Latest news with #SUV
Miami Herald
9 hours ago
- Automotive
- Miami Herald
EV company makes harsh decision amid new launch
With the rising number of electric vehicles on the road, owning a gasoline-powered car might eventually seem almost vintage. Electric vehicles have quickly become a significant part of the automobile industry, and many car companies are trying to enter the market by developing their own. Don't miss the move: Subscribe to TheStreet's free daily newsletter Halfway into 2025, well-known brands like Audi, Cadillac, Chevrolet, Dodge, and Kia have all launched new electric vehicles, and Tesla (TSLA) rolled out its highly anticipated robotaxi service to a select group of riders in Austin, Texas. Related: Tesla unveils an unusual innovation to win back customers The electric vehicle industry continues to grow, with global sales exceeding the expected $17 million in 2024, accounting for over 20% of total car sales. While global sales continue to increase, financial challenges can lead even the most profitable companies to make some harsh decisions for the sake of the business. Image Source:Founded in 2009 as Mainstream Motors, Rivian is an American electric vehicle manufacturer and technology company. However, like any other emerging business, making profits takes time, and the cost of producing electric vehicles is high. Although it boasted continued financial progress, the company didn't achieve profitability until the fourth quarter of fiscal 2024, largely due to cuts in production costs. Since then, Rivian (RIVN) has taken multiple steps to build on this success. Related: Struggling car company swiftly shuts down half its stores In the first quarter of fiscal 2025, Rivian achieved a gross profit of $206 million, marking its second consecutive positive quarter. The EV maker also received a $1 billion investment from Volkswagen Group as part of last year's $5.8 billion joint venture, Rivian and VW Group Technologies, LLC. However, despite delivering good results, production costs continue to increase, especially as the company navigates an uncertain economy and looming U.S. tariffs. This has led Rivian to make a harsh decision that may have come as a surprise to some. Rivian revealed it has laid off around 140 employees from its manufacturing division, representing around 1% of its total workforce. The downsizing comes when the company is only months away from launching its new R2 SUV in 2026, a new electric five-seat SUV that's a more compact and far more affordable alternative. More Retail News: This might deliver the economy news people want to hearBankrupt retail chain makes major comeback, reopens new storesJPMorgan Chase hikes up annual fee cost of popular credit card The layoffs began on June 25, and those affected were told that the company's decision to cut manufacturing salaried positions was made to improve its operational efficiency ahead of the R2 launch. However, this is not the first time Rivian has made serious cuts within its workforce. The company did two rounds of layoffs last year, cutting around 10% of its salaried employees in February and 1% in April. Related: Veteran fund manager unveils eye-popping S&P 500 forecast The Arena Media Brands, LLC THESTREET is a registered trademark of TheStreet, Inc.
Auto Blog
9 hours ago
- Automotive
- Auto Blog
2026 Infiniti QX60 Arrives With A Substantial Price Bump
Infiniti QX60 Base Pricing Rises By $1,000 Infiniti has revealed the refreshed-for-2026 QX60 lineup, which gains a new Sport trim to replace the Sensory model from last year. More than just a name change, the Sport also adds Dark Blue upholstery, a black headliner, dark exterior accents, an S badge on the tailgate, and unique gloss black 20-inch wheels. The entire lineup now features a redesigned grille inspired by a bamboo forest, an illuminated Infiniti emblem, and restyled daytime running lights, the origins of which can be traced back to the full-size QX80. The rear fascia has also been mildly resculpted, and new wheels are available on every trim, including the base Pure, which now costs $51,200, which is exactly $1,000 up from the pricing announced nearly a year ago for the 2025 model. The shipping and handling fee remains unchanged at $1,350. Four Trims To Choose From The QX60 Pure offers 20-inch wheels, newly standard dual 12.3-inch displays with Google built-in, wireless phone charging, and five USB-C ports. Under the hood, a 2.0-liter turbocharged four-cylinder delivers 268 horsepower and 286 lb-ft of torque, and when properly equipped, Infiniti claims a tow rating of 6,000 pounds for all trims. Adding AWD adds $2,000 to the price. Next up is the Luxe trim, starting $56,800 as standard and $58,800 with AWD, meaning its price is unchanged for 2026. This gets a 3D surround view monitor with Mobile Object Detection, a new feature for 2026. The Luxe also boasts a 16-speaker sound system from Klipsch, climate-controlled front seats, and heating for the second row. Infiniti QX60 Trim MY2025 Pricing MY2026 Pricing Difference Pure $50,200 $51,200 +$1,000 Luxe $56,800 $56,800 – Sport (née Sensory) $59,100 $61,700 +$2,600 Autograph $66,150 $66,150 – The Sport gets AWD as standard and starts at $61,700. When the Sensory trim could still be ordered without AWD, it started at $59,100, so this represents an increase of $2,600. Fortunately, the range-topping Autograph variant – with massaging front seats, a 20-speaker Klipsch Reference Premiere sound system, semi-aniline quilted leather, a color head-up display, a two-tone roof, and black open-pore ash wood trim with metal inlays – starts at $66,150, the same as it cost last year. 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. Infiniti Will Offer Sub-$50k Cars Again After Infiniti culled its most affordable SUVs last year, the QX50 and QX55, the QX60 is the entry point to ownership, but that may soon change. A report from Automotive News last month indicated that Nissan is preparing a new compact crossover under the internal codename i33C. Unconfirmed reports indicate that this will form the basis of the next Nissan Rogue and that Infiniti will piggyback with something similar. This is expected to be either a mild-hybrid or a plug-in hybrid, and in Infiniti guise, it'll have more upmarket appointments and technology. If these reports are accurate, we expect to see the production version arrive in 2027. About the Author Sebastian Cenizo View Profile
Daily Mail
10 hours ago
- Automotive
- Daily Mail
Nissan Armada Nismo gets performance makeover
A family-moving SUV just got a performance makeover. The internet doesn't appear sold. Nissan is rolling out a sport-tuned version of its high-rolling, three-row Armada SUV, a near-luxury set of wheels that already starts at $60,000. The new trim is called the Armada Nismo — it's set to hit dealerships lots this fall. It's also hugely important for an automaker that recently posted flagging sales and a CEO change . The standard Armada got a full redesign for this year, swapping its aging V8 engine for a more efficient and powerful V6. The style reboot features a boxier look with width-spanning LED taillights, extra chrome, and a plush seven- or eight-seat interior. Now, Nissan is cranking up the attitude. The Nismo trim adds red interior and exterior accents, reworked lower body panels, and a squatter stance. Under the hood, the Nismo gets a 35-horsepower bump and tweaked valves that deepen the exhaust sounds — but only if you spring for premium fuel. 'Armada NISMO expands the Armada family to connect with drivers who share a passion for excitement, performance, and bold, sports-inspired design,' a product spokesperson told While Nissan hasn't revealed pricing yet, current Armada trims range from $59,000 to $82,000. That positions the Nismo squarely in the territory of premium family SUVs — a growing, lucrative market segment in the US, where large vehicles continue to dominate new car sales. But the launch comes at a tricky time for the automaker. Nissan has faced shrinking profits, leadership shakeups, and ongoing headwinds from President Donald Trump's 25 percent automotive tariffs — a policy that affects models like the Japan-produced Armada . Nissan has been in big trouble for months. In November, executives at the company warned the automaker only had '12 months' of cash on hand to survive . Its financial position comes after turmoil in the C-suite. Carlos Ghosn, the former CEO who helped revive the company in the 2000s, was arrested in 2018 by authorities in Tokyo. They believed the executive misused company assets. Ghosn was flown out of the country in a plane's cargo in 2019. He has remained in Lebanon since. In his absence, the company had an aging portfolio with old transmission technology. The cars were built at dozens of factories around the world, leaving the company extremely susceptible to global onshoring trends. A leadership vacuum appeared at the company after his legal turmoils. Makoto Uchida, a Japanese executive, took over, but was ousted after six years. Ivan Espinosa took over as top boss earlier this year. Despite selling the fifth-most cars in the US last year, Moody's, a credit agency, downranked Nissan to 'junk' status earlier this year .
Wall Street Journal
12 hours ago
- Automotive
- Wall Street Journal
A Family SUV Built Like a McMansion
Upon seeing the all-electric Hyundai Ioniq 9 SUV for the first time you cannot help but register its visual mass—a monolithic embiggenment brought about by the body-colored spats in the wheel wells; the blown-glass curvatures of the hood, grille and rear hatch; the reduction of the beltline (lower) and shoulder line (upper) to mere graphics; the high sill under the side windows; and the tiny outside rearview mirrors. We can assume the effect was deliberate.
Forbes
15 hours ago
- Automotive
- Forbes
Test-Driving The 2025 Honda HR-V Hybrid
HONDA HR-V Hybrid At the time of writing, Honda sells four SUVs in Britain while America gets six. Britons, pop onto Honda's website and you'll see the ZR-V but if you navigate to the American site, you'll find the HR-V, which is identical to the UK ZR-V. It's all a bit confusing. Honda HR-V Price And Tech Sorry, America. But your HR-V (UK ZR-V) looks like a surprised Oranda Goldfish. Looks aside, however, it's not a bad car. Then there's the e:Ny1, which Honda is renaming because Chinese customers can't pronounce it, the CR-V, a brilliant all-rounder, and finally, the HR-V, a hybrid version of the all-electric e:Ny1. Are you still with me? Honda HR-v The HR-V undercuts all of its siblings because of its £32,250 price tag. Standard tech includes Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, adaptive cruise control, heated front seats, Honda Connect with nav, connected remote services (My Honda+), a digital gauge cluster, 18-inch alloys, a rear-view camera, keyless entry and privacy glass. It also has Honda's cool Magic Seats, which allows the rear seat bases to be lifted up so larger items can be stowed behind the front seats. I didn't use it, but it's there. Honda HR-V Design And Interior It's much prettier than its electrified e:Ny1 sibling, and although interiors are similar, Honda's given the HR-V a 9-inch touchscreen and there are physical buttons—praise be! I also liked its two-tone paint scheme and cabin layout. And the touchscreen, although not the quickest, wasn't overly complicated either. There was also plenty of head and legroom up front, and the steering wheel offered plenty of reach, but backseat passengers north of six feet struggled for space because of the HR-V's rakish roofline. Honda HR-V During the week, I had to whisk my dog to an emergency vet appointment, and thankfully, the HR-V's boot features an easy-clean rubber mat. However, the fabric parcel shelf is held in place by two arms which protrude into the boot, meaning my dog struggled to move; we weren't travelling far, but I would think twice about the HR-V if you have a medium-sized dog. Honda HR-V Performance And Economy Being a hybrid, the HR-V consistently returned a 51.3 mpg average with me at the helm, or 36 mpg if I was overzealous with the throttle. This said the HR-V offers little thrill—as the 129 bhp and 187 lb ft figures suggest. Mash the throttle and the e-CVT gearbox groans loudly, disturbing any cabin serenity, as the 1.5-litre attempts to shove its 1,380kg mass. I know it's a hybrid and not a hot hatch, but the Nissan Qashqai e-Power returns similar economy figures, is quieter, costs nearly the same, and is Hussain Bolt in comparison. Honda HR-V Verdict The HR-V oozes quirk, is reasonably priced, and comfortable and offers heaps of standard tech. It also returns fantastic efficiency and is quiet on long motorway journeys. Honda HR-V Sadly, the e-CVT is just too loud under acceleration, it's also slow and there isn't enough room in the rear for taller passengers. The Honda HR-V offers lots for its price, but the Nissan Qashqai e-Power does everything better and is similarly priced.
