I’ll admit it: The New Year always ushers in one of my least favorite rituals—prognostication. Every January, confident predictions flood in, opinions harden into talking points, and we all—Robb Report included—speculate about what’s coming next. (That’s part of the job, after all.) In the automotive world, that conversation has revolved around electrification for the better part of a decade. And while few doubt that E.V.s are here to stay, the timeline—and where it all leads—is still up for debate. That’s precisely what makes this February issue so exciting for us. The lineup we’ve assembled for our 23rd annual Car of the Year competition doesn’t follow a single narrative. Instead, it tells a more complex, and ultimately more compelling, story.

As in years past, what stood out was the sheer range of thinking on display. As our automotive editor Viju Mathew and longtime contributor Robert Ross note, the 2026 class brought together a sweeping cross section of categories and power trains—the kind of variety that has become a defining feature of Car of the Year. Rather than steering neatly in one direction, the collection pulled in many—deliberately.

To make sense of it all, we returned to our favorite proving ground, the Concours Club in Opa-locka, Fla. Over five days, 117 judges pushed 10 singular machines to their limits—most of them on track. What emerged was a series of thrilling contrasts. Some differences were mechanical, others philosophical. Ferrari stretched the definition of what a four-door performance car can be, while Bentley showed off its playful side, building an S.U.V. designed to drift. An all-electric (and impossibly quiet) Rolls-Royce held its own on the circuit. And—for the first time ever in Car of the Year—a restomod Ford Mustang gave our panel a new appreciation for what it took to pilot a muscle car in the golden age of American motorsport.

This year’s winner, however, took a more familiar path. In a field defined by innovation and design, Aston Martin’s Vanquish—and its 5.2-liter twin-turbo V-12—struck a rare balance of beauty and old-school brawn that resonated with both judges and editors alike. One driver summed it up this way: “If you could have one sports car, this would be it.” That sentiment echoed across the panel. The Vanquish didn’t just perform—it captivated, with cohesive execution, clarity of purpose, and a form that all but demanded second (and third) looks. You’ll find the full story, along with how the rest of the field stacked up, online now.

Beyond cars, the issue also takes a few worthwhile detours. Staff writer Abigail Montanez profiles a home on Pantelleria, off the coast of Sicily, where a traditional dammuso was transformed into a tranquil family retreat rooted in the island’s volcanic landscape. Jill Newman examines how traceable, responsibly sourced gold—mined at scale—could begin to reshape the future of the industry. Elsewhere, editor at large Mark Ellwood travels to Kerala, India, for a close look at a longevity clinic centered around daily practice rather than once-a-year resets. We also check in on the reopening of Gstaad Palace’s Le Grand restaurant in Switzerland, explore South Africa’s French-inflected wine country, and discover how carbon fiber is quietly changing the way yachts are designed and built.

We hope these pages offer a few surprises—and, with any luck, stir your curiosity far more than any forecast could.

Enjoy the issue.