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Concept Cars, Hypercars, and Hollywood: ELEVATE 2026 Takes Over Vancouver

The anticipation is already hitting like the opening scene of an action film. ELEVATE the 2026 Vancouver Auto Show, presented by RBC, ICBC, and BC Hydro Power Smart, is not just returning, it is taking over. From March 25th to 29th, the Vancouver Convention Centre transforms into a 300,000-square-foot playground for performance, innovation, and pure automotive adrenaline.

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This is a milestone year, and it shows. Every inch of exhibitor space is sold out. Major global brands are back. The energy surrounding the industry has shifted, and you can feel it in the lineup. As Executive Director Eric Nicholl puts it, this is bigger, bolder, and more immersive than anything before. That is not hype. That is a promise.

FULL-THROTTLE EXPERIENCE

This year’s show expands beyond expectations, spanning full Exhibition Halls, Level 1 displays, and an outdoor footprint at Jack Poole Plaza. More than 30 automotive brands and dealer groups will showcase over 200 vehicles, but this is not a static display. This is an experience.

Immersive brand activations, interactive zones, lifestyle integrations, and hands-on opportunities turn the show into something you move through, not just walk past. It is designed for those who want to get closer, look deeper, and understand what is next before everyone else does.

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CONCEPT CARS AND GLOBAL DEBUTS

Cadillac Formula 1 – Canadian Debut

For the first time in Western Canada, Audi’s Formula 1 display car arrives, delivering a raw look at the future of motorsport engineering. Right alongside it, the Canadian debut of Cadillac’s Formula 1 display car signals a bold new era of performance innovation.

Audi Formula 1 – Western Canadian Debut

Then there is Oilstainlab. The kind of name you remember because it does not follow rules. Making its Canadian debut, the HF-11 hypercar is a 650-horsepower, 2,000-pound, 10,000-rpm machine that blends 1960s endurance racing DNA with next-generation engineering. Only 25 will ever exist, and they will be manufactured exclusively in Canada.

You will see the exposed shell. You will meet founders Nikita and Iliya Bridan. You will hear firsthand what it takes to build something this radical. This is not just a car. It is a statement.

Oilstainlab HF-11 – Canadian Debut (Iconic Concierge)

CORVETTE REDEFINED

For a strictly limited three-day window, March 25 to 27, the Canadian debut of the Corvette CX Concept and the CX.R race concept takes centre stage.

Corvette CX Concept and the CX.R race concept

The CX Concept represents the next evolution of Corvette, a vision of what the future of this iconic nameplate could become. Advanced aerodynamics, lightweight materials, and aggressive proportions come together in a way that feels both futuristic and unmistakably Corvette.

The CX.R takes that vision and pushes it onto the track. With a race-ready stance, prominent rear wing, and a striking yellow finish, it is a direct expression of performance intent. This is Corvette at its most aggressive, engineered for dominance.

These are rare concept studies. They do not travel often. Seeing them here, in Vancouver, is a moment that will not repeat.

ELECTRIC MEETS PERFORMANCE

The future is not a compromise. It is an evolution.

The EV and PHEV Test Drive Experience returns at full capacity, supported by CleanBC Go Electric and RBC. With up to 50 vehicles available, this is your chance to get behind the wheel and experience clean mobility firsthand.

From rebate-eligible models to high-performance electric platforms, the range is wide, and the technology is real. This is not theory. This is what driving looks like next.

SUPERCARS AND DREAM MACHINES

For those who want more, the fan-favourite showcases return, and they are stronger than ever.

Supercar Eleganza, Horsepower Heaven, and Elite Dream Machines bring together ultra-luxury builds, rare private collections, and custom creations that blur the line between engineering and art. These are the cars you grew up watching, the ones you still follow, and the ones you rarely see in person.

Here, they are all under one roof.

HOLLYWOOD HORSEPOWER

Because car culture is not just about machines. It is about stories.

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Sung Kang, star of the Fast & Furious franchise, will appear on March 25 and 26, bringing with him an exclusive extended trailer preview of his upcoming film DRIFTER. A motorsport drama rooted in the global drifting community, the film explores talent, redemption, and the power of connection behind the wheel.

Fans can meet Kang at Cool Whips Garage during scheduled meet-and-greets, adding a cinematic layer to an already stacked experience. It is where film meets fuel, and where passion becomes shared language.

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WHY THIS YEAR MATTERS

The Vancouver International Auto Show has always been a cornerstone of the Canadian automotive landscape, owned and operated by the New Car Dealers Association of BC, representing over 400 dealers and nearly $17 billion in retail sales across the province.

But 2026 feels different, as this is a show built on momentum, confidence, and a clear understanding of what enthusiasts want. Access. First looks. Real experiences. The chance to stand in front of something rare and say, I saw it first.

BE THERE FIRST

This is your moment to step into the future of automotive culture before it becomes mainstream. To see the concepts, meet the creators, and experience the machines that will define the next era.

ELEVATE the 2026 Vancouver Auto Show is not just an event. It is a statement. Be there.

Ticket details HERE!

Author Profile

Vlad Xanthopoulos: Vlad Xanthopoulos is the Vices Ambassador at Folio.YVR, host of Cocktails & Cigars, and contributor. A connoisseur of fine cigars and craft cocktails, Vlad explores the art, culture, and stories behind these indulgences. His passion for tradition and refined living elevate Vancouver Vices for Folio.YVR Luxury Lifestyle Magazine.