2025 Detroit Auto Show: Everything You Missed
The Detroit Auto Show is back at the start of the year for the first time since 2019. This year, the North American Car, Truck and Utility of the Year (aka NACTOY) awards were announced, and Ford used its hometown show to announce a pair of high-performance Mustangs.
Related: More 2025 Detroit Auto Show Coverage
Our team got a preview of the show this week, and here’s the short-list of must-see vehicles if you’re headed to Detroit. The show opens to the public Saturday and runs through Jan. 20.
What’s More Special Than a Special Edition?
If the 815-horsepower Ford Mustang GTD wasn’t enough of a track-focused V-8 monster for you, there’s always the 2025 Ford Mustang GTD Spirit of America. This new limited-edition GTD celebrates the Mustang as well as the first person to break the 500- and 600-mph land speed records, Craig Breedlove. The GTD Spirit of America gets a special red, white and blue livery; tasteful touches of exposed carbon fiber; and the Mustang GTD Performance Package, which gives it active aerodynamics, a front bumper with dive planes and magnesium wheels. As with the Ford GT, interested buyers have to be selected to buy one, but the rest of us can still check out our up-close look at it here to see everything that makes it special.
The Rest of Us Can Be Ready to Rock
If a special Mustang GTD version that will probably top $300,000 to purchase isn’t in your budget, then maybe the Ford Mustang RTR will be of interest. Ford was light on details when it came to this variant, but we do know that it’s based on the turbo four-cylinder EcoBoost Mustang and was developed with Formula Drift star Vaughn Gittin Jr.’s RTR tuning shop. Ford says it will pull some go-fast components from the pricier Mustang GT-based Dark Horse, so we expect it to be fun.
Best in Show? No, Best in Continent!
The 2025 NACTOY award winners have been announced. You can read all about them and their runners-up in our coverage here, but 2025’s winners are a well-rounded set. The car and truck winners are the ultra-practical Honda Civic Hybrid and Ford Ranger, while the utility pick was the whimsical but functional Volkswagen ID. Buzz. Be sure to check ‘em out at the auto show and let us know if you agree with the judges’ picks.
For our full coverage from the Detroit Auto show, check out the links below:
- 2025 Ford Mustang GTD Spirit of America: USA! USA!
- 2025 Ford Mustang GTD Spirit of America Up Close: Awesomely Pointless
- Ford Mustang RTR Previews EcoBoost Performance Package
- Honda Civic Hybrid, Ford Ranger, VW ID. Buzz Win 2025 North American Vehicle Awards
Detroit Auto Show Dates and Tickets
The Detroit Auto Show opens to the public tomorrow at the Huntington Place convention center (One Washington Blvd. in Detroit) and runs through Jan. 20. Tickets are available on the show’s website and cost $20 for adults, $12 for seniors age 65 and older, and $10 for children ages 3-12. Children 2 years old or younger get in free. Families can also purchase a $50 family pass that includes admission for two adults and three children.
The show runs from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. each day except for the two Industry Days (Jan. 15-16) and on the final day of the show. Industry Days allow those in the auto industry to check out special industry-focused programs at the show from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m., then the show opens up to the public from 1 p.m. to 8 p.m. Tickets for Industry Days are available on the show’s website for $40 each, and no children age 12 or under will be admitted during those times. The final day of the show, Jan. 20, will run from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m.
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