Podcasts – Page 10 – RPM News Weekly

Ford F-350 Comes Loaded & Payload Ready

9-15-20 Tech Talk

~ Recorded Live from KOWS FM 92.5 ~

Tech Talk commentator Rick DeMeis had his hands full this week, quite literally, while test driving the 2020 Ford F-350 Super Duty pickup. Here’s a big, brawny, work-ready truck that’s capable of towing up to 37,000 pounds when properly equipped, yet when driving unloaded, mostly highway, it delivered our host upwards of 22 miles per gallon.
Even so, penny-pinching is not what this truck is all about. Just checkout some of the many amenities listed below for the Platinum trim… Oh, and its price tag starts in luxury vehicle territory at $66,235.
Don’t stop there. Keep listening for important technology updates that include a new road surface material made by mixing concrete building rubble and old tires, a quick report on the upcoming Starship flight test, possible life in the Venusian atmosphere, a new way to recycle lithium-ion batteries, and a few more tantalizing techno tidbits to savor.

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 F-350 Super Duty Platinum Crew Cab 4×4

photos courtesy of Ford Media

Features Of The Ford F-350 Super Duty Crew Cab As Tested

6.7-liter Intercooled Turbo Diesel V-8
475 horsepower / 1050 lb.-ft. of Torque
10-Speed Automatic w/ SelectShift
Drive Modes: Normal, Tow/Haul, Eco, Sand/Snow, Slippery
4×4 Four Wheel Drive – Selectable
Maximum Conventional Towing: 24,200 lbs.
Maximum Gooseneck Towing: 37,000 lbs.
Push-Button Tailgate w/ Step
Moonroof
Dark Marsala Leather Interior
10-way Power Front Seat
10-speaker Bang & Olufsen Audio
Starting at $66,235 MSRP for Platinum Trim

“For 2020 Super Duty gets new trailering technology including available class-exclusive Pro Trailer Backup Assist^™, which makes negotiating even the largest trailers into the tightest of spaces easier than ever before. With hands off the steering wheel, drivers use the Pro Trailer Backup Assist knob to steer the trailer via the reverse camera. Trailer Reverse Guidance shows trailer angle and direction and provides steering suggestions to most efficiently direct a trailer backward. Both systems are built to accommodate all trailer styles, including conventional, fifth-wheel and gooseneck designs.” ~ Ford Media

photo courtesy of NASA/JPL-Caltech/MSSS

Nanyang Tech U Uses Orange Peels To Recycle Li-ion Batteries

Vinyl Record Sales Exceed CD Sales

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

EV Makers Lucid, Rivian, Nikola Mark Big Week

It is a rare week indeed when automotive headlines are dominated by electric vehicle manufacturers, but a triad of happenings has achieved what no amount of assuaging the press on their own could have accomplished for Lucid Motors, Rivian or Nikola Corp. In no particular order, Lucid unveiled the production version of their much-acclaimed all-electric Air luxury sedan and is now taking orders for 2021 deliveries; meanwhile, Rivian has begun the manufacturing of its all-electric R1T pickup truck which are rolling off the assembly line as you read this; and finally, early in the week stock soared for Nikola Corp. on news that they had landed a sweet deal to have GM manufacture the fuel cell electric Badger pickup, only to have things up-ended by an unfavorable report from a short-seller that sent the company’s stock plunging by the end of the week. Life in the fast lane it is.
RPM News Weekly Podcast hosts Peter Ciani and Rich Taber cover it all. Have a listen and make a comment. You can also find the RPM News Weekly Podcast on Stitcher.com.
While you’re here please be kind enough to subscribe, and be sure to check out the videos on our YouTube Channel.

Segment Locations on the Scrub Bar

00:00 Introduction
01:50 Lucid Air Production Model Unveiled
23:12 Rivian Begins Manufacturing The R1T
26:45 Nikola Slammed By Short-Seller
36:45 The GM Deal With Nikola

Lucid Motors

“Outfitted with the world’s most advanced production line equipment, the factory will have the initial capacity to produce 10,000 cars a year — and over 300,000 annually with planned expansion.” ~ Lucid Motors

Rivian R1T

Rivian RT1 — The Rivian R1T dusting it up.
*photo courtesy of Rivian Media*

“We believe there is a more responsible way to explore the world and are determined to make the transition to sustainable transportation an exciting one.” ~ Rivian

Nikola Badger

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

00:00 Introduction
03:50 EV News Preface
04:55 ElectraMeccanica Solo
10:40 Tesla Cybertruck
14:10 Rivian R1T
17:45 The Lawsuit: Tesla vs. Rivian
37:33 Interview: Rivian Special Projects Chief Engineer Brian Gase

ElectraMeccanica Solo

photos courtesy of ElectraMeccanica media

Tesla Cybertruck

“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.

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?

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

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.

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