X-Dynamic was particularly eye-catching as the dealership was showing it with an aftermarket Widetrack Kit from UK firm Urban Automotive. The subtle rear spoiler, bumper, mudflaps and extended arches look like they could be a factory option.

Ram 1500 DC650 by Fox Factory

Yes, for 2026, Ram brought back the HEMI V8 and the monstrous TRX pickup. Under its bulging hood is a supercharged 6.2-litre HEMI V8, delivering 777 horsepower. We knew it was coming. What surprised us was this limited-production collab with Fox Factory Vehicles and Direct Connection. It’s called the 2026 Ram 1500 DC650 by Fox Factory, and it’s loaded with special kit. For starters, it’s based on the Canada-exclusive 1500 Sport truck. Then it’s fitted with lowered coilover suspension, 22-inch wheels and a supercharged 5.7-litre HEMI V8 making 650 ponies. A deep cut? Yes, but a good one.

INFINITI QX80 Reimagined: Track Spec

Just when you thought you knew the QX80, INFINITI comes out swinging with a pair of new concepts: Track Spec (pictured here) and Terrain Spec. “Track Spec and Terrain Spec explore two distinct expressions of strength and elegance, both unmistakably INFINITI in how they push the boundaries of what’s beautiful, capable and bold,” said Ken Hearn, managing director of INFINITI Canada. But, what say you? Should the company add these to the lineup?

Jeep Cherokee

The family-favourite Jeep Cherokee is back, and all-new for 2026. We haven’t driven it for ourselves yet, but on paper at least the new mid-size SUV seems like a great all-rounder. The 1.6-litre turbocharged four-cylinder may be tiny, but boosted by a high-voltage hybrid system, it returns an extremely frugal 6.3l/100 km. Range is no issue (as you’d expect from a gas-burner) with 800 kilometres to a tank.

2026 Nissan Murano Offroad SR

Nissan had no shortage of new metal on display, from the all-new Rogue Plug-in Hybrid to the updated (and rather excellent-looking) new Pathfinder. The all-new LEAF is a must-see for EV fans of course, while the new 2026 Armada NISMO was the most imposing presence at the Nissan display. Personally, we were partial to this 2026 Murano dressed in off-road kit with all the gear you’d need for a weekend of carving powder.

Lexus ES

One of the few new sedans on display, the all-new 2026 Lexus ES is well worth a closer look. The brand’s tragically overlooked mid-range sedan is available in both hybrid and all-electric configurations, but what actually grabbed our attention was the interior. It felt super clean and airy, and we loved the layered bamboo effect trim across the door panels. It’s also more spacious than before. So spacious, in fact, that Lexus is now offering an passenger-side ottoman for the reclining and massaging rear seat.

BMW iX3

Few things feel truly new in the automotive world these days, but the BMW iX3 cabin is one of those few. It’s cohesive, blending hardware and software better than 99 per cent of other cars. It’s interesting too, using materials that feel very un-automotive. We’re especially partial to the new Panoramic Vision display, which isn’t a screen, but a projection with information that appears to float. It’s very 3D. Photos really don’t do it justice, but luckily there’s an all-new, all-electric BMW iX3 you can check out for yourself at the auto show.

McLaren F1

The fact that this car, the McLaren F1 chassis #001, is now worth at least $30 million USD — that’s what it’s insured for — is by far the least impressive thing about it. Seen in person, the three-seater F1 is impossibly tiny, doubly so when you remember it has a naturally-aspirated V12 mounted just behind the driver. It’s a masterclass in packaging, but then again, that’s what you’d expect when a championship-winning Formula 1 team like sets out to make the ultimate road-going supercar. Only the tall tire sidewalls give it away as a product of the 1990s. Is the F1 still the supercar GOAT? We think so. The good people at McLaren Toronto worked their magic to bring this car all the way from Chicago. All we can really say is, “Thank you!”