--- title: "Audi Is About To Enter a New Design Era: TDS" date: "2026-03-02" modified: "2026-03-02" authors: - name: "Joel Feder" job_title: "Director of Content and Product" link: "https://www.thedrive.com/authors/joel-feder" url: "https://www.thedrive.com/news/audi-is-about-to-enter-a-new-design-era-tds" categories: - "News" - "The Downshift" --- # Audi Is About To Enter a New Design Era: TDS ![Static studio shot, exterior, frontal view]() *Static studio shot, exterior, frontal view* Good morning and welcome to *The Downshift*, or *TDS* for short. Tight, dense, and lacking fluff, *TDS* gathers the latest automotive headlines from around the globe and places them in one sport. Stories are summarized in a single sentence accompanied by a link for those seeking more information. I'm back home from Montana and haven't had coffee yet, so let's get into it. 🚘 What I’m driving: Came back home to the 2026 Toyota 4Runner TRD Off-Road Premium and appreciate that this one doesn't have the hybrid powertrain, which means the rear cargo area floor is lower thanks to the lack of a battery pack. πŸ§‘β€πŸŽ¨ Audi's Chief Creative Officer, Massimo Frascella, said the brand's masterpieces were the B5 A4 and C5 A6 as "they looked like nothing else on the road," and featured timeless designs; [Frascella said ]()the brand needs to get back to everything being instantly recognizable as Audis noting that the Concept C (the photo above) is the mission statement for achieving the tricky harmonious balance between past and present. πŸ–ΌοΈ The Toyota Supra from *The Fast and the Furious* is [headed to the Petersen Museum in LA]() along with the franchise's pink Honda S2000 from the sequel. 🚨 [Subaru recalled 71,207 hybrid vehicles]() including some Crosstrek and Forester models due to a fire hazard when left in the hot sun with a full fuel tank. πŸͺ½ A new [M Performance Track Kit]() is blurring the line between street-legal M2 and its race car counterpart. πŸ”‹ Tesla's least expensive Cybertruck is [now $10,000 more expensive]() than it was less than two weeks ago. πŸ•οΈ Land Rover's [upcoming Defender Sport]() will have "go-anywhere capability," according to the brand's director Mark Cameron. 🏁 Weekend Race Results: - Indycar Grand Prix of St. Petersburg - Alex Palou took the win for Chip Ganassi Racing - NASCAR Cup COTA DuraMAX GP - Tyler Reddick took the win for 23XI Racing - NASCAR Trucks St. Petersburg - Layne Riggs won for Front Row Motorsports - NASCAR O'Reilly Series COTA - Shane van Gisbergen won for Trackhouse Program *Got a news tip or feedback? Drop us a line at tips@thedrive.com* []() ## Author Overseeing what you see, read, touch, hear, and interact with from the vast lakes of Minnesota, Joel Feder shapes how The Drive looks and operates as the head of content and product initiatives. On a daily basis, Joel leads the newsroom and editorial staff playing point on both short-term coverage and long-term strategic plans. His mission is to help ensure The Drive shapes the future of automotive media by helping the team execute original reporting, breaking news, and exclusive opportunities. Regarded as an industry insider and recognized by colleagues, fellow journalists, and manufacturers as a point-person and leader in the industry, Joel owns and runs the largest automotive professionals group on Facebook in an effort to serve and help others. Joel serves as a juror for the World Car Awards. In addition, he is the board chair and chair of the governance and nominating committee for Move Forward MN, a local non-profit that helps at-risk youth with barrier-free mental health and housing services. While you’re reading this he’s either on his computer or iPhone chasing the latest news or drafting a story. ### Author social links [Instagram]() [LinkedIn]() [Bluesky]() [Email]()