MARCH 11, 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 

SPECIAL EDITOR'S NOTE: We'd like to remind you that Peter's first work of fiction, St. Michael of Birmingham, is out now. Make no mistake, it doesn't resemble anything you've read from him before. In fact, it is quite a dramatic departure. It is mystical. It is sexy. It is funny. It's moving. And it is a flat-out wild ride unlike anything you've experienced. Having said that, it is definitely not for everyone, but then, it is from PMD, so that probably shouldn't come as a surprise! Check it out on Amazon Kindle here. -WG

(Bentley images)

Bentley has unveiled a new, specially-equipped Bentayga – the Artenara Edition - which is aimed at "celebrating the pinnacle design features of the Bentayga," according to Bentley PR minions. The new, extensively curated edition is available with either a V8 in standard or extended wheelbase, or standard wheelbase with a V6 hybrid. The inspiration, and the name, for the new edition comes from the village of Artenara, which at 1,200 meters is the highest village in Gran Canaria, home of the Roque Bentayga peak from where Bentayga originally got its name. (Cue Johnny Carson: "I did not know that.") How much? No prices have been announced, but suffice to say, count on it to be brutally expensive.

Other stuff:

• Unique Roque Bentayga motif on fascia, seats and doors
• Body color lower brightware with curated specifications
• Tri-colour interior with accent colour - previously exclusive to Mulliner EWB
• Eight curated color, materials and finish recommendations
• Artenara Edition wing vents with Mulliner double diamond detail
• Animated Artenara Edition welcome lamp projection
• Illuminated Artenara Edition treadplates
• Distinctive Mulliner features include double diamond grille
• 22” grey painted and polished Mulliner wheels
• Additional 27MY introductions include new 23” Super Lux Wheel, exclusive to Azure, Artenara Edition and Mulliner EWB.

Editor-in-Chief's Note: Our featured video this week is the "1965 Bridgehampton 500" Watch it here. Great track, great machines! -PMD

The AE Song of the Week:

Six o'clock already
I was just in the middle of a dream
I was kissin' Valentino
By a crystal blue Italian stream
But I can't be late
'Cause then I guess I just won't get paid
These are the days
When you wish your bed was already made

It's just another manic Monday
I wish it was Sunday
'Cause that's my fun day
My I don't have to run day
It's just another manic Monday

Have to catch an early train
Got to be to work by nine
And if I had an air-o-plane
I still couldn't make it on time
'Cause it takes me so long
Just to figure out what I'm gonna wear
Blame it on the train
But the boss is already there

It's just another manic Monday
I wish it was Sunday
'Cause that's my fun day
My I don't have to run day
It's just another manic Monday

All of the nights
Why did my lover have to pick last night
To get down
Doesn't it matter
That I have to feed the both of us
Employment's down
He tells me in his bedroom voice
C'mon honey, let's go make some noise
Time it goes so fast
(When you're having fun)

It's just another manic Monday
I wish it was Sunday
'Cause that's my fun day
My I don't have to run day
It's just another manic Monday

I wish it was Sunday
'Cause that's my fun day
It's just another manic Monday

"Manic Monday" by the Bangles, from the album "A Different Light" (1986).* Written by Prince (under the name "Christopher"). Lyrics licensed and provided by LyricFind. Watch the Original Music Video here.

*Prince wrote this alliterative song under the name "Christopher" (the name of his character in his movie Under the Cherry Moon), and it became the Bangles' first hit. The purple one discovered the group after coming across the video for one of their early singles, "Hero Takes A Fall," on MTV. He showed up at a Bangles gig in Los Angeles, then he put together a very special mixtape for the group - one with two original songs he had written and wanted them to record. In a Songfacts interview with Susannah Hoff of the Bangles, she explained: "I went and picked up a cassette. It had two songs on it and one of them was 'Manic Monday.' The other was called 'Jealous Girl.' I have to look up that cassette. I know I have it. It's in a box somewhere. The demo just had a girl singing it. I think he was offering us the track so we'd sing it the same way. But we wanted to do the whole thing from the ground up."

The Bangles recorded "Manic Monday" with the appropriate trepidation that comes with a song written by a superstar. Hoffs recalls: "I remember going in and singing that song and being on the mike and it was kind of like red light fever. I knew it was a Prince song and I wanted to do a great job on it. I remember David (producer David Kahne) was really excited; you pick up on those vibes and it's just the best feeling in the world. Recording is so psychological, there's so much pressure, because there's a lot at stake and you want to make sure you do your very best to get it captured on tape. It was taped back then. We didn't have Pro Tools, so you were always in danger of destroying something that was good already. Prince came to our rehearsal after the record was done, and he was really thrilled with how it came out. I think he might have said something like, 'Oh, I was surprised you guys didn't use my track,' or something. But he was very happy with it."

Prince's lifestyle is nothing like the workday grind he pokes fun of in this song, which finds a young lady stressing out about being late for work and trying in vain to get there on time. This being a Prince-penned song from the '80s, there is sex involved: We find out in the last verse that she's late because her lover, who apparently doesn't work, hit her up for some lovemaking the night before. The week ending April 19, 1986, Prince's song "Kiss" was #1 on the Hot 100 while "Manic Monday," which he wrote, was #2.

"Manic Monday" was a breakthrough for the Bangles, setting them on a course for stardom. Their 1984 album was well received and got them gigs opening for Cyndi Lauper and doing a song for The Goonies soundtrack, but they struggled to get airplay outside of their Southern California stronghold, and none of the songs from their debut charted. "Manic Monday," with the Prince pedigree, was an easy sell to radio and MTV. Their next single, "If She Knew What She Wants," was a modest hit, but the next one, "Walk Like An Egyptian" was a sensation, named by Billboard as the #1 song of 1987 in America. (Knowledge courtesy of Songfacts.com)

  

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