Rockenfeller anchors Ford's GTD Pro win in Detroit
Mike Rockenfeller and Sebastian Priaulx share the significance of delivering Ford a GTD Pro win on the streets of Detroit.
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NBC Sports
an hour ago
- NBC Sports
Harper, Hesse victorious in GTD Pro at the Glen
Dan Harper and Max Hesse recap their up-and-down day at Watkins Glen and how they worked pit strategy to climb to the front and win the Sahlen's Six Hours of the Glen in GTD Pro.
Yahoo
4 hours ago
- Yahoo
Toyota makes a tariff move customers are going to hate
Toyota makes a tariff move customers are going to hate originally appeared on TheStreet. While President Donald Trump's social media posts make it seem as though his tariff moves are executed at his whim, it is clear that at least some industries have a seat at the negotiating table. The auto industry's top executives have said they are in close contact with the White House and have even praised the president and his White House team for hearing their concerns. However, it is also clear that Trump's interest in protecting the auto industry's bottom line is Stellantis, and General Motors — America's Big 3 automakers — have all said that Trump's tariffs will cost them billions, and they've pulled their guidance due to a lack of visibility. Trump has made it clear to every industry that he doesn't want prices to increase, even going as far as telling companies like Walmart to just 'EAT THE TARIFFS.' So, every time the auto industry has been observed raising prices in recent months, it has denied that it has anything to do with tariffs. Others, like Mazda, have indeed eaten the tariffs, with the Japanese automaker sending a letter to its U.S. dealers informing them that it would not raise its sticker prices or tack on import fees for any vehicles already on dealership lots or that will come into the country before May 1. Toyota is the latest Japanese automaker to make a pricing move, but it isn't blaming the move on tariffs. Toyota sold over 2.3 million vehicles in the U.S. last year, a 3.7% year-over-year increase. Between April 2024 and March 2025, the company built 1.96 million units in the U.S., according to Statista. So, despite a U.S. production capacity that can handle nearly 2 million vehicles a year, Toyota still ships in nearly half a million vehicles from overseas to sell in the U.S. On June 21, Toyota said that prices for several Toyota and Lexus brand vehicles will rise by an average of $270 and $208, respectively, starting in July, according to an email seen by Bloomberg. While the price increase could be seen as a response to the 25% duties Trump has placed on auto imports, Toyota insists that the move is just part of its regular price review April, fellow Japanese automaker Mitsubishi said it would hold its vehicles in port for the foreseeable future instead of offloading them and being forced to pay duties. "We have sufficient stock on the ground at dealers for the moment to not impact customer choice," the company said at the time. While it was unclear how much cargo was in the ports, Mitsubishi's 330 U.S. dealers sold 109,843 vehicles in the U.S. in 2024, a 25.8% year-over-year increase and the brand's best performance since 2019. Earlier this month, the company announced that it is raising prices on three models, also saying that the move was just a regular adjustment and not a reaction to tariffs. Japanese car companies aren't the only ones afraid to pin their price increases on tariffs. In May, Ford sent a notice to dealers saying it planned to raise prices on the Mustang Mach-E electric SUV, Maverick pickup truck, and Bronco Sport SUV by as much as $2,000 on some models. Those vehicles are made in Mexico. More Automotive news Toyota makes surprising move to beat Tesla in key market A Ford spokesperson confirmed that the price increases will be seen on vehicles built after May 2. Those vehicles will start arriving on dealer lots in late June. The company emphasized that its employee pricing promotion remains for all of its vehicles through the July 4 weekend. Just like Mazda and Toyota before it, the company says the increase was due to its usual midyear pricing actions, but it was also "combined with some tariffs we are facing. We have not passed on the full cost of tariffs to our customers."Toyota makes a tariff move customers are going to hate first appeared on TheStreet on Jun 22, 2025 This story was originally reported by TheStreet on Jun 22, 2025, where it first appeared. Error in retrieving data Sign in to access your portfolio Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data
Miami Herald
9 hours ago
- Miami Herald
What If Ford Revived The Flex As A Maverick-Based Compact 7-Seater?
Years ago, Ford offered the Flex–a unique, box-shaped seven-seater that was either a station wagon, an SUV, or a minivan, depending on who you asked. Sharing its platform with the Ford Taurus, the Flex offered buyers an affordable option for a seven-seater family car that wasn't a massive, gas-guzzling, body-on-frame off-roader. Despite occupying a niche segment, the Ford Flex proved to be relatively popular, selling over 300,000 units during its 11-year production run. Even with consistent year-over-year sales figures, Ford decided to discontinue the full-size crossover after its 2019 model year with no direct replacement. These days, it's incredibly difficult to find a seven-seater vehicle capable of hauling a large family, along with their luggage and some trinkets, that isn't either an expensive, less-than-attractive minivan or a gargantuan SUV. One example that does spring to mind is the Mercedes-Benz GLB-Class, which offers the seating capacity and aesthetics of the much larger GLS-Class, without the massive proportions and eye-watering price tag. If Ford were to revive the Flex, perhaps taking on a similar approach to the GLB-Class could be a fitting, modern take on the original Flex. By downsizing the model and optimizing the Ford Maverick compact pickup truck platform to accommodate a third row of seating, Ford could offer North American buyers a budget-friendly alternative to the more luxurious and more pricey Mercedes-Benz GLB-Class. Perhaps a performance variant akin to the Mercedes-AMG GLB 35, based on the Ford Maverick Lobo street truck, could make an appearance in the Ford Flex model lineup as well. Considering the Ford Maverick is roughly 2 feet longer than the Bronco Sport it shares its platform with, the Maverick offers an excellent foundation for a compact seven-seater SUV. The third row of seats could sit where the pickup truck bed would otherwise be found, with the ability to stow them away for bountiful cargo space. Keeping things frugal, the revived Ford Flex could share the same powertrain options as the Maverick pickup, including a 191-horsepower 2.5-liter hybrid four-cylinder engine. For buyers who want a bit more pep in their step and the added confidence of all-wheel drive, the 2.0-liter EcoBoost four-cylinder that produces 250 horsepower and 277 lb-ft of torque could make for an excellent optional upgrade. Trim levels could mirror those of the Maverick as well, including a sub-$30,000 base model XL trim, the mid-level XLT trim, and the well-equipped Lariat. For those who desire a bit more uniqueness, the Lobo package could offer a standard EcoBoost engine, sport-tuned suspension, tweaked steering and brakes, and cosmetic enhancements such as rally-inspired 19-inch alloy wheels and a unique grille, just like the Ford Maverick Lobo. A premium, off-road-focused Tremor package could pair the same standard 2.0-liter EcoBoost engine with an off-road-tuned suspension, a locking rear differential pulled from the Bronco Sport Badlands, and chunkier all-terrain tires. Compact yet spacious 7-seaters have come and gone from the North American market. Examples such as the Mazda5, the seven-seater variant of the Volkswagen Tiguan, and the Mercedes-Benz GLB-Class have offered plenty of families all the seating they need in a vehicle without the unnecessary cost and burden of a much larger SUV. For some reason, however, many of these vehicles seem to have disappeared from the North American market altogether. Now, the resurgence of compact pickup trucks that blend basic utility with compact convenience may offer manufacturers the opportunity to create family-focused variants that leverage their longer wheelbases compared to their crossover SUV alternatives. Based on the foundations of the Maverick pickup truck, a revived Ford Flex could serve as Ford's entry-level seven-seater family crossover. With frugal hybrid powertrains, street performance variants, and an off-road-focused Tremor package, an updated Ford Flex would surely earn its keep within Ford's model lineup in no time. Although this idea is purely hypothetical for now, it wouldn't surprise us if Ford decided to create new models using the same platform shared between the Maverick, the Bronco Sport, and the Escape, that are purpose-built to attract more specific buyers, such as families looking for affordable seven-seater utility, or perhaps even a small delivery van. For the time being, though, families looking for a smaller way to get their hands on three rows of seating will have to look towards the capable and practical Mercedes-Benz GLB-Class. Copyright 2025 The Arena Group, Inc. All Rights Reserved.
