MAY 20, 2026

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 

(BMW images)

Manual Gearbox True Believers Rejoice! BMW M is marking the close of the M3’s sixth generation with a special, limited-edition model built for maximum driver involvement. The 2027 BMW M3 CS Handschalter pairs the lightweight construction and track-ready chassis tuning of BMW CS models with the added engagement of a 6-speed manual gearbox and rear-wheel drive. You also get targeted use of carbon fiber reinforced plastic, forged alloy wheels, a titanium muffler, standard M Carbon bucket seats, and other measures to reduce weight by nearly 75 pounds compared to a standard M3 when the optional M Carbon Ceramic brakes are fitted. Model-specific chassis hardware and calibration sharpen steering, suspension, and overall responses, while a 6mm reduction in ride height contributes to its planted, track-capable stance. Power comes from a 473HP M TwinPower Turbo inline-6, paired exclusively with a precise 6-speed manual gearbox and rear-wheel drive "for an unmistakably direct connection between driver and machine," according to BMW PR minions. The 2027 BMW M3 CS Handschalter will be built exclusively for North America in very limited numbers starting in July, with deliveries expected to commence in the fall. The base MSRP will be $107,100, plus $1,350 destination and handling.

(BMW images)

The Vision BMW ALPINA is a one-of-one design study that "heralds a new era for a brand defined by extreme capability, sophistication, and the mastery of both performance and comfort, " according to BMW PR minions. It was revealed at the 2026 Concorso d’Eleganza Villa d’Este. The Vision BMW ALPINA "reimagines the brand’s heritage with contemporary purpose, aesthetics, and technology," according to the manufacturer. The design study "offers speed, comfort, and sophistication and demonstrates the BMW Group’s commitment to preserving and elevating BMW ALPINA," continued the BMW minions.

(BMW Motorrad)

BMW Motorrad will present the Vision K18 - a concept bike "that offers a confident outlook on a new expression of performance, luxury and dynamism," according to BMW Motorrad PR minions - to the public for the first time in the exclusive setting of the Concorso d’Eleganza Villa d’Este on Lake Como. The BMW Motorrad Vision K18 is a one-off that "stands for uncompromising passion, confident long-distance performance and outstanding visual presence," according to the manufacturer. At the heart of the concept is a traditional 1,800 cc inline six-cylinder engine, which, as both a design and technical centerpiece, shapes the entire appearance – and at the same time was the starting point for the vision. 

(Honda)

From the "It Won't Be Long Now!" File: Honda unveiled its next-generation Honda Hybrid Sedan Prototype last week as a preview of one of 15 new hybrid models the company plans to introduce globally, primarily in North America, by 2030 as it tries to rebound from a loss of $2.6 Billion due to its overcommitment to EV product development. It was the company's first loss since going public in 1957. 

Editor-in-Chief's Note: This week, our (more than a bit hyperbolic) video feature concerns the story about the Cobra Daytona Coupe. Watch it here. -PMD

The AE Song of the Week:

Just when I thought I got him to fall in love with Tennessee
I shoulda known better than to take him back to Abilene
I put him right back into her arms
I wasn't a match for that kinda spark

She's from Texas, I can tell by the way
He's two steppin' 'round the room
And judgin' by the smile that's written on his face
There's nothin' I can do
It doesn't take a crystal ball to see
A cowboy always finds a way to leave
Drinkin' Jack all by myself
He's choosin' Texas, I can tell

Well, I guess he forgot about the Smoky Mountain rain
Them old Hank tunes, the Memphis blues we used to sing
He always loved Amarillo By Morning
I shoulda taken that as a warning

She's from Texas, I can tell by the way
He's two steppin' 'round the room
And judgin' by the smile that's written on his face
There's nothin' I can do

It doesn't take a crystal ball to see
A cowboy always finds a way to leave
Drinkin' Jack all by myself
He's choosin' Texas, I can tell

When I'm eastbound and down and I can't help but cry
'Cause I-40 gets lonelier with every mile
I'll know that his mind wasn't ever gonna change
'Cause his heart still belongs to the Lone Star State

She's from Texas, I can tell by the way
He's two steppin' 'round the room
And judgin' by the smile that's written on his face
There's nothin' I can do, nah, yeah
It doesn't take a crystal ball to see
A cowboy always finds a way to leave
Drinkin' Jack all by myself
He's choosing Texas, I can tell, no
Drinkin' Jack all by myself
He's choosin' Texas, I can tell

Come on, baby
Oh, yeah

Just when I thought I got him to fall in love with Tennessee

"Choosin' Texas" by Ella Langley from the album "Dandelion" (20250.* Written by Ella Langley, Joybeth Taylor, Luke Dick and Miranda Lambert. Publisher: Kobalt Music Publishing Ltd., Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC. Lyrics licensed and provided by LyricFind. Watch the Original Music Video here.

 *"Choosin' Texas" is Ella Langley's story of a woman watching her man get swept away by a Texas girl, and realizing she never really stood a chance against the gravitational pull of the Lone Star State. She missed the warning signs, little red flags like how he always perked up when "Amarillo By Morning" came on. But this isn't "Gunpowder & Lead" territory; Langley takes the Dolly Parton route, channeling "Jolene" levels of grace and heartache. Langley co-wrote the song with her frequent songwriting collaborator Joybeth Taylor, along with Miranda Lambert and Luke Dick during a writing retreat in October 2024. It started with Lambert telling her co-writers a wild story about her younger days when she got pulled over with a kangaroo in the backseat and a dog in the front. When Lambert added how she told the cop she had Texas plates, Langley quipped, "She's from Texas, I can tell." The room fell silent for half a beat before everyone went: That's the song. Thirty minutes later, "Choosin' Texas" was born.

Lambert and Ben West co-produced the track alongside Langley, with Lambert insisting she wanted to "let Ella's artistry shine through every step of the process." Langley first teased "Choosin' Texas" in February 2025 at a show in Nacogdoches, and then officially unveiled it at Live At The Station in College Station and Choctaw Music Fest in Oklahoma that October. Country blogs and entertainment outlets described the song's theme of "losing a cowboy to a Texas girl" as potentially autobiographical, mirroring Langley's rumored triangle with Rily Green and Megan Maroney, the same rumor mill that's been grinding ever since Langley and Green recorded "You Look Like You Love Me." It didn't help that the single artwork shows a man and a blonde woman driving away in a convertible - it looks suspiciously like a real-life photo of Green and Moroney cruising through Alabama. But according to Langley and her co-writers, "Choosin' Texas" is fictional and inspired by Lambert's Texas roots, not a reflection of Riley Green or Megan Moroney.

Langley sang "Choosin' Texas" at the 2025 CMA Awards, where her song "You Look Like You Love Me" earned her three trips to the podium, winning for Single Of The Year, Song Of The Year and Music Video Of The Year. "Choosin' Texas" climbed to #1 on the Country chart dated December 6, 2025, in its sixth week on the survey. It was Ella Langley's first visit to the Hot Country Songs summit. When "Choosin' Texas" climbed to #1 on the Billboard Hot 100, it simultaneously led the Country Airplay, and Hot Country Songs rankings, a rare triple-crown achievement. The song's chart sweep placed Langley in exclusive company. Only three other songs have topped all three charts at the same time: Post Malone's "I Had Some Help" featuring Morgan Wallen, Shaboozey's "A Bar Song (Tipsy)," and Morgan Wallen's "Last Night." Langley was the first woman to complete the rare chart trifecta. (Knowledge courtesy of Songfacts.com)

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