NOVEMBER 23, 2022

(Porsche images)

Tired of watching every aftermarket tuner on the planet doing "lifted" off-road versions of its iconic 911 sports car, Porsche unveiled the new Porsche 911 Dakar at the Los Angeles Auto Show. The exclusive model, which is limited to 2,500 units globally, "demonstrates that the concept of the Porsche 911 knows almost no boundaries. It harks back to the first overall Porsche victory at the 1984 Paris-Dakar Rally – which also represents the first use of the all-wheel drive system in a Porsche 911," according to Porsche PR minions. The ride height on the Porsche 911 Dakar is 50 millimeters higher than on a 911 Carrera model equipped with Sport Suspension. In addition to this, the standard lift system can raise the front and rear of the car by an additional 30 mm – achieving a level of ride height and ramp-over angles similar to conventional SUVs. The lift system is not only designed to help clear obstacles at low speeds, but is also an integral component of the newly calibrated suspension. The “High Level” setting is usable at up to approximately 105 mph for spirited off-road driving. Above this speed, the car returns to its normal ride height. Other stuff? Specially developed Pirelli Scorpion All Terrain Plus tires with dual carcass layers, measuring 245/45 ZR 19 in front and 295/40 ZR 20 at the rear. Summer performance tires and snow tires from the Pirelli P Zero tire family are optionally available, and also feature dual carcass layers, but the new all-terrain tires are standard. The 3.0-liter twin-turbo Boxer engine delivers 473HP and 420 lb.-ft. of torque, allowing the new 911 Dakar to accelerate from 0 to 60 mph in 3.2 seconds. (Top track speed is limited to 150 mph due to the cross section height of the tires for this model.) The engine is paired with an eight-speed-PDK and Porsche Traction Management (PTM) all-wheel drive. Rear-axle steering, engine mounts adopted from the 911 GT3 and the body roll reducing Porsche Dynamic Chassis Control (PDCC) system are also standard. The interplay of all these components enables the 911 Dakar to tackle sand and loose gravel especially well. Two new drive modes – Rallye Mode and Off-Road Mode – offer the excellent off-road performance that can be activated using the mode switch on the steering wheel. Rallye Mode is programmed for loose, uneven surfaces and biases power to the rear axle. In Off-Road Mode, which is focused on maximizing traction on sand and in rough terrain, the “High Level” ride height is automatically engaged. A new Rallye Launch Control mode was developed specially for this model and is available in both model-specific drive modes. It enables impressive acceleration on loose surfaces and allows wheel spin of up to 20 percent. Still more? The 911 Dakar also features a fixed rear spoiler and a hood made of CFRP, of which the latter is taken from the 911 GT3, with large openings designed to extract air. You also get red front and rear tow hooks made of forged aluminum, flared fender arches and rocker panels, stainless steel body elements on the front and rear fascia and side skirts. The side air intakes in the newly designed front fascia also have stainless steel mesh grilles to keep rocks and other damaging objects from entering. The roof of the 911 Dakar is equipped with a 12-volt-socket for the headlights of the optional roof basket. It can hold up to 92 lbs. of equipment such as spare gas and water canisters, folding shovels and recovery boards. A roof tent is available for the 911 Dakar as well. The interior of the 911 Dakar is equipped with standard Full Bucket Seats and deleted rear seats. Lightweight glass also helps save mass so that the 911 Dakar has a curb weight of 3,552 lbs. ‒ just 16 lbs. more than a 911 Carrera 4 GTS with PDK. Another Dakar-specific detail is the standard Race-Tex upholstery with decorative stitching in Shade Green, which is exclusive to the 911 Dakar as an exterior paint color (as shown below). The optional Rallye Design Package starts with a two-tone paint consisting of White and Gentian Blue Metallic. This also represents the first time that Porsche is combining a two-tone paint color with decorative livery. Customers can opt for a start number on the side of the car between “0” and “999.” And for those who absolutely insist that they be "The Biggest Tool In The Shed," customers of the 911 Dakar so inclined can order an exclusive Porsche Design Chronograph 1 ‒ 911 Dakar or the Chronograph 1 ‒ 911 Dakar Rallye Design Edition. For the first time, the housing is made of particularly light and scratch resistant titanium carbide. Alrighty then! The Porsche 911 Dakar is expected to begin arriving in U.S. dealers in Spring 2023, with a starting MSRP of ‒ ahem ‒ $222,000 excluding $1,450 for delivery, processing and handling. Editor-in-Chief's Note: That last bit of information - the crushing price - is the point of this exercise. No car company in the world is more skilled at extracting as much ca$h-ola as possible from its faithful than Porsche. In fact, the German automaker has elevated it to an art form, a monument to itself based on unbridled, flat-out greed. I am quite sure that the Porsche 911 Dakar will be sold out, if it's not already. This car is unobtanium due to its cost, but even if it was remotely affordable I would have zero interest, because I have never been a fan of the "lifted" 911 craze. And I'm not about to start now. -PMD

(Toyota images)
This is the all-new 2023 Toyota Prius. Calling it "the most fuel-efficient Prius ever" with up to a manufacturer-estimated 57 combined MPG, according to Toyota PR minions, the new Prius features a fifth-generation hybrid powertrain that has up to 196HP, which means it's noticeably quicker. But the big news, as far as we're is concerned, is the exterior design featuring what Toyota calls a "One-Motion" Silhouette. It's longer, lower and wider, and it looks good. It will be available sometime next year.
 
(Toyota images)
Toyota also unveiled the 2023 Prius Prime plug-in hybrid. Available in SE, XSE and XSE premium grades, the 2023 Prius Prime is built on the second-generation TNGA-C platform (as is the Prius), offering a low center of gravity with reduced weight and increased rigidity compared to the previous generation. The all-new Prius Prime also features a solar roof. This on-board charging feature uses roof-mounted solar panels to recharge the Prius Prime’s battery when parked. The panels deliver supplemental power to accessory functions, like air conditioning, when driving, and they also use a design that conceals the electrodes for a seamless, glossy appearance. Compared to the previous generation Prius Prime, it’s 2 inches lower, 1 inch wider, 1 inch longer, and with a hip point that’s almost 1 inch lower. The placement of the traction battery is also optimized, with placement under the rear seat for a low center of gravity and enhanced luggage capacity. The Prius Prime's plug-in hybrid system is designed to enhance both fuel economy and driving performance, when compared to the outgoing model. The acceleration feel and vehicle speed controllability have also been enhanced, according to Toyota, providing a driving feel and accelerator response unique to electric vehicles. Under the hood is the fifth-generation hybrid powertrain, coupled with a 2.0L engine and a newly developed lithium-ion battery, located underneath the rear seat. The result is a zero-emission electric range increase of more than 50%, a nearly 100HP increase to 220HP and a 0-60 time of 6.6 seconds. Availability is next year.
 



The AE Song of the Week:

Kiss me out of the bearded barley
Nightly, beside the green, green grass
Swing, swing, swing the spinning step
You'll wear those shoes and I will wear that dress

Oh, kiss me beneath the milky twilight
Lead me out on the moonlit floor
Lift your open hand
Strike up the band and make the fireflies dance
Silver moon's sparkling
So kiss me

Kiss me down by the broken tree house
Swing me, upon its hanging tire
Bring, bring, bring your flowered hat
We'll take the trail marked on your father's map

Oh, kiss me beneath the milky twilight
Lead me out on the moonlit floor
Lift your open hand
Strike up the band, and make the fireflies dance
Silver moon's sparkling
So kiss me

Kiss me beneath the milky twilight
Lead me out on the moonlit floor
Lift your open hand
Strike up the band, and make the fireflies dance
Silver moon's sparkling
So kiss me

So kiss me
So kiss me
So kiss me

"Kiss Me" by Sixpence None the Richer, from the album "Sixpence None the Richer" (1997).* Written by Matthew Preston Slocum. Publisher: Warner Chappell Music, Inc. Lyrics licensed and provided by LyricFind. Watch the Official Music Video here. 

*Written by the group's guitarist Matt Slocum, this dreamy truffle of a pop song had humble beginnings. Released on their third album, which came out November 22, 1997, it was issued as a single on August 11, 1998. This being the late '90s, TV producers were on the lookout for fresh songs to provide dramatic underscore for big scenes, like maybe a pivotal kiss in a popular teen drama. "Kiss Me" got some attention when it was used on the second season of the WB TV show Dawson's Creek, first on November 11, 1998 and then on another episode that aired April 28, 1999. In between, it was used in the movie She's All That, which premiered January 29, 1999. With just about every teenage girl in America hearing the song on the TV show, the movie, or the many radio stations that put the song in rotation, it cracked the Top-40 on February 27, 1999 and made it all the way to #2. The late '90s were the big years for TV show soundtracks, and shows like Ally McBeal, Party of Five, Mad About You and Friends would often integrate music into episodes to enhance not only the scenes but also the soundtrack albums, which sold very well. "Kiss Me" was the first track on Songs From Dawson's Creek, which made it to #7 on the US albums chart. Dawson's Creek was also notable for putting some songs on the soundtrack album that hadn't yet appeared on the show. Sixpence None the Richer is a Contemporary Christian trio from Austin, Texas. Their name comes from a passage in C.S. Lewis' book Mere Christianity. This was the most-played radio song in 1999 in 11 different countries, including Canada, UK, Australia, Japan and Israel. Vocalist Leigh Nash recalled to Baeble Music the song's origins: "It's pretty crazy," she said, "Matt wrote that song overseas. At the time he was reading some Dylan Thomas poetry, and I think he just started writing that song, and the words were a little different, the song was a little bit darker, but it was basically the same song, and we performed it the very night he wrote it." (Knowledge courtesy of Songfacts.com)

Editor's Note: You can access previous issues of AE by clicking on "Next 1 Entries" below. - WG