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 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


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.

Rick's Tech Talk 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
image courtesy of MINIUSA

In Other Automotive News

Ford Introduces The All-New Bronco

Pre-production versions of the 2021 Bronco, shown here, include
Bronco two-door in Cyber Orange Metallic Tri-Coat and Bronco four-door in Cactus Gray.
photo courtesy of Ford media

BMW To Use Subscription Model For Features


Musk Minute

Boring Co. To Build Hyperloop 10k Test Track


Space News

NASA: Perseverance Mars Probe Faces Pandemic Scheduling


More Tech News

Carbonated Cement


Loughborough University: Energy Efficient Water-Filled Glass


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


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.

Rick's Tech Talk 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?

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


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 

photo courtesy of H2X Australia

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?

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


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

Artist concept of SpaceX Starship on surface of the Moon.
Credits: SpaceX

Artist concept of Blue Origin National Team crewed lander on the surface of Moon.
Credits: Blue Origin

Artist concept of Dynetics Human Landing System on surface of the Moon.
Credits: Dynetics

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