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The new IIHS whiplash crash test could protect your neck.
IIHS via YouTube

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Neck strains and sprains are the most common injuries reported in auto insurance claims across the United States. Consequently, the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS)—the nonprofit safety organization backed by the insurance sector—is implementing a more comprehensive test to tackle the primary causes of these injuries.

The IIHS began assessing seats and head restraints for whiplash prevention alongside crash tests around 20 years ago. In fact, it stopped the original version of the test in 2022 because automakers had enhanced seat designs to the extent that nearly every new car achieved a top rating.
The Bentley Bentayga X Concept is the luxurious off-road vehicle we desire.
Bentley

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With abundant speed and luxury, the Bentayga stands out as the premier Bentley SUV. However, there’s still room for further innovation, as showcased by a new off-road concept.

Unveiled at the FAT Ice Race in Zell am See, Austria, the Bentayga X was designed to "generate feedback for an upgraded off-road capable Bentayga,” according to a Bentley press statement. This serves as a third option for diversifying the Bentayga range, alongside the performance-focused Bentayga Speed and the chauffeur-oriented Bentayga Extended Wheelbase, as explained by the automotive manufacturer.
Honda Aims for Its Vehicles to Assist in Repairing Damaged Infrastructure
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Modern vehicles are equipped with an array of sensors for safety and driver assistance. Honda is leveraging these sensors to enhance road safety and driving experience. The automaker has recently concluded a two-year pilot program for its Proactive Roadway Maintenance System, which employs cameras and lidar to identify potholes, deteriorating signs, damaged guardrails, and other potential issues for highway departments to address (whether they actually act on these findings is a different question).
This aerospace technology may assist vehicles in identifying ice and freezing rain before it presents an issue.
Nilton Renno/University of Michigan

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Ice racing is entertaining, yet there are times when you prefer to commute without the increased risk of an accident. To enhance warnings for drivers about icy conditions, researchers at the University of Michigan (U-M) have developed two new sensors, inspired by a location that experiences much colder temperatures than Earth.
$50K Polaris RZR Pro R Ultra Edition Introduces Hydraulic Active Sway Bar Links
Polaris

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The Polaris RZR Pro R excels in so many areas that it nearly stands alone in a category between traditional side-by-sides and desert-racing trucks. However, Polaris has still managed to enhance it further—if you're willing to invest.

The RZR Pro R Ultra Edition elevates the already-impressive suspension of the RZR Pro R with what Polaris describes as the Dynamix DVS system. According to Polaris, this is the first and only side-by-side suspension system featuring hydraulic locking sway bar links available from the factory. This feature, developed in partnership with Suspension Direct Inc.
Scout's CEO Discloses That Almost All Buyers of Its Electric Truck Prefer a Gas Engine: TDS
The latest automotive news and reviews, with no fluff.

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

Concise, informative, and quick, TDS collects the most recent automotive news from around the world and presents it in one place. Each story is summarized in a single sentence with a link for those wanting to learn more.

🔈 If you were on vacation last week, here’s a reminder that The Drive debuted its first podcast, The Drivecast, with episode 1 now available on both Apple Podcasts and Spotify.
The Drive Awards 2026: Honoring the Top Cars We Tested
Andrew P. Collins

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The past year has been quite eventful in the auto industry. It seems like only yesterday that nearly every car manufacturer was proclaiming their commitment and financial backing for electric vehicles, while moving away from gasoline engines. At the same time, it feels as though the chaos of 2020 and 2021 was a lifetime ago, considering all that has transpired in the automotive realm since then; for example, many automakers have completely revised their EV strategies.

The current landscape influences how we navigate our everyday lives. It impacts our vehicle choices and dictates which cars we can realistically acquire.
The Drive Awards: The Top Truck of 2026 Is the Rivian R1T Quad
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While America may be stepping back from electric vehicles for a bit, there's no doubt that the reigning pickup truck champion is a startup offering: The Rivian R1T Quad.

This second-gen R1T won our pickup truck showdown decisively, earning The Drive’s Best Truck title for 2026. Why? Simply put, it exemplifies the ideal combination of excellence coming together to create perfection.

The Rivian R1T Quad strikes the perfect balance more than any other truck we drove in the past year, covering the needs for work and play while bringing smiles-per-mile, all while remaining practical and capable.
Aston unveils revolutionary car designed by Newey, while Mercedes delivers a 'surprise'.
"The W17 is performing well."

Aston Martin made its entry into Formula 1's Barcelona shakedown late Thursday, revealing a remarkably innovative 2026 car that stands in stark contrast to the completely absent Williams team. The Silverstone-based squad arrived late Wednesday night, and their car took to the track late Thursday in a bare carbon finish with no sponsorship decals. Lance Stroll managed to complete what a team spokesperson described as "a handful" of laps, although this included a breakdown.

Despite the limited running, the design attracted attention.
Red Bull cautions that regulations might secure an engine advantage.
"Certain components require 12 weeks for production."

Ben Hodgkinson has cautioned that the 2026 power unit regulations in Formula 1 may inadvertently entrench an early competitive advantage, as there is an increasing sense in the paddock that Mercedes could already be establishing a clear standard. As 'shakedown week' in Barcelona nears its conclusion, the head of the Red Bull-Ford engine division stated that the FIA's homologation rules might unintentionally favor manufacturers that start off strong, offering limited chances for others to catch up.

"I would personally prefer to eliminate the homologation system and compete at full capacity without any restrictions," Hodgkinson remarked. "That is my genuine wish. With existing cost caps and limits on dyno time, I believe there are sufficient constraints already in place.
Horner goes to FIA, Ralf believes Alpine agreement is 'finalized'
"Someone like Christian would desire a genuine role."

Christian Horner has sparked further speculation regarding his Formula 1 future after being seen at the FIA’s Paris headquarters for discussions with president Mohammed Ben Sulayem. This meeting comes shortly after Flavio Briatore revealed that Horner and his supporters are among those looking into acquiring the 24 percent stake in Otro Capital related to Alpine.

While some rumors hint that the former Red Bull boss might contemplate other paths back into Formula 1—like an improbable scenario involving Racing Bulls, or even talks concerning a potential future 12th team slot—the Alpine situation continues to gain traction.

Former F1 driver Ralf Schumacher believes the decision has already been made.
Horner - I still have goals to achieve in Formula 1.
"I would like to be a partner, rather than merely a hired hand."

Christian Horner has publicly addressed his recent departure from Red Bull for the first time, stating that he is keen on a return to Formula 1, but only on his own conditions. At the European Motor Show in Dublin, Horner expressed that he feels his journey in F1 is not yet finished. "I believe I have unfinished business in Formula 1," he remarked. "It did not conclude in the way I had hoped." He went on to emphasize that he would only return for a winning opportunity. "I have no interest in a symbolic or advisory role," he stated. "I don’t want to return to the paddock unless I have something meaningful to do. I would prefer to be a partner, not just a hired hand.
Colapinto's sponsor disappears from Alpine's branding.
"It’s a group that has put in tremendous effort."

Observers in Barcelona have noted that Mercado Libre, the most significant Argentine supporter of Franco Colapinto, has quietly vanished from the Alpine branding—just days after Flavio Briatore publicly reassured that Colapinto is confirmed for the entire 2026 season. The timing has inevitably attracted attention, especially as the Argentine-backed brand has appeared elsewhere in the paddock. Mercado Libre branding has shown up on Sergio Perez's helmet at Cadillac, with indications that through its Brazilian subsidiary, the company will also back Gabriel Bortoleto at Audi. Sources close to the matter emphasize that discussions between Alpine and Mercado Libre are still in progress. Colapinto himself adopted a composed, forward-looking stance when speaking with Spanish media during the Barcelona shakedown.
Shareholders contributed EUR 20 million as the Dutch general partner departs.
"Three consecutive sold-out events are crucial for our profitability."

The decision to terminate the Dutch Grand Prix post-2026 is under fresh scrutiny, as it has come to light that the shareholders supporting the Zandvoort project distributed a EUR 20 million dividend, despite claiming financial uncertainty as a primary reason for not extending their Formula 1 contract. This year marks the final Formula 1 visit to Zandvoort, concluding a highly successful six-race series since the event's return in 2021. Organizers have frequently cited escalating costs, the risk of declining attendance, and the absence of government subsidies as reasons for deeming further continuation beyond this point unfeasible.
Schumacher is 'in his own world', explains psychologist regarding the secrecy.
"He recognizes people around him, familiar faces."

Former Formula 1 driver Riccardo Patrese has expressed his views on Michael Schumacher's condition, following new reports indicating that the seven-time world champion is no longer confined to bed and can sit in a wheelchair. In an interview with Hochgepokert, Patrese, who raced alongside Schumacher at Benetton in the early 1990s, mentioned that he hasn’t seen or heard from his former teammate since the skiing accident in December 2013. "I feel like the situation has been similar for a few years now," Patrese commented. "I hope Michael is getting better every day because he’s a good friend of mine, and it saddens me that he is in this condition."

Patrese reminisced about how Schumacher's survival was once uncertain.
Perhaps I should consider purchasing a 70 Series Toyota Land Cruiser that has a foldable windshield and a roll hoop.
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As someone with what might be the best job in the world, I get to spend quite a bit of time searching for interesting cars to write about. This often leads me down various intriguing paths, which I thoroughly enjoy. However, sometimes, you'll encounter fascinating finds in unexpected ways—and this is a tale about that.

While browsing Instagram, I came across a unique 70 Series Toyota Land Cruiser for sale from Car Cave USA in Aiken, South Carolina. I had never seen one like it before, so I shared it with the guys in our Slack chat.
Rovanpera is sidelined by illness once more as his path to F1 comes to a halt.
"The month was definitely very informative."

Kalle Rovanpera has encountered another obstacle on his early single-seater journey, as illness compelled him to miss the final weekend of the Oceania Formula Regional series. According to Finnish newspaper Ilta-Sanomat, the 25-year-old contracted a stomach bug after the tests last Thursday, which kept him from participating in the Friday sessions and ultimately dashed any hopes of a comeback later in the weekend. "The decision was made on Saturday morning when he was feeling unwell and had a mild fever," manager Timo Jouhki explained. "It wasn't sensible for him to drive."

Rovanpera is believed to have left New Zealand quietly before Sunday’s races and returned to Europe.
Wolff responds prior to the FIA meetings in February.
"Toto Wolff has sharply criticized rival teams for their ongoing questioning of the legality of Mercedes’ 2026 power unit solution, with two additional FIA engine meetings planned this month to address the contentious compression issue. In an interview with German media, Wolff emphasized that he views the ongoing debate as unnecessary political noise rather than a real regulatory concern.

"You don’t always need to comprehend what competitors are doing," the Austrian remarked. "The fact that they can’t simply acknowledge that the regulations agreed upon with the FIA are clear in their interpretation and implementation - yet the dissenters continue to insist ‘we don’t like it’."

Wolff indicated that the grievances reveal more about pressures in other areas than about Mercedes’ engine.

"They hold secret meetings and send letters.
Doohan departed without a seat following a setback in Super Formula.
Jack Doohan's ambitions to revive his career with a race program in 2026 have faced another setback, with reports from Japan revealing that the Australian driver has missed out on a Super Formula seat after a challenging test. Following the loss of his Formula 1 position with Alpine midway through the last season, there had been strong expectations that Doohan would transition to Japan's Super Formula championship in 2026. He participated in a test with Kondo Racing, a Toyota-affiliated team, and was seen as a promising candidate for a full-time position.

However, Dutch publication Formule 1 reports that the agreement fell apart at the last moment. Kondo Racing announced last week that Ukyo Sasahara had been signed, while the second seat will go to Williams reserve driver Luke Browning, leaving Doohan without a spot.
Antonelli is 'prepared' for his second year after living independently.
"It's time to take charge of my own space."

Kimi Antonelli has shared that he feels better equipped for his second season in Formula 1, having moved out of his family home and into his own place in San Marino. In an interview with the Italian newspaper La Repubblica, the 19-year-old noted that this shift in his personal life reflects an increase in his confidence on the racetrack.

"It’s time to be the man of the house, since I live alone," said Antonelli. "Before, I stayed at my parents’ home and didn’t do much. Now I have to manage everything myself - cleaning, laundry, keeping things organized. I enjoy it."

He appreciates having his own space to return to after demanding weeks away.
Horner considering purchasing team shares - Albers
"I had a very enjoyable conversation with him."

Christian Horner is currently considering the option of investing in a Formula 1 team, as revealed by former F1 driver Christijan Albers, who mentioned he recently spoke about this directly with the ex-Red Bull team principal.
In an interview with Dutch newspaper De Telegraaf, Albers shared that Horner brought up the topic during a recent meeting in Paris, where he was attending an FIA event.
"He mentioned that he has sufficient investors backing him to explore the possibility," Albers said. "However, only a few teams are open to selling. The share values have surged significantly, causing many teams to retain their stakes. The conclusion is that the values may continue to increase."
Albers pointed out that even teams at the tail end of the grid are now having much higher valuations, using Alpine as an example.