Latest Posts

2024 Subaru WRX TR | New School Wits, Old School Vibe

by Peter Ciani Until recently, it had been a long while since I’d driven the Subaru WRX, especially one with three pedals. This generation has received a lot of flack from diehards about its size and looks, but looks are subjective. It is still a lot of fun to drive, especially in the twisty turns where the torquey boxer engine shines. Some may not favor the black wheel arches of this generation. They lend a crossover SUV vibe to the model, which might not resonate with everyone. However, it's worth noting that the automotive market is ever-increasingly leaning towards SUVs.…

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2024 Hyundai Tucson Limited AWD

6-14-24 Featured Vehicle By Rich Taber After a week with the 2024 Hyundai Tucson Limited AWD, it's no surprise discovering that the vehicle has earned lots of recognition as a great compact SUV for families. We found the model to be well-poised, confident, and so well-equipped that it could almost pass itself off as a luxury SUV. At just $40,315 delivered, that spells value. Granted, the Limited sits at the top of the Tucson lineup, so one should expect more than a stripped down edition, but even at its entry SE FWD level, this SUV has plenty to offer for…

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2024 Mazda3 Hatchback 2.5T Premium Plus AWD

6-07-24 Featured Vehicle By Rich Taber Putting aside arguments about absolute certainty, I'm nearly 100% certain that if I were in the market for a reasonably affordable, new, compact hatchback with an internal combustion engine, I would be signing on the dotted line for a Mazda3 turbo. I have yet to find a competitor with the above requirements that has matched the satisfaction delivered during my weeklong test drive of the model. It's not a decision complicated by arcane analysis of fractional differences in interior dimensions or obtuse comparisons of the number of speakers the audio system employs. No, it's…

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Ford Bronco Sport Free Wheeling Evokes Colorful Sunset

06-04-24 Tech Talk ~ Recorded Live from KOWS FM 92.5 ~ Tech Talk host Rick DeMeis spent a footloose week bopping around in the Ford Bronco Sport Free Wheeling edition and cheerfully reports back in this week's podcast episode. Talk about attention grabbing... er, the vehicle, not our illustrious host. Seems that a white Bronco Sport emblazoned with alternating red, orange and yellow stripes running across the fenders, doors, hood and seat backs makes it nearly impossible to travel incognito. It was good fun, though. Be sure to listen in to this week's episode for all the delightful details and…

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2024 Hyundai Kona N Line AWD

5-31-24 Featured Vehicle By Rich Taber There are few automakers who seriously embrace change as deliberately as Hyundai, and the redesigned Kona N Line makes this abundantly clear. Just look at the styling. Here at RPM News Weekly, we took the model for a week-long test drive that not only proved this point to us, but also found us filling up at a gasoline pump and wondering whether an all-electric version would be a better choice. No question. We enjoyed the ride in this model. For its $33,695 as-delivered price tag, it's a great value and will compete well in…

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2024 Subaru Crosstrek Wilderness

5-24-24 Featured Vehicle Long before every vehicle in every segment attempted to become an adventurous, off-road-ready SUV, the Subaru Crosstrek had been quietly and confidently filling that role. For 2024, the Crosstrek gets a redesign, and while Subaru added new tech and sharpened the styling, they didn't change the formula too much. And why would they? The Crosstrek was still a strong seller even before the update. As the saying goes, if it ain't broke... don't fix it. The Crosstrek debuted in 2012 as the XV Crosstrek, a slightly lifted spinoff of the Subaru Impreza Hatchback with 8.7 inches of…

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