Good morning and thank you for joining us at The Downshift, short for TDS.
Concise, focused, and rich in content, TDS compiles the latest automotive news from across the world and presents them in one location. Each story is condensed into a single sentence with a link for those wanting additional details.
🚨 The fourth episode of The Drivecast, The Drive‘s new podcast, will be released later today.
The first cup of coffee is finished, it’s February in Minnesota and currently there’s rain (what is happening), so let’s dive in.
🚘 What I’m driving: Enjoying the week with the 2026 Mazda CX-90 Plug-In Hybrid and discovering that it has ample power, although it’s not fast in electric-only mode. It’s just on the edge of being sufficiently quick without the gasoline engine engaged.
🆕 Polestar has declared a product launch initiative that will see four new EVs debut in the next three years, including the Polestar 5 (which competes with the Porsche Taycan), a more practical wagon-SUV-inspired version of the Polestar 4 (presumably with a rear window), a new Polestar 2 (which was originally not slated for a second generation), and a Polestar 7; the Polestar 5, set to be produced in China, will not be available in the U.S. at launch, and the timeline for its U.S. debut is yet to be determined.
🚕 Tesla has reported that the first Cybercab has successfully rolled off the production line in Texas.
🔋 Audi has confirmed that a production version of the Concept C electric sports car will launch next year, independent of the fate of the electric Porsche 718 Boxster and Cayman, on which Audi’s design was initially based.
🤖 Tesla’s Robotaxis have reportedly been involved in 14 accidents over the past eight months.
🚕 Uber intends to invest more than $100 million in the establishment of charging hubs for autonomous electric taxis.
🐷 The departing head of design at Mercedes-Benz has covertly redesigned the legendary “Red Pig,” with images of the concept shared on Instagram.
🔱 The 2026 Goodwood Revival will commemorate and celebrate 100 years of Maserati motor racing in September.
🏎️ The replacement for the Lexus LC is reportedly set to share the platform of the next-generation Toyota Supra and will feature a 2+2 configuration merging the LC and RC models into a single GT.
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