The Cadillac CT4-V was very much designed to be a driver’s car, but it can drive itself … some of the time. The compact sports sedan is available with the latest version of Cadillac’s Super Cruise highway driving system, which provides hands-free lane-centering adaptive cruise control. Super Cruise uses high definition cameras, ultrasonic sensors and … Continue reading Review: The 2023 Cadillac CT4-V is a semi-autonomous American sport sedan

2017 Toyota Highlander Limited Platinum 49,000 miles ~VS~ 2023 Mitsubishi Outlander Sport or ES or PHEV SE
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Ok, so my family is loving our 2017 Highlander. It's a limited platinum 4wd V6 with only 49,000 miles on it. Tow package, pano roof, roof rack, remote start. In great condition. Never planning to sell.
BUT, today we got one of those spammy car dealer ads in the mail and I did something I never do... I read it.
They're offering $4,000 over KBB Trade-in Value towards a 2023 Mitsubishi. For our Highlander, that's at least $30K. Potentially $34K.
They've got their 2023 Mitsubishi Outlander Sport at $26.7, the Outlander ES at $31.5, and the Outlander PHEV SE at $43.6.
So we could trade it in for $30K and get a brand new Outlander plug-in hybrid for just $13.6K or I guess we could get the Outlander Sport for free?!? Maybe even the ES for free?!
I'm a big Toyota guy, but hell if that doesn't sound like a great deal.
Thoughts?

Once upon a time in the pixelated land of Apple, a brave soul embarked on a quest to find the holy grail of virtual private networks (VPNs) for Mac in the fabled year of 2023. The journey was long and arduous, as the traveler faced a minefield of perils in the form of one-hit-wonder VPNs.
The world was awash with VPNs that only catered to the Windows-loving crowd, others that scoffed at the thought of mingling with specific macOS versions, and some that hailed from the darker recesses of cyberspace with dubious ethical affiliations. Even more vexing were those VPNs that took the scenic route on the information superhighway or cost as much as a dragon's hoard.
But lo and behold, amidst the turmoil, there shone a beacon of hope for Mac desktops and MacBooks alike. The chosen few that made it onto this coveted list were the epitome of user-friendliness, sporting impressive security features and swift speeds that would make Hermes himself envious. These paragons of virtual privacy not only rubbed shoulders with Netflix and its streaming brethren but were also as affordable as a minstrel's song at a medieval tavern.
Behold, dear reader, the chronicle of this noble quest in search of the finest VPNs for the Mac realm of 2023. As you venture forth into the digital kingdom, may your browsing remain swift, your streams uninterrupted, and your virtual armor impenetrable!
ExpressVPN
Once upon a time in the enchanted land of Mac enthusiasts, a dashing hero emerged by the name of ExpressVPN. In the fabled year of 2023, this valiant champion quickly stole the hearts of many, thanks to its remarkable security, lightning-fast connection speeds, array of bewitching features, and ease of use.
Armed with potent security spells like the 256-bit AES encryption and a trusty kill switch, ExpressVPN also boasted magical extras, such as split-tunneling (allowing users to choose which traffic was granted passage through the VPN) and perfect-forward secrecy (an enchantment ensuring the strength of its cryptographic defenses).
The hero was also among the rare few to provide split-tunneling to the Mac faithful, albeit only to those wielding macOS 10.15 and below. Meanwhile, its rival, Private Internet Access, brandished split-tunneling to Mac users of all versions. In a dazzling display of prowess, our protagonist configured ExpressVPN's split-tunneling to grant passage only to uTorrent, enabling P2P traffic to traverse the VPN whilst allowing ordinary browsing on the ISP's network.
ExpressVPN's impressive CV also included:

• A strict no-logs policy (independently verified in the mystical year of 2023).
• A favorable lair (nestled in the British Virgin Islands, known for their robust data-privacy laws).
• Unrivaled speeds (losing only 15% of connection speed during rigorous testing).
• The Lightway protocol (a faster and more reliable steed than OpenVPN and IKEv2).
• Obfuscated servers capable of overcoming the barriers of internet restrictions and firewalls.

Among ExpressVPN's most enchanting qualities was its masterfully crafted and intuitive Mac app, seamlessly integrating most features from its Windows and mobile counterparts. The Mac interface proved easy to navigate, even for the most technologically challenged peasants.
Our hero triumphantly unlocked the gates of popular streaming sites, such as Netflix and Hulu, and supported torrenting on all of its servers. Alas, ExpressVPN's Safari browser extension remained out of reach. Although whispers of its return circulated, with promises of compatibility for Safari 12, the fates have yet to reveal its arrival date.
So, let us raise our goblets and toast to ExpressVPN, the dazzling darling of Mac VPNs in 2023. May it continue to dazzle us with its virtual sorcery and protect the Mac realm from nefarious digital invaders!
Private Internet Access
In a realm where Mac users sought virtual privacy and security, Private Internet Access (PIA) emerged as a gallant underdog – a veritable knight in shining armor – ready to champion the cause. Brandishing excellent security features, impressive speeds, and a feature-rich macOS app, PIA carved out a place for itself among the VPN nobility.
With servers strategically scattered across 75+ countries, this fine squire skillfully sidestepped overcrowding to maintain rapid connection speeds. Although it may not have been as swift as its rival, ExpressVPN, PIA displayed commendable prowess in speed tests, particularly when connecting to nearby servers.
Even the more remote servers provided respectable speeds, suffering a mere 45% average drop. No matter the distance, PIA proved its mettle, offering speedy and reliable connections for streaming and torrenting alike.
But what set PIA apart from its brethren? Its Mac app, a fully open-source marvel equipped with split-tunneling, an ad blocker, and compatibility with macOS 11 (Big Sur). In a world where "no-logs policies" were mere whispers, PIA's commitment to privacy stood trial by fire – and emerged victorious.
PIA's macOS app also featured the enchanting PIA MACE, a noble protector against the onslaught of ads, trackers, and malevolent sites. Tested against the dark corners of ad-heavy and malicious sites, PIA MACE proved its efficacy time and again.
With its robust streaming capabilities, PIA unlocked the gates to popular sites like Netflix, Amazon Prime, and Disney+, while also extending its support to lesser-known streaming realms such as Pluto TV, Crunchyroll, and VRV.
So, here's to Private Internet Access – the gallant underdog of macOS VPNs. May it continue to dazzle Mac users with its steadfast commitment to privacy, security, and exceptional virtual performance.
ProtonVPN
In the diverse landscape of VPNs catering to macOS users, ProtonVPN emerged as a generous benefactor, offering a sumptuous feast of features in its free plan. With unlimited data, a strict no-logs policy, access to a trio of VPN servers, and a solitary active connection, ProtonVPN's free plan was a rare gem in the kingdom of virtual privacy.
Although the provider humbly claimed that free users would only receive "medium" speeds, tests on its gratis servers (located in the US, Japan, and the Netherlands) revealed an enticing secret. The average speed drop was a mere 22% – a performance befitting premium contenders like Private Internet Access.
Renowned as one of the most private and secure VPNs in the land, ProtonVPN's reputation was well-founded. Hailing from the mountainous realm of Switzerland – a nation with formidable data-privacy laws – its open-source apps allowed public scrutiny of its source code, ensuring transparency and trustworthiness.
The Mac app, a treasure trove of high-security features, included enchantments such as perfect forward secrecy, Secure Core servers (which weaved a web of protection by routing traffic through multiple servers), and Tor over VPN (granting access to the mysterious Tor network within one's own browser).
So, let us toast to ProtonVPN, the magnanimous VPN for macOS users who desire both privacy and thriftiness. May it continue to defy expectations, offering remarkable value and security to those who venture forth into the realm of virtual connectivity.
NordVPN
Among the gallant heroes of VPNs in the macOS realm, NordVPN stood tall, boasting rapid speeds and steadfast connections. Tested on both the mighty MacBook and the formidable iMac, this valiant champion ensured the swiftest of browsing adventures in the kingdom of Safari. Streaming movies and shows in dazzling HD, NordVPN ensured nary a pause nor a stutter.
The macOS app wielded the powerful Threat Protection shield, defending against the dark arts of malware and malicious websites. It also skillfully parried tracking cookies and trimmed URL tracking parameters, ensuring a stealthy browsing experience. A worthy rival, Private Internet Access (PIA), offered a similar defense with its PIA MACE, adept at detecting and blocking malevolent sites.
NordVPN's Mac app brimmed with delightful features, including:

• Split tunneling for traffic control.
• A dependable kill switch.
• Obfuscated servers (and other specialty servers).
• Over 50 server locations.
• Connections for up to 6 devices.

And much more...
NordVPN's split tunneling, a rare gift for macOS users, allowed them to choose whether traffic traversed the home network or the VPN. With only ExpressVPN and Private Internet Access extending this offering, NordVPN truly stood out among the elite.
Additionally, the app boasted Meshnet, a unique virtual LAN connectivity feature perfect for file sharing and multiplayer gaming with friends. Upon activating Meshnet on both a MacBook and iMac, files on the iMac were easily accessible via the MacBook, despite the absence of a home network connection.
A curious quirk of NordVPN, however, was the presence of two Mac apps, each with distinct features. The "sideloaded" version, downloaded from NordVPN's website, included DNS services and Threat Protection, while the App Store version offered the IKEv2 protocol but lacked the aforementioned features. Although a minor inconvenience, a unified offering would be a welcome change for the macOS user experience.
So, raise your flag and set sail with NordVPN, the swashbuckling VPN for macOS, teeming with speed and an arsenal of features. May it continue to provide the ultimate virtual adventure for the intrepid Mac explorers of the digital seas.
SurfsharkVPN
In the ocean of VPNs, Surfshark swam gracefully to the surface, boasting fast speeds and a user-friendly macOS app that made navigating virtual waters a breeze. A unique treasure in the VPN seascape, Surfshark allowed an unlimited number of devices to be added to a single subscription – a dream come true for users with vast fleets of devices or those who wished to share their bounty with their household.
With a colossal server network spanning over 3,000+ servers in 100 countries, Surfshark outpaced many of its rivals. ExpressVPN and CyberGhost, for example, boasted a mere 94 countries and 90+ countries, respectively.
Beyond its server network, Surfshark came equipped with a trove of extra features, including:

• RAM-only servers (akin to ExpressVPN).
• A reliable kill switch.
• Obfuscated servers (the elusive "Camouflage mode").
• A variety of protocols (such as WireGuard and OpenVPN).
• A trusty ad blocker.
• And, of course, a strict no-logs policy, ensuring your online escapades remain private.

Alas, Surfshark's lack of split tunneling for Mac users was a disappointing twist in the tale. This coveted feature was only available for Windows, Android, and routers, leaving ExpressVPN and PIA to satiate the macOS users' thirst for split tunneling.
Surfshark also offered optional extras, including an antivirus app that protected Mac users from the lurking dangers of malware. While a worthy effort, Surfshark's antivirus struggled to compete with dedicated antivirus programs like Norton and Bitdefender, which flaunted advanced malware protections and an array of extra system security features.
So, let us celebrate Surfshark, the fin-tastic VPN for macOS users who desire unlimited devices, speedy connections, and an extensive server network. May it continue to make waves in the VPN ocean and help its users sail the virtual seas with ease and security.
PrivateVPN
PrivateVPN emerged as a haven for macOS users seeking a secure and straightforward VPN, particularly for streaming aficionados. With its intuitive dashboard, navigating features and connecting to a server proved to be a delightful stroll in the park. The added convenience of auto-connecting to a favorite server upon opening the app earned PrivateVPN extra brownie points.
From the bustling streets of Netflix and Hulu to the hallowed halls of Amazon Prime Video, Disney+, and BBC iPlayer, PrivateVPN effortlessly unlocked the doors to popular streaming sites. Lesser-known destinations like Crunchyroll, Sling TV, and Paramount+ were also within easy reach.
Boasting brisk speeds, PrivateVPN ensured smooth sailing while streaming HD and 4K videos, with only occasional minor buffering upon skipping through content. While not quite as fleet-footed as the top VPNs on this list, PrivateVPN held its own.
For torrenting enthusiasts, PrivateVPN provided support on all servers, swift download speeds, compatibility with major torrenting clients, and port forwarding for even faster P2P downloads.
However, a few hiccups tarnished PrivateVPN's otherwise stellar reputation for macOS users. Missing perfect forward secrecy, WebRTC protection (unlike ExpressVPN and Private Internet Access), extra features like split-tunneling and ad-blocking, and a kill switch in the Mac app left room for improvement.
Nonetheless, PrivateVPN's user-friendly app and seamless access to beloved streaming sites make it a cozy streaming sanctuary for macOS users, offering them a virtual retreat where they can unwind and indulge in their favorite shows and movies.
How to choose the Best VPN for Mac
Robust Security: A top-notch VPN should boast industry-standard security features like 256-bit AES encryption, a no-logs policy, secure VPN protocols (such as WireGuard, OpenVPN, and IKEv2), and a kill switch to prevent any data leaks if the VPN gets disconnected.
User-friendliness: A VPN ought to be a breeze to use. All the brands on this list flaunt well-crafted and intuitive interfaces, ensuring seamless use on a Mac. With just a few clicks, connecting to a remote server, toggling features, or performing almost any function becomes child's play.
Swift Speeds: While every VPN will inevitably cause some slowdown in your internet connection, a superior VPN will keep the impact minimal—even when connecting to far-off servers. The VPNs on this list maintained speedy connections, with only a 20-30% average decrease, allowing for smooth browsing, streaming, and downloading. (ExpressVPN bags the title of the fastest VPN in town).
Bonus Features: Many VPNs come equipped with extra perks, such as obfuscated servers for bypassing firewalls in countries with restricted internet access, split-tunneling for selective traffic routing, and dedicated P2P servers for optimized file-sharing and torrenting. Rest assured, the bonus features provided by the brands on this list have been tested for their value-addition.
Bang for Your Buck: Opt for VPNs that offer a minimum of 5 simultaneous connections, reasonably priced subscription plans, diverse payment options, and a money-back guarantee.
Armed with this knowledge, you're ready to embark on your 2023 Mac VPN quest, finding the ideal companion to safeguard your online privacy and enhance your browsing experience.

The Cadillac CT4-V was very much designed to be a driver’s car, but it can drive itself … some of the time. The compact sports sedan is available with the latest version of Cadillac’s Super Cruise highway driving system, which provides hands-free lane-centering adaptive cruise control. Super Cruise uses high definition cameras, ultrasonic sensors and … Continue reading Review: The 2023 Cadillac CT4-V is a semi-autonomous American sport sedan

It's Thursday and not much is happening. So we'll get though this really quickly. Shame yesterday's edition got caught by the filters here because of the amount of links because it was a HUGE news day.

What's new

Citizen Brings Asian Fan Favorite Tsuyosa Line to Europe, Renames It Citizen ME
/ The Citizen Tsuyosa became an immediate hit in watch enthusiast circles, despite the difficulties of getting one, as it was only available in select Asian markets. Now, Citizen is introducing new dial colors and renaming the 80s vintage inspired collection to Citizen ME to launch it in Europe.
The Citizen ME’s dial looks like the Rolex Oyster Perpetual’s, with its baton-style hands and applied indices. Previously, the model was offered with black, blue, green, and yellow dials. Now, four new options enter the repertoire – a deep blue with a grained texture, a Tiffany-like blue, teal, and red – all of them with a sunray brushed and fumé effect. Other than the red variant, each colour comes in a stainless-steel case, while the red one is in a rose gold-plated one. Speaking of the case, it’s 40mm x 11.7mm, the bracelet is integrated and the watch is powered by the Citizen 8210 movement.
Citizen ME will be available from June/July in Europe (you can get it in some Asian markets already) at a price of €299 for the steel version and €349 for the rose gold plated version.
Vieren Gold Mirror Special Edition is a funky 70s disco timepiece
/ The 70s are making one hell of a comeback. While those who have lived through the era will tell you that this is not necessarily a good thing. While the music and movies might have been awesome, the 70s are not always the go-to era when you think of great fashion.
However, the 70s revival in the watch game has had some success so far, with the muted brown and funky dials. Now, a young Canadian brand named Vieren is banking on this trend with their Vieren Gold Mirror Special Edition, inspired by the opulent lifestyle of Studio 54 guests.
The Vieren Gold Mirror Special Edition is 41.5mm-long by 27mm-wide and plated in 18K gold. The dial is, honestly, impressive for such a young brand. It’s equally minimal, with a matte gold hours scale with engraved line indices, augmented by a similarly elemental engraved minutes track on the polished vertical rehaut, and maximalist with a skeleton window at the center which frames elements of the gear train behind a polished gold plate. The movement inside is fairly basic - the ETA 2671, but it looks good enough.
The Vieren is very cool, very disco and not terribly expensive if you are looking for something different - $5,250.
Looking For a Watch To Go Skiing With? This Alpina Would Be Great If It Were a Third Of The Price
/ As the official timekeeper of the Freeride World Tour, a competition in which skiers and snowboarders throw themselves down rocky mountainsides, Alpina has just debuted the Alpina Alpiner Extreme Automatic Freeride World Tour 2023.
It’s not a terrible watch. As a sports option, you could do worse. The stainless steel case measures 41 x 42.5 mm, 11.50 mm in height and seems to be fairly rugged. It’s powered by Alpina’s caliber AL-525 which is based on the robust and simple to service Sellita caliber SW200-1 a.
There’s just one bit issue with the watch - the price of €1,595. If it were a third of that price, it would be fantastic value for money.
Hautlence Comes Out With a New Version Of Their Linear Series, Now In Black PVD
/ Hautlence is an interesting brand. In September 2022, after a few years of no new models, MELB Holding (also the owner of H. Moser & Cie.) decided to relaunch the brand with a collection that enjoys all the advantages of indie watchmaking - TV-shaped case and original displays. This took the shape of two watches, the Vagabonde Series 4 with wandering hours and, the most striking of the two, the Linear Series 1, a watch that takes on the classic cues of the brand. And now, it’s back in black, with the Hautlence Linear Series 2.
Hautlence watches relies on jumping indications and retrograde hands, with full exposure of the mechanism driving these complex displays. This very interesting dial is mounted on top of the calibre D50, also known as the automatic tourbillon calibre HMC 804 when encased in Moser watches. The whole assembly consists of 239 components.
The Hautlence Linear Series 2 Black PVD is released as a limited edition of 28 pieces. The retail price will be CHF 63,000 including taxes.
Atelier de Chronométrie Partners with The Lavish Attic on Ultra Limited AdC33
/ Atelier de Chronométrie teams up with The Lavish Attic, a Hong Kong based collective that curates exclusive high craft products and experiences, to produce the AdC33 watch with some extremely interesting dials and cases.
The case is offered in a very interesting precious metal the brand calls gray gold, a gold alloy with high palladium content that apparently lands somewhere between white gold and platinum in appearance. The white grand feu dial is inspired by Chinese pottery, further aided by the blued steel applied Chinese antique indexes.
Just 8 pieces of the AdC33 are planned for production, so don’t expect to run into one at your local meet up anytime soon. The price will run around 65,000 Euros for the precious metal options, though steel will also be available for those more budget conscious at around 60,000 Euros,
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On hand - a selection of review

A Blog To Wach Tests Out the interesting Union Glashütte Noramis Date Sport
A review of the Montblanc Heritage Small Second Limited Edition 38, a Brilliant Movement Finishing In An Under-appreciated Watch
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Watch Worthy - A look at an offbeat, less known watch you might actually like

Insiders Say This French Brand Is The Go-To For Advanced In-House Watchmaking At Attractive Prices
The brand Pequignet and the Royale Saphir model are clearly off the beaten track, and that is their strength. This brand definitely is no microbrand, yet it still is highly individual.
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If you would like to receive some additional watch-adjacent content, as well as this news overview, every morning Monday-Friday feel free to subscribe. There is absolutely no need for you to subscribe, as all the news from the newsletter is posted here. It is only if you want to receive a couple of daily links that are not strictly watch-related.

Anyone has experienced the amex lounge @ OVO Wembley Arena? I am wondering if I will have access during an event with my platinum card. The event site lists that lounge access is available for purchase and doesn't say anything about cardmembers access while the amex page shows cardmember access.
Event page:

" The American Express Lounge
Go VIP and upgrade your experience at the OVO Arena Wembley
Go VIP and upgrade your experience at OVO Arena Wembley with access to The American Express Lounge for just £45 per person including 1 x food item + drink*. Beat the queues with access through the OVO Guests entrance and relax in the lounge which offers a private bar, comfy seating and you can also pre-book your interval drinks to the lounge*. Please note that without a ticket to the show you will not gain access to the lounge. Please also ensure that you are booking for the correct event time and date. The American Express Lounge is most suited to customers in North Side blocks (N2-N15 for instance) or on the main floor as the OVO Guests entrance and The American Express Lounge are accessed via the main foyer, and therefore travel time and distance to/from the south concourse seating should be considered when booking. *Please see on the day menus within the lounge for available options. ^Subject to availability and show timings."

​
Amex page:

OVO ARENA WEMBLEY (UK)
Offer: 10% off when you use your Amex Card to purchase concessions
Receive 10% off on food and beverage when you use any American Express® Card to pay for your purchase at participating in-arena concessions at OVO Arena Wembley. Offer end date December 31, 2023. Discount will not be applied to taxes or any other fees. Discount not valid on previous purchases and cannot be combined with any other offer. Discount is at point of purchase only. Offer may be modified or discontinued at any time without notice. Fulfilment of this offer is the sole responsibility of OVO Arena Wembley. Discount not redeemable for cash.
Offer: Amex Lounge (2) Complimentary Drinks
Access is available to all Consumer and Business American Express Card Members. Individuals cannot use an American Express Prepaid Card to access the Amex Lounge. Offer available, while supplies last. Must be 18 or older to consume alcohol. Offer may only be redeemed on event nights in the Amex Lounge. Additional beverages can be purchased with an American Express® Card. Please drink responsibly. Attendees who appear unruly, disruptive, or visibly intoxicated may be refused service and may be ejected from the event, in the sole discretion of the event organizers.
Amenity: Cardmember Entrance
Access through the American Express® Cardmember Entrance at OVO Arena Wembley is available to American Express Cardmembers. American Express Cardmembers may bring in 2 guests, provided all parties are present upon entry and possess a valid event ticket.
The American Express Cardmember Entrance will be accessible for designated sporting and entertainment events at OVO Arena Wembley. To gain entry to OVO Arena Wembley through the American Express Cardmember Entrance, you must present the guest services representative with a valid American Express Card. The American Express Cardmember Entrance may not be open for all OVO Arena Wembley events, and hours of operation may vary and are subject to change. Entry into OVO Arena Wembley is subject to both the terms and conditions stated on the back of your OVO Arena Wembley event ticket and the rules set by OVO Arena Wembley.

Anyone with personal experience on how this works? TIA

Multi-Grammy Award winner Tim McGraw admitted that when moving his eldest daughter Gracie across country, his emotions got the best of him, leading to a breakdown. “I drove my daughter to L.A. when she moved out there, and drove cross-country with her. I took all the seats out of my Cadillac Escalade and loaded it … Continue reading Tim McGraw ‘lost it’ moving daughter across country: ‘I was crying the whole time’

The community present in this subreddit is wonderful, inclusive and has always welcomed not only gay people but everyone under the gender and sexual minority umbrella.
The mod team is very happy to see this welcoming atmosphere and we thank each and every one of you for your love and empathy.
With the current trend in the US for extreme-right politicians to demonise vulnerable minorities so they can score cheap political points it is however time for this place to openly make a stand as to what our positions and intentions are so that we are a beacon in the dark. So that all of our siblings know that they are welcome here.
I was asked by the mod team to explain a few facts about transgender people and about the position this subreddit has towards inclusion.

Trans rights are human rights. 🏳️‍⚧️

Being transgender is a natural and normal variation in the human gender and sexual experience. Both sex and gender exist on a spectrum and there isn't actually anything inherently wrong or disordered from being trans, by and of itself.
Should there be no fake, artificially generated outrage against trans people in society then they would simply get the self-affirming care required for them to be happy and that would be that. Instead, unfortunately, existing as transgender has become the new wedge-issue for the extreme-right and deliberate demonisation and villification has been mainstreamed to the point where Republican politicians are now openly calling for genocide.
The issues trans people experience are mainly societal in nature. It is society that imposes gender norms, it is society that tells people they may not be who they are.
There are many ways that a non-trans person can seek self-affirming care in life. Some of those are done via permanent body modification through surgical or chemical means. A woman might for example choose to take estrogen supplements to stave off unwanted physical and psychological side effects resulting from the menopause.
It is not uncommon for a young man to choose to have breast reduction medication or surgery in the case of gynecomastia.
A young woman might choose to get breast implants.
You do not hear people in outrage about these forms of self-affirming care. No-one cares, except suddenly when the topic is trans people. This is because the anti-trans movement is wholly articificial. It is a deliberately created fake outrage about a non-issue for political and monetary gain.
I have written about some manufactured outrage in my text about the stochastic terrorist "Libs of Tiktok"
Fascism is an inherently empty ideology, devoid of any meaningful belief-system or any kind of concrete and actionable strategies for improving society. Fascism only cares for power for the sake of power and it cares for nothing else.
Because a fascist system is fundamentally incapable of giving the general public any kind of reasonable platform it must gain and keep followers by creating an out-group to hate. According to fascist systems it is the other that is responsible for all societal ills and only by supporting the fascists in getting rid of the other can society be healed from the non-existent issues fascism convinces people that their target minority is the cause of.
Fascism always picks on a vulnerable target.
The demonisation and villification coming from the extreme-right is doing exactly that. By calling LGBTQ+ people child molestors simply for existing it has become inevitable that people will take up violence "to protect the children".
Attempting to eliminate a target comes in many forms, of which an extermination camp is only the final and most egregious part. It is always preceded by legislating people out of existence, by creating laws which make it impossible for a minority to participate in society and to receive any of the societal advantages that are the entire reason for collective bundling together of skills, resources in civilisation. This is exactly what Republican states are doing today to transgender people. Certain states have already denied trans people any and all medical care related to their identity, meaning that they deliberately impose abject misery on them.
The most egregiously fascistic states are trying to make it a matter of course to remove trans children from the care of their parents and make it illegal for trans people to be present in any public spaces at all.
This is genocide.
Genocide is not purely restricted to extermination, to murder. Genocide is also eliminating a minority group from public life, causing serious bodily and mental harm and taking away children of a minority group from their parents.
Depending on how strictly you'd want to define it, we are currently at stage seven or eight of genocide as defined by the Holocaust Memorial Trust.
One way in which the abject hypocrisy of the anti-trans laws becomes crystal clear are the remarkable exemptions encoded within. You would think that if the goal is protecting the children from harm then these people would want to protect all children from harm.
This is not the case.
In fact, all of these people deliberate include exceptions which allow the continuation of genital re-allignment surgery on unconsenting infants if they are intersex.
This means that if a baby is born with a genital configuration that to a doctor looks ambiguous or not adhering to a strict binary then this doctor can impose an invasive genital surgery, forcing such an infants body to adhere to a stricter binary look.
It is purely cosmetic. Of course they do not check what chromosomes a child has. Of course they do not care that a child might prefer to look as nature made them.
It is purely and only an imposition on a baby's body, with of course the normal failure and mortality rate that such invasive procedures bring with them.
These people do not care about children.
These people do not want to help children.
They want to harm a vulnerable minority.
Fascism never stops.
Now that these people have mainstreamed transphobia, they are moving on to other targets within the LGBTQ+ identity sphere.
We have all seen the absurd attacks on drag queens, calling a normal and harmless theatrical expression "child abuse".
We have all seen the "clever" rhetoric where they turn arguments upside down and disingeniously say things like "why do you want to be around children".
Fascism doesn't stop, it moves on to new targets and that is why it is important for all of us in the GSM identity sphere to stand together. To openly support our trans siblings. To openly stand against hateful rhetoric.
Because they are not going to stop.
The next step, which is already tentatively beginning, is calling gay people being openly gay in society"groomers".
To be clear: The recommended treatment for being transgender is transitioning.
Gender identity is developed by five years old.
The barrage of lies notwithstanding, allowing trans people to transition and to exist as who they are in society markedly improves their physical and mental wellbeing.
The oft-heard talking point of "they still commit suicide even after transitioning" is a lie.
Here is a wealth of sources and links explaining this.
Our trans siblings are welcome here.
Our gender nonconforming siblings are welcome here.
Our intersex siblings are welcome here.
What is not welcome on this subreddit is hate or divisive rhetoric aimed at our siblings. We will not allow the current increasing trend of fascist othering and villification of a marginalised minority to make our siblings feel unwanted in this space, our space, their space.
The only people who are not welcome here are those that want to exclude others based on how they were born.
Further reading:
No, TERFs cannot "always tell" and I can prove that with mathematics.
"I just care about unfair advantage in sports", a transparant transphobic wedge issue.
Drag queens, the next target in the fascist drive to eliminate LGBTQ+ people.

The Crew 2 Season 8 Patch Notes

March 15th, 2023
After having traveled the East and West of the United States during Season 3, the US Speed Tour is making a comeback in Season 8! This Season is bringing brand new events, new vehicles, a whole new playground, and more vanity items than you could shake a checkered flag at. Strap in for the Patch Notes breakdown!
For a more detailed breakdown of the content released with The Crew 2 Season 8 Episode 1: USST Cities, please refer to the Content Overview.
Please follow our official channels for any additional updates.

Touring Car & Alpha GP Handling update

Thanks to your feedback, we have worked to improve the consistency of the handling of vehicles in the same category. Since Season 5 with the Rallycross category, but also during the following Seasons on the Touring Car category. With Season 8, we are happy to announce that we are bringing a new milestone by rolling out handling improvements for all the vehicles in the Touring Car and Alpha GP categories that have not been updated until now.
You will find below a list of the Touring Cars and AGP vehicles that are affected by this latest handling update.
Touring Car

• Acura NSX GT3 (2017)
  
• Alfa Romeo 8C Competizione (2007)
  
• Aston Martin Vulcan (2016)
  
• Audi RS3 LMS (2017)
  
• BMW M6 GT3 (2016)
  
• BMW M Performance M4 Racing (2014)
  
• Cadillac Escalade (2012)
  
• Chevrolet Camaro SS (1969)
  
• Chevrolet Camaro SS (2010)
  
• Chevrolet Corvette C3 (1968)
  
• Chevrolet Corvette C3 F1R3 Ed. (1968)
  
• Chevrolet Corvette C6R (2005)
  
• Chevrolet Silverado 1500 (2009)
  
• Dodge Challenger SRT-8 392 (2012)
  
• Dodge Charger T Hemi® (1969)
  
• Dodge Charger SRT-8 (2012)
  
• Ferrari 365 GTB4 Competizione (1971)
  
• Ferrari 458 Italia GT2 (2011)
  
• Ferrari 488 GT3 (2016)
  
• Ferrari F40 LM (1989)
  
• Ferrari FXX K (2014)
  
• Ford F-150 SVT Raptor (2010)
  
• Ford GT (2005)
  
• Ford GT Le Mans Race Car (2016)
  
• Ford Mustang GT (2011)
  
• Forsberg Racing Nissan GT-R Nismo GT3 (2020)
  
• KTM X-Bow GT4 (2016)
  
• KTM X-Bow GT4 Raw Edition (2016)
  
• Lamborghini Gallardo LP 570-4 Super Trofeo (2013)
  
• Lamborghini Huracán LP 620-2 Super Trofeo (2015)
  
• Maserati Gran Turismo S (2009)
  
• Maserati MC12 versione Corse (2006)
  
• Mazda MX-5 (2016)
  
• McLaren 12C GT3 (2014)
  
• McLaren SLR McLaren 722 GT (2007)
  
• Mercedes-Benz 300 SLR Uhlenhaut Coupé (W196) (1955)
  
• Mercedes-Benz SL 63 AMG (R230) (2009)
  
• Mercedes-Benz SLS AMG GT3 (2011)
  
• Mercedes-Benz Mercedes-AMG C-Coupé (2012)
  
• Mercedes-Benz Mercedes-AMG C 63 (2016)
  
• Mercedes-Benz Mercedes-AMG GT3 (2015)
  
• Mini Cooper S 2010 (2010)
  
• Nissan 370Z (Z34) (2013)
  
• Nissan GT-R Nismo GT3 (2018)
  
• Nissan Skyline GT-R (R34) (2002)
  
• Pagani Zonda R (2008)
  
• Porsche 911 Carrera RSR Turbo (1974)
  
• Porsche 911 GT3 Cup (2017)
  
• Porsche 935 2.0 Coupé “Baby” (1977)
  
• Porsche Carrera RSR Turbo Pulse Performance Ed. (1974)
  
• Proto HuP One (1930)
  
• Renault R.S.01 (2016)
  
• Saleen S7R (2000)
  
• Shelby GT500 (1967)
  

Alpha GP

• Creators YasidDESIGN X American Petrol (2021)
  
• Proto Alpha Mark II (2018)
  
• Proto Alpha Mark X (2020)
  
• Red Bull RB13 (2017)
  
• Red Bull RB14 Disruption Edition (2018)
  

Detailed Patch Notes

Patch Size per platform

• PC: approx. 32 GB.
  
• PlayStation: approx. 31 GB.
  
• Xbox: approx. 33 GB.
  
• Ubisoft Connect/Steam: 33.1 GB.
  

Patch sizes may vary based on your game version.

General

Highlights
[Added] A new playground is available: the Motorflix Arena located on Michigan Lake.

Features

Season Events
[Added] US Speed Tour is back with 13 new original events:

• 8 new during Episode 1 and as many in an Endurance version.
  
• 5 new during Episode 2 and as many in an Endurance version.
  

[Fixed] The steps in Story mode are no longer getting reset when unlocking a new fame status.
[Fixed] A graphical distortion will no longer appear on screen while playing any chase event.
[Fixed] Black and white text will no longer appear for a split second after entering the SAS gate for a few Hovercraft events. LIVE Summit
[Added] 16 LIVE Summits including 8 Premium LIVE Summits:

• 4 new Premium LIVE Summits
• 4 returning Premium LIVE Summits

Motorpass

[Fixed] The extra space that was present for unlocked tiers 10, 15 and 20 when in French language has been removed.

World

[Fixed] Street lamp on the side of the road used in the Holiday Special event is no longer levitating.
[Fixed] Surface is no longer slightly levitating in the Lucky Guy 9 story on Step 3.
[Fixed] The music is no longer ending abruptly in one of New York’s Street. Missions
[Fixed] Truck tires are now grounded and displaying correctly at 83% progression in Season 7’s 'The Aftermath' event.
[Fixed] FPS no longer drops to minimum 32 fps at 98% progression in Season 7’s ‘The Final Call’ street race event. Vanity Items
[Added] 84 new vanity items, 58 of those items are available in the Motorpass. These latest items will be released throughout the Season in the shop, as LIVE Summit rewards, or in the Motorpass.

• 10 Horns
  
• 12 Nitros
  
• 10 Outfits
  
• 3 Rooftops
  
• 10 Smokes
  
• 25 Tires
  
• 10 Underglows
  
• 4 Window tints
  

[Fixed] When equipping the Green Fury Tire, the wheelbase now has the correct offset dimensions, ensuring a fair competition for all.
[Fixed] Some rooftop vanities will now be centred and not overlap when being applied to vehicles.
[Fixed] Animation fixed when applying the Blue Cloud Tint.
[Fixed] The Tempesta Underglow positioning has been fixed on powerboats and bikes.
[Fixed] The No Rules Underglow is now being properly displayed in free drive after applying it to any vehicle. [Fixed] The thumbnail is now matching with the applied Colored Ribbon Smoke.

Vehicles

New Vehicles
[Added] 23 New vehicles
[Fixed] The Chevrolet Corvette C6R (2005) – Touring Car no longer has nitro flames coming from the back.
[Fixed] The Lamborghini Countach LP 5000 Quattrovalvole (1985) – Street Race now has the correct Rear Wheel Drive.
[Fixed] The Bugatti EB 110 (1992) – Hypercar no longer has super suspension clips after upgrading the performance parts.

3C/Handling

[Improved] The Porsche 911 Carrera RSR Turbo (1974) – Touring Car handling has been tweaked.
[Improved] The McLaren 765LT (2020) – Hypercar performance has been improved.
[Improved] The Porsche 928 S4 (1991) – Street Race performance has been improved.
[Fixed] The 918 Spyder Silvery Edition (2015) – Hypercar no longer has a lower top speed than the one displayed (without any performance parts).
[Fixed] The Pontiac Firebird (1977) – Street Race cockpit camera in reverse view has been adjusted.
[Fixed] The speedometer of the Saleen S1 Icebreaker Edition (2020) – Street Race no longer burns on the screen for a second after exiting HQ.
[Fixed] The speedometer of the Lamborghini Countach LPI 800-4 (2021) – Hypercar is now displaying data properly in cockpit view.
[Fixed] The camera no longer clips with the door while changing the interior colour for the Shelby GT 500 (1967) – Street Race and Drift edition.
[Fixed] The collision sound effect is no longer missing on several AGP vehicle wheels.
[Fixed] The visual effect of the disc brakes getting warm after slamming the brakes hard is no longer missing on the McLaren P1™ Gold Line Edition (2013) – Hypercar and the Creators Tempesta.
[Fixed] The Speedometer of the Porsche Cayman GT4 Carbon Edition (2016) – Street Race is no longer burning on the screen for a second after exiting the HQ.
[Fixed] The dashboard of the BMW M8 Performance Edition (2019) – Street Race no longer burns on the screen for a second after exiting the HQ.
[Fixed] The BMW M8 Performance Edition (2019) – Street Race height will no longer raise abnormally upon fully upgrading the suspension.

Audio

[Fixed] The engine sound no longer breaks down on specific sound configurations.

Difficulty

Some difficulty modifications based on the improvement of the handling on Touring Car and Alpha GP vehicles categories.

Known Issues

Below you will find a list of some of the current known issues.

• Dashboards flash on the screen for a short time when being reloaded in-game.
  
• “PSST Horn” is not correctly translated in Traditional Chinese language and debug text is present instead of the vanity name.
  
• The wrong text is displayed for Season 8 Episode 2 events, displaying ‘Time Attack’ when races are against AIs.
  
• The Season 8 Episode 2 events in their Endurance versions have the wrong short transition video with no sound.
  

The Crew 2 patch notes

2018

• 1.0.2 July patch notes - PS4
  
• 1.0.3 July patch notes
  
• 1.1.0 SeptembeGator Rush patch notes
  
• 1.2.0 DecembeDestruction Derby patch notes
  
• 1.2.1 December patch notes
  

2019

• 1.2.2 January Patch Notes
  
• 1.3.0 April/Hot Shots patch notes
  
• 1.4.0? Maintenance July patch notes
  
• 1.5.0 NovembeBlazing Shots patch notes
  

2020

• 1.6.0 March/Inner Drive patch notes
  
• 1.6.1 May Inner Drive patch notes
  
• 1.7.0 July Summer In Hollywood patch notes
  
• 1.7.1 July maintenance
  
• 1.7.2(September maintenance)
  
• 1.8.0 Motorflix Season 1 The Chase/Hunt
  

2021

• 1.9.0 Motorflix Season 2 The Agency
  
• 1.10.0 Motorflix Season 3 US Speed Tour
  
• 1.11.0 Motorflix Season 4 The Contractor
  

2022

• 1.12.0 Motorflix Season 5 American Legends
  
• 1.12.1 April Maintenance Patch
  
• 1.13.0 Motorflix Season 6 Dominion Forsberg
  
• 1.14.0 Motorflix Season 7 Into The Storm
  

The Crew patch notes history

• The Crew patch notes 2014 - 2017

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The RAV4 is the latest Toyota model to be made available in a GR SPORT version
Sporty and sophisticated styling and equipment specification inspired by TOYOTA GAZOO Racing, Toyota’s multi-World Championship-winning competition arm
RAV4 GR SPORT suspension retuned for focussed handling performance
Available with a choice of powerful and efficient 2.5-litre hybrid electric or plug-in hybrid electric powertrains
Featuring fully digital driver’s instrument panel and more powerful multimedia system
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The Toyota RAV4 has always been at the cutting edge of the car market since it originated the concept of the easy-to-drive, highly versatile recreational SUV almost 30 years ago. Today, it consistently ranks not just as the world’s best-selling SUV, but also as one of the best-selling cars across all types and genres.
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Year after year, Toyota has made sure the RAV4 keeps ahead of the game where customers’ tastes and preferences are concerned, adopting new technologies and design thinking to keep the car’s appeal and its capabilities up to the moment. The latest chapter in the RAV4 story is the new RAV4 GR SPORT, an addition to the range that comes with styling and equipment features that express sportiness and sophistication that are inspired by TOYOTA GAZOO Racing – the cradle of Toyota’s mission to create ever-better cars through motorsport.
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The GR SPORT theme has already been successfully applied to a wide range of other Toyota models, ranging from Yaris, Yaris Cross, C-HR and Corolla to the mighty Hilux pick-up. The RAV4 now picks up the baton in its own inimitable style.
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Exterior Design
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A series of exterior design details distinguishes the new RAV4 GR SPORT, broadcasting its sportier character.
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The car’s front end makes a statement with the prominent grille finished in the GR-exclusive G-mesh pattern, which creates a deeper 3D-effect. The same pattern is applied to the enlarged fog light bezels, which also have distinctive boomerang-shaped frames, giving added prominence to the vehicle’s strong stance. Adding to this effect, the lower bumper has a dark grey metallic finish, in place of the silver featured on other RAV4 models.
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At the rear, the back window’s appearance has been thrown into sharper relief by a gloss black garnish that extends the width of the vehicle, between the glass and the licence plate. The G-mesh pattern appears again in the rear bumper, which also has air-bleeding openings to improve aerodynamic performance. Further emphasising the RAV4’s purposeful look, the lower bumper has a dark grey metallic moulding across its bottom edge.
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Discreet GR logo badging on the front grille and back door also signifies the grade.
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GR SPORT Wheels
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The exclusive GR SPORT 19-inch alloy wheels are engineered for reduced weight and higher rigidity. Their robust, five-double-spoke design stands out with a gloss black finish and a fine line-cutting technique, applied for the first time which creates eye-catching pinstripe detailing around the spokes’ margins.
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Colour Choices
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The principal paintwork options for the RAV4 GR SPORT follow the famous white, red and black livery of TOYOTA GAZOO Racing’s competition stable. In the case of this road-going model, the options are Platinum White Pearl, Flame Red and Attitude Black. Customers can also opt for Silver and Grey metallic and Dark Blue mica.
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The same colours – apart from Attitude Black – are available in a bi-tone finish, combined with a gloss black roof, front and centre pillars and rear spoiler.
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Interior Design
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The GR SPORT’s interior likewise features styling details exclusive to its status.
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The principal colour theme for the upholstery and lining is black, creating an atmosphere that puts the focus firmly on driving. The seats are upholstered in a combination of a grippy, body-holding suede-like materials for the shoulder, back rest and cushion sections and synthetic leather for the bolsters. Silver grey stitching adds a smart contrast on the seats, steering wheel and shift lever. The front seat head rests are embossed with the GR logo in black-on-black.
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The sophisticated cabin look is enhanced by dark grey metallic trim details on the steering wheel, air vent bezels and the centre console frame around the shift lever. The GR logo is also applied to the steering wheel and the carpet mats.
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The GR SPORT’s high equipment specification includes power adjustment for the front seats and a new version of Toyota’s Panoramic View Monitor, which includes an underfloor view to help the driver check the terrain surface and precisely locate the wheels when manoeuvring at low speed. Further assistance is provided by a new digital reversing camera that provides higher quality real-time images compared to the previous analogue system.
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Digital Driver’s Instrument Display
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The 12.3-inch driver’s instrument display is fully digital with pin-sharp graphics and the option to customise content to suit the driver’s mood or the journey through four themes: Casual, Smart, Tough and Sporty. The options include three different layouts for the principal meters, while each version keeps a central digital speedometer and shift indicator. The background illumination automatically changes with the selected drive mode.
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The display has three distinct multi-information zones. The central section presents the most frequently used information, such as indicators of the car’s advanced safety systems. Those to the left and right provide details of fuel consumption, audio selection and other data; the driver can also personalise the display with a widget highlighting their preferred information.
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Multimedia
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The RAV4 GR SPORT is fitted with the latest Toyota Smart Connect multimedia system operated using a 10.5-inch touchscreen display. Mounted centrally on the dashboard and shaped to harmonise with the angles of the car’s interior design, the monitor has a seamless black surface and presents graphics in high definition for sharpness and clarity in all lighting conditions.
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A permanent, icon-based menu is presented on the driver’s side of the display. Users can also connect their smartphone or tablet to the system – both wired and wirelessly if using Apple CarPlay® or with a wired link for Android Auto®.
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The multimedia package includes access to cloud-based journey navigation, which uses constantly updated real-time traffic event information for accurate and efficient route planning. There is also an embedded navigation system that can be used when no data connection to the cloud is available. This has additional functions including highway sign recognition, local weather information and driver alerts when the vehicle is approaching restricted low emission zones (LEZs).
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Using voice commands has been made easier with a new “Hey Toyota” on-board voice agent. This will respond to spoken requests to adjust the climate control, choose multimedia options, make a phone call, or open and close the windows. “Hey Toyota” is designed to understand conversational speech, so if you say “I’m cold” it will respond by closing the windows or raising the cabin temperature. With two microphones installed in the instrument panel, the system will recognise and respond to commands from both the driver and front seat passenger. It will also recognise commands amid background noise, so there is no need to turn off the audio.
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There is further convenience with any future software tweaks or upgrades delivered seamlessly over the air, via the car’s data communications module (DCM). This means there is no need for the car to be taken to a workshop for a system update. Likewise, the system can be used to update software in the Toyota T-Mate/Toyota Safety Sense.
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Remote Services via the MyT App
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The driver can access a number of useful functions remotely, via the MyT smartphone app. The familiar worries about whether you have left a window open, the doors unlocked or the lights on after you’ve walked away from your car are addressed with remote notifications to confirm the vehicle is secure. This feature is standard on all RAV4 models.
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You can also lock and unlock the doors – a handy feature if someone without a key needs access, for example to drop off a parcel or to clean the car. The hazard lights can also be flashed, making the vehicle easier to spot in a big or busy car park. These features are newly standard on mid-grade models, together with remote operation of the climate control to warm up or cool the cabin before making a journey.
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Vehicle status can be checked, including the fuel level and cruising range, health warnings and details of the latest vehicle health check.
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Suspension
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The RAV4 GR SPORT goes beyond styling and equipment features to deliver an enhanced driving experience with a more handling-tuned suspension.
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The front and rear coil springs have been stiffened to put the focus on agility and responsiveness. Changes to the spring coefficient are matched by appropriate adjustment of the shock absorbers’ damping force. On the plug-in hybrid electric model, the spring rates have increased from 30 to 36 N/mm at the front and 49 to 55 N/mm at the rear; on the hybrid electric GR SPORT the respective increases are 28 to 30 and 40 to 46 N/mm.
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The well-proven suspension set-up on the RAV4 uses front MacPherson struts with rear double wishbones – both with anti-roll bars.
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Powertrains
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Hybrid Electric
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The hybrid electric RAV4 GR SPORT features Toyota’s well-proven fourth generation full hybrid technology, engineered with lighter and more compact components to help deliver sharper performance and higher efficiency. Full system output is 222 DIN hp/163 kW, enabling 0-100 km/h acceleration in 8.1 seconds.
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The powertrain marked the introduction of a 2.5-litre Hybrid Dynamic Force four-cylinder petrol engine. Achieving world-class thermal efficiency, this Atkinson cycle unit delivers a strong balance of fuel economy and power. In the new RAV4 GR SPORT, WLTP combined cycle fuel consumption is 5.8 l/100 km with CO2 emissions of 132 g/km.
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Plug-in Hybrid Electric
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Toyota delivered the most powerful RAV4 yet with the introduction of a plug-in hybrid electric system that produces a maximum 306 DIN hp/225 kW. This level of power enables acceleration from rest to 100 km/h in 6.0 seconds; raw speed apart, the powertrain is engineered for driveability, with 50% more power available at 60 km/h. Even when driving in all-electric EV mode, performance is brisk, with acceleration comparable to a 2.0-litre petrol vehicle.
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Its efficiency is maximised by the car running in EV mode by default, then switching to self-charging hybrid electric running when the charge in the lithium-ion battery is depleted. On a full charge, the RAV4 Plug-in Hybrid GR SPORT can cover up to 75 km (WLTP combined cycle) and reach speeds of up to 135 km/h.
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Intelligent, Electric All-Wheel Drive
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The RAV4 GR SPORT models are equipped as standard with an intelligent, electric all-wheel drive system – AWD-i. This returns better fuel economy in urban driving, quieter performance at high speeds and improved traction in slippery conditions. It is also more compact and lighter in weight than mechanical AWD systems, so fuel consumption and space inside the cabin and load compartment are not compromised.
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AWD-i efficiently generates drive torque using power from the vehicle’s hybrid system and an additional electric motor on the rear axle. This format reduces energy losses, saves weight and optimises all-wheel drive performance in different driving conditions.
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Toyota’s development of the technology delivers more torque to the rear wheels, to a maximum 1,300 Nm – matching or surpassing the typical torque achieved with a mechanical system and giving the RAV4 more sure-footed performance, for example when pulling away on loose, slippery surfaces. The front/rear drive torque split can vary from 100:0 to up to 20:80, according to the driving conditions. The ratio is automatically optimised to give improved handling, stability and off-road performance. In particular, the driver will notice more faithful line-tracing through bends in slippery conditions.
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AWD Integrated Management
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All-wheel drive performance is further improved with AWD Integrated Management (AIM), a unique feature in the RAV4’s class. This automatically adjusts different vehicle systems – steering assist, brake and throttle control, shift pattern and drive torque distribution – according to the drive mode selected, NORMAL, ECO or SPORT. In SPORT mode, AIM modifies the steering assist, throttle control shift schedule and drive torque distribution to gain better on-road performance.
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“Escape” Capability with Trail Mode
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First introduced with the current generation RAV4, the RAV4 GR SPORT with AWD-i has the added benefit of automatic limited-slip differential control – Trail Mode. This ensures the best possible grip and control on slippery surfaces. It can also provide valuable assistance when tackling challenging off-road conditions.
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This counters the risk of the vehicle becoming stranded if a driven wheel loses contact with the ground on very uneven terrain. In this scenario, the driver can engage Trail Mode using a button on the centre console, braking the free rotating wheel and directing drive torque to the grounded wheel. Throttle control and the transmission shift pattern are also adapted to help the driver keep the vehicle moving.
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Advanced Safety and Driver Assistance
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The new GR SPORT benefits from the enhanced Toyota T-Mate package of safety and driver assistance features introduced across the model range for 2023. This includes additional functions that can warn the driver and help avoid a wider range of common road accident risks.
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The Toyota Safety Sense’s Pre-Collision System (PCS) gains intersection support that can help with safer turns at junctions. Provided on both the hybrid electric and plug-in hybrid electric models, this will detect if the car is about to cross the path of any oncoming traffic, and if there are any pedestrians crossing the road into which the vehicle is moving, alerting the driver and, if necessary, initiating braking control to help avoid an impact.
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Emergency Steering Assist (ESA) is also newly provided, helping the driver avoid a pedestrian who has stepped into the road, while keeping the car under control and within its traffic lane. On the plug-in model, ESA can additionally detect and respond to a cyclist or a stationary or preceding vehicle,. On the RAV4 Plug-in Hybrid, the system will also recognise and react to bicycles and parked vehicles. The RAV4 Plug-in Hybrid’s PCS also gains the ability to detect oncoming vehicles in the car’s traffic lane in daytime driving and reduce the risk of a head-to-head collision.
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Source: Newsroom Toyota

Hey friends!
We hope this post finds you well. As we come out of the winter months, we are excited to share with you our upcoming strain drops for the spring season and future ongoings at Funk House Farm. We will be dropping a diverse selection of new strains as well as bringing back some favorites from last year.
April 1st Flower Drop
Divine Banana (Divine Gelato x Banana OG) - Stunning fade this run, abundant purple and frost abound. A complex flavor and aroma profile, sweet and fruity, notes of banana, vanilla, citrus and subtle hint of pine. A relaxing and calming smoke, perfect for unwinding at the end of the day.
Tickle Burger (GMO Grape Pie x Double Burger) - I have too much tickle burger, said nobody ever. This strain is a personal favorite. A loud, grape and garlicky armpit. As described on this sub before "airy but dense, light but not heavy, open but closed. Perfection in the form of a flower."
Devil Driver (Melonade x Sundae Driver) - A gifted cut from High Sail Cannabis, this sativa dominant strain has a truly unique profile with a grape soda and fresh melon punch. Deep purple undertones, raspberry hues, thick amber hairs. She’s a beauty and we are happy to have a new sativa in our rotation. We think this ones a keeper.
Bixcotti (Motor Breath 15 x Gelato 41) - Like a cinnamon airline snack cookie from the days of yore. Hints of cinnamon, gas, pine, mint, funk. No surprise given its lineage. Pairs well with a cup of coffee.
May 1st Flower Drop
Woreoz (Warheads x Oreoz) - Greasy, sweet and sour, earthy. Dense and coated in a thick trichome layer, a dark green and purple swirl of color. We can’t wait to give this one a first go.
Alien Apple Kush (Alien Dawg x Sour Apple) - We can’t stop sniffing our fingers. A sweet apple funk with a sour lingering profile. Loud and gassy, this sativa dominant hybrid is looking like a real crowd pleaser.
Platinum Truffles (Platinum Kush Breath Remix x Gorilla Butter) - Another new on for the team, its has shown to push 30% THC and we are eager to see where this one tests out.
Jokerz x White Truffles - name TBD. Couch imminent. Earthy, sour citrus, cheese. A real beauty so far and another first attempt.
May 15th thru July 1st drops - Descriptions and Photos to come further in the cycle
Watermelon Z (Zkittles x Watermelon)
Gelato 33 (Sunset Sherbert x Thin Mint GSC)
Goldcashgold (Oreoz x Pure Michigan)
Cadillac Rainbows (Runtz x Pure Michigan)
Zookies (Animal Cookies x Gorilla Glue #4)
Apehangers OG (Gorilla Glue #4 x Bikers OG)
Alien Apple Kush (Alien Dawg x Sour Apple
Black Cherry Garlic (GMO x Cherry Cookies)
Waiting Game (Fruity Pebbles OG x MAC)
Stockton Slap (Sherb Face x Bitch Slap)
Pure Michigan (Oreoz x Mend Breath)
Cereal Milk (Snowman x Y-Life)
We appreciate the communities continued support and feedback and look forward to meeting and learning from you all in 2023! Check out our instagram page and website for photos/videos of coming strains and to stay up to date on where you can find our product.