JANUARY 13, 2021

Editor's Note: So, one day over the holiday break, The Word came down from on high (around the usual Autoextremist email hour of between 2 and 3 a.m. – “Why don’t you do a writeup on the Bolt for On The Table?” Okay, sure, just throw me to the lions, why don’t you? I mean, it’s clear that many of our loyal AE readers are anti-EV (and that’s putting it mildly). But I decided to throw my two cents into the ring anyway (hoping that my extensive fan base of six will go easy on me). And I’ll be brief: The Bolt is a blast to drive. As a lifelong member of the Lead Foot Society, I often find myself needing to slow down during my daily errand-running. This is particularly true in the Bolt. The instant torque of EVs is not to be underestimated, and for me that kind of off-the-line performance is what makes the Bolt so appealing. It’s a bit small-ish for my preferences, but that’s part of its appeal – no maneuvering in the Costco lot, no problems parallel parking and no worries about range during an ordinary day around town. I will not wade into the infrastructure/you-can’t-take-it-on-a-trip argument (you can). And yes, an EV future is coming. One day. But “they” are not coming for your V8 (at least not this week – WG. Wait – can WG comment on WG???), and I wouldn’t much like it if they did. I’m sure not ready to surrender mine, but there is something particularly appealing about the ‘get in and go’ aspect of the Bolt. So, even if you don’t want an EV, hate the idea of one, refuse to ever buy one, etc., etc., you should at least take one for a test drive (any EV, doesn’t have to be a Bolt). As for the Bolt? At the risk of going full WordGirl here, all I can say is it’s a gas. -WG

Editor-in-Chief's Note: GM is stepping on the electrons as it projects its engineering expertise into the EV space. Cadillac provided a sneak peek at its upcoming ultra-luxury, fully electric CELESTIQ show car at CES on Tuesday. Designed to set a new standard for luxury EVs, the CELESTIQ "embodies Cadillac’s commitment to reimagine what’s possible in design and technology," according to Cadillac PR minions. CELESTIQ will showcase the design flexibility of GM's advanced modular Ultium battery platform. The CELESTIQ is a stunning vehicle with a dramatic presence in the flesh, with a low profile and rearward proportions. Each CELESTIQ will offer a curated selection of hand-crafted materials, designed to reflect the individuality of its owner. The vehicles will feature all-wheel drive, four-wheel steering and a full-glass roof that will be one of the first to feature a four-quadrant, suspended-particle-device smart glass. With this smart glass, each occupant of the vehicle can set their own level of roof transparency. The individualized experience shared by each occupant will be a signature aspect of the CELESTIQ. The driver and front-seat passenger will enjoy a pillar-to-pillar freeform display with active privacy to help mitigate driver distraction. Rear-seat passengers have personalized entertainment screens, and console screens between seats in the front and back will separate individualized comfort settings from entertainment displays to minimize distractions. As Cadillac’s future flagship sedan, the CELESTIQ show car "embodies Cadillac’s pioneering spirit and focus on setting the standard for luxury EVs." Watch the teaser reveal here. 

(GM images)
GM is going "all in." General Motors debuted a new marketing campaign as part of the company’s comprehensive efforts to accelerate mass adoption of electric vehicles. The “Everybody In” campaign is "a call to action meant to reflect a movement that’s inclusive and accessible." The company is also evolving its brand identity as GM transforms itself to deliver on a vision that creates a world with zero crashes, zero emissions and zero congestion. “There are moments in history when everything changes. Inflection points. We believe such a point is upon us for the mass adoption of electric vehicles,” said Deborah Wahl, GM global chief marketing officer. “Unlike ever before, we have the solutions, capability, technology and scale to put everyone in an EV. Our new brand identity and campaign are designed to reflect this.” The “Everybody In” campaign  focuses on three themes: Exciting a new generation of buyers and accelerating EV adoption; Demonstrating GM’s EV leadership - which includes the investment of $27 billion in EV and AV products through 2025 - and the launches of 30 new EVs globally by the end of 2025; and Highlighting the range, performance and flexibility of the Ultium platform. Ultium will be the foundation for GM’s next-generation EV lineup, powering everything from mass-market to high-performance vehicles, including the GMC HUMMER EV and Cadillac LYRIQ. GM’s Ultium platform will be capable of delivering an EV that can go up to 450 miles on a full charge, will power EVs of many sizes, shapes and price points, and is capable of 0-60 mphperformance in as little as three seconds for some models. “GM has the talent, technology and ambition to advance a safer world for all, help reduce emissions and accelerate toward our all-electric future,” said Wahl. “‘Everybody In’ demonstrates our intent to lead, while inviting others – policymakers, partners, individuals – to play an active role in moving society forward, whether that’s helping to expand infrastructure, advocating for progress in their communities, or simply taking an EV for a test drive to learn about the benefits of EV ownership.” Influencers who defy expectations and represent all walks of life will be used throughout the campaign. These change agents include Malcolm Gladwell, author of “The Tipping Point,” professional surfer and shark attack survivor Bethany Hamilton, fitness instructor Cody Rigsby and gamer Erin A. Simon. In keeping with the "everything is new" at GM theme, the company has also created a revitalized brand identity designed for a digital-first environment. "The new logo builds on a strong heritage while bringing a more modern and vibrant look to GM’s familiar blue square," according to GM PR minions. The new brand identity extends to technology brands including Ultium. The team of GM designers tasked with creating the new logo considered how to balance the history and trust inherent to the existing design with GM’s vision for the future. According to Sharon Gauci, GM executive director of Global Industrial Design: “This was a project our team took so personally, not just for ourselves but for the 164,000 employees this logo represents. At every step we wanted to be intentional and deliberate because this logo signifies creative and innovative thinking across the global General Motors family.” GM launched a new GM.com site on Jan. 11, 2021 to share the latest information and stories about GM’s work across electrification, safety, citizenship and the road to autonomous driving. Editor-In-Chief's Note: Much of the Internet instantly derided GM's new logo, but that ire was misguided. This isn't the same company of even three years ago; and GM is accelerating its transformation at such a furious pace to the point that the company will be unrecognizable by 2025. The company's "best and brightest" designers, engineers, product development and marketing people are building an all-new company that will be one of the world's leaders in EV technology as well as in the mass production of a wide range of EVs. Dismissing this huge effort because you find fault with the logo? Get over it. I'm betting that GM proves the haters dead wrong on this. -PMD

(GM)
GM's new business "BrightDrop" will offer an integrated ecosystem of electric products, software and services for the first to last mile. BrightDrop’s electric pallet, the EP1, will be available in early 2021, and its electric light commercial vehicle, the EV600 (above), will be on roads in late 2021. BrightDrop will introduce GM’s Ultium platform to the commercial vehicle segment, and features Level 2 and DC fast charging capabilities. FedEx Express will be the first customer of the new, integrated solution.

Editor's Note: Well, just to remind us that the OEMs are all-in on the EV thing, VW this weekend launched the first commercials for its upcoming ID.4 electric SUV. The main point? The EV revolution will take hold when EVs are accessible to everyone. Created by VW ad agency Johannes Leonardo, the first spot relies on images and music (rather than narration) to tell the story of advances in transportation through the ages. The message appears on-screen at the end: "History is made, when it's made for everyone." We like this ad a lot. Well done. -WG

(Lexus)
The limited-edition 2021 Lexus LC 500 Inspiration Series stands apart from the standard LC 500 with a combination of features not found on any other LC package. The limited-edition vehicle is offered in one exterior color - Obsidian - which is paired with 21-inch black forged-alloy wheels that fill out the wheel wells nicely. A carbon-fiber reinforced plastic (CFRP) roof is standard, along with a carbon-fiber rear air wing spoiler. The LC 500 Inspiration Series also has a Torsen limited slip differential. The standard Yamaha rear performance rod with damper, an available option on other LC models, provides added rigidity to the suspension package. Inside, there's a serialized badge on the center console - of course - with black Alcantara-trimmed sport seats that feature Saddle Tan accents and seat belts. The steering wheel and shift lever are also accented in black Alcantara trim. A carbon-fiber scuff plate accents the door, and a Mark Levinson 13-speaker 915-watt Reference Surround Sound Audio system is standard. The LC Inspiration Series also comes standard with a large color Head-Up Display (HUD) that projects a range of information onto the bottom of the windshield glass. Only 100 units will be available.

(FCA)
This is the new 2021 Jeep Grand Cherokee. It has an all-new vehicle architecture, independent front and rear suspensions and Quadra-Lift air suspension with electronic adaptive damping; three Jeep 4x4 systems and Selec-Terrain traction management system with five terrain modes; standard 10-inch display screens across the instrument panel, including a frameless digital gauge cluster and touchscreen radio, all-new LED lighting with ambient features, driver and front passenger seat massage and personalized climate zones; hand-wrapped, quilted Palermo leather, open-pore Waxed Walnut wood, 21-inch wheels and standard premium features are part of the new Summit Reserve Package and a bunch of other stuff. The Jeep Grand Cherokee L arrives in Jeep dealerships in the second quarter of 2021, with the Jeep Grand Cherokee two-row and its 4xe electrified version scheduled to debut later in 2021. But the big feature? (Which we couldn't care less about.) Seven passenger seating.

Editor's Note: Longtime AE reader Mark Weaver passed along this remarkable shot of GM Styling Chief Bill Mitchell casually driving through downtown Birmingham, Michigan, in the '59 Corvette Sting Ray racer. Peter has some additional comments below. -WG
The Way It Was.

This just popped up on Facebook and I had to share it with you in light of Peter’s fantastic stories from his childhood with Bill Mitchell as his neighbor… an amazing candid image of Bill Mitchell in the Sting Ray Concept in Birmingham… photographer unknown.

Mark Weaver

Auburn Hills, Michigan 

Editor-in-Chief's Note: This fantastic picture shows Bill Mitchell in the 1959 Chevrolet Corvette Sting Ray racer heading east on Maple Rd. right through downtown Birmingham. As longtime readers know, Mitchell lived a block away from us in Birmingham, and he would often have three or four of GM Styling's latest concepts delivered to his house every Friday during the summer so he could drive them all weekend. I had the opportunity - and privilege - of riding with him in every GM concept car from the late 50s and early 60s, including the Corvette XP-700; Corvette Mako Shark I and II; Corvair Sebring Spyder; Pontiac XP-400; Corvair Monza SS and GT and, of course, the sensational '59 Corvette Sting Ray racer, which remains my all-time favorite car. Judging by the way Mitchell is dressed, I would bet he's heading to GM Styling in Warren, Michigan, on Monday morning. (He would often drive one of the cars he had delivered to his house on Friday back to work the following Monday morning.) I have often said that it was a different time and a different era, never to be repeated. This snapshot captures that perfectly. -PMD

AE Song of the Week:

I could lift you up
I could show you what you want to see
And take you where you want to be

You could be my luck
Even if the sky is falling down
I know that we'll be safe and sound
We're safe and sound

I could fill your cup
You know my river won't evaporate
This world we still appreciate

You could be my luck
Even in a hurricane of frowns
I know that we'll be safe and sound (safe and sound)
We're safe and sound (safe and sound)
We're safe and sound (Hold your ground)
We're safe and sound (safe and sound)

I could show you love
In a tidal wave of mystery
You'll still be standing next to me

You could be my luck
Even if we're six feet underground
I know that we'll be safe and sound
We're safe and sound

(Safe and sound)
(Safe and sound)
(Hold your ground)
(Safe and sound)

I could lift you up
I could show you what you want to see
And take you where you want to be

You could be my luck
Even if the sky is falling down
I know that we'll be safe and sound

I could lift you up
I could show you what you want to see
And take you where you want to be

You could be my luck
Even if the sky is falling down
I know that we'll be safe and sound
We're safe and sound
We're safe and sound
We're safe and sound

We're safe and sound (safe and sound)
We're safe and sound (safe and sound)
We're safe and sound (Hold your ground)
We're safe and sound (safe and sound) 
We're safe and sound

"Safe And Sound" by Capital Cities, from the album "In A Tidal Wave Of Mystery" (2011)*. Written by Ryan Merchant and Sebu Simonian; Published by Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, lyrics licensed and provided by LyricFind. Watch the video here. 

*Capital Cities is an electro-rock duo from Los Angeles, California comprising Ryan Merchant and Sebu Simonian. The first incarnation of the song appeared on an EP called Capitol Cities that the duo released independently in 2011. The group's first release, it got the attention of Capitol Records, which signed them and issued an updated version of the song as their first single in 2013. This version was also included on their debut album, In a Tidal Wave Of Mystery. The song was created back in 2011, before Merchant and Simonian were known as Capital Cities, when the Los Angeles pair were earning cash composing music for advertising campaigns. "It started as a little idea we came up with - it wasn't a fully fleshed-out song, per se," Merchant told Billboard magazine. "We noticed that, when we showed it to people, there was this unanimous feeling that there was something special about this music, and we started to develop it. It took 10 different versions before we finally came to what you hear on the radio now, where we decided to add a trumpet for the main bridge part, which I think was one of our best decisions on the song. And we brought out this vintage keyboard that provides the foundation for the song. So the song really took a long time to get right, because we knew it was such an important song for us." Regarding the track's meaning, Merchant noted: "It seems like every generation feels like it's living in the worst of times, and of course there are horrible things happening, but the average person is better off now than he or she was 50 years ago. In some ways 'Safe and Sound' is an antidote to the human tendency to think in apocalyptic terms and not really look at the logic of the world around us. Things are getting better and there's a lot to be positive about." After this song was first released in 2011, it caught on in Peru, where radio stations started playing it. The duo flew to South America to play some shows, then returned to America where they launched a marketing campaign for the song. The Los Angeles radio stations KIIS-FM and KROQ put "Safe and Sound" in rotation, and SiriusXM started playing it on their Alt Nation channel, where response from fans pushed it to #1 on their Alt-18 countdown, making it the first independent release to top the tally. All this attention finally led to their record deal with Capitol in December 2012. (Knowledge courtesy of songfacts.com)