Happy New Year, GRHS, from your favorite (and only) automotive journalist in the Glen Echo. 2023 was an ok year for car people. To send off the year, I’m counting down the car world’s top 6 successes and failures of 2023. Also, each title is a cheeky music reference.
Here Comes The Revuelto
The Aventador was finally put to rest this year. This sounds bad, I know. But Lamborghini did this to make room for its successor, the Revuelto. Say that name 3 times fast. Named after a Spanish fighting bull, like most Lamborghinis, but the Revuelto is the first hybrid the Italian manufacturer has made. It boasts a V12 and 3 electric motors, making a combined 1001 dalmatians horsepower. Impressive. While some may be opposed to hybrids, I’m all for it. They use the electric motors to putt around at low speeds, and use the engine for both charging and higher-end power. This eliminates the inefficiency of gas cars at low speeds. I think the Revuelto is a great car. The design is a tad too futuristic for my taste, but being outlandish is sort of Lamborghini’s thing. They can have this one.
High Hopes (for a V12 model)
For any of the 12 Aston Martin fans, the DB12 replaced the DB11 (who could’ve guessed). It has a twin turbo V8 with 671 horsepower. Unfortunately, a V12 engine is not offered. Still, it can tear its way to 202 miles per hour, which is nothing to sneeze at. It’s a lot different from the DB11, but a lot the same, too. It’s got new lights, but is mostly the same size and shape. I mean, it’s also simpler. It’s got less detail, and it’s honestly not doing it any favors. The DB11 is just more out there. The DB12 looks like a Tesla. Sorry, I take that back, too harsh. Despite my small qualms, this is a good thing. It’s one more car company which hasn’t made a soulless EV. Yet.
Eye Of The Bull
You can’t talk about 2023’s automotive news without talking about Max. Max Verstappen is everyone’s favorite boy racer. He’s an F1 driver for Red Bull, and he absolutely swept up the competition this year. He ran a 12-race winning streak, the longest in F1 history. He took home two championships, 19 wins, and 21 podium finishes. F1 spiked in popularity in 2023, close to doubling in viewership. No doubt partially because of golden boy over here. Max is genuinely a stupefyingly good driver. His skill is virtually unmatched, and he works for the worst-tasting energy drink with the best sponsor deals. Red Bull’s F1 season was grand, and Max helped shoot them to the top. Like, it was not even close. Red Bull beat Mercedes, in 2nd, by over double their points. Wow. Here’s to many more, Toro Rosso, I’m still gonna drink Monster.
The Dodge EV Fought the Gasoline, and the Gasoline Won
Where do I start? The design is atrocious. Dodge should honestly be ashamed. The front is pretty horrendous, with the “grille” being somewhat of a front spoiler. They really tried their hardest with the front, trying to insinuate that this is a Challenger. But it’s not. It’s a Charger. People clown on the fake exhaust sounding like a vacuum cleaner, but I disagree. I think it sounds pretty cool, kind of like a growling puma. But also a vacuum cleaner. The Charger EV was featured at the New York International Auto Show, I saw it myself. And the funniest thing was- no one was looking at it. Everyone was averting their eyes, and I don’t blame them. This is no way to go electric, Dodge. Be better.
I’m Sorry Mr. Sainz (Woo), I Am For Real
The Las Vegas F1 GP was a joke. The incident in question involved Carlos Sainz and a manhole cover. Carl was on a practice lap, when he hit something. It was a loose drain cover. The chassis, battery, and engine were all damaged. Carlos also took the fall for the repair costs, being bumped 10 places. The Fédération Internationale de l’Automobile (FIA) noted they would have voided the penalty, but the rules don’t allow it. Two cars were damaged in the mishap, and this isn’t even a new thing- this happened 5 separate times before this, all within the last 20 years.
Movin’ Out (Challenger’s Song)
This one hurt. Dodge has finally put the Dodge Challenger (and Charger) to rest. The final Dodge Challenger Demon SRT 170 rolled off of the production line on December 22, 2023. It sucks, seeing a staple in not only muscle car culture- but car culture in general fade away. This car makes 1025 horses. It’s truly impressive. It has a 0-60 of 1.66 seconds and a quarter mile of 8.91 seconds. It can reach speeds of up to 215 mph. It’s sad to see an old friend like the Challenger go, but it’s a hell of a sendoff.
