Tesla Serves Rivian Poached Execs Suit

Is it a case of Tesla executives taking flight with too much baggage, or of Rivian over-reaching for the brass ring? RPM News Weekly Podcast hosts Peter Ciani and Rich Taber take it all in as the EV wars suddenly drag down Main Street in not-so-quiet fashion. Have a listen, make a comment, and please be kind enough to subscribe here and on our YouTube Channel.
You can also find the RPM News Weekly Podcast on Stitcher.com

Segment Locations on the Scrub Bar


ElectraMeccanica Solo

photos courtesy of ElectraMeccanica media


Tesla Cybertruck

photo courtesy of Tesla

“Cybertruck is designed to have the utility of a truck and the performance of a sports car. The vehicle is built to be durable, versatile and capable, with exceptional performance both on-road and off-road. Cybertruck will come in three variants: Single Motor Rear-Wheel Drive, Dual Motor All-Wheel Drive, and Tri Motor All-Wheel Drive.” ~ Tesla Media


Rivian R1T

photos courtesy of Rivian Media

All-New BMW 8 Series Gran Coupe Needs No Grab Bar

8-25-20 Tech Talk

~ Recorded Live from KOWS FM 92.5 ~

Basking in the sumptuous grandeur of the all-new BMW 840i Gran Coupe this week, Tech Talk commentator Rick DeMeis discovers that luxury may come with a price that’s hard to swallow but also hard to complain about considering the near perfection of the drive. Tune in while he goes over the features and the numbers.
Also, there’s plenty of other technology news including a tonneau bed cover made of solar panels and a robo-glove that’s earned “invention of the year” accolades.

Rick's Tech Talk A weekly feature on KOWS 92.5 FM radio Newtopian Dream program hosted by RT Newt.

Enjoy listening to your favorite episodes while you drive.
Tune in to Tech Talk on Stitcher.
https://app.stitcher.com/browse/feed/549366/episodes


Ride of the Week:

2020 BMW 840i Gran Coupe

photos courtesy of BMW USA Media

As Driven

  • 3.0-L Twin-Turbo 6-cylinder Engine
  • 350 hp; 368 lb-ft of Torque
  • 8-speed Steptronic Sport Automatic Transmission
  • 22 City / 29 Hwy / 24 Combined EPA Mileage Rating
  • Active Guard and Active Protection
    Automatic seat belt tensioning
    Automatic Closing of Windows
    Fatigue & Focus Alert
    Post-Crash Braking
    Frontal Collision Warning w/ City Collision Mitigation
  • Live Cockpit Professional w/ iDrive 7
    incl. Apple CarPlay Compatibility
  • Remote Engine Start
  • Dynamic Damper Control
  • M Sport Differential
  • Comfort Access Keyless Entry & Soft-Close Automatic Doors
  • Panoramic Moonroof
  • Heated Sport Seats, Armrest & Steering Wheel
  • Nappa Leather Instrument Panel Finish
  • Head-Up Display
  • Icon Adaptive LED Headlights W BMW Laserlight
  • 464 watt, 16-speaker Harman-Kardon Surround Sound Audio Sys.
  • Wireless Charging & WiFi Hotspot
  • Driving Assistance Pkg. incl. Blind Spot Detection & Lane Departure Warning
  • M Sport Package
  • Comfort Seating Package w/ Heated & Ventilated Front Seats & Heated Rear Seats

Musk Minute:

Starship Runs Static Fire Test

 Falcon 9 Demonstrates Reusability


In Other Automotive News:

Pickup Truck Tonneau Bed Cover Employs Solar Panels


More Tech News:

Election Day Coincides With Asteroid Fly-By

NASA Awards Commercial Invention Of The Year To Roboglove

NASA Explore Nano-Tech Oil Additive


Need A Face Mask?

Tech Talk listeners can receive a discount on stylish, high quality face masks purchased from Needham, MA-based Rafi Nova. Just used the Code KOWSRADIO at checkout. Rafi Nova is a fair-trade and sustainable fashion brand. Find them at rafinova.com


Ford Features Bronco, Mach 1 For NEMPA Road Rally

RPM News Podcast 8-18-20

Ordinarily, come summer, the New England Motor Press Association would stage their annual Ragtop Ramble whereby journalists and auto manufacturing reps jaunt from the Larz Anderson Auto Museum in Brookline, MA up to Kennebunkport, Maine’s Colonial Inn in a spectacular assortment of convertibles, performance cars and other “crustaceous” (aka non-convertible) vehicles to enjoy a lobster dinner. This year, with the pandemic putting the kibosh on social gatherings, NEMPA switched gears and created a DIY road rally for members to get out into the open air and share their experiences in a vehicle of choice while gathering points by completing a series of challenges and posting them on social media.
To keep things interesting, Ford Motor Co., Fiat Chrysler of America and convertible fabric maker Haatrz Corp. ponied up some sponsorship prizes.
Naturally, RPM News podcast hosts Peter Ciani and Rich Taber would find this all to be a most worthy topic for discussion, especially the part where Ford posted a few exclusive videos for the event featuring the all-new Bronco and Mustang Mach 1.
Have a listen to find out more. Oh, and btw, for the rally, Peter drove up to the White Mountains of New Hampshire in a Ford Super Duty F-350 Tremor with the monstrous new 7.3-liter engine and Rich cranked up the turbocharged MultiAir 1.4-liter engine in his 2013 Dodge Dart Limited, popped open the sunroof and headed out toward Cape Cod.

Segment Locations On The Scrub Bar

  • 00:00 Introduction
  • 01:40 NEMPA Ragtop Road Rally
  • 04:00 2020 Ford Super Duty F-350 XLT Tremor
  • 07:54 2013 Dodge Dart Limited Turbo
  • 14:05 cont. 2020 Ford Super Duty F-350
  • 21:05 2021 Ford Mustang Mach 1
  • 25:25 2021 Ford Bronco

NEMPA Ragtop Road Rally

2021 Ford Mustang Mach 1

video courtesy of Ford Media


2021 Ford Bronco

video courtesy of Ford Media


Ford Ranger Rides Smooth, Plays Hard

8-04-20 Tech Talk

~ Recorded Live from KOWS FM 92.5 ~

Right-sized for those buyers who want the convenience of an SUV with the versatility of compact truck, the 2020 Ford Ranger Super Crew proves to Tech Talk commentator Rick DeMeis that it is indeed a welcome addition to the Ford family of pickups, delivering both comfort and capability. Listen in to the full podcast for more details.
Other news on tap this week includes a virtual road rally hosted by the New England Motor Press Association, an electric version of the classic AC Cobra, a SpaceX update, plastic eating crustaceans, Airbus auto-pilot testing and a Mach 3 airliner.

Rick's Tech Talk a weekly feature on KOWS 92.5 FM radio Newtopian Dream program hosted by RT Newt.

Enjoy listening to your favorite episodes while you drive.
Tune in to Tech Talk on Stitcher.
https://app.stitcher.com/browse/feed/549366/episodes


Ride of the Week:

2020 Ford Ranger Super Crew 4×4

photos above by Gerry Miles for NEMPA Ragtop Road Rally 2020

Features Of The Ford Ranger Super Crew As Tested

  • 2.3-liter EcoBoost® Engine
  • 270 horsepower / 310 lb.-ft. of Torque
  • 10-speed Automatic Transmisssion
  • 4×4 Four Wheel Drive – Selectable
  • 7500-pound Towing Capability
  • 20 City / 24 Highway / 22 Combined MPG
  • 4-star Safety Rating
  • Pre-Collision Assist w/ Automatic Emergency Braking
  • Blind Spot Information Sys. w/ Cross Traffic Alert
  • Lane Keeping System  
  • FX4 Off-Road Package
  • Auto Start-Stop Technology
  • $46,910 MSRP as driven

photos above courtesy of Ford Motor Company

“Anchored by a high-strength steel frame and powered by a 2.3-liter EcoBoost® boasting 270 horsepower and 310 lb.-ft. of torque paired to an efficient 10-speed automatic, the all-new Ranger is available in either SuperCab or SuperCrew configuration. It can be optioned with 4×2 or 4×4, and comes in three trim levels – XL, XLT and Lariat. Stylish Black, classic Chrome and slick Sport Appearance Packages are available.” ~ Ford Media


In Other Automotive News

NEMPA Ragtop Road Rally


Electric AC Cobra

Photo courtesy of AC Cars (England) Ltd.


Musk Minute

SpaceX Crew Dragon Returns


More Tech News

Crustaceans Transform Plastic Into Nano Particles


Airbus Tests Autonomous Pilot Takeoff & Landing


Virgin Galactic Announces Design For Mach 3 Supersonic Airliner

Photo Courtesy of Virgin Galactic


Need A Face Mask?

Tech Talk listeners can receive a discount on stylish, high quality face masks purchased from Needham, MA-based Rafi Nova. Just used the Code KOWSRADIO at checkout. Rafi Nova is a fair-trade and sustainable fashion brand. Find them at rafinova.com