FEBRUARY 21, 2024

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 

(Photos courtesy of RM Sotheby's Private Sales)

We have no reason to show this famous Ferrari to our readers except it's so frickin' cool that we couldn't resist. This is the 1958 "Pontoon Fender" Testa Rossa, widely regarded as one of the most beautiful body designs ever created. The Testa Rossa was the most successful series of sports racing cars in Ferrari's illustrious history, securing four World Championships and four overall victories at the 24 Hours of Le Mans from 1958 to 1962. Chassis 0738 TR was raced in nearly 20 period races with four overall victories over a 10‑year racing career, and it is one of only 19 examples to leave the Ferrari factory with the "Pontoon Fender" bodywork by Scaglietti. Fully restored by Ferrari Classiche in 2013, this example is one of the very few Testa Rossas to be Red Book certified as retaining both its matching-numbers engine and gearbox. It will be offered for the first time in over a decade from a prominent American Ferrari collection.

(Toyota images)

The Toyota Land Cruiser is back after a two-year hiatus. It is equipped exclusively with the i-FORCE MAX hybrid powertrain producing 326HP and 465 lb.-ft. of torque, full-time four-wheel drive with center- and rear-locking differentials, and a bunch of other stuff, of course. It is expected to be available this spring with a starting MSRP of $55,950.

 

(Singer Vehicle Design images)

The 300th Porsche 911 reimagined by Singer – Classic Study has been completed in California. The 1990 Porsche 911 Targa (Type 964) was restored in collaboration with its owner who has named their car the ‘Sotto’ commission. This car is an example of Singer’s personalization services and love affair with the 911. Its specification represents requests made by its owner and include:  

• Presented with carbon fiber bodywork in Resistance Blue with ghosted side stripes
• Bespoke interior trimmed in Orange leather with black stitching
• Lightweight carbon fiber track seats with woven leather centers and nickel grommets
• Naturally aspirated, 4.0-liter air-cooled flat six paired with a 5-speed manual transmission sending power to the rear wheels
• Carbon ceramic brakes
• Titanium sports exhaust 

Founded in 2009, Singer is now synonymous with the concept of Reimagining – bringing together heritage with twenty-first century engineering and material science. Singer now employs more than 600 people with world-class teams in California and the UK. "On behalf of its global clientele, Singer brings together beauty, craftsmanship and innovation," according to Singer PR minions.

(Petersen Automotive Museum)

The Petersen Automotive Museum will host its annual Ferrari Cruise-In on Sunday, Feb. 25 (from 8-11 a.m. PST), in collaboration with the Ferrari Club of America, Southwest Region. The event will showcase hundreds of iconic Ferraris spanning from the 1950s to the present day and is expected to be the largest gathering of Ferraris on the West Coast. Additional details: Spectator access to the cruise-in is free; Show car participants will enjoy coffee, snacks and complimentary parking. The VIP Experience includes show car parking, admission to the museum and vault, access to the Maranello Masterpieces exhibit, a private collection tour, lunch and a private screening of "Ferrari." More? Ferrari aficionados are encouraged to visit the "Maranello Masterpieces: The Legacy of Enzo Ferrari" exhibit in The Vault. This exceptional display features some of the most iconic Ferraris, including a 1968 Ferrari 275 GTB/4, a 1963 Ferrari 250 GT Lusso and a 1952 Ferrari 212/225 Inter Touring Barchetta.

(Chrysler images)

Chrysler has unveiled its Halcyon Concept, which "exemplifies Chrysler’s fully electrified future vision that embraces sustainable design and full autonomy paired with personalized driving experiences," according to Chrysler PR minions. The concept integrates complementary STLA Brain, STLA SmartCockpit and STLA AutoDrive technologies to achieve “Harmony in Motion.” The Halcyon Concept’s combination of seamless technology and battery-electric performance "are harmoniously complemented by a pure, streamlined exterior design statement that balances aerodynamic and sculptural elements," according to the manufacturer. Other stuff? The low-to-the-ground profile features a front air blade aerodynamic pass-through that enhances performance and all-important BEV range capability. Butterfly-hinged canopy and "red-carpet-style side doors" create an open-air feel and provide easy access in and out of the vehicle. The concept uses 95% sustainable interior materials, including Chrysler wing logos constructed from crushed and recycled music CDs. Rear seats retract into trunk area to showcase future vision of Stow ‘n Go seating (Really? We were hoping that they were finished with that - WG.) Different sound frequencies prompt corresponding particle shapes on console screen — calming frequencies create dispersed particle patterns, while dynamic sounds deliver energetic shapes. STLA AutoDrive technology platform, enabling Level 4 autonomous driving experiences such as a dimmable glass canopy and windshield that can turn opaque with seats laid back for a unique augmented-reality Stargazing Mode (Ugh - PMD.) Drivers can use voice recognition to deploy steering wheel and control the vehicle to experience dynamic driving excitement through customized EV drive modes. Dynamic Wireless Power Transfer (DWPT) technology to wirelessly recharge vehicle as it travels, allowing for unlimited range. The Chrysler Halcyon Concept incorporates 800V lithium-sulfur EV batteries, resulting in an estimated 60% lower carbon footprint than today’s best-in-class batteries. You can watch the online reveal of Chrysler Halcyon Concept at chrysler.com.

 

The AE Song of the Week 

I am a passenger
And I ride and I ride
I ride through the city's backside
I see the stars come out of the sky
Yeah, they're bright in a hollow sky
You know it looks so good tonight

I am the passenger
I stay under glass
I look through my window so bright
I see the stars come out tonight
I see the bright and hollow sky
Over the city's ripped-back sky
And everything looks good tonight

Singin' la-la-la-la-la-la-la-la
La-la-la-la-la-la-la-la
La-la-la-la-la-la-la-la, la-la

Get into the car
We'll be the passenger
We'll ride through the city tonight
See the city's ripped backsides
We'll see the bright and hollow sky
We'll see the stars that shine so bright
The sky was made for us tonight

Oh, the passenger
How, how he rides
Oh, the passenger
He rides and he rides
He looks through his window
What does he see?
He sees the silent hollow sky
He see the stars come out tonight
He sees the city's ripped backsides
He sees the winding ocean drive
And everything was made for you and me
All of it was made for you and me
'Cause it just belongs to you and me
So let's take a ride and see what's mine

Singin' la-la-la-la-la-la-la-la
La-la-la-la-la-la-la-la
La-la-la-la-la-la-la-la, la-la

Oh, the passenger
He rides and he rides
He sees things from under glass
He looks through his window's eye
He sees the things he knows are his
He sees the bright and hollow sky
He sees the city asleep at night
He sees the stars are out tonight
And all of it is yours and mine
And all of it is yours and mine
So let's ride and ride and ride and ride

Singin' la-la-la-la-la-la-la-la
La-la-la-la-la-la-la-la
La-la-la-la-la-la-la-la, la-la
Singin' la-la-la-la-la-la-la-la
La-la-la-la-la-la-la-la
La-la-la-la-la-la-la-la, la-la

"The Passenger" by Iggy Pop, from the album "Lust For Life" (1977).* Written by James Jewell Osterberg Jr. Watch the Official Music Video here.

*Iggy Pop's real name is James Jewell Osterberg, Jr. In high school, he was the drummer for a band called The Iguanas, so when he was a member of the band The Prime Movers, his bandmates gave him the name "Iggy." His first stage name was Iggy Stooge, which became the basis for his band, The Stooges. With The Stooges and as a solo act, he became one of the most influential and authentic Punk performers. Pop is famous for bleeding on stage. The first time he cut himself was by accident when he fell on a drink glass. The crowd went nuts, so he made the blood part of his show. He was also one of the first to incorporate stage dives and crowd surfing into his shows. Iggy was raised in a trailer park in Ypsilanti, Michigan. He was addicted to heroin for much of the '70s. David Bowie produced his albums Raw Power, The Idiot, and Lust For Life. He toured with Bowie in 1976-1977, and helped him write "China Girl" in 1983. He got the name "Pop" because he once shaved his eyebrows for a show, making him look like a friend with the last name Popp who had recently undergone chemotherapy and was eyebrow-less himself. When Jim Morrison died, Iggy was considered as his replacement in The Doors. The remaining Doors decided to continue on as a trio, so this never materialized. (Knowledge courtesy of Songfacts.com)

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