SEPTEMBER 3, 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 

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

(Mercedes-Benz images)

The CONCEPT AMG GT XX from Mercedes-Benz covered 40,075 kilometers (24,901 miles) on the legendary Nardò test track in less than eight days – setting a total of 25 long-distance records in the process. Under extreme test conditions, the performance brand from Affalterbach pushed the limits with two vehicles sprinting lap after lap, breaking record after record, at a running speed of 300 km/h (186 mph) – for 7 days, 13 hours, 24 minutes and 07 seconds. Among the records is the one for the longest distance ever covered by an electric vehicle in 24 hours. The previous benchmark wasn’t just broken once, it was shattered fourteen times. Mercedes-AMG fielded two CONCEPT AMG GT XX units in the Nardò challenge. Both vehicles exceeded the previous record in every single 24-hour window by an overwhelming margin.

The CONCEPT AMG GT XX is powered by three axial flux motors and a direct-cooled battery – technologies that will enter production next year in the upcoming new high-performance AMG.EA architecture. A host of additional, partially production-ready innovations also played a key role in this grueling test. Among these are an integrated cooling concept, sophisticated aerodynamics and an intelligent operating strategy.

The CONCEPT AMG GT XX also introduces a range of innovations, including an augmented reality racing helmet, ergonomic 3D seat pads and novel biotechnology-based materials. Exterior highlights include illuminated paint elements along the sides of the vehicle, headlights with integrated speakers and the MBUX Fluid Light Panel at the rear of the car.

(Toyota images)

And with news from the more "real world" auto spectrum is the 2026 Toyota Corolla Hatchback. According to Toyota PR minions, "With its sharp handling and peppy performance, this hatchback adds a bit of excitement to getting around town or hitting the open road." (Well, alrighty then! -WG)

Available in the SE, FX Edition (shown) and XSE – the 2026 Corolla Hatchback is equipped with a 2.0-liter Dynamic-Force direct-injection inline four-cylinder engine that delivers 169HP at 6,600 rpm and 151 lb.-ft. peak torque at 4,800 rpm. The Toyota Corolla Hatchback has EPA-estimated MPG ratings of up to 32 city/41 highway/35 combined (on the SE grade).

Standard features include Toyota Audio Multimedia with wireless Apple CarPlay® and Android Auto™ compatibility, and Toyota Safety Sense 3.0 – which includes features like Lane Departure Assist and Proactive Driving Assist. New for 2026 is that Blind Spot Monitor and a wireless charger are now standard on all grades. For 2026, the Corolla Hatchback welcomes the FX Edition into the fold. Based on the SE grade, the Corolla Hatchback FX includes a black vented sport wing for improved aerodynamics; 18-inch gloss white-finished alloy wheels with black lug nuts; new black Sport Touring Seats with suede inserts and orange stitching. The bright stitching continues on the door panels, steering wheel and shifter boot. The special edition comes standard with a 7-inch digital gauge cluster that shares useful vehicle information and can be customized to show different layouts based on the driver’s preference. There will only be 1,600 Corolla Hatchback FX Editions assembled for the U.S. in 2026.

The 2026 Toyota Corolla Hatchback is expected to arrive at Toyota dealerships this Fall. The Manufacturer’s Suggested Retail Price, excluding Dealer Processing and Handling, will start at $24,180 for the SE grade.



The AE Song of the Week:

Been away, haven't seen you in a while
How've you been, have you changed your style?
And do you think that we've grown up differently?
Don't seem the same
Seems you've lost your feel for me

So let's leave it alone
'Cause we can't see eye to eye
There ain't no good guy
There ain't no bad guy
There's only you and me, and we just disagree

I'm goin' back to a place that's far away
How 'bout you?
Have you got a place to stay?
Why should I care when I'm just trying to get along?
We were friends
But now it's the end of our love song

So let's leave it alone
'Cause we can't see eye to eye
There ain't no good guy
There ain't no bad guy
There's only you and me, and we just disagree

So let's leave it alone
'Cause we can't see eye to eye
There ain't no good guy
There ain't no bad guy
There's only you and me, and we just disagree

"We Just Disagree" by Dave Mason from the album "Let It Flow" (1977).* Written by Jim Krueger. Publisher: Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC. Listen to it here.

*This song was written by Jim Krueger, a guitarist from Manitowoc, Wisconsin, who joined Dave Mason's band in 1974. Affectionately and ironically known as "bruiser" (he was actually very soft-spoken), Krueger became Mason's trusted musical partner at a time when he sorely needed the help. Mason, a former member of the band Traffic, signed a deal with Columbia Records in 1973 that demanded two albums a year from him. It was Clive Davis who signed Mason, but Davis departed the label soon after, leaving Mason in the lurch. The song is about a couple who have parted ways, possibly via divorce, and have agreed to set aside their differences and stop assigning blame. The song could describe any number of scenarios where a relationship goes sour; Mason connected with the song based on his numerous conflicts with band members, love interests and record labels. In a Songfacts interview with Mason, he explained: "I did it because I thought it was a great song. An unusual chord arrangement behind it. And it stood up - it was a song that when he sang it to me, it was like, 'Yeah, that's the song.' Just him and a guitar, which is usually how I judge whether I'm going to do something. If it holds up like that I'll put the rest of the icing on it. I was going to cut it anyway, but I frankly thought it was too good a song to be a hit. Sounds strange. And it wasn't a huge hit, it got to #12. But it's been around. It's a great song. It's a timeless song." Mason included the song on his 1977 album Let It Flow, but it wasn't chosen as the first single: that honor went to "So High (Rock Me Baby And Roll Me Away)," which peaked at #89. "We Just Disagree" was the second single, and it became Mason's biggest hit as a solo artist. Jim Krueger, who wrote the song, also played the 12-string guitar and sang the harmony vocal. Krueger, who died of pancreatitis in 1993 at age 43, included this song on his only solo album, the 1978 release Sweet Salvation. This stripped-down song stood out in 1977 amid the disco offerings that proliferated on the radio. It held up well when Mason and Krueger set out on an acoustic tour in 1981, making them one of the first "unplugged" acts. The song was a staple of their setlist, and one Mason continued to play live after Krueger's death. (Knowledge courtesy of Songfacts®)



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