SEPTEMBER 28, 2022

(BMW images)
As its 50th anniversary celebrations continue, BMW M GmbH is introducing the high-performance BMW XM with the first plug-in hybrid drive system from BMW M. The M HYBRID system in the BMW XM consists of a new 483HP V8 engine with M TwinPower Turbo technology and a 194HP electric motor integrated into the eight-speed M Steptronic transmission. Together, they generate a maximum system output of 644HP at 5,400 RPM and 590 ft-lbs of torque between 1,600 and 5,000 RPM. Power is channeled to the road via the M xDrive all-wheel-drive system. The M HYBRID system also enables purely electric driving with a range of 30 miles (estimated range of up to 30 miles according to preliminary BMW AG tests based on the EPA’s test procedure standards). The BMW XM shares its drive concept of an eight-cylinder combustion engine supported by an electric motor with the newly developed endurance racing car from BMW M Motorsport. The BMW M Hybrid V8 will go racing in the IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship in North America in 2023. The following season, it will power BMW M Motorsport’s return to the FIA World Endurance Championship (WEC) and the 24 Hours of Le Mans. The extensively updated, 4.4-liter engine utilizes the thermodynamic benefits of a cross-bank exhaust manifold. A reinforced crankshaft drive, further developed turbocharging – mounted close to the exhaust manifold and with an electrically controlled blow-off valve – plus a new vane-type oil pump and a weight-minimized plastic oil sump all play a role in increasing the engine’s efficiency. An optimized oil separation process with variable impactor enhances the engine’s emissions performance. The VALVETRONIC fully variable valve control now includes a switchable rocker arm on the exhaust side, which allows the engines exhaust valves to be shut entirely. This way, when the driver releases the accelerator, a higher proportion of the braking energy can be fed into the high-voltage battery by means of recuperation. How much? The base MSRP is $159,000 plus $995 destination and handling. Production will start in the fourth quarter of 2022 at Plant Spartanburg in South Carolina.

(Lamborghini images)
Automobili Lamborghini ceased production of the Aventador on 9/26/2022. The final Aventador is a LP 780-4 Ultimae Roadster, in a special light blue Ad Personam color destined for the Swiss market. The Aventador is the last, pure, naturally-aspirated V12 Lamborghini to be produced in Sant’Agata Bolognese, marking the end of an era. Unveiled at Geneva Motor Show in 2011 as the Aventador LP 700-4, its moniker described its 700HP and permanent four-wheel drive, with the engine mounted longways at the rear - Longitudinale Posteriore. With a new Lamborghini V12 60˚powerplant, developed entirely in-house, the Aventador encompassed significant new technologies, an extraordinary and timeless design and breathtaking performance. Stephan Winkelmann, Chairman and CEO of Automobili Lamborghini, said at its launch, “the Aventador is a jump of two generations in terms of design and technology, with an exceptional package of unique, innovative technologies and performance that is simply overwhelming.” The benchmarking characteristics described at its debut have endured throughout its life, over more than eight model derivatives and 11,465 cars delivered to customers worldwide. It has originated over ten one-off and limited editions; set track records; won numerous awards; been the subject of artistic projects; featured in films and video games; and "delighted owners, enthusiasts, children and media the world over with its inimitable design, extraordinary performance, thrilling engine noise and driving emotions," according to Lamborghini PR minions. “The Lamborghini Aventador was a game-changer at its launch, and the flagship Lamborghini model for 11 years of production,” said Winkelmann. “The V12 engine has been part of Lamborghini’s heritage since the company’s earliest days; the beating heart of models from Miura to Diablo, Countach to Murciélago. The Aventador captured Lamborghini’s competencies in design and engineering when it debuted in 2011, with Lamborghini values that are always at the centre of company and product impetus: pure, futuristic design; benchmarking performance; and addressing technical challenges with innovation to produce the most emotive, class-leading super sports cars. These principles are the very essence of the Lamborghini Aventador, and assure its timeless appeal.” Lamborghini has sold more Aventadors than the sum of all its previous V12 models; in its fifth year the company delivered 5,000 units, matching the total number of Murciélago models produced, and delivering its 10,000th Aventador in September 2020. Editor-in-Chief's Note: Even though the Aventador is not my favorite Lamborghini, this is a sad day indeed. -PMD

(Mercedes-Benz images)
The new 2024 Mercedes-AMG C 63 S E PERFORMANCE "brings state-of-the-art technologies derived directly from Formula 1™ to the road," according to Mercedes-Benz PR minions. A two-speed electric motor positioned on the rear axle supports "the most powerful production four-cylinder in the world," according to the manufacturer, a handcrafted AMG 2.0-liter turbocharged engine that is mounted longitudinally at the front. Power delivery and torque build-up occur spontaneously and without delay: as in Formula 1™, the electric support of the exhaust gas turbocharger eliminates the turbo lag of the combustion engine, while the electric motor at the rear axle pushes powerfully from a standstill. The electric powertrain and 400-volt high-performance battery are AMG-exclusive, in-house developments. As in Formula 1™, the battery is specifically designed for fast power output and draw with innovative direct cooling of the cells. The combined system output is 671HP and 752 lb-ft of torque. These are new benchmarks for the C-Class. For the first time in a C 63, the fully variable AMG Performance 4MATIC+ all-wheel drive transfers power to the road and includes a Drift Mode for even more driving pleasure. Added to this is the standard-fit active rear axle steering, another unique feature in this segment. Editor-in-Chief's Note: This car has a load of other stuff either standard or available, but we're not going to list it all here. I will say this, the "Drift Mode" feature is so unnecessary and stupid on this car that it's laughable. Pricing and timing wasn't announced, but suffice to say, plan on bringing a boat load of ca$h-ola whenever it arrives at dealerships. -PMD


(Dodge images)
Dodge has announced the brand’s penultimate “Last Call” special-edition model - the 2023 Dodge Challenger Black Ghost - a modern-day vision that channels the HEMI®-powered spirit of a muscle car that haunted metro Detroit’s famed Woodward Avenue in the 1970s. The original Black Ghost, a black 1970 Dodge Challenger RT SE (special edition) owned by Godfrey Qualls, ruled Woodward Avenue in the 1970s. Qualls’ 1970 Challenger quickly earned a legendary reputation for flexing its 426 HEMI-powered muscle on Woodward and then driving off mysteriously into the night, not to be seen again for months, leading to the “Black Ghost” nickname. Not simply a local legend, in 2020, Qualls’ vehicle earned a spot on the National Historic Vehicle Register, and remains in the Qualls family to this day. The 2023 Dodge Challenger Black Ghost special edition offers a modern manifestation of the historic vehicle, wrapping a black-and-chrome appearance, including unique black “gator skin” roof vinyl graphics similar to the original, around a Challenger SRT Hellcat Redeye Widebody bumped up to 807HP. The 2023 Dodge Challenger Black Ghost, as with all seven of the “Last Call” special-edition models, will be allocated to specific dealerships, with pricing and dealer information shared on DodgeGarage.com when vehicle ordering opens later this fall.



The AE Song of the Week:

Do you remember the 21st night of September?
Love was changing the minds of pretenders
While chasing the clouds away

Our hearts were ringing
In the key that our souls were singing
As we danced in the night
Remember how the stars stole the night away

Hey hey hey
Ba de ya, say do you remember
Ba de ya, dancing in September
Ba de ya, never was a cloudy day

Ba duda, ba duda, ba duda, badu
Ba duda, badu, ba duda, badu
Ba duda, badu, ba duda

My thoughts are with you
Holding hands with your heart to see you
Only blue talk and love
Remember how we knew love was here to stay
Now December found the love that we shared in September
Only blue talk and love
Remember the true love we share today

Hey hey hey
Ba de ya, say do you remember
Ba de ya, dancing in September
Ba de ya, never was a cloudy day

There was a
Ba de ya, say do you remember
Ba de ya, dancing in September
Ba de ya, golden dreams were shiny days

The bell was ringing
Our souls were singing
Do you remember, never a cloudy day

There was a
Ba de ya, say do you remember
Ba de ya, dancing in September
Ba de ya, never was a cloudy day

There was a
Ba de ya, say do you remember
Ba de ya, dancing in September
Ba de ya, golden dreams were shinny days

Ba de ya de ya de ya
Ba de ya de ya de ya
Ba de ya de ya de ya de ya

Ba de ya de ya de ya
Ba de ya de ya de ya
Ba de ya de ya de ya de ya

"September" by Earth, Wind & Fire from the album "Best of Earth, Wind & Fire Vol. 1" (1978).* Written by Maurice White, Al McKay and Allee Willis. Watch the Official HD Video here. 

*This song has a tendency to make people happy when they hear it. Allee Willis, who wrote the song with Maurice White and Al McKay from Earth, Wind & Fire, describes it as "Joyful Music." It was the first song Willis wrote with the band, and quite a learning experience. She told Songfacts: "Their stuff was very much based on Eastern philosophies, an incredibly positive outlook on life; the lyrical content of their songs was not typical of what would have been in soul music at that time. So when I left the studio that first day, Maurice gave me the name of a book, it was called The Greatest Salesman In The World, and he sent me to the Bodhi Tree, which is a very spiritual bookstore here in LA. I got that and a bunch of other books that the saleswoman said was the philosophy. And what went from being a very simple experience turned into, for me, an incredibly complex experience. Because I dove into these books. And even the way they were written, the language they were written in, I kind of didn't understand anything. But Maurice told me right from the jump he thought I was a very spiritual person, and I was put here to communicate. And I thought, if Maurice was saying that to me, I need to hang with this. I was pouring through these books for a couple of months. Lyrics started being 25-30 pages long as I'm trying to figure all this stuff out. Reading all that stuff changed me forever. He lead me to a path I've stayed on. "So 'September' was fantastic and thrilling, and they had started the intro of it by the time I had walked into the studio to meet everyone. Just as I opened the door and I heard that little guitar intro, I thought, Oh God, please let this be what they want to work with me on. Because it was so obviously a hit." Willis co-wrote most of the songs on Earth, Wind & Fire's next album I Am, including the hit "Boogie Wonderland." According to Maurice White, he got the idea for this song in an unlikely place: a hotel room in Washington DC while there was some kind of protest going on below. Said White, "There's all these cats screaming and throwing things and going crazy and this tune just evolved." There are many theories as to the significance of the "21st night of September" in the opening lyrics, and until 2018, even the song's co-writer, Allee Willis, was in the dark - Maurice White told her it had no real significance and was chosen because it sang well phonetically. White died in 2016. Two years later, Willis was having lunch with his widow, Marilyn, who told her that September 21 was the due date for their son, Kahbran, and that Maurice put that specific date into the song as a secret message. Kahbran ended up being born early on August 1, which definitely wouldn't have the same ring to it as a lyric. (Knowledge courtesy of Songfacts.com)

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