While certainly not a dime-a-dozen SUV, the 2020 Mercedes-Benz GLC 300 4MATIC offered Tech Talk commentator Rick DeMeis one of life’s simplest pleasures… blessed quietness. As hard to come by these days as is many a golden rule, silence is one of many luxuries you can count on when traveling in the GLC. Redesigned for the 2020 model year, the GLC epitomizes the contemporary world of Mercedes family transportation – distinctive, connected and uncompromising in its ability to woo the senses. Also on the agenda this week are EV battery charging with artificial intelligence, dreams of WARP drive, probing the sun and robotic weed mapping and zapping. Tech Talk is a weekly feature on KOWS 92.5 FM radio Newtopian Dream program hosted by RT Newt.
Just in time for pre-winter’s first serious foray (unfortunately not a flurry) into the heart of New England, the keys to a 2020 Land Rover Range Rover Sport MHEV HST landed in the gloved hands of Tech Talk commentator Rick DeMeis, turning what would have been an ugly week of slogging through snow, rain, slush and ice into a confident escapade swathed in elegance. But there’s more than chic transportation on slippery surfaces to assess this week as the conversation slides from motion sickness and SpaceX to the five most groundbreaking scientific achievements of the last decade. Tech Talk is a weekly feature on KOWS 92.5 FM radio Newtopian Dream program hosted by RT Newt.
video courtesy of the Global Meteor Network Starlink satellites can be seen streaking through the frame starting at 2:12 into this clip of the alpha-Monocerotids meteor shower.
Reintroduced for the 2019 model year, the all-new Ranger SuperCrew 4×4 pickup has become the new entry point for a Ford pickup. Even so, it just might be all the truck one needs to get through a New England Winter.
Smaller than its F-Series brethren but staged on a fully boxed steel frame, the Ranger sacrifices none of the automaker’s “Built Tough” truck heritage. In our seven days with this FX4 off road package equipped XLT edition, the suspension – short and long arm front / leaf spring rear – provided a ride that’s stable and without uncomfortable roughness.
No worries here if you’re going to load up some firewood. Those rear leaf springs are good up to just over 16 hundred pounds.
One could argue that Ford was long overdue for a smaller truck in the lineup. The Ranger had been gone for eight years while pickup trucks of all sizes surged in the American marketplace. Expanding the bottom end of the roster at this time could be a sound financial move.
But ultimately what’s more appealing to us at RPM News Weekly is whether this pickup is a good fit for the many consumers who might have felt priced out of the new vehicle market. The good news is that there’s not much fault to find with the 2019 Ford Ranger SuperCrew XLT 4×4.
Over the course of our week with the vehicle, we came to fully appreciate the convenience of its intuitive connectivity options. Right from startup, Apple Carplay functioned flawlessly whether finding music or setting a destination. Meanwhile, getting the 17.5-foot long truck turned around and down our tight, long driveway without nicking the garage or one of several trees was made enormously easier thanks to the intervention of the Forward and Reverse Sensing system.
And, when the temperature plunged, we thoroughly enjoyed the winter-ready comfort of its heated cloth seats which got blazing hot before we even reached the end of the driveway.
If there are any important complaints to make about the Ranger, it would be the hole it leaves in the wallet at the gasoline pump. We would’ve thought the 2.3L turbocharged EcoBoost engine would bring us better fuel economy than a 19.5 mpg average. Well, getting 270 horsepower is fine and even dandy sometimes, but green is definitely not this truck’s favorite color unless you’re talking the 8-thousand-plus dollars you’ll save by stepping back from considering its F-150 SuperCrew XLT 4×4 bigger brother.
Ultimately, if it looks like getting a nicely equipped, family-sized 5-passenger pickup is in your future and heavy-duty towing or hauling is not what you plan to do, the 2019 Ford Ranger could be the pickup truck you see out there on your event horizon.
Hyundai’s Michael O’Brien Named a 2019 Automotive News All-Star
Each November the Automotive News All-Star Awards recognize outstanding leaders from the Automotive Industry. For 2019, they honored Hyundai VP of Product, Corporate and Digital Planning Mike O’Brien as a 2019 All-Star for Product Development.
You may remember that Mike stopped by the New England Motor Press Association garage back in 2017 to introduce the then all-new HyundaiIoniq.
We appreciate that Mike took the time to talk to RPM’s Rich Taber about the Ioniq and what’s needed for mobility to become truly green transportation.
FOUNTAIN VALLEY, Calif., Nov. 25, 2019 – Michael O’Brien, the vice president of Product, Corporate and Digital planning for Hyundai Motor America, was named a 2019 Automotive News All-Star in the product development category. This esteemed award is an annual selection of outstanding individuals who are leaders in the highly competitive automotive industry.
“We are very proud that Michael has been named an Automotive News All-Star,” said Brian Smith, COO, Hyundai Motor America. “Michael is forward-thinking in his understanding of the evolving consumer demand for SUVs and is reimagining open-bed utility, but doesn’t lose focus of the rich opportunities in the evolving sedan market. His commitment to a diverse and technologically advanced vehicle lineup allows Hyundai to remain at the forefront of automotive innovation in the U.S. market.”
O’Brien is responsible for guiding the strategic development of Hyundai’s entire model lineup, identifying opportunities to extend into new segments, tailoring Hyundai vehicles for the U.S. market and determining the target audience and positioning for each model. He also leads Hyundai’s corporate planning effort, which includes short and long-range strategic planning, market research and analytics and pricing.
As head of IT business strategy, he addresses the digital world by identifying and implementing the technologies and operations that make Hyundai products and services unique in a highly competitive market. He was successful in making Hyundai the first automotive brand to offer Android Auto and oversaw the launch of some of Hyundai’s recent technological innovations, such as the Digital Key, while continuing to lead advancements in its Blue Link connected car technology.
On the product front, he’s led the expansion of Hyundai’s eco-friendly vehicle lineup that is currently one of the most diverse in the industry, offering a variety of electric, plug-in electric and hydrogen fuel cell vehicles, including the Kona EV and refreshed Ioniq lineup featuring industry leading gas and electric efficiency levels. Moving forward, he will oversee the growth in Hyundai’s eco-friendly portfolio, which will reach 13 models by 2022 in the U.S.
He has been responsible for the development of models like the all-new Santa Fe that was introduced last year and the dramatic evolution of the marquee 2020 Sonata. He has also been a driving force behind the company’s move to SUVs, including the NEXO fuel cell; the all-new Palisade, Hyundai’s new flagship SUV; the Kona, winner of the prestigious 2019 North American Utility Vehicle of the Year; and the all-new 2020 Venue.
The second day of the Formula E season opening doubleheader in Diriyah, Saudi Arabia saw plenty of surprises that knocked leading contenders out of the action while elevating BMW i Andretti Motorsport driver Alexander Sims to the top podium spot.
In the lead for much of Friday’s opening race but dropping back in the pack as Sam Bird made his way to the front, Sims returned today without hesitation, grabbing the frontrunner spot and sticking to it throughout the race. “That was pretty much a dream race! We executed everything really well and we made the right decisions at the right time,” observed Sims. “The team have put a lot of effort in and to deliver a win now… it’s really cool.” Teammate Maximilian Guenther crossed the finished right behind Sims’ but lost his place on the podium after the race when FIA stewards handed him a 24-second time penalty and two penalty points for overtaking a car while drivers were required to fall in place behind the safety car. With that, Lucas di Grassi from Audi Sport ABT Schaeffler moved up to second and Stoffel Vandoome from Mercedes-Benz nabbed third place.
Climbing up the order from fifth on the grid, Envision Virgin Racing driver Sam Bird flew to victory in the season six E-Prix opener in Diriyah, Saudi Arabia, on the north-western outskirts of the capital, Riyadh. “I felt confident going into the race,” exclaimed Bird. “Envision Virgin Racing gave me an amazing car. I think some of it is down to the new beard!” Not a newcomer to the podium, Bird described the previous season as being “difficult” while creating an opportunity for plenty of thinking and mental transformation leading to today’s victory. “It’s a great start to the year, but the hard work doesn’t stop,” he added. “We have another race tomorrow. There’s potential in the car so we need to maximise what we can.” TAG Heuer Porsche and Mercedes-Benz EQ drivers picked up second and third finishes, respectively in their first outings of the all-electric race series.
RACE RESULTS
Provisional* Classification
1
Sam Bird
Envision Virgin Racing
46:17.371s
(26)
2
Andre Lotterer
TAG Heuer Porsche
+1.319s
(18)
3
Stoffel Vandoorne
Mercedes-Benz EQ
+1.672s
(15)
4
Oliver Rowland
Nissan e.dams
+1.944s
(12)
5
Robin Frijns
Envision Virgin Racing
+3.983s
(10)
6
Nyck de Vries
Mercedes-Benz EQ
+4.560s
(8)
7
Edoardo Mortara
ROKiT Venturi Racing
+5.122s
(6)
8
Alexander Sims
BMW i Andretti Motorsport
+5.715s
(7)
9
Jerome D’Ambrosio
Mahindra Racing
+6.628s
(2)
10
Mitch Evans
Panasonic Jaguar Racing
+7.048s
(2)
11
Pascal Wehrlein
Mahindra Racing
+7.460s
12
Felipe Massa
ROKiT Venturi Racing
+8.166s
13
Lucas di Grassi
Audi Sport ABT Schaeffler
+8.404s
14
Antonio Felix da Costa
DS TECHEETAH
+8.853s
15
Oliver Turvey
NIO 333
+10.172s
16
James Calado
Panasonic Jaguar Racing
+11.572s
17
Neel Jani
TAG Heuer Porsche
+15.429s
18
Maximilian Guenther
BMW i Andretti Motorsport
+25.662s
19
Brendon Hartley
GEOX DRAGON
+42.219s
20
Ma Qing Hua
NIO 333
1 Lap
DNF
Daniel Abt
Audi Sport ABT Schaeffler
29 Laps
DNF
Jean-Eric Vergne
DS TECHEETAH
21 Laps
DNF
Sebastien Buemi
Nissan e.dams
3 Laps
DNS
Nico Mueller
GEOX DRAGON
*Provisional – pending FIA final classification header photo courtesy of FIA Formula E
