One thing was perfectly clear while kicking the tires at the 2025 Canadian International AutoShow (CIAS) – tech is here to stay.
Whether it’s for safety’s sake, entertainment, connectivity, or convenience, virtually all vehicles were packed with tech at this year’s annual show – now open to the public until Feb. 23 at the Metro Toronto Convention Centre.
Featuring more than 40 automotive brands, the 2025 CIAS is spread across about 650,000 square feet of showroom space, including the official launch of more than a dozen new vehicles. A growing number of cars, SUVs and trucks are electric vehicles (EVs), but there are still plenty of gas-based ICE rides (“internal combustion engine”) or hybrids, for those who prefer them.
Hardly a complete list, but the following is a brief look at some of the more impressive tech innovations that caught my eye at the show.
Bye-bye range anxiety
The 2025 Chevrolet Silverado EV features up to 792 km of range, which is the equivalent of driving from Toronto to New York City on a single charge. (Note: this is for the “Work Truck” trim level, with the “Max Range” battery option).
What’s more, the RST (Rally Sport Model) pickup includes a built-in external charging port, with up to 10.2 kW of power (with required powerbase), which allows you to use the truck’s battery to power tools, equipment, or other devices.
The Silverado EV RST model also supports “Sidewinder” steering, a kind of “crab walk” feature where all four wheels turn in the same direction to move the truck diagonally (up to 32 km/h) to sneak into tight parking space or better maneuver over rugged terrain.
The starting price for the WT (Standard Range) model is $63,999.
Game on! And a self-healing grill
A centerpiece at the BMW booth at CIAS, the upcoming all-electric 2026 BMW iX (from $88,900) offers increased power and range (up to 547 km per charge in the xDrive60 variant; starting at $94,900), with a sleek yet simplified design language refresh.
Plus, BMW has added something to pass the time while juicing up at an electric charging station. While stationary, BMW iDrive’s AirConsole platform lets drivers and passengers play casual games on the curved infotainment display – alone or in multiplayer mode – by using a smartphone as a controller. Some titles include Starlit Kart, Who Wants to Be a Millionaire?, and UNO® Car Party!
And if you didn’t know this was available for the past couple of years, here’s a piece of cool tech: a “self-healing” grille. Yup, the digital kidney grille on the BMW iX not only integrates technology – a 360-degree camera (with its own cleaning system), radar, and other sensors – but an additional polyurethane coating can repair minor scratches, for example, within 24 hours at room temperature (or via a five-minute supply of warm air, says BMW).
Production begins in March at Plant Dingolfing in Germany, with deliveries expected the first half of 2025.
Sound investment, and hands-free driving
Just hitting the roads now, the 2025 Cadillac OPTIQ (from $63,333) is a 5-passenger SUV, with up to 486 km of range, a gorgeous 33-inch diagonal advanced LED display (with integrated Google apps and services), and featuring Cadillac’s signature design language.
This EV supports Level 3 (DC) fast-charging and offers both Regen On Demand, a driver-controlled braking feature controlled by a pressure-sensitive paddle located on the steering wheel, as well as optional One-Pedal Driving, which lets you slow down and stop the vehicle using only the accelerator (which then converts kinetic energy from the OPTIQ’s forward momentum into electricity, which is stored for future use).
Aimed at younger, tech-savvy buyers looking to enter the luxury EV market, this urban-friendly vehicle is also for those who take their music seriously, thanks to a 19-speaker AKG surround sound system and Dolby Atmos support. Evidenced by some demos at the CIAS, including classical music and some rock tracks, the multi-track audio was, in a word, extraordinary.
As with other GM vehicles, this Cadillac EV also supports Super Cruise, an advanced driver-assistance system that lets you take your hands off the wheel while on compatible highways and other roadways.
Screen dream, making scents
Available this spring and starting at $123,500 (for the Reserve trim level), the 2025 Lincoln Navigator turned heads at the CIAS – and continued when you’re inside of it, as the revamped Lincoln Digital Experience comes to life through a 48-inch panoramic display.
Powered by Google, the Ford and Lincoln Digital Experience was designed to be an intuitive and versatile touchscreen experience – and supported by buttons on the steering wheel to keep your eyes on the road – that combines navigation, entertainment, information, and safety.
Along with customizable widgets, features include real-time traffic and weather alerts, podcast and music, and access to more apps via the Google Play store.
While parked, the integrated 5G (plan required) also lets you access a full web browser, play interactive games (by pairing a wireless controller), or stream videos from YouTube or Prime Video (first year free).
This vehicle also boasts Lincoln Rejuvenate, dubbed your “spa on wheels,” a “multi-sensory experience of sight, sound, temperature, and massage” – and yes, even smell, to give you some moments of Zen when the vehicle is parked.
Finally, the 2025 Lincoln Navigator houses significant updates to its “BlueCruise” hands-free highway driving technology, which comes standard on all models for four years, after which a paid subscription will be required.
Speaking of screens, those who attend the 2025 CIAS should visit the Mercedez-Benz area and slip into the 2025 AMG E 53 Hybrid (from $136,500) to gawk at its MBUX Superscreen ($1,800 for the package), or the pricier 2024 Maybach EQS 680 SUV (from $295,000) and its MBUX Hyperscreen. Stunning.
– Marc Saltzman is the host of the Tech It Out podcast and the author of the book, Apple Vision Pro For Dummies (Wiley)