JULY 5, 2023

HAPPY INDEPENDENCE DAY!

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 

(Bugatti Images)

Bugatti is celebrating the official centenary of the racing debut of one of its most innovative cars: the Type 32 ‘Tank’. This streamlined racing car was to lay the foundations for aerodynamic innovations in motorsport, earning its nickname not only for its shape, but also for its visible rivets and bolts. The Type 32 debuted at the French Grand Prix on July 2, 1923, in the city of Tours in the beautiful Loire Valley. A huge crowd of 300,000 spectators gathered to see an array of cutting-edge race cars, but the car that attracted the most attention was the bold machine from Ettore Bugatti. What immediately caught the eye of the crowd was the slipstreamed Type 32 and its airplane-inspired wing-shaped body, a result of Bugatti’s conviction that advanced aerodynamics would have an increasingly important role to play in enhancing the performance of racing cars. Although under the skin it was based heavily on the Type 30 – with its 2.0-litre eight-cylinder engine developing in the region of 90 PS – the unusual fairing, relatively short wheelbase and narrow track meant it looked like little else on the grid and caused a stir among the racing enthusiasts present. The Type 32 bristled with numerous innovative engineering solutions, including front hydraulic brakes, and a three-speed and reverse transaxle transmission. In total, five Type 32s were built – a prototype plus the four cars that took part in the Grand Prix – a race consisting of 35 grueling laps of the 22.83-kilometer circuit on public roads, for a total distance of just under 800 kilometers. Of the four Type 32 machines, the most successful was piloted by French driver Ernest Friderich, who finished third, completing the race in seven hours and 22.4 seconds at an average speed of just over 112 km/h. Though it was a creditable finish for the Type 32, the Tours was to prove its only GP appearance, as Bugatti instead focused on developing the iconic Type 35. This legendary Bugatti featured a host of new ideas – including the introduction of alloy wheels – and enjoyed phenomenal success, winning the Grand Prix World Championship in 1926. Despite its short GP career, the Type 32 proved an invaluable exercise for Bugatti, and many of the lessons learned were ultimately to pay dividends. In particular, the belief that aerodynamic efficiency could play such a pivotal, decisive role was proven conclusively in another race car whose streamlined, enclosed body earned it the ‘Tank’ moniker, the 57G. It dominated endurance racing in the 1930s, securing victory in the 1936 French Grand Prix and even more notably at Le Mans in 1937, demonstrating that Ettore Bugatti’s vision, first realized in the Type 32 ‘Tank’ of 1923, had been proven correct. The Bugatti Type 32 resides at Musée National de l’Automobile in Mulhouse, France, and can still be seen competing in action at certain historic races.

(Rolls-Royce images)

The Spectre is the first fully-electric Rolls-Royce ever made. It also represents an epochal technological and intellectual shift for the marque: by the end of 2030, its entire product portfolio will be fully electric; Rolls-Royce will not produce a new model with an internal combustion engine again. The Rolls-Royce Spectre is fitted with two Separately Excited Synchronous Motors (SSMs). The front electric motor produces 190kW/365 Nm, with the rear motor delivering 360kW/710 Nm. In performance terms, this equates to an internal combustion engine of 430kW (584HP) with 900Nm of torque. In terms of acceleration, Spectre achieves 0-60 mph in 4.4 seconds (0-100km/h in 4.5 seconds). The confirmed range is 530km (329 miles) on the WLTP. Charge time from 10-80% is 34 minutes using a 195 kW (DC) fast charger: this will also produce sufficient charge for 100km in around nine minutes. Editor-in-Chief's Note: How much? It starts in the neighborhood of $425,000 but needless to say, it will be $500,000 - and up - before you get your hands on one. And the thing looks like it weighs 9,000 pounds. -PMD

(McLaren images)

This is the McLaren Solus GT, a track-only development of a futuristic concept featured in the Gran Turismo SPORT video game. Just 25 customer cars will be built, all of which have been sold (in other words, forget about it). The Solus GT is powered by a naturally aspirated 5.2-litre V10 engine that revs in excess of 10,000rpm and is mated to a bespoke seven-speed sequential transmission. The engine produces 840PS and 650Nm of torque and with the whole car weighing less than 1,000kg, performance will be impressive, targeting 0-100km/h in 2.5 seconds and a top speed of over 200mph. Wind-tunnel research combined with CFD (Computational Fluid Dynamics) work results in an aerodynamic package capable of developing over 1,200kg of downforce. In addition to running at the Goodwood Hillclimb, the first Solus GT production car will also be on display at McLaren House, the brand’s home for the 2023 Goodwood Festival of Speed and the destination for fans wanting to explore McLaren’s rich racing and automotive heritage. Silverstone-based, high-performance engineering company KW Special Projects (KWSP), which specializes in supporting exclusive vehicle projects for road, track and display, is working alongside McLaren engineers as technical supply partner.

(BMW)

BMW minions say that the new 2024 BMW X1 M35i xDrive "builds on the emotional driving pleasure that lies at the heart of BMW’s compact Sports Activity Vehicle with an injection of the power, agility and precision for which M models are celebrated." (That's a lot to chew on - WG) Its 2.0-liter 4-cylinder motor is part of the new modular generation of BMW Group Efficient Dynamics engines and uses M TwinPower Turbo technology to produce 312HP and 295 lb-ft of torque. Zero to 60 mph takes 5.2 seconds, on to a top speed electronically limited to 155 mph. M-specific chassis technology – including the option of M Compound brakes for the first time on an M performance model – is integrated with BMW xDrive intelligent all-wheel drive. The new range-topping performance model comes with exclusive design and equipment features typically reserved for high-performance cars from BMW M GmbH. These include the two pairs of exhaust tailpipes and the optional M Sport seats with illuminated M logos (Really? Wow. -PMD) The new BMW X1 M35i xDrive is the first model to feature the new BMW iDrive with QuickSelect and BMW Operating System 9. The US launch of the new 2024 BMW X1 M35i xDrive will begin in October 2023. The flagship model will be built at BMW Group Plant Regensburg, together with all other variants of the new BMW X1.

(Singer Vehicle Design images)

In response to requests from clients, Singer Vehicle Design - the California-based luxury specialist that restores air-cooled Porsche 911s in collaboration with their owners - has evolved the Dynamics & Lightweighting Study (DLS) to incorporate turbocharging. These latest restoration and modification services result in another Porsche 911 reimagined by Singer - the DLS Turbo - to celebrate the victorious 934/5 endurance racers of the 1970s. The process begins when the owner of a Type 964 Porsche 911 sends their car to Singer with the request to carry out a personalized restoration. The owner’s car is carefully disassembled. The interior is removed, as are the exterior bodywork and all mechanical components, until the steel monocoque (chassis) is revealed. The chassis is painstakingly assessed, cleaned, strengthened and prepared so that it is in optimal condition for the next stages of the restoration. A modified carbon fiber bodywork is used to reduce weight and increase stiffness. The shape of the carbon fiber bodywork is influenced by computational fluid dynamics (CFD) analysis - to optimize aerodynamic performance. A central front intake and hood vent optimize cooling performance, while rear fender intakes and NACA ducts aid brake and turbocharger cooling. Some owners prefer their restoration be track-focused (shown in Blood Orange), while others prefer a road-focused restoration (shown in Moet Blanc). As with all Singer’s restoration and modification services, the engine from the owner’s Type 964 Porsche 911 is the starting point. The engine is disassembled down to the engine block before being restored using high performance components and modifications to optimize performance. The unique, 3.8L, 4-valves per cylinder flat-six uses twin turbochargers, with electric wastegates, air-to-water intercooling and a horizontally mounted, electrically powered fan. This evolution of the engine developed for DLS restorations enables power outputs over 700HP at more than 9000 rpm. Each restoration is unique. Every owner is able to share their personal preferences and requirements for bespoke engineering as part of the process of working with Singer to personalize their own 911. Prices for Singer's restoration services are dependent on the requests by each car’s owner. A limited number of restorations will be commissioned. In other words, you probably can't afford it, but if you want to see one up close, you can attend the Goodwood Festival of Speed in the UK from July 13-16, 2023, or the Monterey Peninsula in Northern California for Car Week in August 2023.

The AE Song of the Week:

Life's like a road that you travel on
When there's one day here and the next day gone
Sometimes you bend sometimes you stand
Sometimes you turn your back to the wind
There's a world outside every darkened door
Where blues won't haunt you anymore
Where the brave are free and lovers soar
Come ride with me to the distant shore
We won't hesitate break down the garden gate
There's not much time left today

Life is a highway
I want to ride it all night long
If you're going my way
I want to drive it all night long

Through all these cities and all these towns
It's in my blood and it's all around
I love you now like I loved you then
This is the road and these are the hands
From Mozambique to the Memphis nights
The Khyber pass to Vancouver's lights
Knock me down get back up again
You're in my blood I'm not a lonely man

There's no load I can't hold
Road so rough this I know
I'll be there when the light comes in
Just tell 'em we're survivors

Life is a highway
I want to ride it all night long
If you're going my way
I want to drive it all night long

Life is a highway
I want to ride it all night long
Gimme-gimme-gimme-gimme yeah
You're going my way
I want to drive it all night long

There was a distance between you and I
A misunderstanding once but now
We look it in the eye
Oh

Ooh

There ain't no load that I can't hold
Road so rough this I know
I'll be there when the light comes in
Just tell 'em we're survivors

Life is a highway
I want to ride it all night long
(Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah)
If you're going my way
I want to drive it all night long
Gimme-gimme-gimme-gimme yeah

Life is a highway
I want to ride it all night long
If you're going my way
I want to drive it all night long
Gimme-gimme-gimme-gimme yeah

Life is a highway
I want to ride it all night long
If you're going my way
I want to drive it all night long
Gimme-gimme-gimme-gimme yeah

"Life Is A Highway" by Tom Cochrane, from the album "Mad, Mad World" (1992).* Written by Thomas William Cochrane. Publisher: Universal Music Publishing Group. Lyrics licensed and provided by LyricFind. Watch the Official Music Video here.

*This seize-the-day anthem was an international hit for the Canadian-native Tom Cochrane. Most outside of Canada don't know his name, but he is a celebrated artist in his home country. His honors include seven Juno Awards, membership in the Canadian Music Hall of Fame, being an Honorary Colonel in the Canadian Air Force, and having been inducted onto the Canadian Walk of Fame. They take their rock stars seriously in Canada. Cochrane was also the frontman and chief songwriter for the group Red Rider for 10 years, and hit a few times with that group as well. Their best-known song in America is "Lunatic Fringe." This song was inspired by Cochrane's trip to West Africa, where he was gaining exposure for the World Vision famine relief organization. He recalled to Jam! Music: "When I wrote that song after my first trip to Africa, which was just mind bending and soul sapping, I was mentally, physically and spiritually exhausted and I really needed something to pull me out of this funk. I had this sketch that I had written and I ended up going into the studio and recorded it in an hour at seven in the morning. The irony is that it was the most positive song I'd ever written, coming out of a pretty heavy experience. I needed a pep talk, and it became that for me and for millions of others." Cochrane devotes a great deal of his time to activism and causes, blending them together with his music, similar to artists such as Neil Young. Since 1992, this song has had a near-continuous popularity thanks to heavy use in commercials. These include one for the Cleveland, Ohio-based bank National City Corp., and one for the NBC TV series VIPER. It's often used in car commercials in soundalike versions. Rascal Flatts recorded a more kid-friendly version for the 2006 Disney movie Cars. It was a good choice: Kids watching the movie were hearing the song for the first time, but their parents knew it well. The never version was a hit, going to #7 in the US and helping the soundtrack sell over a million copies. Rascal Flatts was signed to Lyric Street Records, owned by Disney. "Life Is A Highway" ended up being one of Rascal Flatts' most popular live songs. It was also the first of their songs produced by Dann Huff, who worked on their albums Me and My Gang (2006), Still Feels Good (2007), and Unstoppable (2009). All three albums went to #1 in America. (Knowledge courtesy of Songfacts.com)

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