This week, RPM Podcast host Peter Ciani teams up with his RPM News Weekly co-founder Rich Taber to discuss the evolution of RPM News Weekly, the Dodge Durango SRT, and New England Motor Press Association (NEMPA) winter vehicle testing that leads up to the organization’s Winter Vehicle Awards presentation at MIT in Cambridge at the end of May.
If that’s not enough for you, the RPM News duo also rambles into coverage of Formula E racing in NYC, bustin’ out the Challenger AWD in the snow at Club Motorsports in Tamworth, NH, test driving the Mitsubishi Outlander PHEV… and a bunch more.
Month: May 2019
RPM News Weekly Podcast: Jeep Gladiator
RPM News had a chance to speak with Jeep Gladiator Brand Manager Brandon Grimus at the 2019 Boston Auto show in January, now Brandon and Jeep have returned to Boston to give New England Motor Press Members a chance to test drive the newest member of the Jeep family.
On this week’s Audio Podcast Brandon speaks to NEMPA members about the numerous real-world utility features of the Gladiator and why it’s not simply “A Wrangler with a truck bed”.
The All-New Nissan Altima
On this week’s podcast, RPM News Weekly Co-Founder Rich Taber talks to Anne Corrao, Director, Chief Marketing Manager – Family Sedans & Sports Cars at Nissan North America about important safety and tech features available on all-new Altima including Safety Shield 360, ProPILOT Assist, all-wheel-drive and Nissan’s innovative Variable Compression Turbo engine.
Talking RAM Truck Sales with VP Jim Morrison
Following back-to-back presentations by RAM Truck VP Jim Morrison and Jeep Gladiator Brand Manager Brandon Girmus at the May 7 NEMPA meeting, RPM News Weekly spoke with Jim Morrison about the phenomenal success the RAM 1500 is experiencing in the light duty pickup truck marketplace. The discussion turns to how pickup trucks have evolved in terms of fuel economy and tech-savvy features and the expansive range of RAM Truck offerings from the $26,000 working truck to the luxurious new RAM 2500 and 3500 models with up to 1000 pound-feet of torque that can be optioned up to over $90,000.
7th-Gen Golf Adopts Jetta Turbo Engine
5-07-19 Tech Talk
~ Recorded Live from KOWS FM 92.5 ~
The 7th generation Golf – now in its fourth year – continues to evolve, adopting the 1.4-liter four-cylinder TSI engine found in its all-new 2019 Jetta sibling. A leap of faith for Volkswagen, one might argue, but Tech Talk commentator Rick DeMeis sings the praises of this smaller turbocharged powerplant that bestowed better than 40 mile-per-gallon fuel efficiency in his test drives – a tad greater than official ratings.
Tech Talk is a weekly feature on KOWS 92.5 FM radio Newtopian Dream program hosted by RT Newt.
Ride of the Week:
2019 Volkswagen Golf SE
- Turbocharged 1.4-liter Inline Four-Cylinder Engine
- 8-speed Automatic or 6-speed Manual Transmission
- 147 horsepower / 184 lb-ft Torque
- Start / Stop Fuel Efficient Engine Technology
- 29 City / 37 Highway / 32 Combined MPG Rating
- Rain-Sensing Wipers
- Heated Windshield Washer Nozzles
Other Automotive News
All-New Kia Telluride Comes To NEMPA
image courtesy of Kia Media
Musk Minute
SpaceX Down-Payment Billionaire Yusaku Maezawa Jokes He’s Broke?
In Other Tech News:
University of Exeter: Lung Cancer Detecting Biosensor
Portable Clothes Washing Travel Bag
New Ideas for Restoring Notre Dame Cathedral
- https://www.france24.com/en/20190511-france-notre-dame-fire-fast-reconstruction-law-macron-controversy-modern-architecture-mps
- https://www.washingtonpost.com/world/2019/05/13/panoramic-views-glass-roof-how-architects-are-reimagining-notre-dame/?utm_term=.003ab987d790
- https://mymodernmet.com/miysis-studio-notre-dame-glass-roof/
- https://www.curbed.com/2019/5/6/18529607/notre-dame-restoration-design-miysis-studio
- https://www.ubergizmo.com/2019/05/notre-dame-cathedral-glass-roof-concept/
Volkswagen Pre-Booking Their All-New, All-Electric ID.
Originally rolled out at the 2016 Paris Auto Show, the all-electric Volkswagen ID. concept is taking another step toward reality on May 8th with a Pre-Launch press conference live from Berlin.
The company seemingly appears to be taking a page from its main EV competitor Tesla by attempting to generate interest by showing off the car a bit early, taking preorders and offering a (likely pricier) Launch Edition to start.
This strategy works for Tesla and their diehard followers (Elonians? Muskivittes? Muskateers?), but can VW generate the same level of interest and enthusiasm for the ID.?
While the ID., which in concept form looks a little like a futuristic VW Golf, isn’t expected to go on sale in the U.S.A, it is an important step toward the company’s planned ‘EV future’.
The ID. kicks off Volkswagen’s all-new, EV specific, MEB Platform which the company hopes to expand into 300 all-electric model offerings by 2030.
Here in the states we can expect an all-electric Volkswagen crossover (what else?) sometime around 2022 which, according to Car and Driver, will follow the same design philosophy as the VW I.D Crozz Concept.
Or course, VW has built EVs before, notably the e-Golf, but that car is basically a compromise built off of the existing Golf chassis. Because of this the e-Golf is not as engaging to drive as the standard Golf, nor does it have the range to keep up with the more recent contenders like the Chevrolet Bolt, or the updated Nissan Leaf.
Although, in their press release VW doesn’t specifically that say they’ll be showing off the car uncovered, we’d hope that is the plan, especially if they are try to entice people to pre-book.
Jürgen Stackmann, Member of the Board of Management of the Volkswagen brand responsible for Sales, Marketing & After Sales, will provide information on the pre-booking modalities and product details.
Whether you plan on buying, or just want to check out the future of Volkswagen, you can catch the Pre-Launch Conference right here on RPM News Weekly.
Follow the press conference here on May 08, 2019, 7:00 am ET.