The original - and still our favorite - Autoextremist logo.
The AE Quote of the Century: Everybody loves The High-Octane Truth. Until they don't. -WG
Toyota has introduced the ninth generation of the Camry with a new look, enhanced performance and a Hybrid powertrain. Designed and assembled in the U.S., the new Camry has "more power, feature packed convenience, and capable handling," according to Toyota PR minions. The big news? The 2025 Toyota Camry will exclusively be a Hybrid Electric Vehicle (HEV). Powering the Camry is Toyota’s first-ever sedan pairing of its 2.5-liter, 4-cylinder engine and fifth-generation Toyota Hybrid System (THS 5). Combining the engine’s power with two electric motors, this new HEV has a standard 225 net combined horsepower on Front Wheel Drive (FWD) models and 232HP on Electronic On-Demand All-Wheel Drive (AWD) equipped models. Toyota engineers have also tuned the new HEV system at lower speeds to reduce engine RPMs and increase power from the traction battery to provide satisfying acceleration and torque feel. The Toyota Camry will also adopt the “Beyond Zero” badge to signal Toyota’s strong commitment to reducing carbon emissions and its vision for a carbon-neutral future. Toyota’s Electronic On-Demand All-Wheel Drive (AWD) system will be available on all grades of the Camry Hybrid. The AWD system’s capability comes from a dedicated rear electric drive motor generator that automatically supplies power to the rear wheels when needed. The 2025 Toyota Camry is expected to arrive at Toyota Dealerships in the spring of 2024.
A single line, running through the profile of the car, from the tip of the nose to the blade of light integrated into the rear, is the design origin behind Emeya, the all-new and all-electric hyper-GT from Lotus. This single line – the automotive equivalent of a signature swoosh – inspired the ‘hyperstance’, proportions and overall design of Emeya. Lotus rose to fame for its performance-oriented, agile and fun-to-drive two-seaters including Elite, Elan, Esprit, Elise, Evora and, most recently, Emira. Now the brand is transforming. Drawing inspiration from all 75 years of Lotus performance-car DNA, Emeya is the future of Lotus. "The powerful exterior lines create dramatic musculature, with an ultra-narrow LED running across the rear as part of an intelligent taillight," according to Lotus PR minions. This theme is used in the interior, with a further blade of light – and the ‘ribbon of technology’ first seen in the Eletre hyper-SUV – creating a shared user interface for Emeya’s front-seat occupants. Ben Payne, Vice-President of Design, Lotus, said: “By combining progressive technologies with an aesthetic that draws from the past, Emeya takes us into the future, projecting Lotus into a new segment of the automotive landscape.” Editor-in-Chief's Note: Needless to say, compared with the taut and purposely drawn Emira sports car, I am underwhelmed with the Emeya. Maybe it will look better in person, but then the idea of an all-electric Lotus leaves me cold anyway, so I can wait. -PMD
The AE Song of the Week:
Hello
I've waited here for you
Everlong
Tonight, I throw myself into
And out of the red
Out of her head, she sang
Come down and waste away with me
Down with me
Slow, how you wanted it to be
I'm over my head
Out of her head, she sang
And I wonder
When I sing along with you
If everything could ever be this real forever
If anything could ever be this good again
The only thing I'll ever ask of you
You've got to promise not to stop when I say when
She sang
Breathe out
So I can breathe you in
Hold you in
And now
I know you've always been
Out of your head
Out of my head, I sang
And I wonder
When I sing along with you
If everything could ever feel this real forever
If anything could ever be this good again
The only thing I'll ever ask of you
You've got to promise not to stop when I say when
She sang
And I wonder
If everything could ever feel this real forever
If anything could ever be this good again
The only thing I'll ever ask of you
You've got to promise not to stop when I say when
"Everlong" by Foo Fighters, from the album "The Colour And The Shape" (1997).* Written by David Eric Grohl. Publisher: Kobalt Music Publishing Ltd. Lyrics licensed and provided by LyricFind. Watch the Original Music Video here.
*This song is often interpreted to be about the drug addictions and bad habits of the late Kurt Cobain, who was in Nirvana with Foo Fighters frontman Dave Grohl, who wrote this song. However, according to an interview with Grohl in Mojomagazine, he penned this song during one of the lowest points in his life over Christmas 1996. The frontman was sleeping in a sleeping bag on a friend's floor having just gotten divorced from photographer Jennifer Youngblood, and as a consequence was homeless. On top of that Grohl had no access to his own bank account, and both his drummer, William Goldsmith, and guitarist, Pat Smear, were on the verge of quitting the Foo Fighters. In the midst of all this he wrote this love song in about 45 minutes. Grohl wrote the song about Veruca Salt frontwoman Louise Post, whom he was dating after separating from his first wife, Jennifer Youngblood. He said "Everlong" is about "being connected to someone so much that not only do you love them physically and spiritually, but when you sing along with them you harmonize perfectly." The song evokes real love, that feeling of shyness, yet excitement, like the first time for anything. It's a feeling that is so strong that you want it to last forever, even though you know nothing ever lasts forever. In the video, Grohl is trying to protect his girlfriend. When he sees that she is in trouble his hand grows abnormally large and beats down anyone that tries to hurt her. The band performed this on The Late Show With David Letterman on February 21, 2000, when Letterman returned from heart surgery. Letterman explained that the song was important to him during his recovery, and specifically asked for Foo Fighters to perform it on his first night back. The band had to cut short a tour to do it, but they made the appearance and got a ringing endorsement from the host, who introduced them as "my favorite band playing my favorite song." The group became Letterman mainstays, appearing on the show for a whole week in 2014. When Letterman did his final show on May 20, 2015, Foo Fighters played this song to close it out, once again getting a stirring introduction from the host. As they played, a montage of memorable moments in Letterman history was shown. According to Grohl, this was the first song he wrote with lyrics that were often quoted back to him by fans. He says the line "Breathe out, so I can breathe you in" really resonated. (Knowledge courtesy of Songfacts.com)
Editor's Note: Click on "Next 1 Entries" at the bottom of this page to see previous issues. - WG