It’s official: Robert Downey Jr. is one of us. Turns out he’s a car enthusiast!

Best known for his illustrious acting career — he’s garnered two Academy Award nominations, three Golden Globe Awards, and a BAFTA — he was a little more mysterious about his affinity for collecting cars. That’s yet. his last show, Downey Dream CarsAnd It is much more than just another popular car show; It showcases his aspirations, transforming select cars in his collection to be more sympathetic to the environment without losing their cool factor.

As someone who is obsessed with cars, I’ve always appreciated celebrities who are genuinely interested in cars. It’s not the A-List Hollywood personalities who only show off their supercars on Instagram. Think of people like Sidney Sweeney—who restored her 1969 Bronco—and Jerry Seinfeld, a formidable Porsche builder.

trailer for Downey Dream Cars It opens with RDJ hopping into one of the hottest electric cars of recent times: the Rimac Nevera. With over 1,900 horsepower and a top speed of 258 mph, the electric supercar is in a league of its own next to the current crop of hybrid supercars – often using electric motors to back up the internal combustion engine.

Even at just 30 seconds, it’s clear that Downey not only has a flair for acting, but he has a way with words. “Have you ever dreamed that you are in a spaceship, and you wonder where all the buttons are?” Downey says of Nefer. “It doesn’t start, and then all of a sudden it starts moving at the speed of light.”

However, Downey’s new show is about a lot more than just him driving flashy cars – although I still watch that. Details are scant, but the trailer hints at him converting the cars in various ways to increase their environmental friendliness.

Already in the trailer, we see hints of electric, biodiesel, and hybrid conversions. RDJ also clearly has an affinity for cars from the ’60s and ’70s, stating that they simply “make your heart beat a little faster.” A little bit of footage we have to work with shows Downey and his team critiquing a C3 Corvette Stingray (a potential electric convertible) as well as a Volkswagen Microbus — also known as a Type 2, Transporter, or Combi — and a Chevrolet L. Camino.

It would be impossible not to mention that Rich Benoit (AKA Rich Rebuilds) is part of Downey’s conversion team. For those who may have forgotten, we previously wrote a story about a V8 Tesla Model S. He’s clearly a great team guy.

The first episode premieres on June 22, 2023, and will be available to stream on HBO Max.

Matt Crisara is an Austin native with an unquenchable passion for cars and motorsports, both foreign and domestic, and as the Automotive Editor for Popular MechanicsHe writes the majority of auto coverage across digital and print. He was previously a contributing writer for Motor1 after his training at Circuit Of The Americas F1 Track and Speed ​​City, an Austin radio broadcaster focusing on the world of motor racing. He received his bachelor’s degree from the University of Arizona School of Journalism, where he raced mountain bikes with the university’s club team. When he’s not working, he enjoys racing sims, FPV drones, and the great outdoors.