“So this is Christmas and what have you done, another year over, a new one just begun…” ~ John Lennon
As suggested by these song lyrics, which I’ve heard so often lately, I’m beginning to imagine I wrote them myself, it is Christmas and another year is over, perhaps some self examination is due.
In that spirit, I’ve opened up the RPM News Weekly library of 2018 videos to see just what we’ve done over the last year. Surprisingly, there’s more there than I remembered, AND a lot of viewers took the time to watch and enjoy the work. For this, everyone here at RPM News Weekly is grateful.
Some of what we presented got lots more attention from our audience than the rest. Although this is to be expected, we don’t presume to know exactly why particular stories fared better than others.
But since it is Christmas and we are inexorably heading into a new year, what better time to sit back and review with you the ten most popular RPM News Weekly videos of 2018!
#1: 2018 Dodge Challenger GT AWD Does Snow
“You guys must really love this car..It’s the second time you’ve featured it in a year” ~ White_Rook
This YouTube commenter is correct, we do love the Dodge Challenger AWD. Not only did we get to drive it pretty hard in the woods of New Hampshire, but Rich got a taste what it’s like to drive the Challenger AWD in the real world, with real weather.
So far Challenger GT AWD Does Snow is proving to be our most popular video, not just for this year, but on our YouTube channel in general.
People either really like snow.. or the Dodge Challenger. I’m guessing the latter.
Read the full story here
#2: All- New 2019 Honda Insight Hybrid | New York International Auto Show
We were pretty excited to see the new Honda Insight at the 2018 New York Auto Show. Thankfully, Honda Senior Product planner Chris Hand took a few moments out of his busy day to tell us all about it.
#3: 2018 Jeep Wrangler JL at NYIAS w/ Scott Tallon – RPM News Extra
Given the popularity of the Jeep Wrangler, it’s no surprise that a ‘first look’ at the new Wrangler JL from the 2018 New York Auto Show got the #3 spot on our list.
Thank you to Jeep for taking us on a jouncy ride in their test area. Being able to step outside and go Jeeping always provides a welcome break from the heady excitement of the NY Auto Show.
Read the full story here
#4: 2019 RAM 1500 North Edition Debut
RAM surprised New England Motor Press Association members by debuting the winter-ready RAM 1500 North Edition. Should we be surprised by the amount of interest readers & viewers have in it?
Read the full story here
#5: RPM Drives: 2019 smart EQ fortwo
When smart rolls out a new model it’s no small affair.. Oh, wait, yes it is.
The automaker brought the renamed smart EQ fortwo to the headquarters of the New England Motor Press Association shortly after the model joined the Mercedes EQ EV family.
Field correspondent Rane Newcomb, having never previously driven a smart, took this opportunity to get behind the wheel. What he found (besides that it rides “like a normal car”) is that the smart EQ fortwo is really fun to drive in a circle.
Read the full story here
#6: 2018 Mitsubishi Outlander PHEV – RPM News New Model Introduction
Aside from the new Eclipse Cross, you could say that Mitsubishi hasn’t put out the planet’s ‘most interesting’ vehicles in recent years. But, after driving the Mitsubishi Outlander PHEV, we were so impressed with how well it functions – not just as ‘normal’ SUV, but as a plug-in hybrid electric vehicle as well, that we knew we had an obligation to do a short video to introduce America to this exciting electric vehicle – one that, as Rich Taber points-out in the voiceover, “doesn’t have the name Tesla attached to it.”
Read the full story here
#7: Mass Cruisers Engine Build-off 2018
Although the Engine Build-off was not RPM News Weekly’s most watched video of the year, putting this video together was our favorite project for 2018.
Not only did we get to partner with the folks at Mesh Magazine & The Mass Cruisers Auto Club to help film the Engine build off, but we got to put Rich in a rickety old Go Kart.
If you haven’t watched the video yet, here’s the run down:
Teams of students race to rebuild small Briggs & Stratton lawn mower engines. I’d tell you more, but I want you to watch the video..
Read the full story here.
#8: Boston Auto Show: GeoOrbital Rides Toward Future
Maybe you’ve seen the guys from GeoOrbital on CNBC’s Shark Tank – the sharks didn’t buy into the company, but they did end up buying 2 wheels.
We encountered GeoOrbital at the New England International Auto Show. After seeing a few people having fun zipping around on vehicles using the company’s innovative bicycle wheel, we couldn’t resist joining in. We talk to the developers about their product and their vision for the future, too.
Read the full story here
#9: RPM News: 2018 Hyundai Ioniq Hybrid
Ioniq, like Ironic.
Sure, we may have originally mispronounced the car’s name… live and learn.
Read the full story here
#10: Q & A on 2019 Jeep Cherokee at NYIAS w/ Scott Tallon –RPM News Extra
From driving the AWD Challenger to our introduction to the new Wrangler, it’s been a very ‘FCA’ kind of year.
Here, Jeep Brand Director Scott Tallon provides a run down of the newly refreshed Jeep Cherokee at the 2018 New York International Auto show.
Read the full story here
We’ve had a good year here at RPM News, and have a lot planned for 2019 to grow the site and the RPM News Weekly brand. So, be sure to subscribe to our youtube channel and thanks for watching!
