APRIL 1, 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

(Honda)

No, it's not an April Fool's prank from Honda (at least we don't think so -WG.) This is something Honda calls the Fastport - a new Honda B2B business dedicated to transforming last-mile delivery logistics with micromobility solutions. Honda showcased the Fastport eQuad and Fleet-as-a-Service (FaaS) platform at the New York International Auto Show. Fastport "enables commercial customers to replace traditional delivery vans one-for-one, helping to improve operational efficiency and keep packages moving through busy urban areas with less environmental impact," according to Honda PR minions. The zero-emission eQuad is engineered specifically for bike-lane use, combining a pedal-by-wire assist system with swappable Honda Mobile Power Pack batteries and advanced software-defined vehicle technology. With features such as regenerative braking, modular cargo configurations and an enclosed rider cabin, the eQuad delivers an efficient and highly adaptable solution for dense urban environments. For more information about Fastport, go to https://fastport.honda.com.

Editor-in-Chief's Note: It was refreshing - at least for a minute - when Phoebe Wall Howard's incessant, syrupy, canonization articles about Ford CEO "Jimmy Jim" Farley ceased in the Detroit Free Press, but now, believe it or not, in the last month it has gotten worse. Jamie L. LaReau, who covers the Ford beat for the Freep and who has taken up the mantle from Howard, apparently, has peppered the paper with article after article about Farley's "Jimmy Eat World" awareness tour, whereupon the Ford CEO wanders around the planet with eyes open and thought balloons exposed - and not in a good way, I might add - and which her editors have dutifully plastered on Page 1, much to the consternation of Ford insiders who are flat-out sick of Farley's reign. This "smarm" offensive is calculated to make everyone forget about the fact that Ford has had the most recalls of any car company during Farley's tenure. Or how about the $19.9 billion charge to Ford's bottom line last fall, thanks to Farley's push to turn Ford into becoming an EV thought leader, which damn near pushed the company to the brink? That, of course, was followed up by the fourth-worst quarter in the company's history. But no matter, pay no attention to the reality behind the curtain! Ford's enlightened Dear Leader is loud and proud, receiving an 11 percent compensation increase of $27.5 million for 2025 (up from $24.9 million in 2024), due to the fact that that he allegedly met company objectives for quality and in-car software revenue generation. Serial mediocrity has been very, very good for Mr. Farley. And it looks like the Freep has decided to return to those painfully tedious times when the paper became the Detroit Ford Press for all intents and purposes. As the Wicked Witch of the West once said, "What a world, what a world..." - PMD

(Chevrolet images)

Chevrolet is reviving one of Corvette’s most storied racing names with the 2027 Corvette Grand Sport and the Grand Sport X. The duo "delivers a modern take on Grand Sport’s traditional role as a sweet-spot in the lineup, blending visceral V8 performance, distinctive style and everyday drivability," according to Chevrolet PR minions. Born in the early 1960s as a limited run of five lightweight C2 race cars created by Zora Arkus-Duntov to go up against Carroll Shelby's Cobras, the Grand Sport name has long stood for lightweight, track-focused Corvettes. Road-going Grand Sport models traditionally feature performance upgrades while maintaining heritage colors, distinct striping and signature fender hash-marks that once served as ways to tell the original race cars apart. (Editor-in-Chief's Note: It's a funny thing about those "hash marks," because they were first used by the factory Shelby American Cobra team at Sebring, in 1963. -PMD)

Today’s Grand Sport lineup "reflects the best of what the eighth-generation Corvette has to offer," according to Chevrolet; including a wide, planted mid-engine stance, an interior that elevates driver cockpit design, and the benefits of either a removable-roof coupe or hardtop convertible. Plus, standard Magnetic Ride Control, available Performance Traction Management, and much more.

At the core of every 2027 Corvette Grand Sport and Grand Sport X is the next-generation LS6 6.7L V8, which now becomes Corvette’s primary engine – powering the 2027 Stingray as well. Launching General Motors’ next generation of V8s, LS6 raises the bar for performance thanks to engine architecture upgrades that will soon benefit other V8-powered Chevrolets. Delivering 535HP and 520 lb-ft of torque, this naturally aspirated engine sees increases in power and torque across the rev band compared to its predecessor. A larger 6.7L (409 cu in) displacement and 13.0:1 compression ratio sharpen response, while a 95-mm throttle body and tunnel ram intake with high-velocity ports move more air to unlock additional power. A new lubrication system, forged pistons and rods, and revised exhaust manifolds ensure durability in extended high-load, high-temperature environments. An eight-speed dual-clutch transmission routs all this power to the wheels. Magnetic Ride Control is standard, paired with aTouring Suspension and Michelin Pilot Sport All Season 4 tires that make the car as at home crossing the country as it is carving a favorite back road. A new braking package is designed for low brake dust and a corrosion-resistant appearance, helping Grand Sport look as sharp as it drives. For drivers seeking more, the available Z52 Sport Performance Package is tuned around a stiffer suspension, the Michelin Pilot Sport 4S summer tire, and the high-performance J56 iron brakes from the Corvette Z06. The Z52 Track Performance Package goes further, combining carbon-ceramic J57 brakes and Michelin Pilot Sport Cup 2R tires with track-focused chassis tuning. Paired with a carbon-fiber splitter, dive planes, rockers and wing, plus underbody strakes, this is most track-capable Grand Sport to date.

The Corvette Grand Sport X enhances the Grand Sport formula with the addition of all-wheel drive. It pairs the 721HP LS6 V8 at the rear axle with a front-axle electric motor and compact battery pack from the ZR1X to create an eAWD Corvette that is formidable, to say the least. Grand Sport X’s high-voltage battery is low and centered in the car to preserve the agility of the mid-engine platform. The addition of a front motor is a performance enabler: Grand Sport X leaps from a stand-still with near-instant access to 145 lb-ft of torque on the front axle. And thanks to an intelligent controls system, the car combines the agility typical of a rear-wheel drive car with the corner-exiting traction only all-wheel drive can provide.

GM’s Flint Engine Operations in Flint, Michigan, will assemble the LS6 with US and globally sourced parts, returning production to the city where the first Corvette V8s were built in 1955. The LS6 represents the start of the sixth generation of Chevrolet Small Block V8s, extending a legacy more than 70 years in the making.

(Chevrolet images)

On March 21, 1964, Roger Penske and racing legend Jim Hall took the checkered flag at the Twelve Hours of Sebring, securing a Prototype GT class victory in their Chevrolet Corvette Grand Sport.

This year, Penske, a longtime collaborator with General Motors and Chevrolet, celebrates his 60th year as a team owner and served as Grand Marshall for the 74th Mobil 1 Twelve Hours of Sebring IMSA race as part of those celebrations. The race, held at a venue that played a key role in the development of the original, offered a perfect opportunity to bring together the Grand Sport lineage, including a new member.

“It is an incredible opportunity to be reunited with the Corvette Grand Sport C2 here at the Twelve Hours of Sebring – an event and a track that has always carried special meaning for me and for our race teams over the years,” Penske said. “Congratulations to Chevrolet on launching the new era of the Grand Sport program. It is truly special to see the C2 and the other generations of the Corvette Grand Sport, including the new C8, here at Sebring.”

The Grand Sport story started with a pure race car. An effort led by legendary Corvette engineer Zora Arkus-Duntov, the C2 Grand Sport was a lightweight purpose-built to challenge the best sports cars around the world. With prodigious horsepower from a 377-cubic-inch V8, the Grand Sport put its competitors - especially Carroll Shelby - on edge. Chevrolet built just five.

“It’s incredible to think that 62 years ago, Jim Hall and I drove the Corvette Grand Sport to a class victory at the Twelve Hours of Sebring,” Penske said. “I have great memories of driving the Grand Sport as we were fortunate to earn three wins across five races in the car during the 1963 and 1964 seasons."


 

(BMW images)

BMW fans are about to get a serious jolt. The BMW 3 Series, the essence of the BMW brand for five decades, has been completely transformed. The new, fully electric BMW i3 - the next model in BMW's "Neue Klasse" - enhances the familiar character of the BMW 3 Series with a technological quantum leap into a new era. The first all-electric BMW 3 Series launches as the BMW i3 50 xDrive, which has an electric motor on both the front and rear axles. The combined system power output is 463HP, while maximum torque is 476 ft-lb. "The highly efficient sixth-generation BMW eDrive technology, together with the new BMW Panoramic iDrive and 'Heart of Joy,' delivers driving pleasure on a level never experienced before," according to BMW PR minions. With BMW Symbiotic Drive, the assisted driving experience is also entering a new era. The BMW i3 also stands for a modern interpretation of the hallmark design features of a BMW Sedan. The hallmark BMW silhouette proportions are reflected in the new 2.5-box design. Notable features are the long wheelbase, the greenhouse that slopes towards the rear and the short overhangs. The BMW grille and twin headlights merge into an innovative light signature; flared wheel arches emphasize the wide stance of the new BMW i3, and the rear features horizontal rear lighting.

The new BMW i3 maximizes the capabilities of the all-new EV architecture, "offering impressively precise, effortless, and assured handling," according to the manufacturer. The "Heart of Joy" high-performance computer shapes the BMW i3 driving experience. Its responses are ten times faster than in previous systems. Together with three other super brain high-performance computers, the Heart of Joy forms the centerpiece of the new software and electronics architecture.

The new BMW i3 stands out for its excellent suitability for long journeys. Its estimated range is up to 440 miles (estimated range of up to 440 miles according to preliminary BMW AG tests based on the EPA’s test procedure standards). DC charging capacities of up to 400 kW also drastically reduce charging times. Sixth-generation BMW eDrive technology provides the prerequisites for this rapid progress. It comprises highly efficient electric motors, 800-volt technology, and new high-voltage batteries with new cylindrical cells. The cell-to-pack design used enables high energy densities at pack level and a flatter high-voltage battery. The BMW i3 also features the bidirectional charging functions Vehicle-to-Load, Vehicle-to-Home and Vehicle-to-Grid charging functions.

The BMW i3 will be manufactured at the BMW Group plant in Munich, which is the home plant of BMW. For more than a hundred years, the plant in Milbertshofen, in the north of Munich, has been producing premium vehicles. Over the last four years, the plant has seen significant modernization: Alongside a new body shop, a cutting-edge vehicle assembly area incorporating logistics space has been constructed. The new buildings are in their final stages of expansion. Production of the new BMW i3 will start in these halls beginning in August of 2026. The first vehicles will be delivered in autumn this year. One year later, the production portfolio will be switched to exclusively fully electric vehicles of the Neue Klasse. Editor-in-Chief's Note: I will wait to see it in person, but at first glance I'm liking the look of this "Neue Klasse" a lot. -PMD

Editor-in-Chief's Note: For our featured video this week, we return to Florida for the 1968 Daytona 24 Hour, which was dominated by factory Porsche 907s finishing 1-2-3. Watch it here.  -PMD   

 



The AE Song of the Week:

Shiny happy people laughing

Meet me in the crowd, people, people
Throw your love around, love me, love me
Take it into town, happy, happy
Put it in the ground where the flowers grow
Gold and silver shine

Shiny happy people holding hands
Shiny happy people holding hands
Shiny happy people laughing

Everyone around, love them, love them
Put it in your hands, take it, take it
There's no time to cry, happy, happy
Put it in your heart, where tomorrow shines
Gold and silver shine

Shiny happy people holding hands
Shiny happy people holding hands
Shiny happy people laughing

Whoa, here we go

Shiny happy people holding hands
Shiny happy people holding hands
Shiny happy people laughing

Shiny happy people holding hands
Shiny happy people holding hands
Shiny happy people laughing

Shiny happy people holding hands
Shiny happy people holding hands
Shiny happy people laughing

Shiny happy people holding hands (people, happy people)
Shiny happy people holding hands (people, happy people)
Shiny happy people holding hands (people, happy people)

"Shiny Happy People" by R.E.M. from the album "Out Of Time" (1991).* Written by Michael Stipe, Mike Mills, Peter Buck, William Berry. Publisher: Universal Music Publishing Group. Lyrics licensed and provided by LyricFind. Watch the Original Music Video here.

*The title and chorus are based on a Chinese propaganda poster. The slogan "Shiny happy people holding hands" is used ironically - the song was released in 1991, two years after the Tiananmen Square uprising when the Chinese government clamped down on student demonstrators, killing hundreds of them. Kate Pierson from the B-52s sang backup. She was in demand for her distinctive vocals after the B-52s achieved mainstream success with "Love Shack" in 1989. R.E.M. and The B-52s are both from Athens, Georgia. This was the second single from the album. A very light, happy song, it was a stark contrast to the very profound "Losing My Religion" which was released first.

Michael Stipe called this "A really fruity, kind of bubblegum song." In an interview with The Quietus, he said that he was a bit embarrassed when it became a big hit, but it's an important song because it shows a different side of him. Said Stipe: "Many people's idea of R.E.M, and me in particular, is very serious, with me being a very serious kind of poet. But I'm also actually quite funny - hey, my bandmates think so, my family thinks so, my boyfriend thinks so, so I must be - but that doesn't always come through in the music! People have this idea of who I am probably because when I talk on camera, I'm working so hard to articulate my thoughts that I come across as very intense."

In 1999, R.E.M. performed this song on Sesame Street as "Furry Happy Monsters." Kate Pierson's part was performed by a Muppet that looked like her, voiced by Stephanie D'Abruzzo, a Muppeteer who was also a huge fan of the band. Guitarist Peter Buck has two daughters who were big fans of the show. "You just looked around," he recalled to Mojo in 2016, "going, Man this is a weird way to make a living." (Knowledge courtesy of Songfacts.com)

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