DECEMBER 2, 2020

I think this photo posted to Facebook is vintage L.A. and sums up 2020 perfectly. It is of a Tesla that crashed into the statue of Rocky and Bullwinkle on Sunset Blvd. Would only be more perfect if it were pink and driven by Angelyne. Or on autopilot. Or both. - Tom Pease

(Audi images)
When you're responsible for marketing high-end cars for a manufacturer, one of your recurring tasks is to come up with ways to keep the well-heeled coming back for more. And this is exactly why Audi is unveiling its R8 RWD model line with an exclusive 2021 R8 "Panther" edition. Unique to the US market - of course - and limited to just 30 units, the R8 Panther edition features several unique details including 20” 5-double-spoke-dynamic design milled cut wheels finished in matte black with red trim (and summer performance tires), Audi exclusive Panther Black crystal effect paint (with carbon exterior mirror housings) and a full Audi exclusive leather black interior with Crimson red stitching. Other stuff? Racing shell seats in Crimson red fine Nappa leather with power height and manual fore/aft seat adjustment; Sport exhaust system, which can be adjusted using the dedicated satellite button on the steering wheel or via the Audi drive select setting; A bunch of Alcantara® all over the interior including a Diamond stitched Alcantara® headliner; Audi exclusive steering wheel in leather/Alcantara® with crimson red 12 o’clock marker with four satellite buttons – engine Start/Stop, Audi drive select, Performance Mode selector, and Sport exhaust; Audi exclusive R8 embroidered floor mats with Crimson red leather edging; Black Audi rings and badges; LED headlights and LED taillights with dynamic turn signals; The Carbon exterior package adds carbon fiber to the engine compartment and carbon sigma sideblades; The Carbon interior package adds carbon fiber high-gloss surrounds for both the virtual cockpit and the air vents, as well as the center console; Audi virtual cockpit, Audi smartphone interface, Audi phone box (requires compatible smart device) with signal booster, and MMI navigation plus; Bang & Olufsen® sound system featuring 13 speakers and 550 watts and last but not least: Illuminated door sill inlays!! (Dang!!) The R8 Panther edition features a specially-tuned chassis designed to take advantage of its rear-wheel drive configuration and a naturally-aspirated 5.2-liter FSI V10 with 532HP and 398 pound-feet of torque, allowing it to go from 0 to 60 mph in 3.6 seconds and achieve a top track speed of 201 mph. How much for this exclusivity? The 2021 R8 Panther edition will be available in select dealerships this month with an MSRP of $183,300. (The price doesn't include the $1,495 destination charge, $1,700 gas guzzler tax, sales taxes, title, options, and dealer charges, but you already knew that.)

(Hispano Suiza images)
Take a good look at this thing, because it's doubtful you'll ever see one of these in the flesh. It's the Hispano Suiza Carmen Boulogne - the sportier evolution of the Hispano Suiza Carmen (who knew?) - an all-electric hypercar delivering 1114 CV combined with Hispano Suiza luxury and exclusivity. Hispano Suiza will manufacture 19 units of the Carmen model, five of which will be the Carmen Boulogne with 1,114 CV, a maximum speed limited to 290 km/h and capable of reaching 100 km/h from standstill in 2.6s. The Carmen Boulogne is a fully electric hypercar designed, developed and manufactured in Barcelona, of which only five will be made. The Boulogne name dates back to 1921, when Hispano Suiza made a racing version of its high-performance H6 Coupé and entered it in the George Boillot Cup, an endurance race lasting more than 3.5 hours around the French city of Boulogne. There, Hispano Suiza achieved three consecutive victories with André Dubonnet (1921), Paul Bablot (1922) and Léonce Garnier (1923) driving the mighty Hispano Suiza H6. The Hispano Suiza Carmen Boulogne pays tribute to these historic motorsport victories. The Hispano Suiza Carmen Boulogne weighs 1,630 kg, 60 kg less than the Carmen. This reduction has been achieved thanks to the optimization of structural elements such as the suspension, the carbon fiber sub-frame, new CNC parts and a carbon fiber roof, among other things. The Carmen Boulogne is powered by four permanent-magnet synchronous engines, two on each rear wheel. The torque of each engine is controlled through sophisticated vectoring systems developed in-house with the expertise gained in Formula E. From 0 to 6,500 rpm, the engines are capable of reaching a maximum of 1,600 Nm of torque, allowing for astonishing acceleration and seemingly endless power and traction. The lithium-ion polymer battery has a capacity of 80 kWh, which allows it to have a driving range of up to 400 km. The batteries are designed and produced in-house, including a complete temperature control system to ensure that the cells can operate optimally. It has a fast-charging capacity of more than 80 kW DC, requiring only 30 minutes to charge 30-80% through a CCS2 fast charger. It also has CHAdeMO and GB/T charging options. The entire body of the Carmen Boulogne is made of carbon fiber, which is visible under a clear varnish. It features "the same semi-circular headlights and aggressive 'scowl' as the Carmen, with the difference of an imposing copper-colored grille," according to Hispano Suiza PR minions. The Carmen Boulogne interior features suede or black Alcantara on the bulkhead and door panels and can be fully-customized thanks to the brand's 'Unique Tailormade' department. The design, engineering and production are the result of the expertise of Hispano Suiza and QEV Technologies, a company specializing in the development of electric motors and motorsports. The price of the Hispano Suiza Carmen Boulogne starts from 1.65 million euros (plus local taxes), and its manufacturing process, "handmade with the utmost precision," requires approximately twelve months. The five units of the Carmen Boulogne hypercar join the 14 units of the Carmen to reach a total of 19 units in production, with the first unit ready to be delivered in 2022. Editor's Note: Well, you won't see yourself coming and going on one of these, so there's that. -WG

(BMW)
MINI is focused on the ongoing expansion of electric mobility, which also opens up new possibilities for the John Cooper Works brand. Future MINI vehicle architectures mean that "extreme performance and genuine driving enjoyment will also be available with electric drive as well as combustion engines," according to MINI PR minions. “John Cooper Works models with conventional combustion engines will still continue to have an important role to play, to make sure we’re addressing the wishes and needs of performance enthusiasts all around the world,” says Bernd Körber, Head of the MINI brand. “With this new focus on electric performance, we’re also creating the opportunity to sharpen the distinctive profile of the John Cooper Works brand more than ever before.”

(Mercedes-Benz)
The latest from the "Bring Loads of Cash-ola" File: The new Mercedes-AMG GT Black Series - a design derived directly from the current AMG GT3 race car - features a handcrafted AMG V8 engine featuring a flat-plane crankshaft developing 720HP from 6,700-6,900 rpm, with a peak torque of 590 lb-ft available from 2,000-6,000 rpm. The new GT Black Series accelerates from 0 to 60 mph in 3.1 seconds and can reach 124 mph in under nine seconds. The top speed is 202 mph. The AMG GT Black Series recently shattered the existing official lap record for street-legal "sports cars" category on the Nurburgring-Nordschleife and is now number one among fully standard, unmodified models. The officially measured, notarized and certified time was 6:43.616 min for the 12.8 mile-long track and 6:48.047 min for the 12.944 mile-long total track. More? A new AMG Magmabeam paint finish is optionally available and reserved exclusively for the new GT Black Series (shown). The exclusive, Super Benz arrives in U.S. dealerships in early 2021, priced from (gulp) $325,000.

Editor-in-Chief's Note: Ford has reached out to The Outside for its new Chief Marketing Officer: Suzy Deering, eBay's former North American CMO. Before that she was CEO of Atlanta-based ad agency Moxie, and also spent time in marketing roles at Home Depot and Verizon. Deering has no significant experience with automotive marketing, but her selection is in line with CEO Jim Farley's grandiose thinking about what his - and Ford's - place is in the universe. In a statement, Ford described Deering as being “accomplished at using technology, data and analytics to anticipate customer needs and fulfill them with human-centered products and services.” Oh, that is just such a wonderfully predictable pronouncement from the PR minions at Ford; one perfectly aligned with Farley's delusional thinking about Ford's future juxtaposition - and importance - with Silicon Valley. Demonstrating her early fealty to Ford's smarmy Dear Leader, Deering had this to say: “Technology will be a powerful part of Ford’s transformation and how we enhance and release the huge value of our iconic brands. My team will be involved from end-to-end on behalf of customer—better connecting with them, using data to foresee and deliver what they need, and earning and keeping their trust.” Deering replaces Joy Falotico, Ford's former CMO, who was a Farley placeholder until he figured out what he wanted to do. Falotico is now toiling away on Lincoln. Some reports have suggested that Farley is giving more strength and importance to the CMO role, but those reports are delusional as well. Deering will report for duty on January 4th, allegedly reporting to Kumar Galhotra, president of Ford Americas and International Markets Group. But don't kid yourselves, because Deering will be CMO in name only, as "Jimmy Har-Har" performs his usual M.O. of parachuting-in and helicoptering-out of major marketing issues at random, leaving chaos, piss-poor decisions and mediocrity in his wake. Welcome to The Jungle, Deering, and to prepare you for your role, look up the definition of "Hell On Earth." And even then you'll have only an approximation of what your life will be like come January. -PMD 

Editor-In-Chief's Note: The one question I get asked all the time is, "How is the Bolt?' After 400+ miles, my first impressions are solidified. It is silky smooth, eerily quiet, and it is really fun-to-drive. So much so that I have to watch it because I am always over the speed limit, and by a bunch. I know that in terms of GM's current BEV universe, the Bolt's battery technology is decidedly yestertech compared to what's coming, but it is an impressive piece of engineering just the way it is. Things it needs? A dramatically updated interior, but I expect that will be addressed in the next-gen Bolt due soon. And an RS version would be nice too. -PMD

AE Song of the Week:

There was a time
When I was brokenhearted
Love wasn't much of a friend of mine
The tables have turned yeah
'Cause me and them ways have parted
That kinda love was the killin' kind
All I want is someone I can't resist
I know all I need to know
By the way I got kissed

I was cryin' when I met you
Now I'm tryin' to forget you
Your love is sweet misery
I was cryin' just to get you
Now I'm dyin' 'cause I let you
Do what you do down on me

Now there's not even breathing room
Between pleasure and pain
Yeah you cry when we're makin' love
Must be one and the same

It's down on me
Yeah, I got to tell you one thing
It's been on my mind, girl I gotta say
We're partners in crime
You got that certain something
What you do to me takes my breath away
Now the word out on the street
Is the devil's in your kiss
If our love goes up in flames
That's a fire I can't resist

I was cryin' when I met you
Now I'm tryin' to forget you
Your love is sweet misery
I was cryin' just to get you
Now I'm dyin' 'cause I let you
Do what you do to me

'Cause what you got inside
Ain't where your love should stay
Yeah, our love, sweet love, ain't love
'Til you give your heart away

I was cryin' when I met you
Now I'm tryin' to forget you
Your love is sweet misery
I was cryin' just to get you
Now I'm dyin' just to let you
Do what you do, what you do down on me
Baby, baby, baby

I was cryin' when I met you
Now I'm tryin' to forget you
Your love is sweet misery
I was cryin' when I met you
Now I'm dyin' 'cause I let you
Do what you do down to, down to, down to
I was cryin' when I met you
Now I'm tryin' to forget you
Your love is sweet misery


"Cryin' " by Aerosmith, from the album "Get A Grip" (1993)*. Written by Anthony Joseph Perry; Steven Tallarico; Taylor Laurence Rhodes. Publisher: Universal Music Publishing Group/Kobalt Music Publishing Ltd./BMG Rights Management. Lyrics licensed and provided by LyricFind. Watch the official video here. 

 
*This song is about a a roller coaster relationship that seemed great at first but then turned a lot worse. It can also be seen as a metaphor for Steven Tyler's drug use. This was written after Aerosmith's record company rejected most of the songs they had composed for the Get A Grip album. They were signed to Geffen Records, whose executive John Kalodner was assigned to the band. It was his job to break the bad news that the songs they had written sucked, but he felt it was more important to look after their business interests than to form a friendship. After the expected grousing from the band, they agreed to work with outside writers who Kalodner brought in to help. On "Crazy," Steven Tyler and Joe Perry worked with Taylor Rhodes, who had co-written the Celine Dion hit "Where Does My Heart Beat Now." Rhodes also had a rock pedigree, having produced the band Kix. In just one day, they were able to write the majority of this song, toeing the lyrical line between fiery passion and pathetic groveling. The song hit the sweet spot, as did two other songs written for the album with Kalodner's outside writers: "Crazy" and "Livin' On The Edge." This was the first Aerosmith video to feature actress Alicia Silverstone, and it launched her career. She starred in Aerosmith's next two videos as well - "Amazing" and "Crazy" - and starred in many movies, including Clueless, The Crush, and Blast From The Past. Silverstone had met the band only once. Their scenes were shot separately. Josh Holloway, who plays Sawyer on the show Lost, also appears in the music video. He plays a pickpocket who steals Alicia Silverstone's bag only to be caught and beaten up by her. An extra chorus was added to the video so they could get more scenes in. For the video, the group was filmed at the Central Congregational Church in Fall River, Massachusetts. That's where Lizzie Borden, who was acquitted for murdering her parents in 1892, used to worship. Steven Tyler cites this as a song that shows the country influence on Aerosmith. "Listen to the lyrics," he told Rolling Stone. "It was country - we just Aerosmith'd it." (Knowledge courtesy of songfacts.com)