Happy Friday and welcome to The Downshift , our move of leading headings from the automobile sector and auto culture every morning, curated by The Drive’s content group. Each story gets a brief recap and a link to the initial resource if you want to dive much deeper.
Right here’s the report for Friday, October 9, 2026:
Volkswagen has revealed the ID.Tiguan, which will be successful the ID. 4 It has an extra conventional SUV design with a tweaked inside that features method a lot more physical switches than previously, from the facility stack to the steering wheel. The leading trim will certainly bring a 77 -kWh battery and make simply timid of 300 horsepower from front and rear motors. All told, expect an array someplace in the ball park of low-to-mid 300 miles. The ID.Tiguan will certainly strike Europe first early next year, and the U.S. sale date is TBA. [Volkswagen]
Porsche’s international sales were down 16 % over the very first 9 months of 2026, an outcome the firm attributes to the discontinuation of its 718 version line, along with a 33 % dive in China, especially. [Reuters]
Honda has actually upgraded the Civic with a brand-new Sport-L trim, adding leather seats and various other benefits you previously needed to spring for the Touring design to obtain. Meanwhile, the Sport Touring Crossbreed is getting the S+ Shift modern technology presented on the Overture, which shares its powertrain. [Honda]
⭐ Polestar has actually almost offered with every one of its remaining 2026 model-year vehicles in the united state, according to chief executive officer Michael Lohscheller. Of course, afterwards happens, there won’t be any more new Polestars to get on this side of the pond. [Reuters]
A study commissioned by a brain trust called Clean Power Canada located that 47 % of Canadians would certainly choose an auto market that much more very closely reflects Europe’s with cheaper, extra small, and alternative-energy choices, compared to one that mirrors the U.S. market. [Automotive News]
In various other studies, BMW commissioned one of the united state car-buying public that discovered that 42 % of Americans require at the very least 300 miles of variety from an EV prior to thinking about an acquisition. 53 % stated they ‘d be most likely to get an EV if it supported super-fast billing that might add 150 miles of variety in 10 mins. [BMW Blog]
If you have actually been waiting to purchase a McLaren 750 S, now’s your last opportunity. The car manufacturer has validated that the version will finish production soon, and final orders are being accumulated now. [Motor1]
Honda will supposedly sell a rebadged variation of Mitsubishi’s Triton body-on-frame pickup in Southeast Asia, maybe precipitating similar options worldwide. [Automotive News]
Porsche professional Manthey, which the car manufacturer lately enhanced its risk in to 67 %, has actually presented 2 ultra-limited-run models. The 992 1 -based 911 GT 3 Cup MR 30 attributes a flat-six with an increased variation of 4 2 liters, while the (deep breath here) 718 Cayman GT 4 RS Clubsport MR 30 deals extra hostile aero and a lot more radical weight savings. [Manthey]
✖ The JAS Tensei– a Honda NSX restomod designed by Pininfarina– has actually been completed, and sounds excellent, with a Judd-tuned version of the NSX’s V 6 currently making 420 horse power, sending power with a six-speed transmission, and a minimized weight of 2, 750 pounds owing to carbon-fiber body panels. 35 will certainly be built for just under $ 1 million a pop, which almost seems like a strong bargain until you realize that does not include the price of a contributor NSX. [Road & Track]
Weekend break races to enjoy (all times Eastern):
- NASCAR Craftsman Truck Collection at Charlotte: Friday at 5 p.m. on Fox
- Intercontinental GT Obstacle Indianapolis 8 Hours: Saturday at 12 p.m. on YouTube
- NASCAR O’Reilly Car Components Series at Charlotte: Saturday at 4 p.m. on CW/ESPN
- MotoGP Indonesia Grand Prix: Sunday at 3 a.m. on FS 2
- Formula 1 Singapore Grand Prix: Sunday at 8 a.m. on Apple TV
- NASCAR Mug Series at Charlotte: Sunday at 3 p.m. on USA
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