Fall auto-palooza! Cars at the Station and Radwood invade Detroit this weekend

The Detroit Auto Show is moving from mid-September back to January, but there will still be plenty of eye candy for auto enthusiasts this weekend.

The inaugural Cars at the Station, sponsored by Hagerty, will descend on the newly-renovated Michigan Central campus Friday showcasing the latest vehicles from industry automakers, a sprawling classic cars display, and the “Best of 2025” finalists for the North American Car, Truck, and Utility of the Year awards.

Return downtown on Saturday and the circus moves to Hart Plaza, where Radwood will celebrate the best of ‘80s and ‘90s cars. Both events are sponsored by Hagerty to celebrate Detroit’s passion for cars — and for two of its signature public spaces.

“This event has been a dream project since Ford purchased Michigan Central Station in 2018. Cars at The Station caters to Detroit’s passion for the automobile with a goal to deliver an inclusive, culturally relevant event with our partners Michigan Central, Newlab and the City of Detroit,” said Jiyan Cadiz, producer, Cars at The Station for Hagerty.

Cars at The Station is the first public automotive event at Michigan Central, which Ford remodeled as a tech and culture hub for about $940 million. The station reopened on June 6. Festivities begin at 3 p.m. Friday with auto show-style reveals on stage in front of the majestic station’s façade.

New model presentations include the Ford Mustang GTD, Ford Bronco Sport, Hyundai Ioniq 5N electric hot hatch, Lincoln Navigator, Ram 2500 Power Wagon “Lunar Edition,” Toyota Land Cruiser, electric Fiat 500e, and fire-breathing, V8-powered Jeep Wrangler and Gladiator 392s by mod shop America’s Most Wanted.

After their stage turns, the cars will retreat to vehicle displays by Ford, Lincoln, Ram, Fiat, Hyundai and Toyota at Newlab on the station’s east side. Newlab is an incubator for the commercialization of new technologies, and has attracted over 100 startups working in mobility, energy and materials. Visitors will get an exclusive look inside the innovation hub, where they can soak up exhibits and panel discussions on the state of the industry, presented by Foxxtecca.

At 4:20 p.m., NACTOY will make its Best of 2025 announcement on the station stage.

Littered across Roosevelt Park on the station’s north side will be “Cars and Community powered by the Detroit Auto Show,” featuring more than 100 cars, trucks and motorcycles. Food truck and family music entertainment will be on hand.  

In the spirit of the free public event, attendees will have the opportunity to take free rides in the new models on display. Rides in select classic cars will be available too. When attendees get peckish, a variety of Detroit food trucks will be on offer.

As a preview of the next day’s attractions, a smattering of “RADwood Royalty” will be on display.

Hagerty bills RADwood Detroit as the ultimate ‘80s and ‘90s car and music festival with displays of — not only period cars, trucks, and bikes — but period dress and entertainment as well.

Attendees are encouraged to wear their best ’80s and ’90s clothing and dig out classic gear from the attic like boomboxes, rollerblades and BMX bikes. Musical talent will include Motown DJs playing techno music and the tunes that defined an era.

“RADwood is a celebration of the cars and culture of the ’80s and ’90s as well as the people who created and drove it,” said RADwood CEO Art Cervantes. “With the energy and momentum Detroit has, it’s hard to beat the Motor City for a radder location.”

Among the toys on display will be special selection of Mustangs from The Henry Ford, and attendees can go for a spin in icons like Nissan R32 Skyline GT-R and Mazda’s Autozam AZ-1.

Cars at the Station

Where: Michigan Central Station/Newlab, 2050 15th St., Detroit

When: 3-8 p.m. Friday

Events: 3:30-5 p.m:, Press Briefing featuring NACTOY, AMW 4×4, Fiat, Ford, Hyundai, Lincoln, RAM, Toyota, DADA, RADwood and more

Michigan Central stage schedule

3:45-3:50 p.m.: AMW Wrangler, Gladiator 392

3:50-3:57 p.m.: Fiat 500e

3:57-4:02 p.m.: Ford: Truck News, Bronco Sport, Mustang GTD

4:02-4:07 p.m.: Hyundai Ioniq 5N

4:07-4:12 p.m.: 2025 Lincoln Navigator

4:12-4:17 p.m.: Ram 2500 Power Wagon “Lunar Edition”

4:17-4:22 p.m.: Toyota Land Cruiser

4:22- 4:32 p.m.: NACTOY Best of 2025 Announcement

4:32-4:37 p.m.: Detroit Auto Dealers Association, Detroit Auto Show 2025 News

4:37- 4:42 p.m.: RADwood

RADwood Detroit

Where: Hart Plaza, Detroit

When: 11:30 a.m.-4 p.m. Saturday

Henry Payne is auto critic for The Detroit News. Find him at hpayne@detroitnews.com or Twitter @HenryEPayne.