Another year and another Chicago Auto Show Media Preview has taken place. This year was very different as just a few weeks ago it was announced that the media preview was being condensed into just one day instead of the usual two days. The preview took place on Friday February 6th starting at 8am and ending at 2pm. This was also a change since the usual main media preview day was always on the Thursday before the show opening on Saturday and was from 8am to 5pm with an afterparty after the conclusion of the show walk around. This year, the time was cut short since the First Look for Charity was taking place that Friday night and they needed to prepare for that event. We saw some other changes such as the MAMA breakfast and ticketed luncheon taking place at the main stage on the other side of the concourse instead of the usual Grand Ballroom setting. Even with these changes, I still had a great time attending vehicle walk-arounds, presentations, and just looking at what manufacturers are offering currently and what they may be offering in the near future.
Even though we may only have had one day to go explore the show floor, we still had our Sweet Home Chicago reception on Thursday, February 5th, which was again conveniently located in The Tap, which is in the Hyatt Regency McCormick Place Hotel, like last year. It was a great night of food, drinks, music, and connecting with others in the media who will be covering the show. I was able to meet so many great people from all different industries and so many different professional backgrounds.
The next day, we all woke up early and headed back to attend the media preview. We made sure to get there early so we could get a table all together for the MAMA breakfast and to get our luncheon tickets. At the MAMA breakfast, we heard from both the president of MAMA, Jim OBrill, and CATA President & Auto Show General Manager Jennifer Morand. Jim’s speech was great to hear about how he has always gone to the auto show as a kid and grew up going, and now he’s able to take his kids to experience the auto show. I felt his passion and love for the Chicago Auto Show, and it resonated with me as a kid who was brought by their dad since a young age to the auto show and hopefully wants to pass down that tradition as well. MAMA showed off all their finalists for vehicle of the year. The finalists are made up of vehicles that won their own separate categories from member voting. The finalists included:
- MAMA’s Favorite Off-Roader: 2025 Toyota 4Runner TRD Pro
- MAMA’s Favorite Family Vehicle: 2026 Hyundai Palisade Calligraphy
- MAMA’s Favorite Luxury Vehicle: 2026 Genesis GV70 3.5T Prestige
- MAMA’s Favorite Pickup Truck: 2026 RAM 1500 5.7L Hemi
- MAMA’s Favorite Affordable Vehicle: 2025 Volkswagen GTI
- MAMA’s Favorite Performance Vehicle: 2025 BMW M5 Touring
- MAMA’s Favorite Plug-in Vehicle: 2026 Hyundai IONIQ 9 Calligraphy
The winner for vehicle of the year was the 2026 Hyundai Palisade Calligraphy, the winner of their favorite family vehicle. The 2026 Hyundai Palisade Calligraphy contains a 3.5-liter V6 producing about 287 hp and 260 lb-ft of torque paired with an 8-speed automatic transmission, gets 18-24 mpg for city/highway driving, can hold 7 passengers, can tow up to 5,000 pounds, and starts at around $55,555.
After the MAMA breakfast, we then hit the ground on the show floor. This year’s auto show featured multiple manufacturers, which included Toyota, Kia, Honda, Stellantis, Ford, Chevrolet, Subaru, Hyundai, Nissan, BMW, Buick, GMC, Volkswagen, Tesla, and Cadillac. There, of course, was the Supercar Gallery, which consisted of multiple high-end vehicles from Rolls-Royce, Bentley, Lotus, Lamborghini, and more. New to the show was Chi-Town Alley, which had privately owned cars such as a Nissan GTR, a Porsche 911 Slantnose, a Mercedes-Benz SL, a Mazda RX-7 FD, and many other sports and high-performance cars.
Some of the big highlights from the show for me were, of course, Camp Jeep, Subaru’s display, and Chi-Town Alley. First off, Camp Jeep is fun every year and remains a highlight of the show. The obstacle course they take you on is not only a fun but a very informative ride showcasing the Jeep’s ability. It amazes me that Ford has not up their game with showcasing the Bronco more with their own showcase. Their obstacle course for the Bronco is just not exciting and not pleasant to look at, either. People are going to want to take rides in both, but I have to ask myself, how can you even consider the Bronco for off-roading vs a Jeep if you take both of those rides and experience what I had in both? Ford needs to design a better way to showcase their Bronco, in my opinion, and I hope they do because I really do love the design of the Bronco and think it packs a lot of features that I could use for off-roading.
Subaru’s display each year is just beautiful, and even though it has been the same for the last few years, it still amazes me each year. I think it does a wonderful job at showcasing Subaru’s vehicles and also what kind of brand they aim to be, and aiming at the customers they are looking to be interested in buying their cars. I was really interested in the WRX STI prototype they showed off, which first debuted at the Tokyo Auto Salon just a few weeks ago. It does a really good job at reinventing the WRX while also making it recognizable. I would just like to see a return of the WRX hatchback one day.
Chi-Town Alley was a welcome addition to the 2026 Chicago Auto Show, introducing a new show-floor space focused on car culture and the local enthusiast community. The area reimagines the former marketplace as a hub for privately owned, community-built vehicles alongside car clubs, vendors, and auto-themed merchandise. While it isn’t massive, Chi-Town Alley is a solid size and does a good job of filling the floor with energy and personality. The space feels more like a local car meetup than a traditional auto show display, encouraging visitors to connect and engage with Chicago’s car scene. Featuring everything from sleek show cars to creative custom builds, it highlights the individuality that defines the city’s automotive culture. This approach is likely to attract younger attendees who are more interested in customized vehicles than traditional manufacturer displays. The Chi-Town Alley Showcase added to the experience, with six community-selected vehicles on display following a contest that drew over 50 submissions. Although I still wish more manufacturers would participate in the auto show, Chi-Town Alley helps fill that gap by bringing authentic car culture and fresh energy to the show floor.
One surprise I had from the Chicago Auto Show was Tesla’s display. I was surprised just because of the number of cars they had showcased on the floor, and having the prototype robotaxi was really cool to see in person. Tesla, after announcing a few weeks ago that the production of the Model S and Model X was ending, had none of them displayed at the Chicago Auto Show. That means they only had the Model 3, Model Y, the CyberTruck, and the new robotaxi prototype to show off. It was an interesting display for sure. No matter how you feel about Tesla, I think it’s great for consumers to get a better look at their vehicles to show what one of the best-selling electric vehicle manufacturers can offer. I hope we see a bigger presence from electric vehicle manufacturers moving forward, such as maybe Rivian and Lucid Air?
The 2026 Chicago Auto Show Media Preview proved that even with a condensed schedule and a shifting landscape, the “nation’s largest consumer auto show” still has the power to surprise. While the transition from a traditional two-day event to a single, high-intensity Friday forced a faster pace, it didn’t dampen the enthusiasm of those in attendance. From the familiar, rugged thrills of Camp Jeep to the stunning evolution of the Subaru WRX STI prototype, the floor was packed with highlights. The introduction of Chi-Town Alley was a particularly smart move, successfully bridging the gap between major manufacturer displays and the authentic, grassroots energy of Chicago’s local car culture—a strategy that will undoubtedly keep the show relevant for a younger generation of enthusiasts.
As we look toward the future, the show’s focus is clearly shifting. The crowning of the 2026 Hyundai Palisade Calligraphy as MAMA’s Favorite Vehicle highlights the industry’s continued refinement of the family SUV, while Tesla’s pivot toward autonomy and the end of the Model S and X programs signal a significant era of transition for EVs. Whether it was connecting with colleagues at The Tap or witnessing the latest in automotive innovation, this year’s preview served as a reminder of why this tradition remains so vital. I leave McCormick Place feeling more connected to the community than ever and eagerly anticipating how manufacturers will rise to the challenge of an evolving, electrified, and enthusiast-driven market in the years to come.