Sunday
Jan052025
JANUARY 8, 2025
Sunday, January 5, 2025 at 08:49AM 
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
(Chevrolet)
Chevrolet will begin accepting orders for the 2025 Corvette ZR1 in mid-February, at a starting MSRP of $174,995 (including $1,695 DFC) for the 1LZ coupe and $184,995 (including DFC) for the 1LZ hardtop convertible. The 2025 Corvette ZR1 is available in two trims – 1LZ and 3LZ. The supercar has a top speed of 233 mph on the track. goes 0-60 in 2.3 seconds and has 1,064HP, and is unrivaled by any current production car priced under $1 million. All 2025 ZR1s come standard with:
- A hand-assembled 1,064HP twin-turbo V8 engine
- Visible carbon fiber roof
- Carbon ceramic brakes
- Performance Data Recorder
- Carbon fiber ground effects and side intakes
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Competitive breakdown
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2025 Chevrolet Corvette ZR1
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2024 Porsche 911 GT3 RS
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2022 McLaren 765LT
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2024 Ferrari SF90 XX
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2025 Lamborghini Revuelto
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Base MSRP
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$173,300
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$241,300
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$382,500
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$528,764
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$608,358
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Horsepower
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1064HP
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518HP
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755HP
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1016HP (combined)
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1001HP (combined)
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Torque
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342 lb-ft
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590 lb-ft
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590 lb-ft
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739 lb-ft
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Top Speed
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233 mph
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184 mph
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205 mph
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199 mph
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218 mph
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The 3LZ coupe is available for a starting MSRP of $185,995 (including DFC) or $195,995 (including DFC) for the 3LZ convertible. Production of the 2025 Corvette ZR1 will begin at Bowling Green Assembly in Q2. Those interested in purchasing should work with their preferred Corvette dealer for ordering details.
(GM images)
General Motors has announced that Michael Simcoe (above), senior vice president, GM Global Design, will retire after a 42-year career with the company, effective July 1, 2025. Simcoe will be succeeded by Bryan Nesbitt (below), currently executive director, Global Cadillac Design. Nesbitt will lead GM Global Design, effective July 1 – becoming just the eighth GM Design chief in nearly a century. Simcoe will remain in his current role until July 1 to ensure a smooth handover.
“Michael is a visionary designer and leader,” said GM President Mark Reuss. “He has elevated automotive design not just at GM, but the world over. Under his leadership, GM Design has created a stunning vehicle portfolio that customers love. His focus on the customer, keen eye for detail, and an emphasis on the future made Michael everything we could have asked for in a chief designer. He also fostered a deep, collaborative relationship with engineering and manufacturing to push the boundaries of creativity and execution. Michael and his team have cemented design as a fundamental competitive advantage for GM.
“At the same time, we’re thrilled to have Bryan step up to lead GM Design, where he will use his considerable talent and formidable leadership skills to take us into the future,” Reuss added. “He has a long history with all our brands, and a deep understanding of our customers. As seen in his recent work at Cadillac, his design statements are only getting better and bolder.”
Cadillac’s latest concept vehicles – Opulent Velocity and SOLLEI – were brought to life under Nesbitt’s guidance.
“I am honored to lead GM Design, which is home to some of the industry's most talented and creative people. Our company, along with GM Design, has built momentum, and I’m committed to building on that ethos of vision, execution, and collaboration. Design will continue to be at the leading edge of identifying and adopting new technologies to improve speed to market and help meet the needs of customers into the future. Great design will always be the cornerstone of every vehicle we create,” said Bryan Nesbitt.
Simcoe instilled a culture of excellence, always keeping customer needs and wants at the heart of GM’s designs. He reshaped the organization to deliver products with a focus on detail and execution, combined with a creative spirit and a technology-driven ethos that’s inspiring growth in areas like electrification, autonomy, and user experience.
Under Simcoe, GM’s design studios have executed numerous award-winning products, including the Cadillac LYRIQ, GMC HUMMER EV and Chevrolet’s Equinox EV. Simcoe also championed the inception and execution of GM’s flagship Design West studio campus, located on GM’s Global Technical Center campus in Warren, Michigan. Purpose-built to foster collaboration and accelerate GM’s transformation, it will stand as an enduring legacy.
“It has been humbling to be a part of shaping the future of transportation and evolving automotive design, while ensuring that the intersection of art and technology is core to GM Design and our business,” Simcoe said. “GM has some of the most gifted designers and artisans in the world. My job has been to create the environment, and give them the tools, to flourish and bring our vision to life. Under Bryan’s leadership, I know GM Design will continue to drive the company forward. He shares my belief in our team’s creative talent and their potential, and I’m excited to see how the next generation of GM Design influences the automotive landscape.”
“Michael is a visionary designer and leader,” said GM President Mark Reuss. “He has elevated automotive design not just at GM, but the world over. Under his leadership, GM Design has created a stunning vehicle portfolio that customers love. His focus on the customer, keen eye for detail, and an emphasis on the future made Michael everything we could have asked for in a chief designer. He also fostered a deep, collaborative relationship with engineering and manufacturing to push the boundaries of creativity and execution. Michael and his team have cemented design as a fundamental competitive advantage for GM.
“At the same time, we’re thrilled to have Bryan step up to lead GM Design, where he will use his considerable talent and formidable leadership skills to take us into the future,” Reuss added. “He has a long history with all our brands, and a deep understanding of our customers. As seen in his recent work at Cadillac, his design statements are only getting better and bolder.”
Cadillac’s latest concept vehicles – Opulent Velocity and SOLLEI – were brought to life under Nesbitt’s guidance.
“I am honored to lead GM Design, which is home to some of the industry's most talented and creative people. Our company, along with GM Design, has built momentum, and I’m committed to building on that ethos of vision, execution, and collaboration. Design will continue to be at the leading edge of identifying and adopting new technologies to improve speed to market and help meet the needs of customers into the future. Great design will always be the cornerstone of every vehicle we create,” said Bryan Nesbitt.
Simcoe instilled a culture of excellence, always keeping customer needs and wants at the heart of GM’s designs. He reshaped the organization to deliver products with a focus on detail and execution, combined with a creative spirit and a technology-driven ethos that’s inspiring growth in areas like electrification, autonomy, and user experience.
Under Simcoe, GM’s design studios have executed numerous award-winning products, including the Cadillac LYRIQ, GMC HUMMER EV and Chevrolet’s Equinox EV. Simcoe also championed the inception and execution of GM’s flagship Design West studio campus, located on GM’s Global Technical Center campus in Warren, Michigan. Purpose-built to foster collaboration and accelerate GM’s transformation, it will stand as an enduring legacy.
“It has been humbling to be a part of shaping the future of transportation and evolving automotive design, while ensuring that the intersection of art and technology is core to GM Design and our business,” Simcoe said. “GM has some of the most gifted designers and artisans in the world. My job has been to create the environment, and give them the tools, to flourish and bring our vision to life. Under Bryan’s leadership, I know GM Design will continue to drive the company forward. He shares my belief in our team’s creative talent and their potential, and I’m excited to see how the next generation of GM Design influences the automotive landscape.”
(Porsche images)
Porsche is launching the 911 Carrera S for the 2025 model year. It closes the gap between the 911 Carrera and the even more performance-oriented 911 Carrera GTS T-Hybrid within the Carrera model line. Its powertrain has been significantly upgraded and now achieves performance levels that were previously reserved for the 911 Carrera GTS of the last generation. In addition, an extended list of standard equipment and significantly increased customization options compared to the 911 Carrera. It is available in Coupé and Cabriolet versions. The 3.0-liter twin-turbo boxer six-cylinder engine has been fundamentally upgraded in the new 911 Carrera S. Its output of 473HP, with 390 lb.-ft. of torque, represents an increase of 30HP compared to its predecessor. To achieve this increased performance and efficiency, Porsche fitted new turbochargers and has extensively optimized the charge-air cooling, among other changes. The Carrera S Coupe accelerates from zero to 60 mph in as little as 3.1 seconds – 0.2 seconds quicker than the predecessor – when equipped with the Sport Chrono Package, and reaches a top track speed of 191 mph. An eight-speed Porsche dual-clutch transmission (PDK) sends power to the rear wheels. Porsche has significantly upgraded the standard equipment for the Carrera S. Improvements include Sport Exhaust with tailpipes in Silver, brakes taken from the previous generation 911 Carrera GTS models measuring 408 mm on the front axle and 380 mm on the rear axle and the aforementioned increase in horsepower. Updated dampers with optimized hydraulics are more responsive and improve ride refinement over the preceding model. Performance-focused standard features of the prior model remain intact including Porsche Torque Vectoring Plus (PTV+) and staggered 20/21-inch Carrera S wheels. Porsche Ceramic Composite Brakes (PCCB) are available as an option, as is PASM Sport Suspension, which lowers the ride height by 10 mm. Optionally available rear axle steering offers increased agility at low speeds and greater stability at high speeds. If equipped, this system also includes a quicker steering ratio and revised front axle kinematics. How much? The new 911 Carrera S is now available to order as a Coupe or Cabriolet with rear-wheel drive and an MSRP of $146,400 and $159,600 respectively (excluding a $1,995 delivery, processing and handling fee). GULP. Delivery to dealers is expected to begin in spring 2025.
(Honda images)
Honda presented the first two models in the company’s new 0 Series line of battery electric vehicles at the 2025 Consumer Electronics Show (CES) – the Honda 0 SUV and Honda 0 Saloon prototypes. Production models based on both prototypes will launch in North America in 2026, followed by global markets. Honda also debuted its original vehicle operating system (OS), the ASIMO OS, for use in Honda 0 Series models. The use of the ASIMO name pays homage to the beloved Honda ASIMO robot and the “Wise” value of the Honda 0 Series. Additionally, Honda announced an agreement with Renesas Electronics Corporation to develop a high-performance system-on-chip, to be introduced on the next generation of 0 Series models in the late 2020s, as well as a new energy service through the Home Energy Management System to enable customers to enjoy a stress-free EV ownership experience with reduced environmental impact. Editor-in-Chief's Note: We can wait. -PMD
(RM Sotheby's)
From the "You Don't See This Every Day" File: This is the last 12-cylinder Ferrari to win the 24 Hours of Le Mans. This 1964 Ferrari 250 LM by Scaglietti was driven by Masten Gregory and Jochen Rindt for the North American Racing Team (NART) to victory in the 1965 24 Hours of Le Mans, the sixth consecutive victory at the endurance classic by the Scuderia. It remains the only privateer-entered Ferrari to win the 24 Hours of Le Mans overall. How rare is it? It is the only Ferrari built during the Enzo Ferrari era (1947 to 1988) to compete in six 24-hour races, including three times at Le Mans and three times at the 24 Hours of Daytona. It was displayed by Luigi Chinetti Motors/NART at the 1967 New York Automobile Show. This highly preserved and original example, retaining its matching-numbers engine and gearbox is being offered after 54 years of careful conservancy by the Indianapolis Motor Speedway (IMS) Museum following its purchase from Chinetti Motors a few months after completing the 24 Hours of Daytona in February 1970. Included with the machine are documented copies of 1965, 1968, and 1969 Le Mans papers, copies of paperwork from Luigi Chinetti’s ownership, 1970 purchase paperwork, parts and service invoices, and a history report by Marcel Massini. It is the sixth, and most important, of 32 examples built of the 250 LM. It will be auctioned in Paris, on February 4-5, by RM Sotheby's. Initial estimate? In excess of €25,000,000 EUR.
The AE Song of the Week:
I want you to know, that I am happy for you
I wish nothing but the best for you both
An older version of me
Is she perverted like me?
Would she go down on you in a theater?
Does she speak eloquently
And would she have your baby?
I'm sure she'd make a really excellent mother
'Cause the love that you gave that we made
Wasn't able to make it enough for you
To be open wide, no
And every time you speak her name
Does she know how you told me
You'd hold me until you died
'Til you died, but you're still alive
And I'm here, to remind you
Of the mess you left when you went away
It's not fair, to deny me
Of the cross I bear that you gave to me
You, you, you oughta know
You seem very well, things look peaceful
I'm not quite as well, I thought you should know
Did you forget about me, Mr. Duplicity?
I hate to bug you in the middle of dinner
It was a slap in the face
How quickly I was replaced
And are you thinking of me when you fuck her?
'Cause the love that you gave that we made
Wasn't able to make it enough for you
To be open wide, no
And every time you speak her name
Does she know how you told me
You'd hold me until you died
'Til you died, but you're still alive
And I'm here, to remind you
Of the mess you left when you went away
It's not fair, to deny me
Of the cross I bear that you gave to me
You, you, you oughta know
'Cause the joke that you laid in the bed
That was me and I'm not gonna fade
As soon as you close your eyes, and you know it
And every time I scratch my nails
Down someone else's back I hope you feel it
Well, can you feel it?
And I'm here, to remind you
Of the mess you left when you went away
It's not fair, to deny me
Of the cross I bear that you gave to me
You, you, you oughta know
"You Oughta Know, by Alanis Morisette from the album, "Jagged Little Pill" (1995).* Written by Alanis Nadine Morissette and Glen Ballard. Publisher: Universal Music Publishing Group. Lyrics licensed and provided by LyricFind. Watch the Official 4K Music Video here.
*This song is an angry message from a scorned ex-girlfriend directed at her former lover. (Uh, no shit. -PMD) Morissette has said it is about a specific person, but that person has not contacted her, and probably doesn't know it's about him. Morissette claims she will never say who this is about, just as Carly Simon has done with "You're So Vain." The song was rumored to be about the actor Dave Coulier, whom Morissette dated for a time. Coulier says it was in 1992 when Alanis would have been 17 or 18 years old and he would have been 32 or 33 (hence the line "an older version of me"). Coulier played Joey on the TV show Full House, and is known for his Bullwinkle impression.
In a 2008 interview with the Calgary Herald, Coulier claimed the song is about their rocky former relationship. The actor/comedian said that he first heard the track when he was driving. "I said, 'Wow, this girl is angry.' And then I said, 'Oh man, I think it's Alanis,'" Coulier revealed. "I listened to the song over and over again, and I said, 'I think I have really hurt this person.' I tried to contact her and I finally got a hold of her. And at the same time, the press was calling and saying, 'You want to comment on this song?' I called her and I said, 'Hi. Uh, what do you want me to say?' And she said, 'You can say whatever you want.' We saw each other and hung out for an entire day. And it was beautiful. It was one of those things where it was kind of like, 'We're good.'"
Coulier later said that he only admitted to being the subject of the song to placate reporters who kept asking him about it. In 2014, he told Buzzfeed: "The guy in that song is a real a-hole, so I don't want to be that guy."
The lyrics came from a journal entry Morissette wrote during what she describes as "a very devastated time." She told Spotify: "When I hear that song, I hear the anger as a protection around the searing vulnerability. I was mortified and devastated. It was a lot easier for me to be angry and feel the power from that anger versus the broken, horrified woman on the floor."
Morissette started out as a dance-pop singer, releasing her first album in her native Canada in 1991 when she was 16. Another album was released a year later, but then she was dropped from her label. Looking to change direction, she went to Los Angeles and met with producers, looking for someone to help fulfill her vision. She found her man in Glen Ballard, who worked for Quincy Jones' label and produced the first Wilson Phillips album.
They had an instant rapport and easy songwriting chemistry, completing one song every time they met for a session at Ballard's studio. "You Oughta Know" was written on October 6, 1994, after a three-month hiatus. By this time, Morissette was comfortable enough with Ballard to reveal her deeply personal lyric. After they worked up the track, she blasted out the vocal in one take.
In a Songfacts interview with Ballard, he said: "The most wonderful thing for me as a writer is to hear someone's voice in the room, and she was constantly auditioning how to do it, so at the end of the night on 'You Oughta Know,' we had a track, and she just went out and sang it one time, and since I was the engineer too, I was hoping I'd got it. It's not the best recorded vocal in the world - some of it is too hot - but that's the only time she ever sang it in the studio. Even when we were getting ready to put the record out, all those vocals were the original vocals. I've never done anything that authentically live. Really, that's what it was, a live vocal, but she's so damn good that she could pull it off. There was some talk about refining things and re-doing things, but she was adamant that there was something about the moment of creation when we did it."
Radio stations played this with different degrees of editing. The offending lines are "Would she go down on you in a theater" and "Are you thinking of me when you fuck her." Some stations played a version that completely eliminated "down" and "fuck," while others left in "down" and only cut a little of "fuck."
It took a degree of courage for Alanis to sing these lines, and it was her producer Glen Ballard who offered the crucial encouragement. Said Alanis: "I thought, This is exactly how I feel, but I don't want to hurt anybody. Glen just said, You have to do this."
Morissette didn't have a record deal when she recorded this song, and had a hard time finding any takers when she shopped it along with "Hand In My Pocket" and "Perfect" as a demo for the Jagged Little Pill album. The only major label to show interest was Madonna's Maverick Records, whose 22-year-old A&R man Guy Oseary got very excited when he heard it. He signed her to Maverick in a deal that worked out rather well for the label when the album became one of the best-sellers of the '90s. (Knowledge courtesy of Songfacts.com)
The AE Song of the Week:
I want you to know, that I am happy for you
I wish nothing but the best for you both
An older version of me
Is she perverted like me?
Would she go down on you in a theater?
Does she speak eloquently
And would she have your baby?
I'm sure she'd make a really excellent mother
'Cause the love that you gave that we made
Wasn't able to make it enough for you
To be open wide, no
And every time you speak her name
Does she know how you told me
You'd hold me until you died
'Til you died, but you're still alive
And I'm here, to remind you
Of the mess you left when you went away
It's not fair, to deny me
Of the cross I bear that you gave to me
You, you, you oughta know
You seem very well, things look peaceful
I'm not quite as well, I thought you should know
Did you forget about me, Mr. Duplicity?
I hate to bug you in the middle of dinner
It was a slap in the face
How quickly I was replaced
And are you thinking of me when you fuck her?
'Cause the love that you gave that we made
Wasn't able to make it enough for you
To be open wide, no
And every time you speak her name
Does she know how you told me
You'd hold me until you died
'Til you died, but you're still alive
And I'm here, to remind you
Of the mess you left when you went away
It's not fair, to deny me
Of the cross I bear that you gave to me
You, you, you oughta know
'Cause the joke that you laid in the bed
That was me and I'm not gonna fade
As soon as you close your eyes, and you know it
And every time I scratch my nails
Down someone else's back I hope you feel it
Well, can you feel it?
And I'm here, to remind you
Of the mess you left when you went away
It's not fair, to deny me
Of the cross I bear that you gave to me
You, you, you oughta know
"You Oughta Know, by Alanis Morisette from the album, "Jagged Little Pill" (1995).* Written by Alanis Nadine Morissette and Glen Ballard. Publisher: Universal Music Publishing Group. Lyrics licensed and provided by LyricFind. Watch the Official 4K Music Video here.
*This song is an angry message from a scorned ex-girlfriend directed at her former lover. (Uh, no shit. -PMD) Morissette has said it is about a specific person, but that person has not contacted her, and probably doesn't know it's about him. Morissette claims she will never say who this is about, just as Carly Simon has done with "You're So Vain." The song was rumored to be about the actor Dave Coulier, whom Morissette dated for a time. Coulier says it was in 1992 when Alanis would have been 17 or 18 years old and he would have been 32 or 33 (hence the line "an older version of me"). Coulier played Joey on the TV show Full House, and is known for his Bullwinkle impression.
In a 2008 interview with the Calgary Herald, Coulier claimed the song is about their rocky former relationship. The actor/comedian said that he first heard the track when he was driving. "I said, 'Wow, this girl is angry.' And then I said, 'Oh man, I think it's Alanis,'" Coulier revealed. "I listened to the song over and over again, and I said, 'I think I have really hurt this person.' I tried to contact her and I finally got a hold of her. And at the same time, the press was calling and saying, 'You want to comment on this song?' I called her and I said, 'Hi. Uh, what do you want me to say?' And she said, 'You can say whatever you want.' We saw each other and hung out for an entire day. And it was beautiful. It was one of those things where it was kind of like, 'We're good.'"
Coulier later said that he only admitted to being the subject of the song to placate reporters who kept asking him about it. In 2014, he told Buzzfeed: "The guy in that song is a real a-hole, so I don't want to be that guy."
The lyrics came from a journal entry Morissette wrote during what she describes as "a very devastated time." She told Spotify: "When I hear that song, I hear the anger as a protection around the searing vulnerability. I was mortified and devastated. It was a lot easier for me to be angry and feel the power from that anger versus the broken, horrified woman on the floor."
Morissette started out as a dance-pop singer, releasing her first album in her native Canada in 1991 when she was 16. Another album was released a year later, but then she was dropped from her label. Looking to change direction, she went to Los Angeles and met with producers, looking for someone to help fulfill her vision. She found her man in Glen Ballard, who worked for Quincy Jones' label and produced the first Wilson Phillips album.
They had an instant rapport and easy songwriting chemistry, completing one song every time they met for a session at Ballard's studio. "You Oughta Know" was written on October 6, 1994, after a three-month hiatus. By this time, Morissette was comfortable enough with Ballard to reveal her deeply personal lyric. After they worked up the track, she blasted out the vocal in one take.
In a Songfacts interview with Ballard, he said: "The most wonderful thing for me as a writer is to hear someone's voice in the room, and she was constantly auditioning how to do it, so at the end of the night on 'You Oughta Know,' we had a track, and she just went out and sang it one time, and since I was the engineer too, I was hoping I'd got it. It's not the best recorded vocal in the world - some of it is too hot - but that's the only time she ever sang it in the studio. Even when we were getting ready to put the record out, all those vocals were the original vocals. I've never done anything that authentically live. Really, that's what it was, a live vocal, but she's so damn good that she could pull it off. There was some talk about refining things and re-doing things, but she was adamant that there was something about the moment of creation when we did it."
Radio stations played this with different degrees of editing. The offending lines are "Would she go down on you in a theater" and "Are you thinking of me when you fuck her." Some stations played a version that completely eliminated "down" and "fuck," while others left in "down" and only cut a little of "fuck."
It took a degree of courage for Alanis to sing these lines, and it was her producer Glen Ballard who offered the crucial encouragement. Said Alanis: "I thought, This is exactly how I feel, but I don't want to hurt anybody. Glen just said, You have to do this."
Morissette didn't have a record deal when she recorded this song, and had a hard time finding any takers when she shopped it along with "Hand In My Pocket" and "Perfect" as a demo for the Jagged Little Pill album. The only major label to show interest was Madonna's Maverick Records, whose 22-year-old A&R man Guy Oseary got very excited when he heard it. He signed her to Maverick in a deal that worked out rather well for the label when the album became one of the best-sellers of the '90s. (Knowledge courtesy of Songfacts.com)
Editor's Note: Click on "Next 1 Entries" at the bottom of this page to see previous issues. - WG
