Audi is preparing to compete with the Mercedes G-Class: TDS
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Good morning and welcome to The Downshift, or TDS for short.
Concise and straightforward, TDS compiles the latest automotive news from worldwide sources into one place. Each story is summarized in one, occasionally lengthy, sentence, accompanied by a link for those wanting more details.
🚨 A brief reminder: The team is off today for the holiday, so The Drive Daily email newsletter will not be sent out this afternoon. We'll resume our normal schedule tomorrow.
My first cup of coffee is gone and I'm ready for the second one, so let’s dive in.
🚘 What I'm driving: I spent the weekend in Aspen with my family in the 2025 Subaru Outback and returned home last night to the 2026 Ram 1500 equipped with the Hemi V8.
🚙 Audi's design chief has suggested that the unveiling of a competitor to the Mercedes G-Class may still be forthcoming, urging, "stay tuned," and adding, "don't give up on that dream," regarding a low-volume flagship model that would likely be built on the body-on-frame Scout architecture.
🛞 Michelin has introduced a new Pilot Sport Endurance racing tire set to debut in the 2026 season; while specifics are sparse, the manufacturer has assured improvements in sustainability and track performance with the new tire.
🧲 GM's investment in rare-earth materials has proven successful as China imposes new severe restrictions on these materials used in automotive parts.
💸 The Volkswagen Tiguan has seen yet another price hike with the launch of the 2026 model year, with the new top-tier SEL R-Line Turbo retailing for $44,560.
🪫 President Trump's measures against electric vehicles have begun to affect the U.S. battery belt, potentially leading to the loss of tens of thousands of jobs in Republican-leaning states like Georgia and Kentucky.
🚗 Toyota has teased a Corolla concept, a Century Coupe concept, and a six-wheel Lexus LS minivan concept in anticipation of the Tokyo Motor Show taking place later this month.
🏁 Weekend Race Results:
IMSA Petit Le Mans – Jack Aitken, Earl Bamber, and Frederik Vesti secured victory in the Cadillac V-Series.R for Whelen Cadillac Racing.
NASCAR Cup Series South Point 400 – Denny Hamlin triumphed for Joe Gibbs Racing.
NASCAR Xfinity Series Focused Health 302 – Aric Almirola took the win for Joe Gibbs Racing.
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Audi is preparing to compete with the Mercedes G-Class: TDS
"Stay tuned" is what the head of design at Audi mentioned regarding a high-end 4x4 project.