MAY 18, 2022

(Mercedes-Benz images)
One of two ultra-rare, original 1955 300 SLR Uhlenhaut Coupes from the Mercedes-Benz Classic Collection has been auctioned for 135 million EUR to a private collector, making it the most valuable car of all time. The sale of the 300 SLR Uhlenhaut Coupe took place on May 5th at an auction held at the Mercedes-Benz Museum in cooperation with renowned auctioneer RM Sotheby's. The invitees were among selected Mercedes-Benz customers and international collectors of cars and art, who share the corporate values of Mercedes-Benz. The 300 SLR Uhlenhaut Coupe sold at auction was part of the non-public vehicle collection belonging to Mercedes-Benz Classic, comprising more than 1100 automobiles from the invention of the automobile in 1886, until today. Marcus Breitschwerdt, Head of Mercedes-Benz Heritage, had this to say: "The private buyer has agreed that the 300 SLR Uhlenhaut Coupe will remain accessible for public display on special occasions, while the second original 300 SLR Coupe remains in company ownership and will continue to be displayed at the Mercedes-Benz Museum in Stuttgart." 
The proceeds will be used to establish a worldwide "Mercedes-Benz Fund" that will provide educational and research scholarships in the areas of environmental science and decarbonization for young people. This icon of automotive history is an absolute rarity – one of just two prototypes built at the time. Named after its creator and chief engineer, Rudolf Uhlenhaut, it is considered to be one of the finest examples of automotive engineering and design by automotive experts and enthusiasts worldwide. "The 300 SLR Uhlenhaut Coupes are milestones in sports car development and key historical elements that have shaped our brand. The decision to sell one of these two unique sports cars was taken with very sound reasoning – to benefit a good cause. The proceeds from the auction will fund a global scholarship program. With the 'Mercedes-Benz Fund' we would like to encourage a new generation to follow in Rudolf Uhlenhaut's innovative footsteps and develop amazing new technologies, particularly those that support the critical goal of decarbonization and resource preservation," says Ola Källenius, CEO of Mercedes-Benz Group AG. "At the same time, achieving the highest price ever paid for a vehicle is extraordinary and humbling: A Mercedes-Benz is by far the most valuable car in the world." 
The special circumstances behind its creation, its unique design and its innovative technology have endowed the 300 SLR Uhlenhaut Coupe with a remarkable level of mystique that endures to this day. The design of the 300 SLR Uhlenhaut Coupe set benchmarks that put it among the world's most significant automotive icons – not least on account of its distinctive "gullwing" doors. Added to this is the outstanding performance delivered by its thoroughbred racing technology. Together, both have secured the 300 SLR Uhlenhaut Coupe its acclaimed position in sports car mythology and a very special place in the hearts of Mercedes fans around the world. More information about the Mercedes-Benz 300 SLR Uhlenhaut Coupe is available in a web special. Editor-in-Chief's Note: Rudolph Uhlenhaut was an absolute legend. The Chief Engineer for Mercedes-Benz racing during that era, he would regularly take the Grand Prix and sports cars out in testing to see what the drivers were experiencing on the track. And he would not only match their lap times, but often go faster at racetracks around the world. And remember, this was the era when Mercedes-Benz had Juan Manuel Fangio and Stirling Moss - the best in the world at the time - as their team drivers. He was an incredible talent and a remarkably gifted engineer. And he drove his “Uhlenhaut Coupe” flat-out on the Autobahn on a regular basis well into his 80s. The price for the car is hard to comprehend, but the provenance is indisputable. A fantastic machine and incredible legacy. -PMD

(BMW)
In conjunction with its 50th birthday celebration, BMW M GmbH has unveiled a very special limited-edition model: The new 2023 BMW M4 CSL. The machine "fuses old-school racing passion with innovative technology to create an inimitable performance experience," according to BMW PR minions. What do you get? Power is boosted to 543HP, an increase of 40HP; weight is reduced by 240 pounds; a suite of unique chassis enhancements is included; exclusive seating for two, with track-ready M Carbon full bucket seats. How fast? It achieved the fastest lap of any production BMW around the Nurburgring Nordschleife with a time of 7:20.2. How many? Global production limited to 1,000 units. How much? Base price starts at $139,900 plus $995 destination. Production begins in July 2022.

(BMW images)
A freshened 2023 BMW 3 Series will arrive at U.S. dealers in July. Updates include subtle tweaks to the exterior and a newly designed cockpit with a BMW Curved Display comprised of a 12.3-inch information display and a control display with a screen diagonal of 14.9 inches. Drivetrains available include the 2-liter TwinPower Turbo 4-cylinder in the 330i, a plug-in hybrid in the 330e, and the 3-liter TwinPower Turbo inline-6 enhanced with 48V mild hybrid technology. All are available with optional xDrive intelligent all-wheel drive. The standard full-LED headlights are slimmer, with clear contours and daytime driving lights. The outer daytime driving light elements serve as turn indicators. The air intakes are in high-gloss black and positioned below the kidney grille while directing cool air to the front brakes. The flared rear wheel arches accentuate the width and rear stance of the new 3 Series. And, as usual with BMW, there is much, much more. Vehicles for the U.S. market will be built exclusively in BMW’s newest plant in San Luis Potosí, Mexico. Editor-in-Chief's Note: Will it drive any better? That's all we care about. -PMD

(The Quail Motorcycle Gathering)
A 1951 Vincent Rapide owned by Max Hazan was awarded “Best of Show” out of 250 entrants last weekend at The Quail Motorcycle Gathering presented by GEICO Motorcycle. Nearly 3,200 spectators gathered on the lawns of Quail Lodge & Golf Club for the show. The 12th anniversary of the event presented an array of pre- and post-war sports and racing motorcycles, including British, Italian, Other European, Japanese, Competition On-Road, Competition Off-Road, Antique, Custom/Modified, Choppers, and Extraordinary Bicycles and Scooters.

(Audi of America images)
Audi of America has announced an exclusive Competition package for the 2023 RS 5 Coupe and RS 5 Sportback, which adds overall appearance and performance-oriented components. The 2023 RS 5 Coupe and Sportback models are powered by a bi-turbo V6 with 444HP and 442 lb-ft of torque, with the RS 5 Coupe going 0-60 mph in 3.7 seconds, and the RS 5 Sportback going 0-60 mph in 3.8 seconds. Both models, when equipped with the Competition package, will receive an increased maximum top track speed of 180mph - up 25 mph from the vehicles’ standard top track speed of 155mph, and up 6 mph from the Dynamic plus package’s 174 mph top track speed. Developed specifically for this exclusive package, the RS sport exhaust system (with matte black tailpipes) produces a more intense exhaust note as a result of reduced insulation between the engine compartment and interior, and also decreases the car’s weight by nearly 18 pounds. Fine-tuning enhancements to the engine control unit software make for tighter load changes in S transmission mode when the “Dynamic” drive mode is active. Customers who order an RS 5 Coupe or Sportback with this package will receive a coilover suspension system with front sport sway bar and a ride height sitting 10 mm lower than standard RS 5 models. Customers can then manually lower the ride height by an additional 10mm, for an overall ride height that is 20mm lower. The enhanced quattro sport rear differential ensures an increased degree of agility – especially when drivers select the “Dynamic” driving mode. Additionally, Sport direct steering provides even more precision when navigating road dynamics, offering a steering ratio fixed at 13.1:1. The Competition package brings a new data set in the control unit with changed parameters designed to shift the power to the rear wheels. The updated software in the transmission control unit makes for reduced shifting times and an increased spread between the various driving modes. In combination with the Pirelli P Zero Corsa tires paired with 5-Y-spoke Phantom black milled-cut wheels and a newly tuned ABS software, the RS ceramic front brake system reduces the stopping distance by up to two meters (about 6.5 feet) when stopping from 62-0 mph. How much? The Audi RS 5 Coupe starts at $75,900; the Audi RS 5 Sportback starts at $76,200. The Competition package costs an additional (gulp) $16,100 with orders expected to begin in June 2022. 

(Cadillac images)
From the "Payin' The Cost To Be The Boss" File: Cadillac has revealed full details of its 2023 Escalade-V — which takes its place as the industry’s most powerful full-size SUV. “Customers and enthusiasts have asked for an Escalade-V, and we’re thrilled to bring this high-performance SUV to market in the year of Cadillac’s 120th anniversary,” said Global Cadillac Vice President Rory Harvey. “We do not deploy the V-Series designation lightly. The arrival of the 2023 Escalade-V is the result of a rigorous development program that allows this highly anticipated model to meet the criteria and capability thresholds established by nearly two decades of inspired V-Series performance.” At the heart of the Escalade-V is a hand-built supercharged and intercooled 6.2-liter V-8 rated at 682HP (508 kilowatts) and 653 lb-ft of torque (885 Nm). The Escalade-V’s engine shares architectural similarities with the CT5-V Blackwing’s supercharged V-8, but features a larger, 2.65L R2650 TVS supercharger that helps overcome the higher inlet and exhaust restrictions on the full-size SUV application. It spins at up to 13,500 rpm to produce approximately 10 pounds of boost and has an electronically controlled bypass valve for optimal drivability. The supercharger’s unique four-lobe rotors are designed to broaden the engine’s power band, with great low-end torque production and strong high-rpm power. Standard performance elements include a 10-speed automatic transmission calibrated for Escalade-V, a full-time active all-wheel-drive system and exclusive suspension hardware and software calibrations. An Escalade-V ESV version is also available. Other details:

• Unique V-Series front and rear fascias
• Quad exhaust outlets
• Exclusive Six-Piston Brembo® front brakes 
• Edge Red brake calipers
• Unique 22-inch aluminum wheels
• Standard Magnetic Ride Control 4.0 and Air Ride Adaptive Suspension, with uniquely tuned rear air springs and damper hardware, as well as V-Series specific software calibrations
• Selectable V-Mode with driver-customizable performance driving settings, lowered suspension and active exhaust valves that control the throaty V-8 growl
• V-Series badging on the driver and front passenger doors, liftgate and throughout the interior, including the steering wheel
• Platinum trim interior featuring Zebra Wood decor with semi-aniline leather on all three rows, and heated/ventilated and massaging front seats
• Escalade’s signature curved OLED with 38 inches of total diagonal display
• AKG Studio Reference 36-speaker audio system
• Available Super Cruise hands-free driver-assistance technology, including trailering and automatic lane change capabilities (late availability).

How much? The 2023 Escalade-V goes on sale late this summer, with a starting MSRP of $149,990 (including destination charge). Details are available at www.cadillac.com. Watch the video here. 

 

The AE Song of the Week:

Who doesn't know what I'm talking about
Who's never left home, who's never struck out
To find a dream and a life of their own
A place in the clouds, a foundation of stone

Many precede and many will follow
A young girl's dreams no longer hollow
It takes the shape of a place out west
But what it holds for her, she hasn't yet guessed

She needs wide open spaces
Room to make her big mistakes
She needs new faces
She knows the high stakes

She traveled this road as a child
Wide eyed and grinning, she never tired
But now she won't be coming back with the rest
If these are life's lessons, she'll take this test

She needs wide open spaces
Room to make her big mistakes
She needs new faces
She knows the high stakes

She knows the high stakes

As her folks drive away, her dad yells, "Check the oil!"
Mom stares out the window and says, "I'm leaving my girl"
She said, "It didn't seem like that long ago"
When she stood there and let her own folks know

She needed wide open spaces
Room to make her big mistakes
She needs new faces
She knows the high stakes

She knows the high stakes
She knows the highest stakes (Wide open spaces)
She knows the highest stakes
She knows the highest stakes (Wide open spaces)

"Wide Open Spaces" by The Chicks from the album "Wide Open Spaces" (1998)*. Written by Susan Gibson. Publisher: BMG Rights Management. Lyrics licensed and provided by LyricFind. Watch the Official Music Video video here. 

*This song was written by Susan Gibson, who was lead singer of a Texas-based band called The Groobees. She wrote the tune back in 1993 in a spirit of rebellion during her first return home from the University of Montana for Christmas break. "My mom probably said something like, 'What time did you get home last night, honey?' Whatever it was rubbed me the wrong way," Gibson told The Montanan. "I sat down at the kitchen table and wrote furiously for twelve minutes, and then I went and did something else. I forgot all about it." The lyrics were so specific to Gibson's own experience, including lines about her dad warning her to check the oil in her car, she was hesitant about giving away such a personal song. Then she heard the Dixie Chicks' version: "It made me bawl my eyes out. It was so beautiful—it had this stunning musicianship and very professional production. I could still see my handwriting on the page, and here was this gorgeous recording of it." Lloyd Maines, father of Dixie Chicks lead singer Natalie Maines, worked with The Groobees, and brought the song to the Chicks. The Groobees recorded their version in 1999. Thom Oliphant helmed the music video, which intercuts touring footage with the girls singing in open fields of wildflowers as well as performing at Winter Park, Colorado's annual West Fest. In a Songfacts interview, Oliphant recalled: "That song probably moved them from big clubs to arenas over the course of that year, so we were just out documenting. A lot of that stuff was shot without a clock ticking. You're on a bus and we would shoot some stuff, and then it all was woven together with a couple of big days of shooting out around Denver. It made it look like it was all about the same time, but it wasn't." The video was named the Country Music Association's Video of the Year in 1999. The Groobees broke up a couple of years after this song became a hit. Susan Gibson, who collected the bulk of the royalties as the tune's sole writer, has since carved a career for herself as a solo artist, but still delights in hearing fans talk about the song: "Because the Dixie Chicks made that song so huge, I have enjoyed the look on people's faces when they hear that I wrote that song. About 80 percent of the time, somebody has a cool story attached to it about leaving home, getting married, getting divorced, and breaking down in Moab, Utah. 19 percent of the time it's like, 'Oh! My mom loooooves that song!' And there's 1 percent out there that are like, 'I don't really listen to music.' That's OK. It's the stories that I hear back from people that put a face to the huge numbers associated with that song." The song spent four weeks at #1 on the country chart. Wide Open Spaces earned a Grammy Award for Best Country Album in 1999. (Knowledge courtesy of Songfacts.com)

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