March 2019 – RPM News Weekly

SUV Trend Not Fatal To Cars

Numbers don’t lie. SUVs and crossovers have clearly overtaken sedans in the marketplace. But, suggestions that more traditional cars are taking a final bow are misplaced. Just ask the folks at Honda. Even with the introduction of their all-new mid-size Passport sport utility vehicle, they are still putting a lot of faith in their tried-and-true compact Civic sedan.

Produced by Rich Taber & Peter Ciani for RPM News Weekly

Numbers don’t lie.
SUVs and crossovers have clearly overtaken sedans in the marketplace. But, suggestions that more traditional cars are taking a final bow are misplaced. Just ask the folks at Honda. Even with the introduction of their all-new mid-size Passport sport utility vehicle, they are still putting a lot of faith in their tried-and-true compact Civic sedan.

At a recent meeting of the New England Motor Press Association, representatives from Honda brought along both of these models and gave those in attendance clear indications of the automaker’s unswerving commitment to these two sides of the automobile market.

In addition, Cox Automotive Executive Analyst, Michelle Krebs, was on hand to take everyone through the numbers, pointing to statistics that verified the current SUV trend, while more importantly bringing some insight into what’s really going on in the car market.

RPM News Weekly’s Rich Taber chatted with Michelle Krebs after the meeting, discussing automotive sales trends and what might be on the horizon – including where electric vehicles fit into the picture.

Watch the video and enjoy the conversation.

Rest assured, sedans are not dead. But don’t hold your breath for a comeback.

Chart: Cars Remain in Top 5 Sales Spots — *illustration courtesy of Cox Automotive*

SuperCrewsin’ with the Ford F-150

High output is exactly what Tech Talk commentator Rick DeMeis got from the 2019 Ford F-150 4×4 SuperCrew along with a few other timely surprises while cruisin’ through one of winter’s last hurrahs in a ruby red edition of America’s favorite pickup truck.

3-26-19 Tech Talk

~ Recorded Live from KOWS FM 92.5 ~

High output is exactly what Tech Talk commentator Rick DeMeis got from the 2019 Ford F-150 4×4 SuperCrew along with a few other timely surprises while cruisin’ through one of winter’s last hurrahs in a ruby red edition of America’s favorite pickup truck. Also, there’s news about the SpaceX StarHopper and the grounding of the Boeing 737 MAX. In addition, the Hubble space telescope finds stormy weather on Neptune (rhymes with spoon and moon and June if you’re so inclined), while the James Webb telescope is still on the line prepping for its debut. Meanwhile, Mitsubishi channels Yoshimi with a cadre of fire fighting robots.
Tech Talk is a weekly feature on KOWS 92.5 FM radio Newtopian Dream program hosted by RT Newt.

Ride of the Week:

Ford F-150 4×4 SuperCrew

2019 Ford F-150 Limited Footage: Ford Media

LED Headlamps
Power Running Boards
Moonroof
Heated seats
Adjustable Pedals
Adaptive Cruise Control
Bang & Olufsen Audio
Seat Massage
10-speed automatic transmission
450-hp High Output 3.5L V6 EcoBoost
4×4 on the Fly

2019 Ford F-150 Limited; Photo: www.ford.com
2019 Ford F-150 Limited; Photo: www.ford.com
2019 Ford F-150 Limited; Photo: www.ford.com
2019 Ford F-150 Limited; Photo: www.ford.com

Musk Minute

StarHopper Static Test

In Other Tech News:

Boeing 737 MAX Grounding

Aircraft/engine make, model, and series: The Boeing Company Model 737-8 and 737-9 airplanes (737 MAX)
U.S.-registered fleet: 74 airplanes as of March 11, 2019
Worldwide fleet: 387 airplanes as of March 11, 2019

Hubble and the Storms of Neptune

Fire Fighting Robots

Sultry Lexus ES Ultra Lux Beckons

Tech Talk commentator Rick DeMeis experiences the wow-factor of the 2019 Lexus ES 350 Ultra Luxury model and reminisces about the mysteries of Corinthian leather.

3-19-19 Tech Talk

~ Recorded Live from KOWS FM 92.5 ~

Tech Talk commentator Rick DeMeis experiences the wow-factor of the 2019 Lexus ES 350 Ultra Luxury model and reminisces about the mysteries of Corinthian leather. There are also important announcements from Volvo’s Polestar marque and automaker Peugeot (remember them). Rick also provides an exciting Musk Minute update, and then gravitates over to a recap of the Apollo 50 plus 50 Celebration at MIT in Cambridge. There’s news from Canada’s University of Waterloo, too.
Tech Talk is a weekly feature on KOWS 92.5 FM radio Newtopian Dream program hosted by RT Newt.

Ride of the Week:

2019 Lexus ES 350 Ultra Luxury

Perforated semi-aniline leather interior trim
Wood trim w/ ambient lighting
14-way power-adjustable driver’s seat
Heated & ventilated seats
Amazon Alexa & Apple CarPlay
Onboard Wi-Fi™ and remote smartwatch functionality
Optional 12.3-inch split-screen multimedia sys. w/ navigation
302-hp V6 engine
8-speed automatic transmission w/ paddle shifters
Three Drive Modes – Eco, Normal, Sport
Low-light pedestrian detection
Daytime bicyclist detection
Triple-Beam LED headlamps
Panorama glass roof
Power open/close trunk w/ kick sensor
Lateral performance dampers

2019 Kia Niro for EV-er

This week Tech Talk commentator Rick DeMeis puts the all-electric Kia Niro EV through its paces around suburban Boston. Rick also provides an update on the Crew Dragon recent mission to the International Space Station.

3-12-19 Tech Talk

~ Recorded Live from KOWS FM 92.5 ~

This week Tech Talk commentator Rick DeMeis puts the all-electric Kia Niro EV through its paces around suburban Boston and winds up wishing that his driveway was situated closer to the electric outlet on his back patio. Rick also provides an update on the Crew Dragon recent mission to the International Space Station in the weekly Musk Minute segment. Then, Rick’s University Report brings listeners up to date with new technological developments that have emerged from cutting-edge research at several institutions for higher education. Tech Talk is a weekly feature on KOWS 92.5 FM radio Newtopian Dream program hosted by RT Newt.