MAY 17, 2023

(Aston Martin images)
When you absolutely, positively have to be The Biggest Tool in the Shed, Aston Martin has just what you're looking for. The car company has unveiled the exclusive AMR23 Edition "for the world’s most powerful ultra-luxury SUV": the DBX707. The AMR23 Edition uses the Aston Martin Aramco Cognizant Formula One® Team "to create a DBX707 that shares a racing identity with both the AMR23 F1® car and the Official Medical Car of Formula 1®." The DBX707 AMR23 Edition features unique color and trim features, including bespoke Podium Green paint, a unique Q by Aston Martin fender badge and Aston Martin Racing Green brake calipers. You also get lime accents to the sculptured carbon body kit, lime contrast stitching to the Inspire Sport Duotone Onyx Black/Eifel Green interior, and carbon fiber veneers and dark satin with carbon fiber jewelry. The AMR23 logo also appears on the door sills (wow -WG). The Aston Martin DBX707 emphasizes high-performance, aggressive dynamics, style and luxury. The AMR23 Edition adds F1-based graphics to the DBX707’s driver-focused credentials. How much? Don't ask. But if you must, the DBX707 AMR23 Edition is now available for customers to order.

(Porsche images)
Porsche is launching the most powerful version yet of its mid-engine roadster: the new Porsche 718 Spyder RS. For the first time, the high-revving naturally aspirated engine from the 911 GT3 will power an open-top, mid-engine Porsche sports car. The exceptionally light and pure soft top of the 718 Spyder RS makes the highly evocative sound of the engine an even more compelling experience. The effect is further heightened by a standard lightweight stainless steel sport exhaust system and the distinctive combustion air inlets on the sides behind the headrests. Like every modern RS model, the new 718 Spyder RS is available exclusively with the seven-speed Porsche Doppelkupplung transmission (PDK). Gearshift paddles mounted on the steering wheel allow drivers to keep their hands on the wheel even when shifting gears manually. Alternatively, the driver can shift using the ergonomically designed selector lever on the center console. 
The powertrain of the new 718 Spyder RS is identical to that of the 718 Cayman GT4 RS coupe. The four-liter six-cylinder boxer engine revs to 9,000 rpm and generates up to 493HP and 331 lb.-ft. of torque. Combined with a short-ratio seven-speed PDK transmission, the 0-60 mph time is 3.2 seconds. Compared to the previous 414HP 718 Spyder without the ‘RS’ designation, the 718 Spyder RS boasts an additional 79 hp, and accelerates to 60 mph 0.5 seconds quicker toward a top track speed of 191 mph. In addition to the more powerful engine, the Spyder RS weighs 59 pounds less than the 2023 Porsche 718 Spyder with optional PDK. The entire top weighs slightly more than 40 lbs. This special design is a savings of more than 16 lbs. compared to the 718 Spyder and more than 36 lbs. versus the 718 Boxster.
The chassis of the 718 Spyder RS uses a combination of components from the 718 Cayman GT4 RS and the 718 Spyder. It comes standard with Porsche Active Suspension Management (PASM) with sport calibration and has been lowered by 30 millimeters. It also features Porsche Torque Vectoring (PTV) with a mechanical rear limited slip differential, ball joint type suspension bearings and 20-inch forged alloy wheels. The ride height, toe, camber, and anti-roll bars are all adjustable. Compared to the 718 Cayman GT4 RS, spring and damper rates have been reduced to achieve a more relaxed, characteristically convertible-style setup. As on the 718 Cayman GT4 RS, customers can optionally specify a front axle lift system, which raises the front end by 1.1 inches while driving up to 37 mph.
The Race-Tex covered GT Sport steering wheel features a yellow 12-o'clock marking. The standard Full Bucket seats are made of lightweight CFRP in a carbon-weave finish and offer a high degree of lateral support. The seat covers are made of black leather, while the perforated Race-Tex seat centers feature a contrasting color with a black background. The contrasting colors are Arctic Grey and Carmine Red.
How much? The 2024 Porsche 718 Spyder RS carries an MSRP of $160,700, excluding $1,450 for delivery, processing and handling. Arrival at U.S. dealers is expected in spring 2024. The Porsche 718 Spyder RS will be unveiled to the public in June at the festivities marking 75 years of Porsche sports cars in Stuttgart-Zuffenhausen. Shortly afterwards, it will make an appearance at the Goodwood Festival of Speed in England.

The AE Song of the Week:

You see it all around you
Good lovin' gone bad
And usually it's too late when you, realize what you had
And my mind goes back to a girl I left some years ago (Who told me)

Just hold on loosely
But don't let go
If you cling too tightly
You're gonna lose control

Your baby needs someone to believe in
And a whole lot of space to breathe in

It's so damn easy, when your feelings are such
To overprotect her, to love her too much
And my mind goes back to a girl I left some years ago (Who told me)

Just hold on loosely
But don't let go
If you cling too tight babe
You're gonna loose control
Your baby needs someone to believe in
And a whole lot of space to breathe in
Don't let her slip away

Sentimental fool
Don't let your heart get in her way
Yeah, yeah, yeah

You see it all around you
Good lovin' gone bad
And usually it's too late when you, realize what you had

Just hold on loosely
But don't let go
If you cling too tightly
You're gonna lose control
Your baby needs someone to believe in
And a whole lot of space to breathe in
Just hold on loosely
But don't let go
If you cling too tight babe
You're gonna lose it
You're gonna, lose control

Yeah, yeah, yeah
Just hold on loosely
But don't let go
If you cling too tight babe
You're gonna loose control
Hold on loosely
But don't let go
If you cling too tight babe,
You're gonna loose control
Yeah, yeah, yeah

"Hold On Loosely" by .38 Special from the album "Wild-Eyed Southern Boys" (1981).* Written by Don Barnes, James Michael Peterik and Jeffrey S. Carlisi. Publisher: Royalty Network, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC. Universal Music Publishing Group, Warner Chappell Music, Inc. Lyrics licensed and provided by LyricFind. Watch the original - live - Music Video here. 

 
*.38 Special had released two albums and were about to issue a third when they got a rough mix of a song by the band Survivor called "Rockin' into the Night," which became their first hit when it was tacked on to that third album. That song was written by Jim Peterik and Frankie Sullivan of Survivor. After it became a hit, John Kalodner, who signed Aerosmith, Genesis, Survivor and .38 Special, had Peterik write some songs for .38 Special in addition to his work with Survivor. In our 2004 interview with Peterik, he explained: "That was a major moment for me. It was my first foray into co-writing. Kalodner said, 'You did great with 'Rockin' into the Night,' I want to put you together with Don Barnes and Jeff Carlisi of .38 to see what you can do.' That first night, Jeff and Don are at my house in La Grange, Illinois and we're sitting around the kitchen table. Writing sessions are always like blind dates: It's like making love without the foreplay. Suddenly you're sitting there face to face, and you're thinking, 'OK, what do we do now? Am I going to embarrass myself? What if my ideas suck?' So we're sitting there nervously, just making small talk, and all of the sudden Jeff says, 'I've got this lick,' and he starts with the opening lick of what became 'Hold on Loosely.' I go, 'That's really neat,' and Don says, 'I've got this title - 'Hold On Loosely,'' and I go, 'Yeah, but don't let go.' My wife of 32 years now, this is what broke us apart when we were teenagers - I was getting too close. I was getting too serious for her. She didn't say, 'Hold on Loosely,' but that's what was in her heart. So when Don said 'Hold on Loosely,' I immediately knew what he was talking about. He wasn't even talking about that exactly, he told me later, he just thought it was a cool title. I immediately saw a story, and it was really my own story. I said, 'Jeff, play that riff.' He plays the riff, and I start singing: 'You see it all around you, good loving gone bad.' It just started coming. I turned on the tape recorder and said, 'Guys, I think we have something here.' We got the stalk of the song in the next two days, then I fine-tuned it in the next two or three weeks. I flew down to Jacksonville where the band was rehearsing and basically worked out the song with them down there." Speaking about the range of influences that show up in this song, Jim Peterik told us: "The bridge was straight out of the Doobie Brothers songbook. If I look at that song, it's kind of a meld of a lot of influences of mine from that time. The eighth notes are very Cars-like from that time and the bridge was 'What a Fool Believes' upside down. It was a great moment and led to a series of .38 Special songs that I wrote with them. After that came 'Caught Up In You,' 'Fantasy Girl,' 'Wild-Eyed Southern Boys' and all of those. It was a great run." This song caused considerable consternation within the group Survivor, whose keyboard player Jim Peterik co-wrote it. Survivor was still looking for their first hit, and Peterik writing hits for another artist didn't go over well with their guitarist Frankie Sullivan, who from that point forward refused to share a dressing room with Peterik. Don Barnes of .38 Special came up with the title. It was something he heard Dinah Shore say on her talk show when she had a guest on talking about giving her husband space in their relationship. (Knowledge courtesy of Songfacts.com)

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