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
(Mercedes-AMG images)
This is the Mercedes-AMG CLE 646 Spezialanfertigung. It is a road-legal monster limited to only 30 examples, with an uncompromising focus on racetrack performance. Oh, and if you're not a "friend" of the factory, don't bother; they're all spoken for. Each vehicle is hand-built in Affalterbach based on a CLE 53 platform, continuing AMG's long tradition of exclusive craftsmanship that has produced icons such as the AMG 300 CE 6.0 "The Hammer". What do you get?
- High-performance coupe delivering an uncompromisingly direct driving experience
- 637HP AMG 4.0‑liter V8 biturbo engine and rear wheel drive
- Unique wide-body, newly developed coilover suspension and extensively engineered aerodynamics
- Approximately 375 lbs of weight reduction through rigorous lightweight construction approach
"For me, the Mercedes‑AMG CLE 646 Spezialanfertigung represents the very essence of AMG. This vehicle came to life because highly rational engineers dreamed of a highly irrational car. We turned that dream into reality in the form of maximum driving dynamics and an unparalleled driving experience."
- Dr. Stefan Weckbach, Chairman of the Management Board of Mercedes‑AMG GmbH
Editor-in-Chief's Note: "Highly rational engineers dreamed of a highly irrational car." Sounds perfect to us. -PMD
Editor-in-Chief's Note: "Highly rational engineers dreamed of a highly irrational car." Sounds perfect to us. -PMD
Editor-in-Chief's Note: This week, our video features a lengthy discussion of the life of Bruce McLaren, complete with things you probably didn't know. Watch it here. -PMD
The AE Song of the Week
"One Headlight" - by The Wallflowers, from the album "Bringing Down The Horse" (1996).* Written by Jakob Dylan. Publisher: Warner Chappell Music, Inc. Lyrics licensed and provided by LyricFind. Watch the video here.
*Wallflowers frontman Jakob Dylan wrote this song. He explained the meaning: "I tend to write with a lot of metaphors and images, so people take them literally. The song's meaning is all in the first verse. It's about the death of ideas. The first verse says, 'The death of the long-broken arm of human law.' At times, it seems like there should be a code among human beings that is about respect and appreciation. I wasn't feeling like there was much support outside the group putting together the record. In the chorus, it says, 'C'mon try a little.' I didn't need everything to get through, I could still get through - meaning one headlight." Jakob Dylan is Bob Dylan's son, but he went to great lengths to stay out of his father's aura. Jakob moved from Los Angeles to New York City, where he formed The Wallflowers. He tried hard to conceal his lineage, which meant playing small clubs, dealing with flaky bandmembers, and navigating the often-predatory industry - all the stuff any other singer-songwriter would have to deal with. That self-imposed struggle paid off with songs like this one, which would be hard to write without getting some dirt under your fingernails. "One Headlight" followed "Sixth Avenue Heartache" as the second promotional single from the group's second album, Bringing Down The Horse. These songs weren't sold as singles in America, so they weren't eligible for the Hot 100 (Billboard changed this rule a few years later), but they both got lots of airplay and made The Wallflowers a big name. It was redemption for the band, whose first (self-titled) album was released on Virgin Records in 1992 and stiffed. Virgin tried to use the Bob Dylan connection to promote it, which didn't sit well with Jakob, and the band left the label. They landed on Interscope, which was a much better fit. With T Bone Burnett (who used to back Bob Dylan on guitar) producing, everything clicked. "One Headlight" won the Grammy for Best Rock Performance by a Duo or Group with Vocals at the 1998 ceremony. (Knowledge courtesy of Songfacts.com)
So long ago, I don't remember when
That's when they say I lost my only friend
Well, they said she died easy of a broken heart disease
As I listened through the cemetery trees
I seen the sun comin' up at the funeral at dawn
Of long broken arm of human law
Now it always seemed such a waste, she always had a pretty face
I wondered why she hung around this place
Hey, come on try a little
Nothing is forever
There's got to be something better than
In the middle
But me and Cinderella
We put it all together
We can drive it home
With one headlight
She said, "it's cold
It feels like Independence Day
And I can't break away from this parade"
But there's got to be an opening
Somewhere here in front of me
Through this maze of ugliness and greed
And I seen the sun up ahead at the county line bridge
Sayin' all is good and nothingness is dead
We'll run until she's out of breath
She ran until there's nothin' left
She hit the end, it's just her window ledge
Hey, come on try a little
Nothing is forever
There's got to be something better than
In the middle
But me and Cinderella
We put it all together
We can drive it home
With one headlight
Well, this place is old
It feels just like a beat-up truck
I turn the engine, but the engine doesn't turn
Well, it smells of cheap wine, cigarettes
This place is always such a mess
Sometimes, I think I'd like to watch it burn
But I sit alone and I feel just like somebody else
Man, I ain't changed, but I know I ain't the same
But somewhere here in between the city walls of dyin' dreams
I think of death, it must be killin' me
Hey, hey, hey, hey
Come on try a little
Nothing is forever
There's got to be something better than
In the middle
But me and Cinderella
We put it all together
We can drive it home
With one headlight
Well, they said she died easy of a broken heart disease
As I listened through the cemetery trees
I seen the sun comin' up at the funeral at dawn
Of long broken arm of human law
Now it always seemed such a waste, she always had a pretty face
I wondered why she hung around this place
Hey, come on try a little
Nothing is forever
There's got to be something better than
In the middle
But me and Cinderella
We put it all together
We can drive it home
With one headlight
She said, "it's cold
It feels like Independence Day
And I can't break away from this parade"
But there's got to be an opening
Somewhere here in front of me
Through this maze of ugliness and greed
And I seen the sun up ahead at the county line bridge
Sayin' all is good and nothingness is dead
We'll run until she's out of breath
She ran until there's nothin' left
She hit the end, it's just her window ledge
Hey, come on try a little
Nothing is forever
There's got to be something better than
In the middle
But me and Cinderella
We put it all together
We can drive it home
With one headlight
Well, this place is old
It feels just like a beat-up truck
I turn the engine, but the engine doesn't turn
Well, it smells of cheap wine, cigarettes
This place is always such a mess
Sometimes, I think I'd like to watch it burn
But I sit alone and I feel just like somebody else
Man, I ain't changed, but I know I ain't the same
But somewhere here in between the city walls of dyin' dreams
I think of death, it must be killin' me
Hey, hey, hey, hey
Come on try a little
Nothing is forever
There's got to be something better than
In the middle
But me and Cinderella
We put it all together
We can drive it home
With one headlight
"One Headlight" - by The Wallflowers, from the album "Bringing Down The Horse" (1996).* Written by Jakob Dylan. Publisher: Warner Chappell Music, Inc. Lyrics licensed and provided by LyricFind. Watch the video here.
*Wallflowers frontman Jakob Dylan wrote this song. He explained the meaning: "I tend to write with a lot of metaphors and images, so people take them literally. The song's meaning is all in the first verse. It's about the death of ideas. The first verse says, 'The death of the long-broken arm of human law.' At times, it seems like there should be a code among human beings that is about respect and appreciation. I wasn't feeling like there was much support outside the group putting together the record. In the chorus, it says, 'C'mon try a little.' I didn't need everything to get through, I could still get through - meaning one headlight." Jakob Dylan is Bob Dylan's son, but he went to great lengths to stay out of his father's aura. Jakob moved from Los Angeles to New York City, where he formed The Wallflowers. He tried hard to conceal his lineage, which meant playing small clubs, dealing with flaky bandmembers, and navigating the often-predatory industry - all the stuff any other singer-songwriter would have to deal with. That self-imposed struggle paid off with songs like this one, which would be hard to write without getting some dirt under your fingernails. "One Headlight" followed "Sixth Avenue Heartache" as the second promotional single from the group's second album, Bringing Down The Horse. These songs weren't sold as singles in America, so they weren't eligible for the Hot 100 (Billboard changed this rule a few years later), but they both got lots of airplay and made The Wallflowers a big name. It was redemption for the band, whose first (self-titled) album was released on Virgin Records in 1992 and stiffed. Virgin tried to use the Bob Dylan connection to promote it, which didn't sit well with Jakob, and the band left the label. They landed on Interscope, which was a much better fit. With T Bone Burnett (who used to back Bob Dylan on guitar) producing, everything clicked. "One Headlight" won the Grammy for Best Rock Performance by a Duo or Group with Vocals at the 1998 ceremony. (Knowledge courtesy of Songfacts.com)
Editor's Note: Click on "Next 1 Entries" at the bottom of this page to see previous issues. - WG