
Good morning and welcome to The Downshift, or TDS for brevity.
Brief, fast, and comprehensive, TDS compiles all the current automotive news from around the world in one spot. Articles are condensed into a single sentence with a link for those who want to dive deeper.
I’m on my first cup of coffee, it’s still dark out, and I have a flight to catch this morning. Let’s dive in.
🚘 What I’m currently driving: Spending some time in the Toyota 4Runner TRD Off-Road Premium. I appreciate the Heritage Blue color, and the turbo-four engine is lively, though the rear-seat space is less than optimal and there’s an abundance of cheap, hard plastic inside the SUV.
🚙 Reports indicate that Lincoln is developing a body-on-frame competitor to the Mercedes-Benz G-Class, set to be a reworked Bronco expected around 2029 or 2030.
⛽️ Mazda executives have revealed that the powertrain for the next-gen MX-5 Miata isn’t finalized yet, but some level of electrification is likely; they suggested synthetic fuels might be a way forward to avoid the added weight and complexity associated with hybrid systems.
✂ Aston Martin plans to reduce its workforce by 20%, noting U.S. tariffs and sluggish demand in China as factors behind lower-than-expected profits.
🔋 Lucid anticipates slower production in 2026 due to ongoing supply chain issues, with projections of 25,000-27,000 units in 2026 compared to 17,840 in 2025; the midsize EV’s production is expected to commence this year in Saudi Arabia, according to the automaker’s latest CEO announcements.
🚨 BMW has recalled 58,713 vehicles in the U.S. because of a potentially damaged wiring harness in the air conditioning system that could cause a short circuit in the M5 wagon, M5, and 750e xDrive.
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