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2024 GMC Canyon AT4X AEV Edition

8-30-24 Featured Vehicle By Rich Taber The GMC Canyon AT4X is not for everybody, but that's okay. Not everyone needs (or wants) the prodigious off-road capabilities this mid-size pickup truck has to offer. For those that do, the special AEV Edition of the Canyon takes off-road performance and recreational adventure to totally rarefied heights. It's not just that the four-wheel drive truck's turbocharged 2.7-liter engine with 310 horsepower and 430 pound-feet of torque can muscle its way up the side of a mountain while towing a trailer or carrying a heavy load. What sets this workhorse apart from the herd…

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2024 BMW X2 xDrive28i Premium M Sport

8-23-24 Featured Vehicle By Rich Taber ~ One should not conflate seductive performance with the benefits of a BMW X2 being equipped with the M Sport package. Yes, the car enjoys a more sporty appearance with the extra bling, but the equipment already packed into the xDrive28i stands on its own merits – 241 horsepower 2-liter turbo four, 7-speed dual clutch transmission, all-wheel drive. True, the Adaptive M suspension changes up the ride a bit, if that's what you're looking for. But why go half way? Move up to the M35i. Treat the X2 xDrive28i as what it is –…

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2024 Fiat (500e)RED

8-09-24 Featured Vehicle By Rich Taber Everything about the Fiat (500e)RED screams efficiency. Not only does it squeeze every inch of 3.2 miles out of a kilowatt-hour of energy, it makes no excuses for its diminutive size and frugal accommodations. Those who would scoff at its 117-horsepower performance would do well to first remember that the two-door fully electric vehicle weighs just 2952 pounds, and second consider that its all-electric system produces 167 lb-ft of torque – that's more than what small SUVs such as the current standard Buick Encore GX produce. In our week-long test, the (500e)RED never felt pokey,…

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2024 Ford Bronco Sport Free Wheeling

Once again Ford looks to the past for another fun-filled, retro-inspired Ford Bronco Sport trim variant by Peter Ciani Not long ago, RPM's Rich Taber was dashing through the snow in the Bronco Sport Heritage Limited (see video below) with its 1960s-inspired Robin’s egg blue paint and white exterior trim, a look that was common at the time. Five months later, the snow is gone, summer is here and the world is, for the time being, a more colorful place. Colorful is something that the 2024 Ford Bronco Sport Free Wheeling Edition does well. While the Bronco Heritage Edition harkened…

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2024 Toyota Crown Platinum Hybrid AWD

6-28-24 Featured Vehicle By Rich Taber Here at RPM News Weekly, we‬ had the opportunity to test drive the 2024 Toyota Crown Platinum Hybrid for a week and concluded that Toyota has hit the bullseye with this exquisite 4-door swoop back sedan. It's premium without ostentation, comfortable but not overly indulgent, and powerful without all the hoopla. For those who seek a well-built 5-passenger large sedan that's easier on gasoline than a comparably priced SUV, the Crown is a jewel. Check out our video slide show below for a look at all the key features. https://youtu.be/w27Z2AMPTYU?si=xmIAkoUHOzfGKVUb RPM News Weekly Photos…

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2024 Ford Maverick XLT Hybrid FWD

6-21-24 Featured Vehicle By Rich Taber This week we've been driving the 2024 Ford Maverick XLT Hybrid FWD. Okay, you may be wondering, "Didn't RPM News Weekly just cover that pickup...?" Well, sort of. Just a couple months ago (in another season), we did test drive the 2023 Ford Maverick XLT Hybrid. You can click here to check out our report and video. Turns out, not much has changed for the 2024 Maverick XLT Hybrid – it's just packaged a bit differently. Most notably, the hybrid powertrain is no longer standard equipment. It's a $1500 option. The 2.0-liter gasoline engine…

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