Good morning and welcome to The Downshift, or TDS for short.
Tight, light, and right, TDS takes the latest automotive news simmering around the globe and places it all in one place. Each story is summarized in a single (sometimes long) sentence accompanied by a link for those seeking more information.
Feedback regarding TDS is both welcome and encouraged in the comments or via email at tips@thedrive.com.
The first cup of coffee is gone here, so let’s get into it.
? What I’m driving: Still in the 2025 Ford Expedition Platinum and have to say I might be getting used to the two-spoke steering wheel and new dashboard design, though unclear if it’s good or just me accepting what it is at this point.
? The baby Mercedes-Benz G-Class is on its way “very soon” according to the automaker’s CEO Ola Källenius, the new iteration of the icon will be an “authentic car” riding on a new “miniature ladder-frame chassis” with model-specific components and bodywork that is “even more modern” than the electric G-Class launched last year, aiming to make this model “a bit younger,” though it will still have round headlights.
? After a 36-year run the Subaru Legacy is dead as the last all-wheel-drive sedan rolled off the line in Lafayette a little after 3 pm ET on September 12.
? After resisting, Volkswagen has started increasing prices (again) from 2.9 to 6.5 percent depending on the model, and the increases are attributable to President Trump’s tariffs.
? Bentley revealed a Flying Spur sedan with its new ‘Ombré by Mulliner’ paint finish, which looks like a fade and cost $68,000.
‼️ Ford recalled 101,944 Taurus sedans due to a defect that leads to the vehicle’s door trim to detach while driving.
?Panasonic, Tesla’s battery supplier, said it aims to launch a new battery in 2027 that is more energy dense and eliminates the anode during manufacturing, which is said to lead to a 25 percent increase in battery capacity and could translate to up to 90 more miles of range in a Model Y’s current battery pack.
? Polestar CEO Michael Lohscheller said that in some ways the Polestar 4 is polarizing, but “80 percent of the customers get used to it very quickly and then they like it,” noting there’s some people (that other 20 percent) that don’t and that’s alright.
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As Director of Content and Product, Joel draws on over 15 years of newsroom experience and inability to actually stop working to help ensure The Drive shapes the future of automotive media.
