November 16, 2022

(Genesis images)
Genesis made some news in L.A. this week. The Genesis X Convertible concept completes the X concept trilogy and shares its architecture and electric powertrain with the X Concept and X Speedium Coupe concepts. The X Concept, is a two-door grand tourer and the X Speedium Coupe concept is the second car in the trilogy. The X Convertible concept takes the X Speedium Coupe concept further. The interior design "takes its inspiration from Korean roof architecture, which is a nod to both the brand’s origins as well as the most important aspect of convertible cars," according to Genesis PR minions. The folding hardtop roof integrates transparent moon roofs above the front occupants to provide an open feel even when closed.

(Bugatti images)
The latest from the Unobtanium Chronicles: The Bugatti W16 Mistral, clearly the most extreme roadster in Bugatti history. This machine will mark the final road-going appearance for the famed W16 engine. Emilio Scervo, Bugatti Rimac Chief Technology Officer, commented: “Managing both thermodynamics and aerodynamics effectively is key to achieving more than 420 km/h in an open top car, even with 1,600 PS from perhaps the most advanced automotive engine ever created. We have to think very carefully about how we shape the W16 Mistral to guide air through the car and around the car to delicately balance both cooling and aerodynamics. But, of course, we must do all this with a sense of elegance befitting a Bugatti roadster. A car that is both designed for purpose, but simultaneously evokes a sense of timelessness.” At the front of W16 Mistral, a new wider, deeper and more three-dimensional iteration of the famous Bugatti horseshoe grille allows the high temperature engine radiator to be fully fed purely from one intake, leaving the two side intakes to focus only on providing air to the intercoolers. The airflow around the front corners is managed by two intakes - one by the wheel and one seamlessly integrated within a new three-dimensional headlamp design. The air is guided from an area of high pressure to low pressure area in the wheel well, which would otherwise create turbulence and drag, affecting W16 Mistral’s performance. W16 Mistral will run in ‘Top Speed’ mode (420 km/h) with the minimum amount of rake on the rear wing to reduce drag, but the rear diffuser has been optimized because downforce created by a diffuser comes with very little penalty for drag. The diffuser edge has been elevated to increase its rake angle and expansion ratio, helping to maintain both W16 Mistral’s stability and its record-breaking top speed. Achim Anscheidt, Bugatti Rimac Design Director, concludes: “The W16 Mistral is a special moment in the history of Bugatti; the kind of car that will be seen on the lawns of top Concours d’Elegance events for decades or even centuries. We created a timeless interior for this car, including the introduction of an intricate woven leather used on newly designed door panels, meticulously tested and produced to Bugatti quality standards. And in a nod to the W16 Mistral’s illustrious forebears, like the Type 41 Royale, the gear shifter – machined from a solid block of aluminum – features a touch of wood and an amber insert with Rembrandt Bugatti’s famous ‘dancing elephant’ sculpture locked within.” How many and how much? Only 99 examples of the W16 Mistral will be built, priced at 5 million euros net, with deliveries due to begin in 2024. The entire production run of W16 Mistral is already sold out. No shit. Watch the Official Bugatti Video here. 


(Honda images)
Now, back to reality. This is the all-new 2023 Honda Accord. America's best-selling car over the last five decades, it "will re-energize the midsize sedan segment with an elegant and sophisticated design, and an available advanced hybrid-electric system that's more responsive for a sporty, exhilarating driving experience," according to Honda PR minions. Alrighty then! Accord hybrid models are positioned at the top of the 11th generation Accord lineup and will represent about 50 percent of sales. "This is our best Accord ever, a true benchmark in its class, offering an unbeatable combination of style, efficiency, performance and connectivity," said Mamadou Diallo, vice president of Auto Sales, American Honda Motor Co., Inc. The new 2023 Accord is longer and sleeker, and Honda promises more confident and refined dynamics, improved responsiveness, and a more fun-to-drive personality. Accord will be available in six trim levels, starting with the turbocharged LX and EX and topped by the hybrid-powered Sport, EX-L, Sport-L and Touring. With 247 lb.-ft of torque from Honda's new 4th-generation two-motor hybrid system, the 2023 Accord hybrids are the most powerful ever (204HP). Inside, the new Accord is more modern, with features including Honda's largest touchscreen ever and Honda's first integration of Google built-in for seamless on-the-go connectivity. Accord also has new front Body Stabilizing Seats that reduce fatigue on long drives. 



The AE Song of the Week:

There she goes
There she goes again
Racin' through my brain
And I just can't contain
This feelin' that remains

There she blows (there she blows again)
There she blows again (there she blows again)
Pulsin' through my vein (there she blows again)
And I just can't contain
This feelin' that remains

There she goes
There she goes again
She calls my name
Pulls my train
No one else could heal my pain
But I just can't contain
This feelin' that remains

There she goes
There she goes again
Chasin' down my lane
And I just can't contain
This feelin' that remains

There she goes (there she goes again)
There she goes (there she goes again)
There she goes (there she goes again)

"There She Goes" by the La's, from the album "The La's" (1988).* Written by Lee Mavers. Publisher: Kobalt Music Publishing Ltd. Lyrics licensed and provided by LyricFind. Watch the Official Music Video here.

*"There She Goes" is a song with one crazy story, so hang on. It was written by the Liverpool singer and guitarist Lee Mavers, and recorded by his band The La's. The La's released it on their only album, titled The La's. "There She Goes" was released as a single, not once, not twice, but four times! The first release scratched the UK Singles chart in 1988 at #51. The second release in 1990 was the peak, with #13 on the UK Singles and also charting in the US. The third release was in 1999, and it charted the UK Singles at #65. The fourth release was in 2008, on vinyl only for the song's 20th anniversary, and charted again at #181. While rumors persist that this song was inspired by "There She Goes Again" by the Velvet Underground, no definitive evidence supports it. The songs do have a similar theme and similar lyric styles, but completely different music. On the other hand, the common knowledge that this song is about heroin seems to be a sure bet. "Racing through my brain" and "Pulsing through my vein" exclude just about everything else, and newspapers in England ran stories about The La's "ode to heroin." La's bassist John Power gave a rather evasive answer when asked about it, while La's ex-guitarist Paul Hemmings flatly denied it. La's frontman Lee Mavers is a pretty enigmatic character. If you examine them closely, you'll find a lot in common with Velvet Underground's Lou Reed: Both had limited success with their first band but a steady cult following since, both are evasive of the media and reclusive, both are rumored to have written songs about drugs and to be heavily into drugs, and both are widely cited by other music artists as an influence out of step with their commercial success. Covers of "There She Goes" include those done by Sixpence None the Richer, Robbie Williams, The Wombats and The Boo Radleys. Film soundtrack appearances include The Parent Trap, Fever Pitch, Girl, Interrupted and So I Married an Axe Murderer. This song was an ironic airplay favorite in the UK when Maggie Thatcher resigned as Prime Minister in November 1990. The La's Mavers is a legendary perfectionist. The legend goes that he didn't want the vintage studio equipment cleaned so the dust that had accumulated on it from the 1960s would remain. (Knowledge courtesy of Songfacts.com)



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