Mercedes left Zandvoort with questions about its inconsistent cornering performance, especially through the fast Turns 7, 8 and 9.

Mercedes heads toward Monza with an unusual problem to solve.

The W17 looked extremely strong at the beginning of the Zandvoort weekend, but its performance dropped in the faster sections as the event progressed.

Mercedes Was Too Slow in the Fastest Corners

George Russell took pole and won the Sprint, but Mercedes could not maintain that level in the main event.

Lando Norris eventually claimed pole and victory, leaving Russell and Kimi Antonelli in second and third.

Mercedes was unable to maintain its early Zandvoort pace in the fastest corners.

Trackside engineering director Andrew Shovlin said some parts of the circuit were particularly difficult.

The biggest problem appeared through the Turns 7, 8 and 9 sequence, where Mercedes lacked pace and placed significant load on the left-side tires.

The team still does not fully understand why.

The Cars Changed Behavior Without Major Setup Changes

The mystery became even greater because Mercedes made only minor changes between sessions.

Different tire compounds naturally influenced performance, but Shovlin said the magnitude of the changes was unusual.

Russell’s first stint was more conservative before his pace improved later.

Antonelli experienced almost the opposite pattern, with his performance dropping through the second and third stints before recovering slightly.

Mercedes says it was not constantly changing electronic settings or wing angles.

Yet the balance of the cars still appeared to change significantly from one run to another.

Russell Had Understeer, Antonelli Had Oversteer

Perhaps the strangest element was that the two Mercedes drivers did not experience the same car.

Russell reported a tendency toward understeer, while Antonelli’s W17 showed more oversteer.

Mercedes says Russell and Antonelli experienced opposite handling characteristics during the Dutch Grand Prix.

Shovlin admitted that the team still does not understand why the difference was so large.

That makes the problem particularly important to solve before Monza, where Mercedes will need to understand exactly how the W17 reacts to different tire compounds and track conditions.

For the Mercedes W17, the challenge is no longer simply finding more performance. The team first needs to understand why its balance and pace can change so dramatically without major setup adjustments.

The refreshed Pacifica brings a redesigned front end and new Chrysler branding, while most of the minivan remains unchanged.

Chrysler has updated the 2027 Pacifica, but the changes are surprisingly limited for a minivan that has been on sale since the 2017 model year.

After years of development and extensive prototype testing, the refreshed model receives a revised front end and updated Chrysler branding.

Most of the Pacifica Stays the Same

The exterior changes are concentrated at the front.

The cabin, basic body design, and powertrain remain largely unchanged from the previous Pacifica.

The 2027 Chrysler Pacifica receives a redesigned front end and updated Chrysler branding.

Even some of the vehicle graphics inside the infotainment system continue to show the previous front-end design.

That makes the refresh feel more conservative than expected.

The Pacifica LX Gets a Strange Badge Mix

The entry-level Pacifica LX makes the situation even more unusual.

It continues using the older Pacifica exterior design associated with the previous-generation model, while the steering wheel carries Chrysler’s newer emblem.

The Pacifica LX combines the previous exterior badge design with Chrysler’s newer steering-wheel emblem.

The mismatch does not affect functionality, but it creates an obvious inconsistency between the exterior and interior.

The arrangement is particularly unusual because Chrysler presents its new winged logo as the foundation for its future vehicle designs.

A Refresh That Raises Questions

The 2027 Pacifica’s limited changes suggest Chrysler is taking a cautious approach with its aging minivan.

The model remains focused on family practicality, but the refresh does little to fundamentally change the vehicle.

The 2027 Pacifica retains the familiar cabin and overall design of the current-generation minivan.

For buyers, the differences are mainly visual rather than mechanical.

The 2027 Chrysler Pacifica therefore arrives as a modest update rather than a major redesign, with the new front end and branding doing most of the work.

Ford may still be developing a rugged Mustang called “Baja,” potentially turning the pony car into an all-terrain performance machine.

Ford may not be finished expanding the Mustang lineup.

A new report suggests the automaker has shown dealers an off-road Mustang known as “Baja”, reviving rumors of a rugged version of the pony car.

An Off-Road Mustang Has Been Rumored Before

This isn’t the first time Ford has considered an all-terrain Mustang.

Rumors of a Mustang Raptor surfaced as early as 2023, with the model once expected to arrive around 2026.

Ford may still be considering an off-road Mustang known internally as Baja.

The Baja name was reportedly shown to dealers during a private meeting in 2024.

Ford CEO Jim Farley has also publicly expressed interest in an off-road performance vehicle, while the company continues to gain experience with the Raptor T1+ in the Dakar Rally.

A V8 and All-Wheel Drive Could Be the Formula

There are no confirmed specifications yet, but an off-road Mustang would likely need a very different setup from the standard car.

A V8 engine and all-wheel drive would make sense for the concept, potentially paired with larger all-terrain tires and a suspension designed for rough terrain.

An off-road Mustang could borrow technology from Ford’s Raptor trucks and SUVs.

Ford could also use Fox Live Valve dampers, similar to the technology found on the F-150 Raptor and Ranger Raptor.

The most extreme possibility would be the 795-hp supercharged 5.2-liter V8 currently associated with the Dark Horse SC, although Ford has not confirmed that engine for any Baja model.

Mustang Baja Could Arrive This Decade

The Mustang is expected to receive another major redesign before the end of the decade.

That could create an opportunity for Ford to finally introduce an off-road version as part of the next generation.

Ford’s Dakar program and Raptor expertise could influence a future Mustang Baja.

For now, details remain limited, and Ford has not officially announced the project.

But the repeated reports, dealer discussions, and Ford’s growing interest in off-road performance suggest the idea has not disappeared.

The Ford Mustang Baja could therefore become one of the most unusual Mustangs ever built if Ford decides to take the project from the drawing board to production.