MARCH 2, 2022

Editor-in-Chief's Note: Carlos Tavares - CEO of Stellantis - has a message for suppliers: Drop Dead. The CEO is expecting Stellantis suppliers to eat costs in order to help bring next-gen BEVs to market. Auto manufacturer treatment of their suppliers is legendary for its capriciousness. When things are going well, suppliers are called "partners" and everything is is all happy-dappy. But when things go wrong, suppliers are the first to get thrown under the bus. These two factions have had an acrimonious relationship almost since the industry began. Manufacturers believe that suppliers are something to be used - for ideas and whatever else they can bring to the table. Manufacturer thinking is also dominated by a strong True North of "Not Invented Here," which means that no matter how good a supplier's idea is, a manufacturer can do it better and cheaper. The reality for most manufacturers, of course, is that they can't. In fact, it usually costs twice as much and takes twice as long to get produced when they get their hands on it. From the opposite perspective, suppliers believe that they are constantly bringing breakthrough ideas to the manufacturers, ideas that are either ignored, or even worse, bid out to competitors to get a better deal. As you can imagine, this is infuriating and something that Chrysler - under Sergio's reign - did with impunity. So, to have Tavares insist that suppliers must help bear the cost of BEV development is rich. What it really means is something like this: "We will beat you down to the nubs on price and when we're finished doing that, you can take another 20 percent off the total because we can demand it. And after that, when all is said and done, you can eat any profit you might have squirreled away and give it back to us to help cut our BEV development costs." Far from a savior, as some auto-journos refer to him, Tavares is another in a long line of CEOs who believe it's their right to screw over suppliers. It is an ugly Shit Show from every angle, and a giant bowl of Not Good for suppliers.-PMD

(Chevrolet)
Lost in the haze of the countless press releases about the coming EV Nirvana, enthusiasts need to be reminded about the technical marvel that powers the 2023 Corvette Z06. From its 8,600-rpm redline and full racing-style dry-sump oiling system to meticulously tuned induction and exhaust systems, the all-new 5.5L DOHC naturally aspirated LT6 V-8 is designed to complement all aspects of the Z06’s track-focused performance experience. The key to the LT6’s performance capability is a lightweight, low-inertia rotating assembly rooted in an all-new flat-plane crankshaft that, along with a comparatively short stroke, allows the engine to rev to its maximum range. Seeking engine responsiveness and trackability - two characteristics of naturally aspirated motors - Chevrolet engineers determined that a clean sheet, naturally aspirated powerplant was needed, with the goal of exceeding the power of any naturally aspirated production V-8 engine ever made. A version of the LT6 has powered Corvette Racing's C8.R race cars since 2019, and the rigors of endurance road racing helped engineers refine the engine’s performance and durability. Additional highlights? It reads like a racing engine's design brief: All-new aluminum cylinder block casting with the Small Block engine family’s signature 4.4-inch (111.76 mm) bore spacing; All-new dual-overhead-camshaft cylinder head design with fully CNC-machined combustion chambers and intake ports, supporting a mechanical “finger follower” valvetrain; Dual-coil valve springs to support titanium intake and sodium filled exhaust valves; Forged aluminum pistons and forged titanium connecting rods for low mass and high strength; Distinctive Edge Red camshaft covers; All-new active split intake manifold with twin 87 mm throttle bodies; All-new six-stage dry-sump oiling system with individual crank bay scavenging; Four-into-two-into-one stainless steel exhaust headers; 670HP at 8,400 rpm (GM tested per SAE J1349) and 460 lb-ft (623 Nm) of torque @ 6300 rpm (GM tested per SAE J1349). The LT6 is hand assembled by master engine builders at the Performance Build Center within the Bowling Green Assembly Plant in Kentucky. Builders use precision tooling and hand fit pieces of the engine to meet Chevrolet’s exact specifications. Each engine features a plaque on the intake manifold with the signature of the technician who crafted it from start to finish. 

Letter from L.A.

By Tom Pease

Beverly Hills. It is funny you should mention driving for pleasure. In my 30-odd years living in LA I have been very lucky in the fact that with few exceptions I have managed to avoid the dreaded commute. I've spent ten years in walk-to-work situations book-ending ten years of either driving or taking the bus downtown, against the prevailing traffic. Now, I have had to, on occasion, do those commute-type drives and I think I would cheerfully move rather than do it on a regular basis. Move, or murder, or self mutilate. Which may be why I chose perhaps the most ridiculous car possible for a main ride: an old BMW Z-3 with a straight six. No, I can't pick you up at the airport. No, I can't stop at Costco and get anything larger than a hot dog. No, I can't have that piece of cheesecake or skip Yoga today if I still want to wedge my well-fed tush in that sport seat. What I can do is enjoy the drive. Like you, it sometimes means getting up at the hours on weekends before most people not going to Mass are up. But it means I get to cruise on roads well known to me and, sometimes even better, ones that aren't. Recently, a wrong turn out of Ojai led me on an hours-long jaunt that seemingly took me over Mount Rainier and left me off on the 5 at the “Grapevine.” Waste of time? Waste of gas? Maybe. Perfect mental-health break? Oh yes. Because sometimes a few gallons of gas, top-down and unplugged is as much of a vacation as a trip to the Bahamas. Without the hassle of going to the airport.

The AE Song of the Week:

Sister Christian
Oh the time has come
And you know that you're the only one
To say okay
Where you going
What you looking for 
You know those boys 
Don't want to play no more with you 
It's true

You're motoring 
What's your price for flight
In finding mister right
You'll be alright tonight

Babe, you know
You're growing up so fast 
And mama's worrying 
That you won't last
To say let's play 
Sister Christian
There's so much in life 
Don't you give it up
Before your time is due
It's true
It's true yeah

Motoring
What's your price for flight
You've got him in your sight
And driving through the night

Motoring 
What's your price for flight 
In finding mister right
You'll be alright tonight

Motoring 
What's your price for flight
In finding mister right 
You'll be alright tonight

Motoring 
What's your price for flight
In finding mister right 
You'll be alright tonight

Sister Christian
Oh the time has come
And you know that you're the only one
To say okay
But you're motoring
Yeah motoring 

"Sister Christian" by Night Ranger, from the album "Midnight Madness" (1983)*. Written by Kelly Keagy. Publisher: CONCORD MUSIC PUBLISHING LLC. Lytics licensed and provided by LyricFind. Watch the Official Music Video here. 

*Night Ranger's drummer, Kelly Keagy, wrote this song about his sister Kristy (this is the correct spelling, he tells us), who is ten years younger than him and was growing up fast. "It's the big brother looking after his little sister when she's growing up – a simple, almost naïve kind of lyric," he said in a Songfacts interview. "I wanted her to be able to see what I was talking about, that I was protecting her." The vocalist on most Night Ranger songs was Jack Blades, but Keagy sang lead on this one, singing from his drum kit at shows. The original title was "Sister Kristy," but the rest of the band thought Keagy was singing "Sister Christian," so that became the title. Keagy grew up in Eugene, Oregon, where "Motoring" was a term for driving around with your friends, often trying to pick up girls. He told Songfacts how he came up with this very memorable part of the song: "That was the first section that I wrote. I wanted something that sounded like it had some teeth to it, and movement. But at the same time, a little left of center so it wasn't so obvious. The first thing I started writing was the chorus, and the second line was, 'What's your price for flight?' Which is kind of weird. But if you understand that it's coming from a brother to a sister, it was like, 'What's the price for making a bad decision now with your life going forward?'" This ballad isn't typical of Night Ranger's sound - they're more guitar rock exemplified by the singles from their first album, Dawn Patrol: "Don't Tell Me You Love Me" and "Sing Me Away." When they released their second album, Midnight Madness, the uptempo "You Can Still Rock In America" was the lead single, then the band's record company surprised them by putting out "Sister Christian." They didn't think a ballad could be a hit for them, but it sure was, crossing them over to a pop audience. This was a double-edge sword: It expanded their audience, but now the record company wanted a ballad on every album. They delivered one on their next album (7 Wishes) with "Sentimental Street" and on the one after that (Big Life) with "Hearts Away," but turned defiant for their 1988 album Man In Motion, turning it in without a ballad. The record company had them record "I Did It For Love," which was not just a ballad, but a song written by someone else (Russ Ballard). By this time, Night Ranger had fallen off in popularity and had to do as they were told. "We did it but we were hesitant about it because we did all the writing in our career and they wanted us to put out this song that didn't even sound like us," Keagy told Songfacts. "What you do when your career is on the line, you compromise and go with it." The song got a big boost from MTV, which played the video constantly. The network went on the air in 1981, and in its first few years didn't have many well-produced videos to choose from. They favored American rock acts, which worked out well for Night Ranger; MTV played their 1982 and 1983 videos for songs like "Don't Tell Me You Love Me" and "Sing Me Away." "Sister Christian" proved very popular in part because it was set in high school, making it relatable to the average MTV viewer. It stars the actress/model Macha Bennet-Shephard, who was nineteen at the time, and was shot at San Rafael High School in California with many real students as extras. The video was directed by Mary Guido, who also did Quiet Riot's "Cum On Feel The Noize." Macha Bennet-Shephard also appeared in the next Night Ranger video, which was for "When You Close Your Eyes." "Sister Christian" was most memorably used in the 1997 movie Boogie Nights. (Knowledge courtesy of Songfacts.com)