In recent years, the Chicago Auto Show has been steering toward electric vehicles, following the ambitious state and national agenda to convert the industry from combustion engines to cleaner technology, incentivized by governmental tax credits and rebates.

While EVs are still center stage at the 2026 auto show, which opens today at McCormick Place, there may not be quite as much buzz this year with slumping sales and the end of federal tax credits under President Donald Trump.

In fact, some manufacturers are betting that old-school gas-burning muscle cars may steal the show.

Ford, for example, is introducing the new 2026 Mustang Dark Horse SC, which harnesses a supercharged 5.2-liter V8 and seven-speed dual-clutch transmission to create a “track-capable” supercar. No word on how many miles it gets to the gallon.

The sleek blue model on display would likely blow the doors off the 1960s muscle cars it evokes, at least on a race course, according to Ryan Shaughnessy, Mustang brand manager.

“This takes Mustang to a new level,” Shaughnessy said during the show’s Friday media preview. “This is a new performance icon for Mustang. When you compare it to cars from the ‘60s, they don’t really compare.”

A more apt comparison for the Michigan-built Mustang might be the racing movie “Ford v Ferrari.”

“It is intended to go after Europe’s elite sports car competition, like Porsche and Mercedes, and to beat them,” Shaughnessy said.

Closer to home, the automaker is also showcasing the Chicago-made 2026 Ford Explorer Tremor, a full-size SUV featuring a 3.0-liter EcoBoost V6 producing 400 horsepower. The Explorer is built at the century-old Chicago Assembly Plant on the city’s Southeast Side.

Stellantis, which went on hiatus in 2024 but returned last year, is back again for the 2026 Chicago Auto Show. That means the return of its Jeep, Chrysler, Dodge, Fiat and Ram vehicles and the popular Camp Jeep test track, long an auto show favorite.

One attention-grabbing model is the 2027 Ram 1500 SRT TRX, billed as the “fastest, most powerful production gas pickup truck in the world,” featuring a supercharged 6.2-liter HEMI V-8, delivering 777 horsepower and 680 pound-feet of torque.

“It’s the most powerful production gas pickup truck ever,” said Noah Thanos, a Ram spokesperson.

The display model sported a colorful red and black paint scheme dubbed Bloodshot Night, with a sticker price around $100,000. Thanos said dealers will be taking orders soon and the trucks will be delivered in the second half of the year.

While it is a fully functional pickup truck, the target customer is not likely to be hauling hay, Thanos said.

“This is the person that really craves extreme performance,” Thanos said. “I’d say, if you’re getting the Bloodshot Night edition, you’re also someone that likes to be seen. It’s not exactly a subtle vehicle in the best way possible.”

Stellantis is also featuring the all-new 2026 Jeep Cherokee, a model formerly built in Belvidere, Illinois. In February 2023, Stellantis idled the assembly plant near Rockford and laid off its last 1,200 workers after halting production of the Cherokee amid dwindling sales. The new Cherokee is now built in Toluca, Mexico.

Redesigned inside and out, the biggest change is under the hood, with a fully hybrid, 1.6-liter turbo four-cylinder engine. The new SUV is hitting dealerships now with a starting price of about $37,000. Down the road, the new Cherokee will once again be built in Belvidere.

In October, Stellantis announced plans to invest more than $600 million to reopen the Belvidere plant and expand production of the Jeep Cherokee and Compass, with an initial launch expected in 2027. Retooling at the plant will begin later this year, according to Kelley Enright, a Stellantis spokesperson.

Meanwhile, there are still plenty of EVs on display at the auto show, but momentum may have stalled under the Trump administration.

EV sales hit a record 1.3 million units in 2024, accounting for 8.1% of total auto sales in the U.S., according to Cox Automotive’s Kelley Blue Book. But last year, EV demand declined to 7.8% of total sales, falling off a cliff in the fourth quarter with the end of a $7,500 federal tax credit as part of Trump’s “one big beautiful bill,” which eliminated the Biden-era EV incentive.

As buyers raced to take advantage of the expiring federal tax credits, EV sales peaked at 10.5% of the total new car market in the third quarter of 2025, before plunging to 5.8% in the fourth quarter, according to Cox.

That may be the new normal as the EV market resets to a market driven by organic growth, not incentives. EV sales are expected to account for about 6% of total new car sales in 2026, according to Edmunds.

Total new car sales are expected to decline slightly from 16.3 million in 2025 to 16 million vehicles this year, Edmunds projects.

While the 2026 auto show still features an EV test track and a number of manufacturers, it is perhaps emblematic that homegrown Rivian, which made its first appearance at last year’s show, is notably absent. California-based Rivian is gearing up to begin production of its new midsize R2 SUV at its downstate Normal plant during the first half of the year.

Other highlights at this year’s auto show include the return of Ford’s Built Wild track, where Bronco SUVs are put through their paces on something resembling a roller coaster ride.

A new feature, Chi-Town Alley, is an immersive exhibit celebrating local car enthusiasts and their custom rides.

Matt Conger, 54, of West Chicago, brought his 35-year-old Toyota MR2 to the show to participate in the Chi-Town Alley display. Under his meticulous care, the gleaming red sports car has been souped up to generate 400-horsepower turbo performance, but retains much of the original features and feel.

A business analyst at Empire Carpet, Conger said it helps to be an “anal SOB” to keep his car in pristine shape for more than three decades of Chicago ownership.

“If you look at the miles, it’s got 160,000 miles on it,” said Conger. “So I do drive it. But I treat it like a motorcycle. It only comes out in good weather.”

The 118th Chicago Auto Show runs Saturday through Feb. 16 at McCormick Place.

©2026 Chicago Tribune. Visit at chicagotribune.com. Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.