Tracking well on the highway is just one of many noteworthy features that Tech Talk host Rick DeMeis experienced this week in the luxurious 2021 Acura TLX Advance performance sedan. Have a listen as he goes through his observations of this top-of-the-line all-wheel drive model that offers some interesting technological innovations to keep the driver engaged while embraced in comfort and convenience. In other news, there’s a study from iseecars.com that evaluates whether it is better to go new or pre-owned for your next vehicle, followed by the weekly Musk Minute. Then it’s onward to reports on an adaptive learning program for self-driving vehicles, wireless recharging for reconnoissance drones, and a programmable odor sensor that’s 200 times more sensitive than a dog’s nose and fits in your smartphone.
A weekly feature on KOWS 92.5 FM radio Newtopian Dream program hosted by RT Newt.
As Driven: • 2.0-L Turbocharged 4 cylinder engine • 272 hp; 280 lb. ft. of Torque • 10-speed Automatic Transmission • All-Wheel Drive • 21 mpg City / 29 Hwy / 24 Combined EPA Fuel Economy • Head-Up Display • 17-speaker Audio • Leather-Trimmed Interior • 16-way Power Heated & Ventilated Front Sport Seats w/ power lumbar support, thigh extension & side bolsters • Surround View Camera • All LED Lighting • Customizable Touchpad Screen Control • Custom Platinum White Pearl Exterior • Insurance Institute for Highway Safety TOP SAFETY PICK+ • $49,825 MSRP incl. Destination Charge
“The AcuraWatch™ suite of safety and driver-assistive technologies is standard on every 2021 TLX, which, in addition to Collision Mitigation Braking System™ with Pedestrian Detection, includes Adaptive Cruise Control with Low-Speed Follow, Forward Collision Warning, Road Departure Mitigation incorporating Lane Departure Warning, and Lane Keeping Assist System.” ~ Acura Media
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
Tech Talk host Rick DeMeis rides high and handsome this week in the all-new 2021 RAM 1500 TRX 4×4, a pickup truck that defines the term “Lifestyle Vehicle”. Listen in as he describes the how-and-why of this amazingly capable companion for the most adventurous drivers. Then it’s onto other news, including the recent Space X Starship 11 launch in the fog, a 5G energy converter to charge batteries, turning plastic bags into an adhesive, a 3D printable body-organ monitor, and graphite enhanced running shoes.
A weekly feature on KOWS 92.5 FM radio Newtopian Dream program hosted by RT Newt.
As Driven: • 6.2L Supercharged HEMI V8 • 702 hp; 650 lb. ft. of Torque • 11,600 lb. Towing; 2320 lb. Payload • 8-speed Automatic Transmission • 0 to 60 mph in 4.5 Seconds • 10 mpg City / 14 Hwy / 12 Combined EPA Fuel Economy • 12-inch Vertically Oriented Center Console Display • Head-Up Display w/ Navigation • Forward View Camera • MOPAR Rock Rails • Automatic Tailgate • Bed Step • Pedestrian / Cyclist Detection w/ Emergency Braking • Adaptive Damping Shock Absorbers • Leather Seating w/ Heating & Ventilation • $87,000 (includes options – Base MSRP $69,995)
“… the 2021 Ram 1500 TRX is powered by a 6.2-liter supercharged HEMI® V-8 engine that delivers top output for extended driving sessions without degradation in performance. The quickest, fastest and most powerful mass-produced half-ton pickup truck in the world is rated at 702 horsepower, 650 lb.-ft. of torque and delivers a new level of performance: 0-60 miles per hour (mph) in 4.5 seconds, the quarter mile in 12.9 seconds at 108 mph and a top speed of 118 mph.” ~ Stellantis Media
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
The original Toyota Venza made its debut in 2009 as a competitor to the Ford Edge, Nissan Murano, and Mazda CX-7. It was the definition of the crossover sport utility vehicle formula: take a car platform (in this case the Camry) and plunk a station wagon-y body on top – but please don’t call it a station wagon. Back in those old days (2008), even Motor Trend wasn’t sure what to call it, as evidenced by their First Drive review titled “Identity Crisis: Is it a Car? No. An SUV? Not Quite. A Station Wagon? Almost”.
Now the Venza is back and following the same formula, but with some modern twists.
To some, the old Venza was a ‘just right’ size in the Toyota line-up – not as small as the RAV4 and not as big as the Highlander. It also offered the heightened seating position and ground clearance of an SUV, while still maintaining a car-like ride. Aside from a 2013 mid-cycle refresh that sharpened the styling up a bit, Toyota really didn’t do much with the Venza and it eventually faded away, which is why I was a bit surprised to read about its return.
The new Venza was supposed to debut at the 2020 New York Auto Show last April, but thanks to the COVID-19 pandemic shutting down everything, it was unveiled online in May instead. Like the original, the 2021 model occupies a space in the line-up right between the smaller RAV4 and larger Highlander, and shares a platform with the likes of the Camry and Avalon sedans.
The 2021 Toyota Venza offers a new look and more. Photo Courtesy of Toyota Media
Unlike the original, the Venza ditches the “almost” station wagon shape in this generation. The new design features a gradually sloping roofline and athletic body lines that are more in line with the current Toyota design language.
Upfront the exterior styling of the Venza is distinctly Toyota, while at the same time avoiding the designed-to look-like-our-trucks styling of its RAV4 and Highlander SUV stablemates. The Venza takes a more rounded approach. Multi-reflector LED headlights come as standard equipment, while the XLE and Limited get LED projector headlights. It’s great that modern technology allows manufacturers to be more creative with headlight designs. In the case of the Venza they are thin and flow nicely into the upper grille. My only complaint about LED headlights is their effectiveness in snowy conditions.
Snow Covered LED Headlights on the Venza Photo: Peter Ciani
This isn’t a Toyota issue, this is an industry-wide issue. LED lights don’t generate heat like traditional bulbs, so when you are driving in a storm they can get caked up pretty quickly. Snowplow manufacturers figured this out quickly and offer heated LED lights. I hope the automotive industry solves this issue as well.
At the rear, the sloping fastback style roof comes to a sharp point. The rear styling has been compared to that of the Jaguar I-Pace. I can’t unsee that observation, now. The lines on the new Venza are a bit sharper, maybe even a little more modern looking. It’s certainly not an insult to be compared with the I-Pace, by the way. If one can get a crossover for a starting MSRP of $32,470 that makes people think of a $70,000 Jag, that’s a bonus. Take it.
Inside, the Venza has an appealing center console design that flows into the instrument panel. Above that sits a center-mounted touchscreen. LE and XLE feature a standard Audio Plus system with an 8-inch touchscreen, while a larger 12.3-inch touchscreen is offered on the XLE and standard on the Limited as part of the Premium Audio system. Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, and Amazon Alexa compatibility are standard across the line-up, as is a Qi wireless phone charger. The only thing I’m not a huge fan of is the starter button location. It’s perfectly functional, it just looks a bit out of place. Not a deal-breaker, though.
The Venza interior is appealing and practical. Photos Courtesy of Toyota Media
All models get soft-touch materials on the dashboard, along with leather trim on the steering wheel and shifter. The base LE features cloth seats, but when it comes to the interior trim itself, I personally prefer the two-toned SOFTEX interior found in the XLE and Limited.
As you might expect, the Limited trim packs in the little extras, such as wood-grain style trim and ambient lighting, that help elevate the interior to near Lexus levels.
The Venza offers up to 28.8 cubic feet of cargo space with the rear seat up. Toyota packed the hybrid’s Lithium-ion battery in a way that doesn’t use up any precious interior space.
Unlike the original, the 2021 Venza comes with a few surprises in the powertrain department.
Whereas the first-gen Venza was offered with a 182-horsepower 2.7-liter 4-cylinder or an optional 268-horsepower 3.5-liter V6 with your choice of front-wheel-drive or all-wheel-drive, the new Venza is sold exclusively as a hybrid.
If you are looking for V6 power, you’ll need to look elsewhere. All you’ll find here is a 2.5-liter 4-cylinder engine paired with an electronically-controlled continuously variable transmission (ECVT) and 2 electric motors putting out 219 combined system horsepower. On second thought, don’t bother looking elsewhere for a V6. This combination is perfectly fine for the Venza, especially with the added torque from the electric motors.
The other powertrain surprise – the Venza is only offered with all-wheel-drive. Toyota Electronic On-demand all-wheel drive to be exact What this means is that the Venza forgoes the traditional transfer case/driveshaft all-wheel-drive system and instead uses an independent, rear-mounted electric motor to power the rear wheels. A similar system can be found on vehicles throughout the Toyota line-up, including the recent Prius AWD-e.
The benefits of this system are twofold, it takes up less space than a conventional all-wheel-drive system and its performance is incredibly smooth.
Basically, the system works like this: if you need the additional traction from the rear wheels, it’s there – no buttons to push, no switches to switch. When starting from a dead stop, the rear wheels kick in with just enough power (depending on conditions) to help reduce wheel spin from the front wheels, the system works so smoothly that you really don’t feel it working. The system also helps to reduce understeer when cornering.
Have some fun in the snow with the 2021 Toyota Venza. Photos: Peter Ciani
From the photos, you can see that I got to test the 2021 Venza during one of our lovely New England snow showers. As someone who has owned many, many four-wheel and all-wheel drive equipped vehicles, I had to keep looking at the little power indicator gauge to make sure the system was working. Comparatively, the Venza takes off without any fuss, even in the slippery stuff. There was no drama to be found, no weird noises, and no delays. It’s that seamless.
As with all Toyotas, the Venza includes the Toyota Safety Sense suite of advanced safety features. This system includes a Pre-Collision System with Low Light Pedestrian Detection and Daytime Cyclist Detection, Lane Departure Alert with Steering Assist, Dynamic Radar Cruise Control, Road Sign Assist and Lane Tracing Assist.
The Venza also includes standard Blind Spot Monitoring with Rear Cross-Traffic Alert and Intelligent Clearance Sonar, for those with a habit of bumping into things. The Limited grade adds a Bird’s-Eye View Camera.
There’s no shortage of crossovers on the market in all shapes and sizes, but not everyone wants a small ‘urban runabout’ and not everyone needs a large 3-row SUV. If you’re shopping for a sporty, ultra-efficient crossover that truly lives up to the crossover moniker and happens to include bulletproof reliability and advanced standard safety features, then the Toyota Venza might be the ‘”just right” car to put on your list.
2021 Toyota Venza Fast Facts:
EPA Estimated Fuel economy: 40-City / 37 Highway
Electric Motor Power Output 88 kW (118 hp) / 40 kW (54 hp)
Seating Capacity 5
Headroom (Front/Rear) 38.6/39.0 in. 38.1/36.9 in. (w/ Star Gaze Fixed Pano Roof)
Legroom (Front/Rear) 40.9/37.8 in.
Shoulder Room (Front/Rear) 57.4/56.9 in.
Hip Room (Front/Rear) 54.4/45.2 in.
Passenger Volume 98.3 cu. ft.; 95.2 cu. ft. (w/ Star Gaze Pano Roof)
Given the opportunity, Tech Talk host Rick DeMeis took the new 2021 Ford Bronco Sport offroad into what he describes as “mud and maple sugar country” for what turned out to be a sweet ol’ time. One wonders how it could have been anything but that with all that this 4×4 has to offer. Listen in for more details – and while you’re here, let your ears fill up with the rest of this week’s news including a study by iseecars.com on the longest lasting cars. You’ll also learn about an unusual ancient Greek computer called the Antikythera mechanism and more.
a weekly feature on KOWS 92.5 FM radio Newtopian Dream program hosted by RT Newt.
As Driven: • 2.0-liter EcoBoost engine w/ 250hp • 8-speed Automatic Transmission w/ Paddle Shifters • 21 City / 26 Hwy / 23 Combined EPA Fuel Economy • Off-Road Suspension • Advanced 4×4 w/ Twin-Clutch Rear-Drive Unit • 29-inch All-Terrain Tires • 17-inch Ebony Black-Painted Aluminum Wheels • Terrain Management System • Trail Control • Front 180-degree Front Camera w/ Split-View & Washer • Front Tow Hooks • Rubberized Flooring • Grille w/ “BRONCO” Molded In Black • Body-Color Door Handles • Class II Trailer Tow Package • Navy Pier Leather 8-way Power Driver’s Seat • Heated Leather Steering Wheel • Power Moonroof • 10-speaker Bang & Olufsen Sound System • Area 51 Exterior Paint
“With standard 4×4 across the lineup, Bronco Sport lives up to its G.O.A.T. (goes over any type of terrain) heritage with Built Wild Extreme Durability Testing, Capability and Innovative Design to deliver unsurpassed ground clearance, made-for-the-trails approach and departure angles, water fording, obstacle protection and segment-first trail technologies.” ~ Ford Media
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
When competing in a market dominated by SUVs and Crossovers, you might think that a manufacturer would NOT focus their precious resources on a sub-compact sedan. Unless, of course, that sedan is the best selling Toyota Corolla. Entering its twelfth-generation, the Toyota Corolla sedan is completely redesigned for the 2020 model year and rides on the Toyota New Global Architecture, or TNGA. This platform actually made its “Corolla” debut in the new for 2019 Toyota Corolla Hatchback – a car that we, here at RPM News, really enjoyed driving.
With the new chassis architecture, the Corolla sedan benefits from a wider stance and a lowered roof-line, helping to reduce the overall center of gravity by 0.39 inches.
All Photos Courtesy of Toyota Media
Although the Corolla remains one of the lowest priced vehicles in the brand’s line up, Toyota wanted to bring a little driving excitement into the segment for the next generation. They’ve succeeded in two ways. On the surface, the Corolla sedan displays a dynamic appearance thanks in part to its shortened front and rear overhangs, flared fenders and a lowered hood-line, which also helps to improve driver visibility. On the performance front, L, LE and XLE trims feature a 139-horsepower 1.8-liter inline four cylinder paired to a CVT transmission. A new 2-liter inline 4-cylinder engine, included in SE and XSE models, bumps power to 169-horsepower. In a move that’s sure to please the ‘save the manuals’ enthusiasts, the 2.0-liter can be paired with a 6-speed manual transmission with REV matching capability.
But it’s not all about “hotrod” performance. In a surprising twist Toyota has added a first-ever Corolla Hybrid to the line up. It features the same Hybrid Synergy Drive system that’s found in the Toyota Prius, pairing a 1.8-liter, 4-cylinder gasoline engine with two electric motors and a continuously variable transmission for a combined system output of 121 horsepower.
The 2020-2021 Corolla Hybrid earns a respectable 53-mile-per-gallon city, 52-mile-per-gallon highway EPA rating.
Inside the 5-passenger Toyota Corolla sedan, a two-tone instrument panel features a clean, uncluttered arrangement and a center mounted touch screen display. An Audio Plus system with Connected Navigation is available.
Considering it’s low price point, the Corolla sedan comes packed with an astounding number of standard safety features. The Toyota Safety Sense suite includes Pre-Collision System with Pedestrian Detection, Lane Departure Alert with Steering Assist and Dynamic radar cruise control.
For many reasons, the Corolla is continuously a top-ten best selling car in the United States. Building on the model’s 54-year history with sporty new looks, advanced standard safety features and a range of performance options that include a first-ever, fuel saving hybrid powertrain we expect that the twelfth generation model will remain on that list for years to come.
Yes, it’s possible to find a noteworthy luxury sedan priced under $50 thousand, as Tech Talk host Rick DeMeis discovered this week in the first ever all-wheel drive 2021 Toyota Avalon Limited. Bells and whistles aside, this mid-size passenger vehicle proved comfortable, safe and efficient, even if one sacrifices a little bit of power in the name of fuel economy. Listen in for more on this, as well as tech topics that include a vehicle sales study, the orbiting Tesla roadster, a neutron rocket, micro 3D printing and a farewell to the Learjet.
a weekly feature on KOWS 92.5 FM radio Newtopian Dream program hosted by RT Newt.
Body-Colored Power Heated Side Mirrors w/ Driver Auto Dimming
Blind Spot Monitor
Pre-Collision System
Rear Cross-Traffic Alert
Lane Departure Alert w/ Lane Keeping Assist
Premium Audio w/ Dynamic Navigation
14 JBL Speakers incl. Subwoofer & Amplifier
8-way Adjustable Heated/Ventilated Front Seats w/ 4-way Lumbar
Head-Up Display
Price As Driven: $45,479
“Dynamic Torque Control AWD provides effective traction for inclement and slippery weather while minimizing AWD’s typical drag on fuel economy. The system can direct up to 50 percent of engine torque to the rear wheels in response to acceleration from a start or slippage at the front wheels. When AWD isn’t needed, the electromagnetically controlled coupling on the rear drive axle can disengage the propeller shaft to prioritize fuel efficiency. The AWD is designed to re-engage in an instant when needed, with operation that is transparent to the driver and passengers.” ~ Toyota Media
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
A weekly feature on KOWS 92.5 FM radio Newtopian Dream program hosted by RT Newt. 
