APRIL 27, 2022

GM President, Mark Reuss made an announcement on Linkedin today (4/25): "Some time ago we moved the Corvette team into the EV space in Warren, Michigan, and when we revealed the new mid-engine Corvette, I said there would be 'more to come.' This morning I sat down with Phil LeBeau of CNBC and finally answered the question I’ve been asked countless times.   Yes, in addition to the amazing new Chevrolet Corvette Z06 and other gas-powered variants coming, we will offer an electrified and a fully electric, Ultium-based Corvette in the future. In fact, we will offer an electrified Corvette as early as next year. Details and names to come at a later date. In addition, we also announced today Ultium Platform’s energy recovery system, a patented onboard system that takes the heat generated by EV batteries and uses it to warm the cabin, create more efficient charging conditions, and even increase vehicle acceleration. And it can boost the vehicle’s range by about 10%. It’s a perfect example of how developing a ground-up EV platform like Ultium enables unique features not easily done with a retrofit." Watch the teaser video here.

THE EXCEPTIONAL CORVETTE.

By Peter M. DeLorenzo

Detroit. I have experienced many, many Corvettes over the decades, from concepts and street machines, to full-on racing machines. Each and every one was different and left a mark, and though some production machines were sorely lacking - the mid-to-late-70s in particular - the gradual progression of technology and performance for the Corvette has been notable, particularly with the seventh generation. But the latest Corvette - the eighth generation - is something else altogether, because it flourishes in a dimension previously unimaginable for America's sports car. It's not just the fact that it's the first mid-engined Corvette, which has always been the Holy Grail for Corvette enthusiasts. It's because the new Corvette achieves a level of sophistication and overall performance that is truly exceptional. 

After driving countless machines of every stripe over the years, I can pretty much tell a car's character in the first couple of miles. And the Corvette grabbed my attention right from the start. That this machine has been finely executed down to the last detail comes through almost immediately, and as I accumulated the miles, it only got better. This Corvette excels at all the proper enthusiast touch points: steering, braking, the remarkable handling and scintillating high-performance - and that ever-elusive "feel" - to such a degree that it isn't even fair to compare it to previous generations because, as I mentioned, this new generation Corvette lives in a dimension never before occupied by this sports car. 

A few words about the exterior and interior design of the Corvette, because it's not perfect. (Although I think the color combination is stellar. Would I get tired of the Morello Red over time? I'll never know.) My first assessment of the car hasn't changed since its introduction a couple of years ago. I like 85 percent of the design: the front, 3/4 front and profile. But the direct rear view still says "less than" to me. It's busy, fussy and inelegant. If I was doing a refresh of the Corvette, I would start there. As for the interior, the driver-focused elements of the cockpit are all good, which is critical, but the rest of the interior needs a rethink as well. The center spine with all of the extra interior controls seems to be trying too hard, and the fact that it "walls-off" the rest of the interior seems "less than" as well. And the various swoops and shapes on the top of the dash seem to be unnecessary overkill. 

But those critical words about the exterior and interior design don't dissuade me from my assessment of the Corvette: It is truly an exceptional machine and one of the most seductive combinations of power and overall performance that money can buy. The eighth generation of the Corvette is very much a testament to the True Believers at GM who delivered a superlative automobile. For those enthusiasts out there who cling to their preconceived - and mostly negative - notions about the Corvette, that is certainly your prerogative and there is probably nothing I've said that will change your mind. But a word of caution: If you don't afford yourself the opportunity to experience the Corvette, you'll be missing out on one of the great driving machines ever built.


2022 Chevrolet Corvette Stingray Coupe 3LT. $72,850 Base Price; Price as tested: $83,770. Hypersonic Gray Metallic, Morello Red Dipped interior; 6.2-liter Direct-Injected V8 with 490HP, 465 lb-ft of torque; 8-speed dual clutch gearbox including manual and auto modes; Numerous interior features (too many to list); Front Lift Adjustable Height With Memory, $2260; Magnetic Selective Ride Control, $1895; 5 Trident Spoke Machined Face Spectra Gray Painted Aluminum Wheels (19" Front, 20" Rear), $1495; Performance Exhaust, $1195; Shadow Gray Exterior Accents, $995; Edge Red Painted Brake Calipers, $595; Composite Rockers, Black (dealer installed), $595; Front Splitter, Low Rear Spoiler, $595.

(Lincoln images)
Lincoln has unveiled its Star Concept revealing the brand’s vision for connected, electrified vehicles. The concept features connected technologies and a next-generation Lincoln Intelligence System to deliver "unique, rejuvenating moments inside the cabin, with three moods that create a sanctuary using scent, sight and sound," according to Lincoln PR minions. “Electrification is removing many traditional vehicle design constraints, allowing us to reimagine what a vehicle can be,” said Anthony Lo, chief design officer, Ford Motor Company. “The Lincoln Star is a study of experiences and themes that push the boundaries of Lincoln design – and it’s just the start.” More than half of Lincoln’s global volume is expected to be all-electric vehicles by mid-decade; the brand will deliver three new fully electric vehicles by 2025, adding a fourth by 2026. To that we'll add a giant "We'll see."

(BMW images)
The seventh generation of the BMW 7 Series includes the first all-electric i7 xDrive60 (catchy name, that). The front end presents the new design language of luxury BMW models, such as it is. The interior includes an available 31-inch BMW Theater Screen with built-in Amazon Fire TV and 8K resolution. The optional Highway Assistant provides hands-free driving up to 80 mph. Six and eight-cylinder engines now feature 48V mild hybrid technology. The base MSRP for the 2023 740i $93,300 + $995 destination; 760i xDrive $113,600 + $995 destination; i7 xDrive60 $119,300 + $995 destination. US market launch will begin in Q4 2022. Pre-orders for the i7 open Wednesday, April 20, at 8:01 AM ET at www.bmwusa.com. Editor-in-Chief's Note: The Blunderbuss School of BMW Design continues to head for The Abyss. There is nothing about this thing that is the least bit attractive. Not. One. Thing. Pathetic. -PMD

The AE Song of the Week:

Hey mom, I know
We're getting old
And the lines on our hands have changed
But you still look at me the same

Hey Mom, guess what?
You're really tough
And I know you did all you could
Just to make sure my life was good

Sorry for the fights and the tone of my voice
Sorry for the nights when I made the wrong choice
Life is flying by and it's hitting me now
I hope it's not but

If this is the last time please come close
I love you with all my heart, you know
I don't wanna cry, I'm bad at goodbye
If this is the last time
Then let's do the things we always do
Like go to the mall and buy some shoes
I don't wanna cry, I'm bad at goodbye
If this is the last time

Hey dad, what's up?
Miss you so much
Yeah, the shade of your hair is changed
But I look up to you the same

Taught me how to fish, taught me how to ride a bike
Taught me how to love, how to treat a woman right
Life is flying by and it's hitting me now
I hope it's not but

If this is the last time please come close
I love you with all my heart, you know
I don't wanna cry, I'm bad at goodbye
If this is the last time
Then let's do the things we always do
Like go for a drive or watch the news
I don't wanna cry, I'm bad at goodbye
If this is the last time

Hey you, sit back
Don't go so fast

If this is the last time please come close
I love you with all my heart, you know
I don't wanna cry, I'm bad at goodbye
If this is the last time
So let's do the things we always do
Or maybe we try something brand new
I don't wanna cry, I'm bad at goodbye
If this is the last time

If this is the last time
If this is the last time
Oh
If this is the last time
If this is the last time
If this is the last time
Oh

"If This Is The Last Time" by LANY, from the album "Mama's Boy" (2020) *. Written by Paul Jason Klein, Dan Smyers, Jake Goss, Jordan Reynolds, Les Priest and Sasha Sloan. Publisher: Kobalt Music Publishing Ltd., Warner Chappell Music, Inc, Lyrics licensed and provided by LyricFind. Watch the Original Music Video here. 

*This song is a love letter from LANY's singer Paul Klein to his mom and dad. He expresses gratitude for the way they raised him, and he wants them to know how much he loves them. Klein knows all things in life are temporary and he wants to treat every interaction with his parents as if it is their last. Klein came up with the idea for the song on a flight to Beijing in the summer of 2019. He explained in an Instagram post that he was thinking about his "uncle buddy," who is in good health but is getting older. The LANY frontman is so busy recording and touring his music, he doesn't get to visit him much. The thought struck him, "What if the next time I get to see him is the last time I'll get to see him?" Klein added that after facing a new reality amid the 2020 COVID-19 pandemic, he realized that "finishing and perfecting this song was imperative." (Knowledge courtesy of Songfacts.com)