6 Key Updates for Car Lovers: See the 2026 Automotive Forecast

At SHARP, we keep a close eye on the automotive industry. With whisperings of new electric vehicles set to enter the ring and an ever-growing Formula One audience, the auto market in Canada is never short on news. What fresh delights will 2026 bring? We took a look around the corner to find out first.

Off-Road Everything

This trend of turning all sorts of vehicles into proper off-roaders is one we can get behind. Our favourites so far: the Genesis X Skorpio Concept and the Bentley Bentayga X Concept.

What’s New In EVs For 2026? They’re Not Technically EVs, They’re EREVs

That’s right: EREVs. Or REEVs. Or REV. Or something. The nomenclature is still being worked out. Depending on who you ask, it stands for Extended Range EV (EREV) or Range Extended EV (REEV), but they’re all essentially EVs with an added gas-burning engine that acts like a generator, juicing up the battery on the move. It’s not exactly a new idea, but RAM is reviving the concept with the RAM 1500 REV. It pairs a V6 engine with two electric motors and a huge battery to deliver an estimated range of more than 1,000 kilometres. Consider us intrigued.

Hot Thing: Mercedes-Benz Heated Seat Belts

We really could’ve used the heated seat belts available on the new Mercedes-Benz S-Class this past winter. The feature is just one example of an array of previously unheard-of luxuries available on the brand’s flagship sedan, which just underwent an extensive update (50 per cent of its components are new) for the coming model year.

Who Wore It Best? New Formula 1 Team Kits Are Here

With the two new teams on the F1 grid for 2026 — Audi and Cadillac — having recently unveiled their new cars and liveries, it’s already time to decide who won the race for the best team kit between the Audi Revolut F1 Team x adidas and Cadillac x Tommy Hilfiger.

Defender Wins Dakar…On Its First Try

How’s that for a mic drop? Defender entered the deadly Dakar Rally in 2026 and absolutely dominated. The three-car team finished first, second, and fourth in the Stock class for near-production SUVs. They won every stage of the gruelling two-week rally across the harshest terrain Saudi Arabia has to offer, driving the Defender D7X-R, which is essentially the showroom-fresh OCTA with some bolt-on rally equipment. And, remember, this is just the beginning of Defender’s rally-racing career.

The LFA Lives: Lexus Unveils Successor to Its V10 Supercar, But It’s An EV

Predictably, people on the internet have some big feelings about the fact the new Lexus LFA supercar is battery powered with no quick-revving V10 engine anywhere in sight. Don’t sweat it though, because the Lexus is being developed alongside Toyota Gazoo Racing’s new GR GT supercar, and that one does have a combustion engine — a twin-turbo V8. So, the choice is yours.

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