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The AE Quote of the Century: Everybody loves The High-Octane Truth. Until they don't. -WG

(Mercedes-Benz)

Mercedes-Benz engineers from the road and racetrack worked in collaboration with U.S.-based Factorial Energy cell engineers to deliver an all-new solid-state battery test program, resulting in the first car powered by a lithium-metal solid-state battery on the road. Mercedes AMG High Performance Powertrains (HPP), a wholly owned subsidiary of Mercedes-Benz Group specializing in industry-leading Formula 1 technologies, based in Brixworth UK, and the Mercedes-Benz Center of Competence for Battery Systems designed and developed a completely new innovative battery system. The system is safer, lighter, more efficient and features a 25 percent longer range in the first vehicle; solid-state cell chemistry delivers higher energy density and weight reduction, with improved driving efficiency and cell safety. Mercedes-Benz integrated solid-state battery, with cells from U.S.-based solid-state battery leader Factorial Energy, into a slightly modified EQS Sedan. Road tests with the new solid-state battery in a Mercedes-Benz EQS development car started in February 2025. Editor-in-Chief's Note: As I've said repeatedly, the battery technology that's considered "state of the art" today will be yesterday's news in a matter of moments. New batteries will be lighter and more efficient, which will benefit all of us. That's just the way research and development works. -PMD

(MINI USA)

MINI is bringing back the Oxford Edition for the 2025 model year MINI lineup. As the automotive landscape evolves, MINI "is proud to lead the charge in a small car renaissance, proving that premium design and innovative features can come in a compact, city-friendly package," according to MINI PR minions. Editor-in-Chief's Note: That's all well and good for the very few MINI diehards left. As for the rest of the consumer-buying public? MINI is unfortunately mistaking them for people who actually give a shit. They don't. -PMD

The AE Song of the Week:

If you, if you could return
Don't let it burn
Don't let it fade
I'm sure I'm not being rude
But it's just your attitude
It's tearing me apart
It's ruining every day

I swore, I swore I would be true
And honey so did you
So why were you holding her hand?
Is that the way we stand?
Were you lying all the time?
Was it just a game to you?

But I'm in so deep
You know I'm such a fool for you
You got me wrapped around your finger
Do you have to let it linger?
Do you have to, do you have to, do you have to let it linger?

Oh, I thought the world of you
I thought nothing could go wrong
But I was wrong, I was wrong

If you, if you could get by
Trying not to lie
Things wouldn't be so confused
And I wouldn't feel so used
But you always really knew
I just want to be with you

And I'm in so deep
You know I'm such a fool for you
You got me wrapped around your finger
Do you have to let it linger?
Do you have to, do you have to, do you have to let it linger?

And I'm in so deep
You know I'm such a fool for you
You got me wrapped around your finger
Do you have to let it linger?
Do you have to, do you have to, do you have to let it linger?

You know I'm such a fool for you
You got me wrapped around your finger
Do you have to let it linger?
Do you have to, do you have to, do you have to let it linger?

"Linger" by The Cranberries, from the album "Everybody Else Is Doing It, So Why Can't We?" (1993).* Written by Dolores Mary O'Riordan and Noel Anthony Hogan. Publisher: Universal Music Publishing Group, Warner Chappell Music, Inc. Lyrics licensed and provided by LyricFind. Watch the Official Music Video here.

*Cranberries guitarist Noel Hogan wrote the music for this song before lead singer Dolores O'Riordan joined the band. Originally, it had lyrics written by the group's first singer, Niall Quinn. When O'Riordan auditioned for the band, she had some ideas for the song and after she was hired, she wrote her own set of lyrics, turning it into a song of regret based on a soldier she once fell in love with. The emotional, girlie sound was a huge departure for the band but wildly successful. The song got lots of airplay from radio stations looking for an alternative to rap or grunge, and MTV put the video in heavy rotation. The Cranberries went on to become one of the best-selling bands of the mid-'90s. Dolores O'Riordan wrote this song about her feelings following the breakup with her first boyfriend, the soldier who broke her heart. She said the song is about "the way I reacted to infatuation." The Cranberries recorded the first version of this song in 1990 at their manager's studio in Limerick, Ireland. It was one of three songs included on a demo they distributed to local records stores, which found their way to various record companies. Island Records signed the band, which released their first EP, Uncertain, in 1991. "Linger" was not part of that EP, as they wanted to save the song for when they built a bigger fan base. The strategy worked: the song was included on their debut album Everybody Else Is Doing It, So Why Can't We?, and issued as their second UK single (after "Dreams"), it cracking the UK charts at #74 for a week in February 1993. The band didn't make it to America until that summer, when they toured as the opening act for The The. "Linger" was issued as a single later that year, earning airplay on radio and MTV, breaking the band in America. They were already working on their next album when the song caught on in the States. It wasn't until February 12, 1994 that "Linger" reached its peak position of #8 on the US chart. A week later, the reissued single topped out at #14 in the UK. (Knowledge courtesy of Songfacts.com)

Editor's Note: Click on "Next 1 Entries" at the bottom of this page to see previous issues. - WG