Once again, the New York Auto Show has come and gone. The annual event has a history that stretches back over 125 years. Taking place over 10 days, it highlights a variety of new models and concept vehicles, as well as offering automakers an opportunity to share their future plans.We have gathered five of the most interesting automotive trends that emerged during the show. From brands going against tradition to brands reinventing their image, here are some of the key trends we have spotted in New York this year. Hyundai Goes Full Steam Ahead On EVs 2026 Hyundai Tucson PHEV Electric vehicles are currently going through a slow phase. While just a few years ago, encouraging signs prompted automakers to push ahead with their electrification programs, demand has now slowed down significantly. This has prompted some brands to hold on to combustion a little longer than originally planned.Hyundai, however, is not one of these brands. The Korean manufacturer has chosen to swim against the current, maintaining its commitment to an electrified future. Olabisi Boyle, Hyundai Motor North America's senior vice president of product planning and strategy, stated that EVs will continue to be an important part of a varied lineup:What I'll say is our commitment to electrification hasn't wavered at all [...] The market's just not one dimensional, right? So, there are EVs, but Hyundai will also have EREVs, hybrids, and internal combustion vehicles, etc.- Olabisi Boyle, Hyundai Product Planning And Strategy Senior Vice PresidentHyundai is not just committing to electrification, but also to investment in American manufacturing. The company’s history in the United States goes back 40 years, and in the near future, its presence in the country is set to expand greatly, creating thousands of new jobs. Hyundai is set to invest more in its US operations than it has in the past four decades combined; the ultimate goal is for 80% of Hyundai vehicles sold in the US to be built locally. Subaru Goes Off The Beaten Track With A Hybrid 2027-subaru-forester-wilderness-live-image-2026-new-york-auto-show-1Adventure has been a part of Subaru’s brand image for a very long time. The company has a longstanding association with outdoorsy drivers eager to take their vehicle off the beaten track. Recently, however, the brand has ramped up this aspect of its identity, more specifically expanding it towards the hybrid members of the family.Many Subaru models, including the Forester, Crosstrek, and Outback, offer a Wilderness trim level. This trim level, as its name suggests, offers features oriented toward off-roading, such as all-terrain tires and higher ground clearance.Now, Subaru has announced that the hybrid Forester will also get a Wilderness trim. Released for the 2027 model year, this model combines the increased efficiency and reduced emissions of a hybrid powertrain with all the Wilderness features we have come to know and love.Although Subaru has been slower than other automakers to embrace electrification and hybridization, this is an exciting step forward that shows us the direction the brand wants to take in the near future. Volkswagen Puts America In The Spotlight 2027 Volkswagen Atlas Live Image Hyundai is not the only brand focusing more of its efforts on the American market. Volkswagen is also targeting US-based drivers with a few upcoming changes to its lineup, including a new version of the Atlas and an as-yet-unnamed new pickup truck.The 2027 Atlas was unveiled at the show on March 31. The most American model in the VW lineup, the Atlas is assembled in the US and oriented towards the local market, with larger dimensions and three rows of seating. This family crossover has had a major overhaul, with a sleek new design and heaps of tech.Refreshing the Atlas is not the only thing Volkswagen has done as part of its efforts to focus on the American market. Another exciting piece of news has emerged from the New York show: the brand is considering the possibility of releasing a new pickup truck aimed at US customers. Dr. Kjall Gruner, head of the company’s US operations, stated that to be successful in the country, an automaker needs to take the entire market into account, including pickup truck segments.Although the idea is still far from being a reality, according to Gruner, two specific types of trucks would be of interest to Volkswagen: the unibody compact pickup and the midsize truck. All we can do is watch this space and see what the company does next. Whatever it is, it’s bound to be interesting. Mercedes Bucks The Trend With A Sports-Car V8 In A Family SUV 2027 Mercedes-Benz GLS 580 Exterior Dynamic 5 While Hyundai has gone against the mainstream by insisting on sticking with electrification, Mercedes stands out from the crowd for the exact opposite reason. The German automaker has revealed a new version of its GLS-Class SUV, equipped with a powerful V8 engine that would be right at home in a sports car.The 2027 GLS hasn’t just had a makeover in terms of style and tech; it's also received a major upgrade to its engine lineup. The most interesting option on offer is a 4.0-liter V8 called the M177 Evo, a recent addition to the M177 family. This engine was introduced in the 2027 S-Class and features a flat-plane crankshaft, a design not commonly used in luxury SUVs but more often found in performance-oriented cars. It also comes with a series of upgrades over its predecessors, resulting in lower emissions than ever.The model equipped with this engine is the GLS 580, the most powerful member of the lineup at 530 hp. The GLS 580 is also the quickest variant of the model, getting to 60 mph in 4.6 seconds. The Golf GTI Makes A Heroic Effort To Keep The Hot Hatch Alive 2026 Volkswagen Golf GTI front, three-quarter The hot hatch is, much to the disappointment of car enthusiasts all over the world, a rapidly disappearing category. This automotive category traces its origins back to the 1970s and reached a peak in popularity during the 80s and 90s. Offering an affordable entry point into the world of high-performance motoring for young car enthusiasts, the hot hatch is still beloved by gearheads today, but new models that fit the bill are increasingly scarce.The most famous hot hatch of all, however, is not going anywhere. The Volkswagen Golf GTI is celebrating a major birthday this year, as it was first released 50 years ago in 1976. A high-performance version of the Golf, which had arrived on the market only two years earlier, the GTI captured the attention of drivers seeking a compact, fun, and fast car. Subsequent generations of the Golf all got their own GTI versions. In the past year, VW registered a sharp drop in sales for this iconic model.While in 2024, 15,268 units of the Golf GTI were sold in the US, in 2025 that number went down to 10,554 – a drop of 30.2%. However, Dr. Kjell Gruner, the president and CEO of Volkswagen Group North America, has reassured the automotive world that the GTI is not leaving the brand’s lineup anytime soon.In a brand portfolio, there are different roles for different vehicles, and you can't measure success and importance just by volume alone [...] [The Golf GTI is] very important just for what the brand stands for. Smiles per mile, perspective, and heartbeat.- Dr. Kjell Gruner, Volkswagen North America CEOSources: Hyundai, Subaru, Mercedes-Benz, Volkswagen