
Good day and thanks for joining The Downshift, or TDS for short.
Concise, clear, and to the point, TDS compiles the most recent automotive news from across the globe and presents it in one location. Updates are condensed into a singular, occasionally lengthy, sentence paired with a link for those looking for additional details.
Somehow I found my way back to Central Standard Time after briefly hopping on Japan Standard Time, but I’m still just one cup of coffee into my day, so let’s dive in.
🚘 What I’m driving: The 2025 Subaru Forester has departed and been swapped for a 2026 Lucid Air Touring, which is dressed in Fathom Blue Metallic (a remarkable hue of blue, if I may say) with an EPA-rated range of 431 miles, a solid array of features, and a price tag of $100,350.
🔋 The new 2026 Mercedes-Benz CLA EV boasts an EPA-rated range of 374 miles, but it recently achieved 434 miles on a single charge during a real-world testing scenario.
🔌 Stellantis announced it will bring the compact Fiat Topolino to the U.S. next year, a small electric vehicle that lacks doors and reaches a maximum speed of 28 mph with a range of up to approximately 50 miles.
💻 Volvo, which introduced the electric EX90 amid a plethora of software issues, is now extending its software solutions to competitors for use in their EVs.
👨💼 Mercedes-Benz AMG has appointed the former Porsche Taycan leader as its new CEO.
👨💼 BMW has selected its production chief Milan Nedelijkovic as its new CEO.
⛽️ Lotus, stating it will exclusively manufacture electric cars, has incorporated a gas engine into its Eletre SUV, dubbing it the Lotus For Me.
🔋 Mercedes-Benz has secured a deal with LG for the purchase of billions of dollars worth of EV batteries.
🛻 Someone has modified a Rivian R1T to offer over 600 miles of range for an EV Cannonball Run challenge.
🔋 Rimac is working on solid-state battery technology for Bugatti.
🦁 Ineos has crafted a convertible off-road Grenadier safari model for wildlife viewing.
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