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. Congrats, it’s Friday! Here’s your bulletin for June 12, 2026.

Ford has no plans to introduce an even more hardcore Ranger Raptor R or Bronco Raptor R, with Ford Racing production vehicle chief engineer Carl Widmann saying that, “If anything, the Ranger Raptor might even already have too much power.” The Ranger Raptor’s 3.0-liter twin-turbo V6 makes 405 horsepower. [Road & Track]

Ford will recall more than half a million Expedition SUVs, model years 2018 through 2024, for center console chrome plating that may bubble and peel over time, creating sharp edges that can cut occupants. [Reuters]

Meanwhile, Honda will recall over 1 million tire repair kits sold with their vehicles due to a faulty sealant bottle that could allow pressure to build to the point where the bottle’s cap becomes a projectile. The kits in question are offered with hybrid versions of the Accord and CR-V. [Reuters]

Back to Ford, who has been able to successfully upsell Edge and Escape customers—two vehicles that are no longer in production—to the larger Explorer. The Explorer is Ford’s most-improved model in terms of sales this year, up 18 percent. [Automotive News]

Nissan has detailed the nostalgic touches it’s bringing to the 2027 Z, expanding the S30-inspired split grille design across the lineup and adding a new wheel design that references the machined rims on the Z31, as well as a new green exterior color and a tan interior option. [Nissan]

Volkswagen is reportedly planning to cut 19,000 jobs in Germany by the end of the year; for reference, Volkswagen Group employs nearly 300,000 people in the country, and is targeting to shed at least 28,000 jobs by the end of this decade. [Quartz]

Fernando Alonso told media that weekend will mark “probably my last Barcelona race in Formula 1,” given that the track will not be on next year’s calendar. The 44-year-old veteran is likely gearing up for retirement from the sport, though he hasn’t made an official announcement yet. [Motorsport]

The #15 BMW hypercar will start pole at the 94th running of the 24 Hours of Le Mans tomorrow, followed by the #12 Cadillac and #35 Alpine. [Motorsport]

Weekend races to watch:

• 94th 24 Hours of Le Mans: Saturday at 10 a.m. on HBO Max
• NASCAR O’Reilly Auto Parts Series at Pocono: Saturday at 4 p.m. on The CW
• Formula 1 Barcelona-Catalunya Grand Prix: Sunday at 9 a.m. on Apple TV
• GT World Challenge America at Road Atlanta: Sunday at 2:30 p.m. on YouTube
• NASCAR Cup Series at Pocono: Sunday at 3 p.m. on Prime Video

Got a tip or feedback for TDS? Reach out to tips@thedrive.com

NISSAN has used Australian Made Week to spotlight its long-running local manufacturing operation in Victoria, highlighting the global importance of its Melbourne casting plant in supplying components for hybrid, electric, and combustion-powered vehicles sold around the world.

 

The Nissan Casting Australia Plant (NCAP), located in Dandenong South, has been operating for 44 years and remains a key part of Nissan’s global manufacturing network, producing critical aluminium die-cast components for vehicles ranging from the Leaf EV to the Patrol large SUV.

 

Established in 1982, the facility now employs more than 190 staff and contractors and produces around 1.2 million aluminium castings and towbars annually for domestic and export markets.

 

Of growing significance is the plant’s role in electrification.

 

NCAP is Nissan’s sole global manufacturing site for core components used in the company’s latest 5-in-1 e-Power hybrid system, making the Australian operation strategically important to the brand’s future electrified vehicle rollout.

 

It also manufactures driveline components for the Leaf electric hatchback.

 

Nissan Oceania managing director Steve Milette said the facility demonstrates the depth of local capability.

 

“Innovation doesn’t just happen overseas, the Nissan Casting Australia Plant demonstrates the depth of manufacturing expertise, skill and capability we have right here in Australia,” he said.

 

“For 44 years, the team at NCAP has produced world-class components that support Nissan vehicles driven around the globe.”

 

Components produced at the Victorian site support a wide range of Nissan and Infiniti vehicles, including: Nissan Qashqai (latest e-Power hybrid system), Leaf, Navara, Patrol / North American Armada, X-Trail / North American Rogue, Pathfinder, Kicks, Note, Serena, Murano, Skyline, Titan, Civilian (bus), and Infiniti QX80, Infiniti QX60, and Infiniti QX50.

 

The breadth of applications highlights the continuing relevance of Australian manufacturing in global automotive supply chains, even as local full-vehicle production disappeared years ago.

 

Although the facility only officially gained Australian Made certification last year, Nissan says its local identity has long been embedded in its products.

 

Many castings produced at the plant carry a raised kangaroo motif, a subtle identifier marking their Australian origin before being shipped internationally.

 

“The kangaroo motif proudly cast into many of the components over the years may be small, but it represents something much bigger,” said Mr Milette.

 

Nissan says its milestone serves as a reminder that while Australia no longer builds complete passenger vehicles, advanced automotive manufacturing capability remains active in specialist supply roles.

 

The Dandenong operation is not simply a legacy facility, it is an active contributor to the company’s electrification program and global production network, says Nissan.

 

As automakers increasingly focus on EVs and hybrid technologies, NCAP’s critical role shows Australian industrial capability still has a place in the future automotive landscape.

 

The biggest car news and reviews, no BS

Our free daily newsletter sends the stories that really matter directly to you, every weekday.

Good morning and welcome to The Downshift, or TDS for short.

Quick, tight, and dense, TDS gathers the latest automotive headlines from around the globe and places them in one spot. Stories are summarized in a single sentence accompanied by a link for those seeking more information.

It’s Friday, we made it, and I’m up in Northern Minnesota at the cottage. Let’s get into it.

What I’m driving: Currently spending the week with the 2026 Toyota Tundra TRD Pro. This one stands out thanks to its Wavemaker Blue paint and is louder than normal thanks to the TRD Performance package, which adds a catback exhaust system along with a dual intake setup.

Toyota Motor North America CEO Tetsuo Ogawa said that “a RAV4-based pickup is an opportunity for us, and the dealers are waiting; maybe they say we need today or tomorrow, but it takes time.”

The 2027 Nissan Frontier Sport debuted as a budget-friendly off-roader.

The Jeep Wrangler America250 special edition debuted as a tribute to America’s 250th birthday; it looks like Captain America’s Wrangler.

Subaru’s delaying in-house EV development after a $362 million charge.

Toyota’s considering an additional assembly line in Texas, which would cost the automaker $2 billion.

Stellantis and Dongfeng agreed to a $1.17 billion deal that will see electric Peugeots and Jeeps built in China.

HWA will now sell you an EVO race car that will compete at the 24-Hour Nurburgring race.

The Pagani Zonda continues to live; a new Pagani Zonda Roadster has debuted as a restored and reimagined example dubbed the “Cervino.”

Michael Lohscheller, the boss of Polestar, said drivers are now suffering from “pump anxiety” due to rising fuel prices.

Rolls-Royce debuted the Black Badge Cullinan by Cyril Kongo.

Got a news tip or feedback? Drop us a line at tips@thedrive.com

NISSAN has again proved the real-world efficiency credentials of its hybridised Qashqai e-Power SUV, this time a lot closer to home.

 

Last August, the Nissan team drove from one end of the UK to the other to demonstrate the efficiency of the Qashqai e-Power on the open road.

 

Now, Nissan Australia has replicated the performance on local soil, covering a 1303km lap of the island state with an average fuel consumption figure of just 4.5 litres per 100km.

 

The journey began in Geelong, Victoria, where Nissan Australia team members topped up the Qashqai e-Power’s 55-litre fuel tank before boarding the Spirit of Tasmania ferry service.

 

Upon arrival in Devonport, Tasmania, the crew charted a clockwise route of the Apple Isle, circumnavigating the state with the goal of not visiting a Tasmanian petrol station.

 

The lap was completed at the posted speed limits, across varied terrain including freeways, urban roads, and several challenging hill climbs.

 

Travelling through Launceston, Freycinet, the Bay of Fires, Hobart, the Huon Valley and Tasmania’s rugged west coast, the vehicle’s trip meter showed 1209.2km upon returning to the ferry, ultimately recording 1303km when the fuel flap was reopened.

 

“This trip isn’t laboratory testing, this is the real world and real conditions, completing a dream lap of Tasmania that so many Australians have either done, or would love to do,” said Nissan Oceania managing director Steve Milette.

 

“Now more than ever, Australian drivers are looking for fuel efficiency that doesn’t compromise driving enjoyment, and this 1300km real-world journey shows that the Nissan Qashqai e-Power delivers.”

 

The recently updated 2026 Nissan Qashqai e-Power introduces an revised hybrid powertrain with a reduced combined cycle fuel consumption figure of 4.1 litres per 100km and CO2 emissions of 92 grams per kilometre.

 

Central to the update is a new ‘5-in-1’ powertrain architecture integrating the electric motor, generator, inverter, increaser, and reducer into in a single unit, further reducing, Nissan says, both weight and complexity while improving energy transfer.

 

The revised system is paired with a redesigned turbocharged 1.5-litre three-cylinder petrol engine featuring Nissan’s proprietary STARC combustion technology, helping deliver thermal efficiency of up to 42 per cent by converting more fuel energy into usable power and reducing energy losses through heat.

 

To read GoAuto’s review of the latest 2026 Nissan Qashqai e-Power click here. For more information on the pricing and equipment details of the model, click here.

 

Although it’s not as big as the 5008, the Qashqai has enough space for four adults and the Tekna+ model we’re testing has premium quilted-leather heated seats that include a massage setting. There is synthetic suede trim on the centre console and arm-rests, plus customisable ambient lighting. Overall, the interior feels very classy.

The 504-litre boot is large enough for all my photography gear and, as in the 5008, has a storage space under two removable shelves where I can store all the car-cleaning products that I need for photoshoots in winter. The ride is firmer than the 5008’s and there is slightly more noise in the cabin. Neither is a big issue, however, and the ride is still good. The pay-off is a more dynamic driving experience.

In fact, the only issue wasn’t the car’s fault at all. A day after it was delivered, a low tyre pressure warning popped up on the screen. I inflated the tyre to the correct PSI at a garage and I couldn’t see any damage to the rubber following a quick inspection. 

A couple of days later the warning light came on again, though, and this time I decided to have the tyre checked at an F1 Autocentre. The technician found a tiny hole in the sidewall that couldn’t be repaired. The right tyre wasn’t in stock, so I returned a few days later for a new Michelin Primacy 4 to match the other three tyres. It cost £251.56, which made for a frustrating start to the year.

*Insurance quote for a 42-year-old in Banbury, Oxon, with three points.

Buy a car with Auto Express. Our nationwide dealer network has some fantastic cars on offer right now with new, used and leasing car deals to choose from…