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Toyota, Ford not interested in FCA merger

Sergio Marchionne will preach the benefits of mergers to anyone who'll listen, but his calls for industry consolidation may be falling on deaf ears. At least, that is, the ears of those who the Fiat Chrysler chief would most like to bend. Not only is General Motors uninterested, but according to The Detroit News, neither are Toyota or Ford. "It's something we would not be interested in," said Toyota's North American chief Jim Lentz, at the groundbreaking ceremony for the new Toyota Technical Center. "At 10 million (vehicles) we have enough scale right now to do what we need to do. There really would be no advantage for us." Toyota isn't the only one unenthused by the prospect of merging with Fiat Chrysler Automobiles. The Detroit News also reports that Ford, though it may yet to have been approached by Marchionne, wouldn't be interested either. "We're not a suitor for FCA," said Ford CFO Bob Shanks. "We don't see that type of opportunity as one that applies to us." With GM, Toyota, and Ford expressing disinterest in Marchionne's merger idea, the FCA chief will likely start looking elsewhere – or look for other ways to compel his primary candidate to reconsider. He may eventually find a partner – more likely in the Far East or within Europe – but it may not take the form of the major player Sergio has hoped for. News Source: The Detroit NewsImage Credit: Bill Pugliano/Getty Chrysler Fiat Ford Toyota Sergio Marchionne FCA merger fiat chrysler automobiles

U.S.-Mexico border congestion is complicating automakers' lives

No matter where you fall on the political spectrum, there’s no denying that the U.S. has some significant challenges at its southern border. The droves of people attempting to cross the border from Mexico into the U.S. have complicated trade between the two countries as border authoritiesÂ’ limited resources and increasing political scrutiny have made it difficult to move goods. While that will have an impact on the prices of several consumer goods, it will also slow vehicle and parts shipments needed to keep the U.S. auto industry running. Automotive News reported that the Texas border has been particularly slow, as the state has implemented new screening measures for illegal crossings and drugs. That extra effort has had a severe impact on border logistics, to the point that Bloomberg estimated 19,000 trucks and $1.9 billion in cargo were stranded in Mexico waiting to cross. Officials said the delays have created wait times of up to 24 hours and a line of trucks 14 miles long. The delays will likely have a noticeable impact on the U.S. auto industry. Mexico manufactures millions of cars each year, the majority of which end up here. Nissan, General Motors, Stellantis and others have noted slight delays, but thereÂ’s little wiggle room for the Big 3 while the UAW strike rages on. Should the strike end, slowness at the border would make it difficult to ramp up production and make up for lost time. There have been some promising signs in recent times, such as the Bridge of the Americas between El Paso, Texas, and Ciudad Juarez, Mexico, reopening after a three-week closure. Still, the challenges created by border congestion have led some to take drastic measures. A few manufacturers have begun flying parts over the border, while General Motors noted that it was shipping components “on a limited basis” by sea. Related Video:

2015 Galpin Ford GTR1

Last year in Monterey, we met GTR1 for the first time. Galpin Auto Sports pulled the wraps off its Ford GT-based supercar, powered by a twin-turbocharged 5.4-liter V8 good for a whopping 1,024 horsepower and 739 pound-feet of torque. The thing was totally custom-made and reportedly took some 12,000 man hours to create. And there it sat on the Pebble Beach grass, $1,000,000-plus price tag and all.
This year, the Galpin was back, albeit with one big change. That twin-turbo engine? Gone. In its place, a 5.4-liter V8 with a 4.0-liter Whipple supercharger bolted on, delivering an astonishing 1,058 hp and 992 lb-ft of torque on 110-octane fuel. 0-60? 2.9 seconds. Top speed? Somewhere above 225 miles per hour.
"Some things to keep in mind: no stability control, no traction control," were the only warnings given by Galpin's Brandon Boeckmann before taking me on a quick spin in the supercar. And after having my eyes thrown into the back of my skull a few times, laughing hysterically and trying to regain full use of my hearing after my ear drums being bombarded by the apocalyptic roar behind me, Brandon pulled over and said it was my turn, if I was ready to take the wheel.