SUV Trend Not Fatal To Cars

Numbers don’t lie. SUVs and crossovers have clearly overtaken sedans in the marketplace. But, suggestions that more traditional cars are taking a final bow are misplaced. Just ask the folks at Honda. Even with the introduction of their all-new mid-size Passport sport utility vehicle, they are still putting a lot of faith in their tried-and-true compact Civic sedan.

Produced by Rich Taber & Peter Ciani for RPM News Weekly

Numbers don’t lie.
SUVs and crossovers have clearly overtaken sedans in the marketplace. But, suggestions that more traditional cars are taking a final bow are misplaced. Just ask the folks at Honda. Even with the introduction of their all-new mid-size Passport sport utility vehicle, they are still putting a lot of faith in their tried-and-true compact Civic sedan.

At a recent meeting of the New England Motor Press Association, representatives from Honda brought along both of these models and gave those in attendance clear indications of the automaker’s unswerving commitment to these two sides of the automobile market.

In addition, Cox Automotive Executive Analyst, Michelle Krebs, was on hand to take everyone through the numbers, pointing to statistics that verified the current SUV trend, while more importantly bringing some insight into what’s really going on in the car market.

RPM News Weekly’s Rich Taber chatted with Michelle Krebs after the meeting, discussing automotive sales trends and what might be on the horizon – including where electric vehicles fit into the picture.

Watch the video and enjoy the conversation.

Rest assured, sedans are not dead. But don’t hold your breath for a comeback.

Chart: Cars Remain in Top 5 Sales Spots
illustration courtesy of Cox Automotive

SuperCrewsin’ with the Ford F-150

High output is exactly what Tech Talk commentator Rick DeMeis got from the 2019 Ford F-150 4×4 SuperCrew along with a few other timely surprises while cruisin’ through one of winter’s last hurrahs in a ruby red edition of America’s favorite pickup truck.

3-26-19 Tech Talk

~ Recorded Live from KOWS FM 92.5 ~

High output is exactly what Tech Talk commentator Rick DeMeis got from the 2019 Ford F-150 4×4 SuperCrew along with a few other timely surprises while cruisin’ through one of winter’s last hurrahs in a ruby red edition of America’s favorite pickup truck. Also, there’s news about the SpaceX StarHopper and the grounding of the Boeing 737 MAX. In addition, the Hubble space telescope finds stormy weather on Neptune (rhymes with spoon and moon and June if you’re so inclined), while the James Webb telescope is still on the line prepping for its debut. Meanwhile, Mitsubishi channels Yoshimi with a cadre of fire fighting robots.
Tech Talk is a weekly feature on KOWS 92.5 FM radio Newtopian Dream program hosted by RT Newt.

Ride of the Week:

Ford F-150 4×4 SuperCrew

2019 Ford F-150 Limited Footage: Ford Media
photo courtesy of Ford Motor Company
  • LED Headlamps
  • Power Running Boards
  • Moonroof
  • Heated seats
  • Adjustable Pedals
  • Adaptive Cruise Control
  • Bang & Olufsen Audio
  • Seat Massage
  • 10-speed automatic transmission
  • 450-hp High Output 3.5L V6 EcoBoost
  • 4×4 on the Fly


Musk Minute

StarHopper Static Test


In Other Tech News:

Boeing 737 MAX Grounding

Aircraft/engine make, model, and series: The Boeing Company Model 737-8 and 737-9 airplanes (737 MAX)
U.S.-registered fleet: 74 airplanes as of March 11, 2019
Worldwide fleet: 387 airplanes as of March 11, 2019


Hubble and the Storms of Neptune

photo courtesy of NASA

Fire Fighting Robots


Sultry Lexus ES Ultra Lux Beckons

Tech Talk commentator Rick DeMeis experiences the wow-factor of the 2019 Lexus ES 350 Ultra Luxury model and reminisces about the mysteries of Corinthian leather.

3-19-19 Tech Talk

~ Recorded Live from KOWS FM 92.5 ~

Tech Talk commentator Rick DeMeis experiences the wow-factor of the 2019 Lexus ES 350 Ultra Luxury model and reminisces about the mysteries of Corinthian leather. There are also important announcements from Volvo’s Polestar marque and automaker Peugeot (remember them). Rick also provides an exciting Musk Minute update, and then gravitates over to a recap of the Apollo 50 plus 50 Celebration at MIT in Cambridge. There’s news from Canada’s University of Waterloo, too.
Tech Talk is a weekly feature on KOWS 92.5 FM radio Newtopian Dream program hosted by RT Newt.

Ride of the Week:

2019 Lexus ES 350 Ultra Luxury

Photos courtesy of Lexus
  • Perforated semi-aniline leather interior trim
  • Wood trim w/ ambient lighting
  • 14-way power-adjustable driver’s seat
  • Heated & ventilated seats
  • Amazon Alexa & Apple CarPlay
  • Onboard Wi-Fi™ and remote smartwatch functionality
  • Optional 12.3-inch split-screen multimedia sys. w/ navigation
  • 302-hp V6 engine
  • 8-speed automatic transmission w/ paddle shifters
  • Three Drive Modes – Eco, Normal, Sport
  • Low-light pedestrian detection
  • Daytime bicyclist detection
  • Triple-Beam LED headlamps
  • Panorama glass roof
  • Power open/close trunk w/ kick sensor
  • Lateral performance dampers

Announcements

Polestar 2 EV w/ 275 Mile Range

photo courtesy of Polestar

Peugeot Set To Return To Sales In U.S.

Rally ace Catie Munnings (left) flies Peugeot Rally Academy flag for 2019 ERC Junior Campaign. Catie will be joined by new co-driver Veronica Engan for the March through October campaign that began with the first round in the Azores on Thursday 21st March.
photo courtesy of Peugeot Media

Musk Minute

Tesla Model Y

photo courtesy of Tesla

In Other Tech News:

Apollo 50 plus 50 Celebration


Photo: Jake Belcher

University of Waterloo Self-Contained Wheel Units

Engineering professor Amir Khajepour alongside new self-contained wheel unit. photo courtesy of Univ. of Waterloo Engineering

2019 Kia Niro for EV-er

This week Tech Talk commentator Rick DeMeis puts the all-electric Kia Niro EV through its paces around suburban Boston. Rick also provides an update on the Crew Dragon recent mission to the International Space Station.

3-12-19 Tech Talk

~ Recorded Live from KOWS FM 92.5 ~

This week Tech Talk commentator Rick DeMeis puts the all-electric Kia Niro EV through its paces around suburban Boston and winds up wishing that his driveway was situated closer to the electric outlet on his back patio. Rick also provides an update on the Crew Dragon recent mission to the International Space Station in the weekly Musk Minute segment. Then, Rick’s University Report brings listeners up to date with new technological developments that have emerged from cutting-edge research at several institutions for higher education. Tech Talk is a weekly feature on KOWS 92.5 FM radio Newtopian Dream program hosted by RT Newt.

Ride of the Week:

2019 Kia Niro EV

  • All-Electric 5-Passenger Crossover
  • EPA Estimated Range of 239 miles
  • 64 kWh battery
  • 201-horsepower electric motor
  • DC Fast-Charge – 100 miles in 30 minutes
  • Four Drive Modes – Sport, Normal, Eco & Eco+
  • Regenerative Braking Operated via Paddle Shifters
  • Rotary Shifter Dial
  • 7-in. Color Touchscreen w/ Rear View Monitor
  • Apple CarPlay & Android Auto
  • Wireless Smart Phone Charging
  • Forward Collision-Avoidance Assist
  • Blind Spot Collision Warning
  • Smart Cruise Control w/ Stop & Go

Musk Minute

Crew Dragon Capsule Returns

Crew Dragon splashdown
photo courtesy of SpaceX.com
SpaceX Crew Dragon Returns – Full Video

University Report:

Stanford University: Battery-Free, Wireless Blood Flow Sensor

Stanford Blood Flow Sensor
image courtesy of Levent Beker

Boston University: Permeable Noise Cancelling Device

video courtesy of the Zhang lab


Wake Forest School of Medicine: Mobile Skin Bioprinting

3D Bioprint Skin Cells
www.nature.com/scientificreports/
In Situ Bioprinting of Autologous Skin Cells Accelerates Wound Healing of Extensive Excisional Full-thickness Wounds
Mohammed Albanna, Kyle W. Binder, Sean V. Murphy, Jaehyun Kim, Shadi A. Qasem, Weixin Zhao, Josh Tan, Idris B. El-Amin, Dennis D. Dice, Julie Marco, Jason Green, t Tao Xu, Aleksander Skardal, James H. Holmes, John D. Jackson, Anthony Atala & James J. Yoo

http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/

Málaga University: Smart Cane

image courtesy of
Joaquin Ballesteros, Alberto Tudela, Juan Rafael Caro-Romero, Cristina Urdiales

http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/

Nissan Intelligent Mobility Vision To Bring ‘Safety Shield 360’ To Top-Selling Models

Nissan Intelligent Mobility vision to bring ‘Safety Shield 360’ to top- selling models, representing more than 1 million vehicles annually

Nissan USA Press Release: Sep 12, 2018

Nissan Intelligent Mobility vision to bring ‘Safety Shield 360’ to top- selling models, representing more than 1 million vehicles annually

  • Nissan Safety Shield 360 supports the Nissan Intelligent Mobility vision to redefine how cars are driven, powered and integrated into society.
  • Nissan Safety Shield 360, a suite of active safety technologies, will first be available on the all-new 2019 Altima and 2019 Rogue – both on sale this fall
  • Nissan Safety Shield 360 to be standard on one million new vehicles sold annually in the U.S. by 2021
  • The suite of advanced driver-assist systems includes Automatic Emergency Braking with Pedestrian Detection1, Blind Spot Warning2, Rear Cross Traffic Alert3, Lane Departure Warning4, High Beam Assist and Rear Automatic Braking5

NASHVILLE, Tenn. (Sept. 12, 2018) – Nissan is introducing Safety Shield 360, a suite of six advanced active safety and driver-assist technologies as standard equipment on all of its top- selling models by 2021, representing more than one million vehicles annually.


“Our philosophy is to bring Nissan Intelligent Mobility technologies to market in our most popular and affordable vehicles,” said Denis Le Vot, chairman, Nissan North America. “Safety Shield 360 combines six advanced systems to give models like Altima and Rogue a class- leading package of technologies that can improve safety and the overall driving experience for Nissan owners.”


According to the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS), cross traffic alert reduces crashes by 22 percent; the combination of rearview cameras and sensors reduces crashes by 42 percent; and adding rear emergency braking reduces backing crashes by 78 percent compared with vehicles with none of these features.


Nissan Safety Shield 360, which includes front, side and rear sensing technologies – will first be introduced as standard equipment on SV and SL grades of the upcoming 2019 Rogue, 2019 Rogue Sport and the all-new 2019 Altima, which all go on sale at Nissan dealers in fall 2018.

Nissan Safety Shield 360 suite includes six key advanced systems:

Front –  Automatic Emergency Braking with Pedestrian Detection1 – uses forward-facing radar and camera technology to track vehicles and crossing pedestrians, can give audible and visual warnings and apply braking to help avoid or reduce the severity of frontal collisions –  Lane Departure Warning4 – alerts driver of drifting from lane with a visual warning and audible or haptic signals –  High Beam Assist – automatically switches to low beam headlights when it detects a vehicle ahead and turns the high beams back on when needed
Side –  Blind Spot Warning2 – helps spot vehicles in driver’s blind spot areas –  Rear Cross Traffic Alert3 – can warn the driver about detected approaching vehicles when reversing out of a parking spot
Rear – Rear Automatic Braking5 – helps the driver detect stationary objects when backing up and, if necessary, applies the brakes to help avoid a collision

Other Key Nissan Intelligent Mobility Features

Safety Shield 360 is the latest development of Nissan Intelligent Mobility, the company’s vision for changing how cars are driven, powered and integrated into society.

Another key component of Nissan Intelligent Mobility is ProPILOT Assist6, which will be available on the all-new 2019 Altima. ProPILOT Assist eases driver workload by reducing the amount of driver acceleration, steering and braking input under certain driving conditions, during single-lane highway driving. ProPILOT Assist is the foundation for automated vehicles of the future, helping drivers stay centered in the lane, navigate stop-and-go traffic, maintain a set vehicle speed and maintain a set distance to the vehicle ahead. Currently, Nissan offers ProPILOT Assist on the 2018 Rogue and the all-electric 2018 LEAF.

About Nissan North America

In North America, Nissan’s operations include automotive styling, engineering, consumer and corporate financing, sales and marketing, distribution and manufacturing. Nissan is dedicated to improving the environment under the Nissan Green Program and has been recognized annually by the U.S Environmental Protection Agency as an ENERGY STAR® Partner of the Year since 2010. More information on Nissan in North America and the complete line of Nissan and INFINITI vehicles can be found online at www.NissanUSA.com and www.INFINITIUSA.com, or visit the U.S. media sites NissanNews.com and INFINITINews.com.

About Nissan Motor Co., Ltd.

Nissan is a global full-line vehicle manufacturer that sells more than 60 models under the Nissan, INFINITI and Datsun brands. In fiscal year 2016, the company sold 5.63 million vehicles globally, generating revenue of 11.72 trillion yen. Nissan engineers, manufactures and markets the world’s best-selling all-electric vehicle in history, the Nissan LEAF. Nissan’s global headquarters in Yokohama, Japan, manages operations in six regions: Asia & Oceania; Africa, Middle East & India; China; Europe; Latin America; and North America. Nissan has a global workforce of 247,500 and has been partnered with French manufacturer Renault under the Renault-Nissan Alliance since 1999. In 2016, Nissan acquired a 34 percent stake in Mitsubishi Motors, which became the third member of the Alliance – a grouping with combined annual sales of almost 10 million units a year.

Sedan’s Are Not Dead! Nissan Introduces An All-New Altima

Nissan recently introduced the sixth-generation Nissan Altima to members of the New England Motor Press Association in Middleboro, MA
RPM News Weekly Co-Founder Rich Taber talks to Anne Corrao, Director, Chief Marketing Manager – Family Sedans & Sports Cars at Nissan North America about important safety and tech features available on all-new Altima including Safety Shield 360, ProPILOT Assist, all-wheel-drive and Nissan’s innovative Variable Compression Turbo engine.

Nissan Doubles Down On Sedan Market

Nissan Altima Interview

“Nissan has invested quite heavily in this new sedan. We really think it’s because there’s a market here.”

Anne Corrao, Nissan North America

Nissan recently introduced the sixth-generation Altima to members of the New England Motor Press Association in Middleboro, MA

While at the event, RPM News Weekly Co-Founder Rich Taber talks to Anne Corrao, Director, Chief Marketing Manager – Family Sedans & Sports Cars at Nissan North America about important safety and tech features available on all-new Altima including Safety Shield 360, ProPILOT Assist, all-wheel-drive and Nissan’s innovative Variable Compression Turbo engine.

Research the 2019 Nissan Altima on Amazon Vehicles