Good morning and welcome to The Downshift, or TDS for short.
The Downshift is The Drive‘s weekday early morning quick-hit news rundown that gathers all the latest automotive stories bubbling around the globe in one place. Grab a cup of coffee and a Pop-Tart.
Feedback on TDS content, features, and formatting is welcome and encouraged via the comments and email (tips@thedrive.com).
Tight, right, and light, TDS is not a full-featured news story or in-depth reporting. It’s a short rundown featuring stories that are summarized in a single sentence accompanied by a link for those seeking more information.
The first two cups of coffee are gone, so let’s get into it. This morning’s TDS is a smidge longer than normal to mop up some 2025 Monterey Car Week and Pebble Beach news.
🚘 What I’m driving: I spent the weekend taking the 2025 Chevrolet Blazer EV SS on a road trip up north and back with the family, and have to say Super Cruise and an EV are just so lovely on a road trip.
🔌 While EVs are cleaner for the earth and create less air pollution, a study found fast-charging stations are an “overlooked source of air pollution” due to the fans in the charging cabinets kicking up particles from tires, brakes, and dust into the air.
🐎 A one-off Daytona SP3 by Ferrari’s Tailor Made customization department, which was created on top of the original sold-out 599 production run, sold for $26 million and became the highest priced new Ferrari ever sold at auction.
🏆 A 1924 Hispano-Suiza H6C Nieuport-Astra Torpedo won Best of Show at the 2025 Pebble Beach Concours d’Elegance.
🐂 The fastest and most powerful street-legal Lamborghini debuted in the form of the Fenomeno, which is a plug-in hybrid featuring three electric motors and a V-12 all based on the Revuelto.
∞ Infiniti unveiled three “concept” vehicles including the QX80 Track Spec, QX80 Terrain Spec, and QX65 Monograph Concept.
🎨 Ombre By Mulliner debuted as a new paint finish that transitions from one color to another across the length of the vehicle.
🐴 A one-of-a-kind Ford Bronco Roadster Concept rolled across the stage at in Pebble Beach.
🏁 Weekend Race Results:
- NASCAR Cup Series Cook Out 400: Austin Dillon of Richard Childress Racing beat out Alex Bowman and Ryan Blaney to secure his spot in the playoffs with the dominant win.
- MotoGP Austrian Grand Prix: Marc Márquez of Ducati Lenovo Team extended his winning streak after taking first place to beat Fermin Aldeguer and Marco Bezzecchi.
- World Endurance Championship Rolex 6 Hours of São Paulo: Cadillac Hertz Team Jota won the Hypercar class while Akkodis ASP Team Lexus took the win in the LMGT3 class.
Have feedback on the formatting of TDS? Send us a note: tips@thedrive.com