FEBRUARY 12, 2025

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 

(VW)

Volkswagen of America, Inc., in partnership with NBCUniversal, has debuted a co-branded spot celebrating the 50th anniversary of Saturday Night Live (SNL50). The spot features the ID. Buzz in a reimagined version of "The Californians," an iconic SNL sketch. Original cast members Fred Armisen, Bill Hader and Kristen Wiig reprise their roles in the beloved sketch. “The Californians"-inspired spot featuring the ID. Buzz and the return of Hader, Wiig and Armisen will air during the “SNL50: The Homecoming Concert” on Friday, February 14, live on Peacock at 8 p.m. ET / 5 p.m. PT and will subsequently be viewable on multiple digital, online and social channels as part of a comprehensive branded content campaign. Watch it here.

  

Editor-in-Chief's Note: Ford CEO Jim Farley travels to Washington today (2/12) to meet with members of Congress ahead of Donald Trump's proposed tariffs on Mexico and Canada. This will be Farley's second trip to Washington in the last three weeks. Trump has talked about strengthening the U.S. auto industry, but during an investor conference yesterday, Farley said about Trump and his tariff plans, "So far what we're seeing is a lot of cost and a lot of chaos." He continued, as reported by Jamie L. LaReau in the Detroit Free Press, "Let's be real honest: Long term, a 25% tariff across the Mexico and Canada borders would blow a hole in the U.S. industry that we've never seen," Farley said. "Frankly, it gives free rein to South Korean, Japanese and European companies that are bringing 1.5 million to 2 million vehicles into the U.S. that wouldn't be subject to those Mexican and Canadian tariffs. It would be one of the biggest windfalls for those companies ever." Those are all nice - and accurate - words, but where were Farley and Barra in November? Oh, that's right, they were busy hedging their bets while working both sides of the political fence. Barra and Farley are about to find out the hard way that elections have consequences, and Detroit is about to take it on the chin. Again. -PMD

Editor's Note: We're not doing a Super Bowl ad review this year, because much of the ads were lackluster and uninspired. It's like the whole damn ad business is finally out of ideas - or at least any truly creative, ground-breaking ideas. This year's ad lineup was mostly pathetic, especially when you consider that advertisers actually thought these spots were worth spending up to $8 million to air - not to mention production costs. The whole Super Bowl ad "thing" needs a giant rethink - if that's even possible. But Peter did have a few things to say -WG: Very few ads were worth mentioning from my perspective. The Budweiser ad, though expected, was still uplifting and welcome. The Seal ad - with Seal as a Seal - was creepy but in the end, impactful. I loved to see Nike back in the game, powering a new image campaign with Led Zepplin. Nicely done. The Dunkin' ads were woefully pathetic, and the Ram truck ad was flat-out embarrassing. All I can say about that is really? What a waste of time, effort and money. As for the Harrison Ford Jeep ad - which I'm sure everyone will heap praise on - I found it to be beyond tedious. I'm frankly tired of Olivier Francois/Stellantis trying to set the table on our political discourse in this country, and I'm tired of a foreign-owned company trying to lecture us on what's important in our lives, and shoving it down our throats, while using a vehicle that, at the end of the day, is decidedly pretty damn average. It just pisses me off. I'd say do better, but when you have an egomaniacal stronzo like Francois running amuck without any guardrails apparently, this is exactly what you get. -PMD

(RM Sotheby's images)

This 1964 Ferrari 250 LM by Scaglietti, which was offered from the Collection of the Indianapolis Motor Speedway Museum, sold last weekend in Paris for €34,880,000 EUR. As a reminder, this machine was the overall winner of the 1965 24 Hours of Le Mans, driven by Masten Gregory and Jochen Rindt on behalf of the North American Racing Team (NART), achieving the major milestone of six consecutive Ferrari victories at the French endurance classic. Other details? It was the only privateer-entered Ferrari to ever win the 24 Hours of Le Mans overall. It was the only Ferrari built during the Enzo Ferrari era (1947 to 1988) to compete in six 24-hour races, including three times at Le Mans and three times at Daytona 24 Hours. It was displayed by Luigi Chinetti Motors/NART at the 1967 New York Automobile Show. It is also a highly preserved and original example, retaining its matching-numbers engine and gearbox. It was offered after 54 years of careful conservancy by the Indianapolis Motor Speedway Museum following its purchase from Chinetti Motors a few months after completing the 24 Hours of Daytona in February 1970. Documentation included copies of 1965, 1968 and 1969 Le Mans papers, copies of paperwork from Luigi Chinetti’s ownership, 1970 purchase paperwork, parts and service invoices, and history report by Marcel Massini. And last, but not least, it was the sixth, and most important, of 32 examples built of the 250 LM.

(Chevrolet images)

With four different General Motors drivers behind the wheel, the Corvette ZR1 has set not one, but five new production car lap records during a U.S. track tour.

Below are the five tracks and the Corvette ZR1’s lap times, each with a GM driver at the wheel:

• Watkins Glen Long Course: 1:52.7. Driver: Bill Wise, Lead Performance Engineer, Chassis Controls.
• Road America: 2:08.6. Driver: Brian Wallace, Lead Vehicle Dynamics Engineer.
• Road Atlanta: 1:22.8. Driver: Chris Barber, Lead Development Engineer.
• Virginia International Raceway Full Course: 1:47.7. Driver: Aaron Link, Global Vehicle Performance Manager.
• Virginia International Raceway Grand Course: 2:32.3. Driver: Aaron Link.

The drivers set out on this track tour with a pre-production Corvette ZR1 equipped with the optional ZTK Performance Package. The ZTK Package notably adds an aggressive, high-downforce rear wing, front dive planes, and a tall hood Gurney lip – all constructed from woven carbon fiber. Underneath, underbody strakes replace the standard front underwing stall Gurney to substantially increase front downforce. The suspension tuning included in the ZTK package incorporates stiffer springs and adds Michelin Pilot Sport Cup 2R ZP tires.

With four different individuals behind the wheel of the Corvette ZR1, each with a different driving style, these lap times showcase the engineering prowess of the car. Future customers don’t need to be professional drivers to extract the ultimate performance of the 1,064HP Corvette ZR1.

The drivers, with a combined 65 years of GM Level 6 driving experience, each brought racing and high-performance driving experience when joining General Motors. Individually, each driver quickly reached the top of GM’s driver certification program, and all achieved Nürburgring Industry Pool certification. This group was entrusted with pushing the Corvette ZR1 to its absolute limits on the highest speed, highest commitment tracks in the U.S.

“Corvette ZR1 continues to showcase how this nameplate elevates at every corner,” Corvette executive chief engineer Tony Roma said. “From design, engineering, development, validation, to driving and setting incredible lap records like these – we do it all in house.”

Corvette ZR1 with the ZTK Package boasts a top speed of 233 mph on the racetrack, 0-60 mph time of 2.3 seconds, and quarter-mile time of 9.6 seconds. With these figures, no current production car under $1 million rivals the Corvette ZR1.

MSRPs for the Corvette ZR1 start at $174,995 (including $1,695 DFC) for the 1LZ coupe and $184,995 (including DFC) for the 1LZ hardtop convertible. Production is scheduled to begin at General Motors’ Bowling Green Assembly plant in Kentucky in the second quarter of 2025, and Chevrolet will begin accepting orders for the 2025 Corvette ZR1 later this month.

(VW)

Volkswagen of America, Inc. has announced the official pricing for one of Peter's all-time favorite cars, the refreshed 2025 Golf GTI and Golf R. The 2025 Golf GTI starts at $32,445 for the S trim, while the SE trim is priced at $37,420, with an optional Leather Seats Package available for an additional $1,300. The Autobahn trim sits at the top of the lineup with a price of $40,880. For the 2025 Golf R, the standard model is priced at $47,100, while the Black Edition comes in at $48,415. The Black Edition offers features that build on the Golf R, including a new 19-inch gloss black forged alloy wheel design. Available in Mythos Black Metallic, Pure White and Lapiz Blue Metallic, the Black Edition also features genuine carbon fiber interior décor. Blacked out detailing includes “BLACK” badging on the B-pillar, blacked out “R” front door logos, black-painted front and rear brake calipers with “R” logo, black front and rear “R” logos, front and rear “VW” emblems in black, black quad exhaust tips, grille and headlight accents in black, and darkened headlight elements. Additionally, an optional Euro Style Package, available for both trims of the Golf R, is offered at $3,795. Destination for all models is $1,225.

(Mercedes-Benz images)

It's becoming harder and harder to become The Biggest Tool in the Shed, it seems, but Mercedes-Benz is here to the rescue. Mercedes-AMG has unveiled the 2025 AMG SL 63 MANUFAKTUR Golden Coast. Limited to just 100 units globally, the special edition roadster arrives at select U.S. dealerships beginning in February 2025. The exclusive model is "crafted by the MANUFAKTUR individualization program, which offers customers the highest possible individuality and exclusivity with exquisite details and distinctive finishes," according to Mercedes-Benz PR minions. The special SL is finished in MANUFAKTUR Kalahari Gold Magno, "reminiscent of gleaming golden sand beaches," according to Mercedes. The look includes 21-inch AMG Forged Cross-Spoke wheels in black with MANUFAKTUR Kalahari Gold Magno rim flanges, and black AMG brake calipers with white AMG logos. The AMG Night Package, AMG Extended Night Package and AMG Aerodynamics Package are all standard. This includes a front splitter, A-Wing trim, exterior mirror caps, side sills and rear accents in gloss black, among other elements. Additionally, the radiator grille, as well as twin tailpipe trims, model badge and Mercedes star at the rear of the vehicle are finished in black chrome. You also get standard AMG Performance seats covered in hand-stitched black Nappa leather with diamond stitching in gold. This gold contrast stitching extends throughout the cabin, including to the AMG Performance steering wheel, armrest, center door panels and instrument panel. MANUFAKTUR high-pile floor mats with black Nappa leather piping, an embroidered AMG logo and contrast stitching in gold also are included. Unique MANUFAKTUR Kalahari Gold Magno trim elements on the seats, doors panels and center console further accent the interior. A "MANUFAKTUR Golden Coast" badge adorns the center console door, emphasizing the exclusivity of the special model. A Handcrafted AMG 4.0L V8 biturbo engine powers the AMG SL 63 MANUFAKTUR Golden Coast, producing 577HP and 590 lb-ft of torque. An AMG SPEEDSHIFT® MCT 9G transmission and AMG Performance 4MATIC+ fully variable all-wheel drive enable acceleration from 0 to 60 mph in 3.5 seconds. Editor-in-Chief's Note: Mercedes missed a 'golden" opportunity with this special edition. It should have been called the "Gold Member" edition - at least it would have been good for a few laughs. (We Love Gold! -WG) Now, if you see one, which is highly unlikely, you'll know that somebody couldn't resist being a Certified Tool. -PMD

 

Editor-in-Chief's Note: Cadillac's esteemed marketing team has unveiled its new campaign for the Escalade IQ BEV. First, a little background is in order. GM Marketing purged its established agencies last year - in a painfully misguided move - and the resulting chaos cost a lot of people their jobs around here. Cadillac marketers decided to work with an agency called 72andSunny, and with great fanfare, the agency alighted on something revealed during research, which is, ta-dah, that Cadillac drivers own swimming pools at a higher rate than most people. I kid you not. "There's a lot of pools because everyone wants people to come to their house. They want to celebrate with their friends and family,” said Melissa Grady Dias, Cadillac’s chief marketing officer, as quoted in Automotive News. That insight about Cadillac drivers' social tendencies eventually led to a campaign that debuted this week for the new Escalade IQ, which includes a new tagline, “Let’s Take the Cadillac.” And the following is taken directly from the AN article, because you just can't make this shit up, and in case you're still shaking your head: "The phrase feeds into what the brand and 72andSunny have learned about Cadillac owners: they are inherently social people, who like to share their Caddys, just like they share their pools. The tagline is 'actually a very familiar set of words,' said Carl Mueller, 72andSunny’s executive strategy director, noting the research included interviews with some 100 Cadillac owners. 'When people choose how they want to spend their day and where and how they want to drive to their destination, they said, ‘Let’s take the Cadillac.’ Everyone immediately understands this is going to be a special trip.' The campaign’s first ad shows two couples hopping into an Escalade IQ and driving through a city beneath a full moon. They take a car elevator to a fancy rooftop party. The ad, backed by Benson Boone’s “Nights Like These,” ends with shots of other Cadillac EVs: the Lyriq crossover, which debuted in 2022; as well as the compact Optiq and the three-row Vistiq, which are both hitting dealerships this year. An ad for the Optiq is expected to debut soon, Grady Dias said." My initial take on this: Really? That's all you got? That was worth ditching the ad agency for? The thinking behind this campaign strategy is vacuous, at best. I'm sure the operatives at GM marketing - especially CMO Norm de Greve - are smugly satisfied with the direction of this campaign, because smug seems to be the operative word in their approach to everything, including firing ad agencies. But the campaign can only be described as campaign light, only not filling and with zero taste. And interviewing 100 Cadillac owners somehow constitutes doing your due diligence? I'm sure the people who lost their jobs in the GM marketing "purge" are flat-out furious all over again, as well they should be. What a bunch of unmitigated bullshit. -PMD

Editor-in-Chief's Note: Well, the numbers are in, and the Detroit Auto Show was a certified bust. Public attendance was 275,000, although we think this figure is inflated. That "reported" number is down 65 percent from the heyday of the show, when it saw more than 800,000 people attending in 2016 and just under 775,000 in 2019. I predicted this would happen months ago, because the Detroit Auto Show is no longer a showpiece for the Motor City's dominant industry. Instead, it's nothing more than a regional "retail" auto show, no different than many lesser auto shows across the country. Is this situation reversible? No. The sobering reality is that the highpoint for the Detroit Auto Show was many, many years ago, which was a different time and a different era, never to return. -PMD

 

The AE Song of the Week:

I don't know where I'm going
But I sure know where I've been
Hanging on the promises in songs of yesterday
And I've made up my mind
I ain't wasting no more time
Here I go again, here I go again
Though I keep searching for an answer
I never seem to find what I'm looking for
Oh, Lord, I pray you give me strength to carry on

'Cause I know what it means
To walk along the lonely street of dreams

Here I go again on my own
Going down the only road I've ever known
Like a drifter, I was born to walk alone
And I've made up my mind
I ain't wasting no more time
I'm just another heart in need of rescue
Waiting on love's sweet charity
And I'm gonna hold on for the rest of my days

'Cause I know what it means
To walk along the lonely street of dreams

And here I go again on my own
Going down the only road I've ever known
Like a drifter, I was born to walk alone
And I've made up my mind
I ain't wasting no more time
But here I go again

Here I go again
Here I go again
Here I go

'Cause I know what it means
To walk along the lonely street of dreams

And here I go again on my own
Going down the only road I've ever known
Like a drifter, I was born to walk alone
And I've made up my mind
I ain't wasting no more time

And here I go again on my own
Going down the only road I've ever known
Like a drifter I was born to walk alone

'Cause I know what it means
To walk along the lonely street of dreams

And here I go again on my own
Going down the only road I've ever known
Like a drifter, I was born to walk alone

"Here I Go Again" by Whitesnake from the album "Saints And Sinners" (1982)*. Written by Bernie Marsden and David Coverdale. Publisher: Royalty Network, Songtrust Ave, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Universal Music Publishing Group, Warner Chappell Music, Inc. Lyrics licensed and provided by LyricFind. Watch the Official Music Video here. 

*Whitesnake leader David Coverdale wrote the lyric in Portugal. While it's typically thought of as an inspiring song about facing your challenges head-on, it's really a song about heartbreak and the loneliness that comes with it. The song documents the breakdown of Coverdale's first marriage to Julia Borkowski, with whom he tied the knot in 1974. In 1987, "Here I Go Again" was a #1 hit in America, all over the airwaves and MTV, but the song was written in 1981 and first released in 1982 when Whitesnake was a very different band. David Coverdale wrote it with their guitarist, Bernie Marsden, after the group toured their native UK. They released it on their Saints 'N' Sinners album and issued it as a single in the UK, where it went to #34. By 1987, the band had a different lineup, with Coverdale the only constant. They re-recorded "Here I Go Again" and included it on their 1987 self-titled album. That summer, it was released as a single in America for the first time and rose to #1 in October, thanks in no small part to the music video. In the UK the re-release, labeled the "US Mix," went to #9. David Coverdale formed Whitesnake after leaving Deep Purple. He was well known in the UK, so Whitesnake had a built-in fanbase there, but cracking America was a lot harder. They made inroads in the US with their 1984 album Slide It In, but it was the Whitesnake album in 1987 that took off. When they toured America to support it, they did so as opening act for Mötley Crüe. The video features very quick shots of the actress Tawny Kitaen dancing seductively on the hoods of two Jaguars cars. One belonged to Coverdale, the other to Marty Callner, who directed the video. It was a huge hit on MTV, and one of the first "tease" videos. Especially among hair bands, it became popular to show flashes of beautiful women throughout the video to keep the viewers (especially teen boys) interested. Kitaen, who was in the 1984 movie Bachelor Party, also appeared in the Whitesnake videos for "Still Of The Night," "Is This Love," and "The Deeper The Love." She and Coverdale were married in 1989 and divorced in 1991. This song entered the news in 2002 under some strange circumstances. Tawny Kitaen married the baseball player Chuck Finley in 1997. In April 2002, she was arrested for spousal abuse after kicking him with her high-heeled shoes while he was driving. Finley filed for divorce soon after. Soon after Kitaen was arrested, the DJ for the Chicago White Sox was fired for playing this song to the stadium while Finley was warning up for his team, the Cleveland Indians. (Knowledge courtesy of Songfacts.com) 

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