Podcasts – Page 11 – RPM News Weekly

MINI Cooper EV Amps Up The Fun

7-07-20 Tech Talk

~ Recorded Live from KOWS FM 92.5 ~

Balancing performance and range in a way that ensures the 2021 MINI Cooper SE all-electric vehicle doesn’t disappoint, this week’s Ride of the Week put Tech Talk commentator Rick DeMeis on notice that either he was going to have fun driving this car or he might as well just leave it parked in the driveway. Others may shout, “RANGE, RANGE, RANGE” while the MINI Cooper EV stays true to the essence of the brand’s unique DNA giving MINI lovers one more reason to get in gear and get happy.
There’s also news in this week’s episode about the return of the Ford Bronco, Musk’s Boring Co. building a test track, an update from NASA on the Perseverance launch and innovative tech solutions such as carbonated cement and water-filled window glass.

a weekly feature on KOWS 92.5 FM radio Newtopian Dream program hosted by RT Newt.

Ride of the Week:

2021 MINI Cooper SE Electric

video clips courtesy of MINIUSA

Features Of The MINI Cooper SE Iconic Electric As Tested

All-Electric Vehicle
181 Horsepower / 199 lb.-ft. of Torque
Lithium Ion Traction Battery w/ 7.4 kW Onboard Charger
Remote Charging
1-speed Automatic Transmission w/Driver Selectable Mode
115 City / 100 Highway / 109 Combined MPGe
8.8″ Touchscreen Navigation System
Apple CarPlay Compatibility
MINI Head-Up Display
Harman/Kardon Premium Sound System
Heated Front Seats
Auto-Dimming Interior & Exterior Mirrors
Power-Folding Mirrors
17″ x 7″ 2-Tone Wheels – MINI Electric Corona Spoke
Performance Summer Tires
Panoramic Moonroof
Parking Assistant
Park Distance Control
Forward Collision Mitigation
Back-Up Camera
Remote Heating & Cooling
$36,900 MSRP As Driven

Need A Face Mask?

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Sonata Hybrid Melds Tech With Fun

6-23-20 Tech Talk

~ Recorded Live from KOWS FM 92.5 ~

A Technology Tour de Force is the over-arching term Tech Talk commentator Rick DeMeis uses to describe the 2020 Hyundai Sonata Limited Hybrid press vehicle he tested on a drive from the metro west suburbs of Boston to upstate New York and back. But, the week-long experience with the 5-passenger sedan was clearly more enjoyable than a detached, cold, hard look at the spec sheets. Have a listen to find out why.
Rick then digs into a report from iseecars.com on the ups and downs and ups again of used car sales in the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic. Then it’s on to a study from Ford Motor Company that tries to answer the question, “Why do Americans love their trucks?”
There’s also some discussion about SpaceX launches that could get too noisy for land-based operations and a bit about Virgin Galactic taking private citizens in orbit.
Meanwhile on the medical front, smart bandages with built-in sensors and an upper body robot for stroke victims round out this week ‘s report.

a weekly feature on KOWS 92.5 FM radio Newtopian Dream program hosted by RT Newt.

Ride of the Week:

2020 Hyundai Sonata Hybrid

photos courtesy of Hyundai Media

Features Of The Hyundai Sonata Hybrid Limited As Tested

Hybrid Gasoline-Electric Vehicle
2.0-liter Engine w/ 150 Horsepower / 139 lb.-ft. of Torque
Electric Motor w/ 39 kW (51 HP) / 151 lb.-ft. of Torque
192 Horsepower Combined System Output
6-speed Hybrid Automatic Transmission
EPA-estimated 45 City / 51 Highway / 47 Combined mpg
Eco-Friendly Design Cues Improve Aerodynamics
Active Grille Shutters
Aerodynamic Wheels
Taillight Vortex Generators
0.24 Drag Coefficient
Solar Roof System Outputs 205 Watts
All LED Lighting
Heated & Ventilated Front Seats
BOSE 12-speaker Audio System
Forward Collision-Avoidance Assist w/ Pedestrian Detection
Blind Spot Collision Avoidance-Assist
Rear Cross Traffic Collision Avoidance-Assist
Lane Keeping Assist
$35,300 MSRP As Driven

Solar Roof System
Hyundai Sonata Hybrid’s solar-panel roof directly charges the 12-volt and hybrid batteries and outputs 205 watts of electricity. This system has several benefits:
• Mileage increases by about 2 miles per day
• Helps prevent battery discharge from infotainment or HVAC systems when the car is off
• Unique design cue ~ Hyundai Media

In Other Automotive News

Pandemic Affects Used Car Sales

Ford Pickup Truck Survey

Space News

Offshore Spaceports For Starship Rockets

“We need to be far enough away so as not to bother heavily populated areas. The launch & landing are not subtle. But you could get within a few miles of the spaceport in a boat” ~
Elon Musk from Twitter post

Virgin Galactic Private Trips To International Space Station

More Tech News

Tufts University / UC Santa Cruz Smart Bandages Monitor Wounds

Harmony Bionics Develops Exo-Skeleton For Stroke Rehab

Need A Face Mask?

Chevy Bolt Connects Positively

6-16-20 Tech Talk

~ Recorded Live from KOWS FM 92.5 ~

If one needs an incentive to shop EVs, then the popularity of the Chevrolet Bolt leaves the all-electric 5-passenger crossover at an apparent disadvantage. But, Tech Talk commentator Rick DeMeis paints a more rosy picture than what appears on the surface. No spoiler alert here. Just an invitation to listen in to the full podcast and find out why the Chevrolet Bolt makes a good case for ownership if you look closely at the numbers.
But wait! There’s more automotive news, including a report out of Australia about the H2X startup company aiming to put a hydrogen fuel cell vehicle into production by 2022 that will offer a range of over 400 miles. Also, there’s a rundown of the recent meeting that the New England Motor Press Association hosted a with Nissan lead designer Hiren Patel.
Following that are several briefs from the final frontier including NASA astronauts being transported to the International Space Station via the SpaceX Crew capsule and the Mars Rover ‘Perseverance’ testing terrain relative navigation in Death Valley.
The podcast finishes up for the week with a story from the University of Pennsylvania about micro RNA therapy to regenerate heart muscle. It’s all in a good listen.

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

Ride of the Week:

2020 Chevrolet Bolt Premier

photos courtesy of Chevrolet Media

Features Of The Chevrolet Bolt Premier As Tested

All-Electric
200 hp (150 kW), 266 lb-ft (360 N-m) Torque
EPA-estimated 259 Miles On A Full Charge
Lithium-ion Rechargeable Battery Energy Storage Sys.
Includes ‘L’ Setting For One Pedal Driving
Five-Star Safety Rating
DC Fast Charging Capability
Heated Driver & Front Passenger Seats
Automatic Heated Leather-Wrapped Steering Wheel
Portable 120-volt Charge Cord
Lane Change Alert w/ Side Blind Zone Alert
Rear Cross-Traffic Alert
Rear Parking Assist
HD Surround Vision
10.2-in. LCD Color Touchscreen
$43,735 MSRP As Driven

One Pedal Driving
While driving in Low mode at any speed, One Pedal Driving lets you speed up and slow down using only the accelerator pedal. When you want to speed up, press your foot down like you normally would. And when you want to slow down, just lift your foot off the accelerator. One Pedal Driving helps you capture some of the energy from the moving vehicle and turns it back into electrical energy which is stored in the battery. Of course, you should always use your brake pedal if you need to stop quickly. ~ Chevrolet Media

In Other Automotive News

H2X Australia Aims To Produce Sustainable Vehicles

Tesla Model S Long Range Plus Rated To Go 402 Miles On A Full Charge

NEMPA Hosts Virtual Nissan Design Presentation

Space News

Musk Says Starship Is SpaceX Top Priority

How NASA Tested Terrain Relative Navigation For Mars 2020 Rover

July 01, 2019
The Mars 2020 mission is facing the most challenging landing yet on the Red Planet. It will touch down on Feb. 18, 2021, in Jezero Crater, a 28-mile-wide (45-kilometer-wide) expanse full of steep cliffs, boulder fields and other things that could boobytrap the landing. A new technology called Terrain Relative Navigation (TRN) will allow the spacecraft to avoid hazards autonomously. ~ NASA/JPL-Caltech

More Tech News

Using MicroRNA Therapy To Regenerate Heart Muscle

Need A Face Mask?

Pre-Owned Auctions Go Virtual; Pacifica Gets AWD; Affordable Yaris Mimics Mazda2

RPM News Podcast 6-05-20

This week’s discussion kicks off on indications that online-only auctions have so satisfied dealers’ appetite for pre-owned vehicles during the pandemic that it’s to the point where auctions will never return to going live. But, RPM podcasters Rich Taber and Peter Ciani aren’t convinced that the trend is permanent. Listen in to find out why.
Also on the agenda this week is news that the Chrysler Pacifica is getting a 2020 all-wheel drive Launch Edition in advance of the release of the new 2021 models which will offer AWD in several trims.
The podcast then turns to Peter’s test car of the week – the Yaris hatchback. Considering its Mazda2 underpinnings, its a break from the string of straight-out Toyota manufactured products that he has test driven over the past month. Very affordable, too.
Join the discussion by leaving a comment.

Segment Locations On The Scrub Bar

00:00 Introduction
01:14 Pandemic Draws Plethora Of Dealers To Online Auction Market
15:25 FCA Announces AWD Chrysler Pacifica Minivan
27:50 Test Driving The Toyota Yaris In A Run Of Toyota Vehicles
38:26 Conclusion

Online-Only Auctions Adopted “At Warp Speed“

FCA Chrysler Pacifica AWD Minivan

AWD 2020 Pacifica Launch Edition
AWD 2021 Pacifica

2020 Toyota Yaris

Wheels Keep Turning At Toyota, Ford, Rivian

RPM News Podcast 5-22-20

RPM podcasters Rich Taber and Peter Ciani break their self-imposed silence of the last two months and dive right back into pressing automotive news of the week with a double dose of hybrid announcements from Toyota and a puzzling decision from Ford to back away from its investment in the all-electric upstart Rivian.
Then, after a brief update on the fate of the 2020 New York International Auto Show, the podcast concludes with a throwback to the 2019 NYIAS where RPM News Weekly interviewed Rivian Chief Engineer for Special Projects Brian Gase.
Join the discussion by leaving a comment.

Segment Locations On The Scrub Bar

00:00 Introduction
00:21 Are You Wearing A Mask?
05:10 Toyota Reveals Sienna & Venza Hybrids
18:50 Ford / Rivian Collaboration Stalls
29:50 2020 NYIAS Goes From Postponed To Cancelled
34:28 2019 NYIAS Interview w/ Rivian’s Brian Gase

2021 Toyota Sienna Hybrid

2021 Toyota Venza Hybrid

Rivian

Prius AWD-e Geared for Northern Clime

5-05-20 Tech Talk

~ Recorded Live from KOWS FM 92.5 ~

Though it didn’t break the sound barrier, the Supersonic Red Toyota Prius AWD-e that Tech Talk commentator Rick DeMeis had the pleasure to test drive this week certainly didn’t break his wallet either. Rated at a combined city / highway 50 miles per gallon, this spiffy hybrid continued to prove that burning lots of petro doesn’t chart as a fact of life in the 21st century. Plus, having electronic all-wheel drive qualifies the five-passenger sedan as a bonafide all-weather vehicle, and there’s hardly a price to pay in fuel economy for the extra safety.
The conversation turns from the Prius to a survey from iseecars.com that examines the affect the corona virus prevention measures have had on used car sales. Also on tap, the weekly Musk Minute feature tells of NASA’s contractor picks for exploring development of a 2024 moon landing.

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

Ride of the Week:

2020 Toyota Prius AWD-e

photos courtesy of Toyota Media

Features Of The Toyota Prius AWD-e As Tested

1.8-liter 4-cylinder Gasoline Engine / Two Motor-Generators
Electronic All-Wheel Drive
Five-Star Safety Rating
Pre-Collision System w/ Pedestrian Detection
Lane Departure Alert w/ Steering Assist
Automatic High Beams
Full-Speed Range Dynamic Radar Cruise Control
Blind Spot Monitor & Backup Camera
Bi-LED Projector Headlights w/ Auto On/Off
Integrated fog lights
Rain-Sensing Windshield Wipers
Head-Up Display
Qi-Compatible Wireless Smartphone Charging
$31,689 MSRP As Driven

AWD-e Electrifies Traction
In 2019, Toyota introduced the Prius AWD-e, the first-ever Prius with all-wheel drive. While enhancing traction for drivers, the Prius AWD-e upholds the model’s penchant for outstanding efficiency, with 52 mpg city / 48 mpg highway / 50 mpg combined EPA fuel economy estimates. That easily makes Prius AWD-e one of the most fuel-efficient all-wheel-drive-equipped passenger cars available in the U.S.
The “e” in AWD-e is the key to offering the extra grip of all-wheel drive while still sipping fuel. The automatic, on-demand system does not require a center differential or other torque-apportioning device, nor does it need a front-to-rear driveshaft. Instead, the “e” in AWD-e stands for electronic.
An independent electric, magnet-less rear motor (a Toyota first) powers the rear wheels away from a stop up to 6 mph, and then, when conditions demand, at speeds up to 43 mph. By recognizing when all-wheel-drive is not needed, this intelligent on-demand system runs in front-wheel drive as much as possible to maximize fuel economy. ~ Toyota Press Release

Study From iseecars.com

Cars with the Greatest Slowdown in Sales Due to COVID-19

Musk Minute:

NASA Selects Contractors To Return To Moon