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The biggest car news and reviews, no BS Our free daily newsletter sends the stories that really matter directly to you, every weekday. Welcome to The Downshift, or TDS for short, The Drive’s morning news roundup bringing you the biggest automotive headlines from around the world. The Downshift recaps news briefly, with links to full stories for those seeking more info. This is your bulletin for Friday, August 21, 2026. 🔧 The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration has expanded an investigation into General Motors’ L87 small-block V8s off the back of continued complaints from owners despite recalls. Our Byron Hurd has covered this issue…

If you are shopping for a 2026 Lexus RX 350 and want to know what dealers are actually paying, what a fair price looks like across every trim, or how to get the best deal near you before walking into a single showroom, this guide covers exactly what you need. The 2026 Lexus RX 350 introduces wireless charging as standard across all trims and adds a new F SPORT Appearance Package, continuing in its fourth year of the current fifth-generation platform. U.S. News Best Price Program reports average savings of $3,300 off MSRP with pricing beating the national average 86…

The MG 07 features a fastback design, frameless doors and an electrically adjustable rear spoiler. Credit: MG The MG 07 is available with battery-electric and plug-in hybrid powertrains, with the top BEV version offering a CLTC range of 845 km and 5C fast charging. The model comes in 7 variants, with limited-time prices ranging from 105,900 yuan to 156,900 yuan, below its previous pre-sales range. SAIC Motor’s (SSE: 600104) MG brand officially launched the MG 07 sedan at the 2026 Chengdu Auto Show, which opened on Friday, with a limited-time starting price of 105,900 yuan ($15,620). The new model is…

I am so sorry, fellow US gadget fans: the FCC’s drone ban appears to have struck again. The HoverAir Versa — a baby steadycam with snap-on propeller wings that transform it into a drone — has already stopped taking US orders just three days after its Indiegogo debut, and may be forced to abandon shipping plans in the US.HoverAir is now telling backers it’s only shipping its camera to the US, not the piece that turns it into a drone, “due to a few remaining logistics updates with the Flight Kit.” But those “logistics” may actually be a euphemism for…

The 2027 Genesis GV90 is the fourth SUV in the automaker’s lineup, and by the looks of it, it probably won’t be the last. As with just about every other corner of the market, sport-utes and crossovers are big business for luxury buyers, and Genesis knows that game well. In fact, in the mere six years since introducing its first SUV – the GV80 – the automaker’s sales mix has swung away from conventional four-door sedans by more than 80 percent, and the model portfolio will probably continue to support that statistic. There May Be Fewer Sedans In The Future…

Hyundai has started taking pre-sale orderss for its upcoming Ioniq V, but if you’re reading this from anywhere that speaks English, you can’t have it… yet? The Ioniq V debuted as just four months ago at the Beijing Auto Show (just weeks after its concept reveal), with a shockingly angular design, looking like a low-polygon version of the new Toyota Prius. It’s the beginning salvo in Hyundai’s 20-model planned entry into the crowded Chinese EV market, and the rest of the vehicles are expected to use similar design language. Now Hyundai is back with the Ioniq V at the Chengdu…

The DoJ said the app has made significant strides in privacy protections since the 2024 suit. Mario Tama/Getty Images TikTok and ByteDance have reached an agreement with the Department of Justice to settle a lawsuit that claimed the app broke children’s privacy laws. The settlement is one of the “largest recoveries ever obtained” for a case related to the Children’s Online Privacy Protection Act (COPPA), the DoJ said in a statement. The settlement dates back to a 2024 lawsuit brought by then-President Joe Biden’s Justice Department. The DoJ alleged that the company had violated the terms…

The biggest car news and reviews, no BS Our free daily newsletter sends the stories that really matter directly to you, every weekday. During the summer, the U.S. government typically restricts the sale of fuel to a particular blend that evaporates less to mitigate pollution. But the ongoing war in Iran has wreaked havoc on fuel prices all year, so the Environmental Protection Agency and Department of Energy have issued an emergency waiver that allows E10 gas with a higher evaporation rating to be sold starting September 1, two weeks earlier than it normally enters consumer supply. Throughout much of…

A Porsche 911 Carrera at full chat is a sensory joy for any true automotive enthusiast. And the recent sight of a 1995 993-generation car burning up the track at Virginia International Raceway must have been a particular delight for those present. A capable owner covered VIR’s Grand Course in just 3:16.6 and pulled 0.94 g through turn one, so they clearly knew how to make the most of the vehicle. This demonstrates how a 31-year-old 993 can still be exercised hard, providing a clear example of how air-cooled systems worked so well in an era when water cooling was…

There’s nothing wrong with having a reliable, daily commuter car for the mundane events of the week. Something like a Toyota or a Honda comes to mind, two brands where it’s hard to go wrong with any choice you make. On an ordinary Wednesday morning, there’s absolutely no shame in zipping off to the office in an Accord after the Corn Flakes have been downed and the coffee poured. The scene could look something like this: you scoop the keys out of the bowl and head out to the garage where your chariot awaits. The door whirs open, and you…