AUGUST 9, 2023

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 

(Cadillac images)

Cadillac has unveiled the all-electric 2025 ESCALADE IQ, "a reimagination of the luxury full-size SUV experience, brimming with iconic design, the highest level of craftsmanship and the latest automotive technology," according to Cadillac PR Minions. The highlights: A Cadillac-estimated 450 miles of range; a curved pillar-to-pillar 55-inch total diagonal LED display; available Super Cruise® driver assistance technology; vehicle-to-home bidirectional charging technology with GM Energy’s available Ultium Home products and much more. “ESCALADE IQ raises the standard just as the original Escalade redefined luxury a quarter-century ago,” said John Roth, vice president, Global Cadillac. "ESCALADE IQ was envisioned to be the best-driving, most maneuverable Escalade to date, and the collaboration between Cadillac Engineering and Design ensured the production model remained faithful to the goal," according to the manufacturer.

It’s the first full-size SUV from Cadillac built on GM’s modular EV propulsion architecture, the Ultium Platform, and incorporates GM’s Ultifi software platform to support and deliver ongoing software updates to its expansive technologies. The ESCALADE IQ features independent front and rear suspension, with power transferred to 24-inch wheels with 35-inch tires via front and rear drive motors that work in conjunction as an eAWD system. A suite of fully integrated advanced technologies including Magnetic Ride Control 4.0 and Adaptive Air Ride Suspension isolate passengers from undesirable road surfaces while providing precise steering and feel. The Adaptive Air Ride Suspension system enables the vehicle to be lowered up to 2 inches (50 mm) and raised 1 inch (25 mm), while additional features such as the standard Four-Wheel Steer, available Cadillac Arrival Mode and Low Ride Mode which enables the ESCALADE IQ to be driven at low speeds with the suspension fully lowered.

Four-Wheel Steer reduces the turning diameter to only 39.4 feet (12 meters) at lower speeds and reduces the turning diameter by more than 6.5 feet for greater maneuverability in parking lots and tighter overall turning radius. It also enhances handling and stability at higher speed, particularly when trailering. Cadillac Arrival Mode is a unique Four-Wheel Steer feature that allows the ESCALADE IQ to move diagonally, making it easier when pulling into or out of tight spaces.

A 24-module Ultium battery serves as the foundation of the ESCALADE IQ, producing more than 200 kWh of available energy. It also employs a flexible, high-voltage architecture that enables 800-volt DC fast charging, the quickest form of charging currently available, providing up to 100 miles of range in 10 minutes of charge time.

ESCALADE IQ will be equipped with Vehicle-to-Home (V2H) bidirectional charging technology with GM Energy’s available Ultium Home products, providing customers with the ability to send power directly from the vehicle to a properly equipped home. This capability will be enabled via an over-the-air software update for the 2025 model year. ESCALADE IQ will also offer the option of Vehicle-to-Load (V2L) offboard power, allowing the vehicle to power external devices. The ESCALADE IQ uses its Ultium battery pack as part of its fundamental body structure. This allows the battery pack to provide the vehicle’s impressive Cadillac-estimated 450 miles of range while also protecting the battery in the event of a crash and adding overall strength and rigidity to the vehicle.

The electric propulsion configuration — consisting of the battery pack, power electronics and a two-motor eAWD system — offers great power on demand and surprising performance, including:

• Up to 750HP with driver-selectable Velocity Max (Cadillac estimate)
• Up to 785 lb-ft of torque with driver-selectable Velocity Max (Cadillac estimate)
• 0-60 mph in less than 5 seconds with driver-selectable Velocity Max (Cadillac estimate)
• Up to 8,000 pounds of towing capability (Cadillac estimate)

How Much? The SUPERSLADE will start at around $130,000. But as shown, it's around $175,000, in case you were wondering. Editor's Note: And keeping with GM's tradition of unveiling electric vehicles way out front of their actual in-dealer date, the ESCALADE IQ will not be available until late 2024. -WG

(Porsche images)

Editor-in-Chief's Note: The latest from the Hose-O-Rama File comes from, you guessed it, Porsche. The German automaker is celebrating the 60th anniversary of the 911 with yet another special edition with a limited run of 1,963 examples. The Porsche 911 S/T "offers lightweight design and a pure, undiluted driving experience," according to Porsche PR minions. What's the big deal? For the first time, the high-revving, naturally-aspirated, 4.0-liter, 518HP engine from the 911 GT3 RS delivers its power to the road via a close-ratio manual transmission and lightweight clutch. In other words, the 2024 Porsche 911 S/T "unites the strengths of the 911 GT3 with Touring Package and the 911 GT3 RS and delivers a unique combination of agility and driving dynamics," according to Porsche. This is complemented by lightweight construction and a chassis setup optimized for agility and drivability. The 911 S/T weighs just 3,056 lbs., making it the lightest model of the 992 generation. The optional Heritage Design Package takes "inspiration from the racing version of the 911 S from the late 1960s and early 1970," according to Porsche PR minions. They should have left it alone. An important point? Unlike the track-focused 911 GT3 RS, the 911 S/T is meant for journeys on public roads. Other stuff? The hood, roof, front fenders and the doors are made of carbon fiber reinforced plastic (CFRP), as are the rear axle anti-roll bar and shear panel (stiffening element on the rear axle). Porsche also fits the anniversary model with magnesium wheels, the Porsche Ceramic Composite Brake (PCCB) system, a lithium-ion starter battery and lightweight glass, all as standard. With reduced insulation, the omission of rear-axle steering and weight savings in the powertrain, the 911 S/T achieves a curb weight of just 3,056 lbs. This makes the car 70 lbs. lighter than a manual 911 GT3 Touring. And, if you want to be "The Biggest Tool in the Shed" Porsche Design is exclusively offering customers of the 911 S/T the option to buy a special watch: Chronograph 1 – 911 S/T, featuring a titanium case, uncoated and blasted for weight-saving reasons. The heart of the chronograph is the Porsche Design WERK 01.240 with its COSC certification and flyback function. It is operated with a rotor in the design of the magnesium wheel of the 911 S/T. Each chronograph comes with a range of accessories that includes a unique watch plaque featuring the 911 S/T image and the individual limitation number. The Chronograph 1 – 911 S/T will be available to order from Porsche Centers and Porsche Design Stores, and retails at $13,500 (RRP). How much? The new Porsche 911 S/T carries an MSRP of $290,000 excluding $1,650 for delivery, processing and handling. U.S. deliveries are expected to begin in Spring, 2024. We don't call Porsche operatives "The Greed Merchants" for nothin', folks. Just flat-out ridiculous. -PMD

(Toyota images)

Toyota’s off-road icon and longest-running nameplate is making a comeback to North America for the 2024 model year, returning to its rugged roots. Since its introduction in the U.S. market in 1958, the Land Cruiser evolved over the years from the legendary two-door models like the 40 Series with its fold-down front windshield, white roof, and rear jump seats to the capable yet fully loaded 200 Series, which was the last generation to be sold in the States and combined Land Cruiser’s unbreakable strength with premium luxury features. Now, Land Cruiser returns "as a high-quality off-roader at a more accessible price point that will take a wider range of customers on numerous backcountry adventures across the globe," according to Toyota PR minions. Built on the TNGA-F global truck platform, the new Land Cruiser is designed, engineered and tested to survive in the harshest of environments. For this new generation, Land Cruiser is exclusively available with the range-topping i-FORCE MAX hybrid powertrain producing 326HP and 465 lb.-ft. of torque. It’s slightly smaller and narrower than the outgoing 200 Series model, making it nimbler on the trails, and Land Cruiser features off-road tech that has debuted on the newest generation of Toyota trucks. Limited to 5,000 units for the first two months of production, Land Cruiser will be offered in a First Edition grade that includes two new two-tone paint colors and additional off-road equipment. Land Cruiser will be available in three grades: Land Cruiser 1958, Land Cruiser, and the limited-run Land Cruiser First Edition. An available premium package adds power heated and ventilated leather-trimmed seats with lumbar support, a 14-speaker JBL audio system, head-up display, digital rearview mirror, moonroof, and more. The 2024 Land Cruiser will be offered in seven exterior color choices: Ice Cap, Wind Chill Pearl, Underground, Black, Meteor Shower, Trail Dust and Heritage Blue. The two-tone Trail Dust and Heritage Blue exterior colors feature a Grayscape roof. The 2024 Land Cruiser will be built in Toyota Motor Corporation’s Tahara and Hino plants in Japan, and arrive in the U.S. in the spring of 2024. Manufacturer’s suggested retail pricing will start in the mid-$50,000 range and be announced closer to its on-sale date. Editor-in-Chief's Note: Sales prospects for the new Land Cruiser? Like frickin' hot cakes. -PMD Watch the Toyota video here. 

(Mercedes-Benz)

"With its spacious interior, advanced technology and performance-oriented drive concept, the AMG EQE SUV is the most versatile electric vehicle in the performance and sports car brand's portfolio," according to Mercedes PR minions. The 2024 Mercedes-AMG EQE SUV is now available at U.S. dealerships. How much? It starts at $109,300. Editor-in-Chief's Note: Gee, these BEVs are getting so reasonable, right? -PMD



The AE Song of the Week:

Hate to give the satisfaction asking how you're doing now
How's the castle built off people you pretend to care about?
Just what you wanted
Look at you, cool guy, you got it
I see the parties and the diamonds sometimes when I close my eyes
Six months of torture you sold as some forbidden paradise
I loved you truly
You gotta laugh at the stupidity

'Cause I've made some real big mistakes
But you make the worst one look fine
I should've known it was strange
You only come out at night
I used to think I was smart
But you made me look so naïve
The way you sold me for parts
As you sunk your teeth into me, oh

Bloodsucker, fame fucker

Bleeding me dry like a goddamn vampire

And every girl I ever talked to told me you were bad, bad news
You called them crazy, God, I hate the way I called 'em crazy too

You're so convincing

How do you lie without flinching?

(How do you lie? How do you lie? How do you lie?)

Oh, what a mesmerizing, paralyzing, fucked-up little thrill

Can't figure out just how you do it and God knows I never will

Went for me and not her
'Cause girls your age know better

I've made some real big mistakes

But you make the worst one look fine
I should've known it was strange

You only come out at night

I used to think I was smart
But you made me look so naïve

The way you sold me for parts

As you sunk your teeth into me, oh

Bloodsucker, fame fucker

Bleeding me dry like a goddamn vampire

You said it was true love, but wouldn't that be hard?
You can't love anyone 'cause that could mean you had a heart
I tried to help you out, now I know that I can't

'Cause how you think's the kind of thing I'll never understand

I've made some real big mistakes

But you make the worst one look fine

I should've known it was strange

You only come out at night

I used to think I was smart

But you made me look so naïve
The way you sold me for parts

As you sunk your teeth into me, oh

Bloodsucker, fame fucker

Bleeding me dry like a goddamn vampire

"Vampire" by Olivia Rodrigo, from the album "Guts" (2023).* Written by Daniel Nigro and Olivia Rodrigo. Publisher: Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC. Lyrics licensed and provided by LyricFind. Watch the original Music Video here.

*"Vampire" is a haunting piano-backed lament that delves into the depths of a toxic relationship. In this maudlin and semi-gothic pop-rocker, Olivia Rodrigo recounts the tale of a boyfriend who manipulated her, fed her lies, and leeched off her fame. Rodrigo compares her ex-lover to a vampire, a creature that thrives on sucking the life force out of others. In this case, he took and took from her, leaving her emotionally depleted while offering nothing in return but empty promises. "It's just a song about feeling used, and all of the anger and regret and heartbreak that comes with it," Rodrigo told Billboard. "And I think that's a common feeling, whether or not someone's famous. That was something that was just really bubbling inside of me - it's kind of an angry song, and I think I have a lot of trouble expressing feelings like anger and regret, those are particularly tough ones for me to express. I go to songwriting to get those feelings out that aren't super comfortable to express in everyday life. So, it was a very therapeutic experience, writing this song." During the second verse, Rodrigo hints that the vampire was much older, using the age difference to take advantage of her. She takes a swipe at him for dating younger women, which gives us a clue as to the potential subject of the song. Rodrigo gets so mad on the chorus that she drops an F-bomb (changed into "dream crusher" on the clean version). "I listened to a lot of heavier stuff growing up and that's what I've always been drawn to," she told Apple Music's Zane Lowe about her cussing. "But I think in my regular day-to-day life, I don't get to express those feelings of rage and dirty s--t and messing s--t up." "And I think in music, you have the freedom to express feelings that you don't get to express in your everyday life," Rodrigo added. "And so, I think maybe that's why I'm so drawn to this, because I don't get to be messy every day in daily life and work." Rodrigo co-wrote "Vampire" with Dan Nigro, the main producer on her blockbuster 2021 debut, Sour. Rodrigo released "Vampire" via Geffen Records as the first single from Guts on June 30, 2023. So why did she choose this rock opera to lead her second album? "I think as the album was coming together, we were coming up with a bunch of songs that we really liked, but this one always stuck out to me as something that I felt like was honoring my singer-songwriter roots, but felt like an evolution - in a good way that wasn't too stark," she explained. "And so I really liked it for that, and it was always one of my favorites." Rodrigo recorded "Vampire" at Electric Lady Studios in New York City. Nigro provided drum programming, sang backing vocals, and played guitar, percussion, piano, bass, Moog and synthesizer. The other musicians are: Benjamin Romans: piano; Paul Cartwright: violin and viola; Sam Stewart: electric guitar; Sterling Laws: drums. The Petra Collins-directed video was filmed in Los Angeles. Canadian photographer and fashion designer Petra Collins previously worked with Rodrigo on the visuals for her 2021 singles "Good 4 U" and "Brutal." (Knowledge courtesy of Songfacts.com)

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