Latest news with #manual transmission
Auto Blog
31-07-2025
- Automotive
- Auto Blog
Ford blames tariffs for profit slump, says Japanese automakers have an advantage
By signing up I agree to the Terms of Use and acknowledge that I have read the Privacy Policy . You may unsubscribe from email communication at anytime. 'It's my personal opinion that this is the best dash cam out there.' Maserati is serious about making its next flagship a manual transmission GT car with a high-powered version of its Nettuno V6, exceeding 621 horses. Is the 2025 Toyota Corolla FX more show than go? We got behind the wheel, and this is our honest review of the dark-trimmed compact sedan. View post: Why Kia's Most Popular SUV Just Got Way More Expensive Domestic Production Isn't Helping The Blue Oval Ford joined the list of automakers reporting dour financial results due to President Donald Trump's tariffs. In an earnings call Wednesday, CEO Jim Farley said the automaker was expecting a $2 billion tariff bill, and went on to claim in a separate interview that the Trump Administration's policies would benefit Ford's Japanese rivals. Automakers brace for uncertain future amid Trump's tariff pause Watch More 'Our tariffs bill is $2 billion, and that's a net number,' Farley said. The Ford CEO also said he expected automakers to adopt a regional rather than a globalized strategy going forward because of the combined effect of tariffs, the rise of electric vehicles, and new emissions regulations, Business Insider reported. The Trump Administration's rollback of EV incentives and environmental regulations will create a disparity between the U.S. and other major car markets like Europe and China. 'We are increasingly seeing Europe, North America, and Asia becoming kind of regional businesses with tariff rates that are aligned for those three or four regions,' Farley said. 'This is quite a fundamental change.' Farley Thinks Japanese Automakers Got A Better Deal Ford has claimed at that was much as 80% of its U.S. volume is domestically-assembled, but Farley still thinks the automaker is at a disadvantage compared to some foreign firms. In an interview with Bloomberg published the same day as the earnings call, he said Trump's reduced tariffs for Japan would give automakers from that country a 'meaningful' advantage. Trump recently lowered tariffs on Japanese automotive imports from 25% to 15%—the same as rates for cars assembled in the European Union going forward. Farley said lower labor costs and favorable exchange rates could mean that a Kentucky-built Ford Escape costs $5,000 more than a Toyota RAV4 assembled in Japan, while a Michigan-built Ford Bronco could be $10,000 pricier than a Toyota 4Runner, which is also built in Japan. Autoblog Newsletter Autoblog brings you car news; expert reviews and exciting pictures and video. Research and compare vehicles, too. Sign up or sign in with Google Facebook Microsoft Apple By signing up I agree to the Terms of Use and acknowledge that I have read the Privacy Policy . You may unsubscribe from email communication at anytime. Farley told Bloomberg that Ford is working with the Trump Administration to 'minimize our tariff expense so that we can get more competitive,' but threatened that 'the bottom line is our plan at Ford is not to compete in those commodity segments.' Auto Industry Feels Tariff Pressure Industry analysts have raised concerns about massive tariffs since Trump first proposed them as a candidate in the 2024 presidential election, but the past few weeks have made their impact apparent. As automakers reported their first-half financial results, an evaporation of profits caused by tariff bills was a common theme. The Volkswagen Group, for example, reported that its profits were down by a third in the second quarter, from the same period a year earlier, despite increased sales. Recently-concluded trade deals with both the European Union and Japan likely won't help matters. Both drop tariffs on cars from 25% to 15%, but in the case of the EU, that's still much higher than the 2.5% tariff in place before Trump's return to the White House. About the Author Stephen Edelstein View Profile
Auto Blog
31-07-2025
- Automotive
- Auto Blog
Why Luxury Car Prices Are About to Get Brutal
'It's my personal opinion that this is the best dash cam out there.' Maserati is serious about making its next flagship a manual transmission GT car with a high-powered version of its Nettuno V6, exceeding 621 horses. Is the 2025 Toyota Corolla FX more show than go? We got behind the wheel, and this is our honest review of the dark-trimmed compact sedan. Will This Break The Ice For Bigger Brands? Porsche and Aston Martin have begun raising prices in the United States as hopes of automotive-specific carveouts in trade deals fade, Reuters reports. The price hikes come shortly after a trade deal between the U.S. and the European Union that includes a 15%-tariff on EU-made cars beginning in August—lower than Trump threatened, but much higher than the 2.5% tariff from before President Donald Trump launched his global trade war. On Wednesday, Porsche said it had raised U.S. prices by 2.3% to 3.6% in July, Reuters reported, but said it had no plans to move production to the U.S. Bringing more manufacturing to the U.S. by making imports more expensive has been a primary aim of Trump's tariff policy. Aston Martin said it had begun 'incremental' price increases in June, while issuing a profit warning based on U.S. tariffs and low demand in Asia. No Relief In Sight Source: Kyle Edward 'This is not a storm that will pass,' Porsche CEO Oliver Blume said after the automaker cut its full-year profit target and reported a $462 million hit from tariffs in the first half of 2025. 'We continue to face significant challenges around the world.' Porsche isn't alone. Hyundai, Mercedes-Benz, and Porsche's parent brand Volkswagen all reported losses, issued profit warnings, or discussed raising prices in response to Trump's tariffs, Reuters noted. Even Ford, which claims around 80% of its vehicles are assembled domestically, reported an $800 million tariff penalty in its second-quarter results. European Automakers' Hope Of Relief Fades Source: Mercedes-Benz European automakers had been hoping for tariff reductions specific to the auto industry, but the recent deal has eroded optimism, according to Reuters. Mercedes CEO Ola Källenius told analysts Wednesday that the automaker was assuming tariffs would remain at 15% for the time being. 'For all intents and purposes, that global deal for now is it,' Källenius said, adding that any side deals were 'very uncertain.' The Volkswagen Group last week, however, said it was hoping to negotiate lower U.S. tariffs based on investment commitments. About the Author Stephen Edelstein View Profile
Auto Blog
29-07-2025
- Automotive
- Auto Blog
The Porsche Cayenne GTS Manual Transmission is the SUV We Want to Come Back
By signing up I agree to the Terms of Use and acknowledge that I have read the Privacy Policy . You may unsubscribe from email communication at anytime. A concept will be shown in the next two months, and production will begin within two years. There's no wonder police departments use them. They're sleek, comfortable, spacious, and surprisingly powerful. But is it worth almost $60k? The jack of all trades, the joy of enthusiasts Automatic transmissions are pretty much the way of the world for every internal combustion automotive segment. There are very few manual transmission vehicles remaining, and that number won't grow because most buyers just don't want them or know how to drive them. There isn't a single manual transmission performance SUV made today. Not the X5 M Competition, the Audi RS Q8, the Lamborghini Urus, and not even the Porsche Cayenne GTS. Now, if you want a manual transmission SUV, you have to get the off-road Ford Bronco or Jeep Wrangler. Previous Pause Next Unmute 0:00 / 0:09 Full screen 2024 Kia EV6 GT-Line review: Is this the EV that will convert you? Watch More Once upon a time, there was a Porsche Cayenne GTS that could be equipped with a six-speed manual transmission. That's crazy, you say, but it's true. Even back then, it was a rare find. It was quick, capable, spacious, and luxurious. Most of all, the first-generation Cayenne GTS manual was a more athletic, driver-focused variant of the Cayenne S. Lauded by critics as more driver-centric than the straight-line Cayenne Turbo rocket sled, the GTS had lowered suspension, tighter steering, and aggressive styling that distinguished it from its lesser siblings. What set it apart the most was the presence of three pedals and a stick. There was nothing like it then, and nothing like it today. It's the SUV we want to return, even if only as a limited production version. A brief history of the Porsche Cayenne GTS Porsche introduced the Cayenne in 2002 as a midsize sport-luxury SUV designed to open new markets for the brand and generate more revenue for its sports cars and racing endeavors. Porsche-philes were horrified and thought a 'family SUV' from Stuttgart was an abomination, a veritable finger flipped at purists. It was downright laughable, and almost no one thought it was a good idea except soccer moms who wanted the Porsche badge. But the Porsche Cayenne silenced most, if not all, of the critics. Not only did it sell extremely well, but it also drove like a Porsche should. It was quick, engaging, and handled better than most sporty cars. Then, they gave it a manual transmission, once again telling purists that the Cayenne wasn't some compromised Porsche. Under the hood was a 4.8-liter naturally aspirated V8 producing 405 horsepower and 369 lb-ft of torque. With the manual, the Cayenne could sprint from 0–60 mph in about 6.1 seconds—not blistering by today's standards, but made thrilling by connecting man with machine. Autoblog Newsletter Autoblog brings you car news; expert reviews and exciting pictures and video. Research and compare vehicles, too. Sign up or sign in with Google Facebook Microsoft Apple By signing up I agree to the Terms of Use and acknowledge that I have read the Privacy Policy . You may unsubscribe from email communication at anytime. The Cayenne GTS came with standard 21-inch light aluminum alloy wheels, low-profile tires, all-wheel drive, a 24mm lower ride height, bigger brakes, front intakes from the Cayenne Turbo, a sport-tuned exhaust system, and Porsche Active Suspension Management, making it tractable and capable in most driving conditions. The GTS also included the Sport Design Package with contoured side sills and wheel arch extensions to give it a more menacing stance. The manual Cayenne GTS didn't last long, and Porsche brought it to an end after the 2012 model year. The second-generation Cayenne GTS (2013–2017) dropped the manual option entirely and eventually replaced the V8 with a twin-turbocharged V6. While still impressively powerful, potent, the naturally aspirated character and the manual control of the original GTS were lost. With that, so was one of the most engaging SUVs Porsche ever built. Porsche. Why the manual GTS deserves a comeback Today, the Porsche Cayenne continues to be one of the best performance SUVs on the planet, even though the manual transmission GTS has been gone for over a decade. The Cayenne is available in six trims: Base, E-Hybrid, S, S E-Hybrid, GTS, and Turbo E-Hybrid. There are also seven trims of the Cayenne Coupe. They accelerate, steer, brake, and handle better than most of the competition, but they still lack the ultimate driver's tool, however, and that's the manual transmission. This physical connection to the driving experience would transform the Cayenne GTS. In a world where SUVs are mostly used as status symbols or rolling tech showcases, the original Cayenne GTS manual stood for something purer. It was the rare utility vehicle that demanded driver skill and rewarded those who gave a damn about driver engagement. Would it be so hard for Porsche to pull off? Porsche still offers manual transmissions in the 911 and 718, and the automaker has even said that take rates on manual 911s are surprisingly strong. That proves that the appetite for driver involvement hasn't disappeared—it's just underrepresented in the SUV segment. Okay, so there would be a lower percentage of takers for a manual SUV, but we're guessing the buzz would be huge. That could be very good for Porsche when its electric Taycan has hit the skids. Market value and collectibility Values for manual Cayenne GTS models are higher than most performance SUVs of the same era, including the BMW X5 and the Mercedes-Benz GL. Purists love them, and their rarity makes them even more coveted. A well-kept example with under 100,000 miles can now fetch $25,000–$40,000. That's pretty impressive for a vehicle that's almost two decades old. Collectors see the 6-speed Cayenne GTS as the best kind of unicorn—a vehicle that flew under the radar for years and is now being appreciated for what it truly was: a truly special performance SUV in a world of slushboxes. Final thoughts The Porsche Cayenne GTS manual transmission SUV was a rare moment when performance, utility, and driving purity combined in a single model. Nothing like it exists today, and that's too bad. The industry has steered away from manual transmissions in nearly every segment, instead choosing to disconnect drivers by shoving in more tech, bigger touchscreens, and driver aids that sometimes distract more than help. In today's world of CVTs and electrification, the Cayenne GTS manual's visceral connection has largely been lost. We're just asking for one more dance with the SUV that proved driving fun doesn't have to be sacrificed for practicality. Bring back the Cayenne GTS manual, Porsche. We're not asking for much. About the Author Amos Kwon View Profile
