The Jeep Cherokee has just made a comeback, only to be substituted in three years: TDS.
**Stellantis**
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Welcome to The Downshift, or TDS for short, your morning news summary from The Drive that compiles the major automotive headlines from across the globe.
The Downshift condenses stories into brief summaries and provides links for those who want more information. We hope you enjoyed your weekend—here’s your update for Monday, August 17, 2026.
🚙 The sixth-generation Jeep Cherokee has just made its debut for the 2026 model year, following the previous generation which ran from 2014 to 2023. However, Stellantis is already gearing up to introduce a successor in 2029, set to be produced at the company’s Belvidere Assembly plant in Illinois—moving away from Mexico, where the current SUV is manufactured—and will utilize the latest STLA One architecture. [Automotive News]
🕹️ In an interview, Porsche North America CEO Timo Resch mentioned that while the brand’s manual transmission and hybrid powertrain don’t currently work together, he “wouldn’t be surprised if at some point [Porsche engineers] find a solution.” [Road & Track]
🐂 If you’re a collector of Lamborghini and are hoping for the brand to offer manual options like many luxury automakers, it might be wise to temper your expectations. CEO Stephan Winklemann stated in Monterey over the weekend that manuals are “mostly for collectibles, and today we don’t have any plans” to produce a three-pedal vehicle. [CarBuzz]
🚨 Toyota is recalling its relatively new bZ Woodland battery-powered SUV/wagon due to a potential electric short that could compromise electronic stability control and activate the brake lights simultaneously, even with the brakes not being applied. [Autoblog]
🤑 A Ferrari Luce “Chassis 0” featuring a custom white paint job was sold at a charity auction in Monterey over the weekend for $40 million, illustrating that despite vocal criticism from some, there will always be individuals willing to spend extraordinary amounts of money. [Reuters]
🏁 Weekend race results:
NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series at Richmond: Kayden Honeycutt for Tricon Garage
NASCAR Cup Series at Richmond: Joey Logano for Team Penske
IndyCar at Ontario: Marcus Ericsson for Andretti Global
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The Jeep Cherokee has just made a comeback, only to be substituted in three years: TDS.
Stellantis intends to launch a next-generation Jeep Cherokee in a surprisingly brief period, manufactured in the U.S. with a new architecture.