Latest Posts

Inline-4 Turbo Fills One Of Three Performance Slots For All-New Toyota Grand Highlander

03-05-24 Tech Talk ~ Recorded Live from KOWS FM 92.5 ~ For a vehicle that presents itself with such a big and brawny personality, the all-new Toyota Grand Highlander certainly surprised Tech Talk host Rick DeMeis with its smooth handling and confident ride. Not to be confused with the smaller Highlander edition, this new model may have borrowed a few design cues from its popular sibling but it ultimately is a totally new addition to the Toyota SUV lineup. Hit the play button to hear all the details in addition to a roundup of the latest tech news stories. Want…

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Sleek, Stylish ST-Line Redefines Ford Escape Hybrid

Inspired by Ford Performance Vehicles, The ST-Line Enhances An Already Sporty Package A Week-Long Test Drive Of The Efficient Hybrid AWD Edition by Peter Ciani & Rich Taber The Ford Escape takes a different approach to small SUV styling than its boxy, retro-inspired, platform mate – the Bronco Sport. In our week-long test drive, RPM News Weekly found the 2023 Ford Escape Hybrid ST-Line Elite to be more sleek than boxy, and more comfort-driven than adventure-ready. https://youtu.be/KOdnpOuUZvA?si=DjUHFNaNmexbE757 For 2023, the Escape underwent several styling updates, including a redesigned front fascia featuring new headlights and a larger, more prominent grille that…

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Ford Raptor R Goes Beyond Rebellious

03-01-24 Tech Talk ~ Recorded Live from RPM News Weekly Studio ~ If 720 horsepower isn't over the top for a pickup truck, then Tech Talk RickDeMeis stands corrected. Chances are we can all come to an agreement that the Ford Raptor R is not your average F-150. Even when compared with the regular Raptor, this vehicle is extraordinary. Listen in as Rick tells us why. There's more, too, in this week's episode, including news of Honda's plug-in hybrid fuel cell variant of the popular CR-V SUV and a report from iseecars.com about the most (and least) friendly places in…

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Finding a Sustainable Future in the Genesis GV60

2-28-24 Photo Feature2024 Genesis GV60 Performance If there's one thing the Genesis GV60 is not, it's boring. Sure, the interior may seem a bit stark to some, but we would advise a closer look at its neat and studied mindfulness. Likewise, the exterior – it's sleek and slender, but not malnourished. The design is so tastefully executed that we couldn't help but imagine the vehicle slipping through the breeze at top speed with little noise or resistance. This leaves us with the conclusion that owning an automobile of this caliber, not withstanding its contributions to a sustainable future as an…

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RAM 2500 HD Rebel; RAM’s HD Lineup Gets a New, Off-Road Ready Trim

It’s hard to believe that someone at RAM looked around the table and said, "You know what? The RAM Heavy Duty pickup line needs another trim configuration." RAM trucks already offer a dizzying array of trims, special editions, and configurations, ranging from the no-frills, work-focused Tradesmen - a classic Dodge RAM trim name revived in 2019 - to the luxurious Limited edition. When we say luxurious, we mean it. While Ford and GMC trucks have stepped up their game with impressive interiors, the top-tier RAM trims reign supreme as the king of the 'cowboy Cadillacs.' For 2023, RAM brought the…

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Going Head to Toe To Toe With A $155K Mercedes-Benz AMG GLS63

2-21-24 Photo Feature 2024 Mercedes Benz AMG GLS63 The thrill of full-throttle performance to be found in the 2024 Mercedes-Benz AMG GLS63 can be quite enticing; intoxicating even, if that weren't such a careless use of a metaphor. Hopefully though, it's enough to make up for some of this vehicle's shortcomings, or should we say picadillos since everything opulent is writ large with this model. Our week with this uber muscular premium SUV was defined less by its overt power and luxury than by its needless excesses and oddities. One could start with its $155,200 price tag – a mere…

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