#2018 Tundra Body Style

[noisystatesmanbakeryfriend]

2020 Toyota 4Runner Review

2020 toyota 4runner: 5 pros and 4 cons. Toyota has actually given its 4runner a number of updates for 2020, bringing this suv's rugged appearances and off-road capability into the new decade. Related: 2020 toyota 4runner review: in your home. Find out more. Need to purchase a car during the covid-19 coronavirus outbreak? read this prior to you do. 10 biggest newspaper article of the week: 2020 chevrolet corvette trounces telluride. 2020 toyota 4runner: everything you need to understand. 2020 toyota 4runner evaluation: at home where the sidewalk ends. 10 most significant chicago auto program stories: 2021 genesis gv80 quits little ground. Within toyota's lineup, the 4runner is positioned above the rav4 compact crossover and along with the highlander midsize crossover. Cargurus has evaluated the toyota 4runner numerous times in current years, recognizing it with the following overall scores: 8. 2 (2014 ), 7. 3 (2015 ), and 7. More about the 2020 Toyota 4Runner Conditions apply. Crawl control is designed for driving on challenging terrain at low speeds. It helps the driver by managing acceleration and braking, allowing the driver to concentrate on steering. The toyota 4runner is designed to fulfill off-road driving requirements, but off-roading is naturally harmful. The original 4runner was a compact suv and bit more than a toyota pickup truck with a fiberglass shell over the bed, however the model has actually since gone through significant independent advancement into a cross between a compact and a mid-size suv. All 4runners have been integrated in japan at toyota's plant in tahara, aichi, or at the hino motors (a toyota subsidiary) plant in hamura. The 4runner was available in at number 5 in a 2019 research study by iseecars. Com ranking the longest-lasting vehicles in the us. The 4runner had 3. 9percent of vehicles over 200,000 miles (320,000 km), according to the research study. The trekker was among the first prototype walk through conversions done to toyota trucks in the early 1980s. They resembled the successive 4runner conversions done by toyota, which started production in 1984, however were designed and built by winnebago markets with the approval of toyota. The trekker was no longer viable when toyota started producing the 4runner in 1984, having in essence functioned as a marketing test vehicle for that car. Thus, the very first generation is almost mechanically similar to the toyota hilux. All very first generation 4runners had two doors and were indistinguishable from the pickups from the dashboard forward. Almost all changes were to the latter half of the body; in fact, since the rear springs were not updated to bear the additional weight from the rear seats and fiberglass top, these early models tended to experience a drooping rear suspension. Related 2020 Toyota 4Runner details All 2020 4runners receive toyota's safety sense p (tss p), an integrated suite of driver-assistance features including a pre-collision system with autonomous braking, adaptive cruise control, lane-departure caution, and automatic high-beams. A brand-new infotainment system increases in screen size from 6. 1 to 8. In our very first drive review of the 2020 toyota 4runner trd pro, we were impressed by its off-road capability, stating that "'although the 4runner is old, it showed to be plenty capable on the trail." we were also pleased with the enhancements made to the vehicle's driver's assistants and infotainment systems, and felt that those looking to purchase a 4runner should absolutely wait for the 2020 model, as these updates actually make a difference in the interior and safety. Read what other owners consider the 2020 Toyota 4Runner. Shoppers also think about. Toyota's old-school 4runner hasn't changed a lot for many years, but its competitors have. Vehicles such as the nissan pathfinder, when an authentic suv ready to take on gnarly terrain, have actually given that morphed into crossovers with less off-road capability. The 2020 toyota 4runner keeps its status as a tough, off-road prepared suv that uses a more civilized option to vehicles like the jeep wrangler, particularly when discovered in trd off-road or trd pro trims. It's likewise a fairly comfy daily driver that can seat up to 7 passengers throughout 3 rows, and it can tow approximately 5,000 pounds. Toyota 4Runner vs. Jeep Grand Cherokee The same can be stated, to varying degrees, of models like the ford explorer and chevrolet blazer. That leaves just 2 primary rivals: the jeep grand cherokee and jeep wrangler unlimited. Offered the shift in buyers' preferences, its shrinking segment, and its antiquated style, one would presume the 4runner's best days were in the past. Get the base 4runner in gray, beat the hell out of it and keep it for 20-plus years. That's what i suggest. Your other options are the jeep grand cherokee ($32,150), which is even more refined and outsells 4runner by a nation mile. Toyota 4Runner vs. Toyota Highlander 2020 toyota 4runner trd pro: 3 things that make it a pro in the city. 10 most significant news stories of the week: 2021 genesis gv80, gmc yukon do it. 2020 chicago auto show: everything you missed out on. 2021 toyota highlander xse and unique 4runner, tacoma tundra identify themselves. While more recent midsize trucks are much smoother on the road, the 4runner is stiff and bouncy, jouncing along the highway. If you prepare to use your brand-new suv for travelling, something like the brand-new toyota highlander or smaller rav4 are most likely a much better bet. Toyota 4Runner vs. Toyota Tacoma But, that's exactly for how long it's been considering that toyota introduced the latest version of its venerable midsize suv. The fifth-generation 4runner debuted for the 2010 model year, using rather tighter interior accommodations compared to its predecessor and sharing various bits and pieces with the tacoma pickup an fj cruiser suv. Our experts' favorite 4Runner safety features: Rear spoiler, mp3 player, privacy glass, keyless entry, child safety locks. Toyota limited with magnetic gray metallic outside and black interior features a v6 cylinder engine with 270 hp at 5600 rpm *. Choice packagesrunning boards. Serviced here, locally owned and traded here!experts conclude'the 4runner's v6 produces a healthy 270 horsepower, ideal when you need to pass slower traffic or tow heavy loads. What do individuals consider the 2020 Toyota 4Runner? The 2018 toyota 4runner is a body-on-frame sport energy, meaning it's truck-based instead of car-based as would be a crossover-suv. This indicates that the 4runner might not be for everyone, but it does fit a specific market and segment of needs. The 2018 4runner needs to be thought of as a pickup truck with more seating capable of bring a fair variety of people and pulling a fair amount of trailer and cargo. As such, the japanese maker didn't change much of anything on the 2013 toyota 4runner. Many people would neglect this midsize suv at first glance, however it does have some extremely rugged and useful features that might attract buyers searching for recognized dependability. What's an excellent price for a New 2020 Toyota 4Runner? Different package updates followed in 2018, and after that a black-accented nightshade special edition showed up for the 2019 model year. Cargurus tested the 2019 4runner, eventually recommending the sr5 premium 4wd model based on its available features and sub-$40,000 starting price. As the toyota 4runner entered the 2020 model year, it went through a host of considerable upgrades, the least of which was the introduction of a venture trim level accented by distinct wheels and a standard roofing system rack. I finally get the love for the toyota 4runner. I almost got it in the past, now that i have actually spent a week in one, i'm feeling a connection to the loud, unrefined, semi-slow, old suv. Beginning with the excellent, the 4runner's looks are simply traditional and identifiable. Should I lease or buy a 2020 Toyota 4Runner? Such has been the appeal of the toyota 4runner, a rear-wheel-drive (rwd) or 4-wheel-drive (4wd) model that has actually filled that function since it was initially introduced in the mid-1980s. Now, as one of the couple of midsize suvs still on the marketplace, the up-to-7-passenger 4runner continues to bring in buyers who want to venture far off the beaten course, or a minimum of would like to know their vehicle can do so at a moment's notice. A new, sixth-generation 4runner is stated to be in development but, at the time of this writing, no details have actually been launched. 2003-2009 toyota 4runner: 4th generation. Aside from pickup trucks and some very popular cars, couple of vehicle nameplates have been around regularly for more than thirty years. Up to $500 refund on a new toyota 4runner. Not valid on unique lease/preferred choice deals, apr programs or vehicles otherwise omitted based on the terms and conditions. Must be 18 years of age or older and have a valid driver's license.

[newcarsrelease-blog]

New Tundra Body Style

New Tundra Body Style New Tundra Body Style - For the 2018 model year, Toyota is playing out a Read more at http://toyotacamryusa.com/2017/06/new-tundra-body-style/

[windforge]

Now time for the skincent roundup! This one was a bit tough, since a lot of festival entries would be considered skins using normal rules. So these are just from entries actually labeled as a skin.

Frigid Gale | Ravenhearst, Crystalline 2019

I feel like the feeling of the Ice holiday swings back and forth between really cheery and exceptionally dark (see: Frigid Fugitive Shackles). This one really plays up the dark bits a lot, which is what I want to see more of. Now, I personally hate winter and cold weather in general, so a gloomy skin feels extra fitting in my book, but also remember that Icewarden is...kind of evil?? Like, there’s a bunch of...things frozen in his horrible ice castle. Probably things that didn’t all deserve to be frozen. Yikes.

Magie de Cirque | Houseteeth, Trickmurk 2017

I’m not entirely just featuring this one because, in case y’all can’t tell, I really love Des. It’s also just nice to get a clown/jester skin that doesn’t immediately trigger my fight-or-flight response. Maybe because he has rad bowling alley carpet on his wings. It really bridges the gap between a lot of the different Shadow aesthetics we keep getting, at least apparel-wise. Plus it matches nicely with the OG, the Tricktrouper Crown and its swanky butt tattoos.

Spring Breeze | Zubliter, Mistral 2016

Wind! Squiggles! Brightest colors! Flapsneks! This skincent has it all! I know in my last list I said I really enjoy the darker side of Wind lore, but dang it, Wind is also party flight and this lad is decked out. Literally the only flaw I can find is that it’s named after spring when, in my mind, it has extremely strong summertime energy.

Alligator Snapper Turtle | Endivinity, Wavecrest 2018

This is possibly my most biased pick in all the lists. I prayed so desperately for it to win, because I had to own a copy, whatever the costs. Snapping turtles (especially alligator ones) were some of my absolute favorite animals as a kid. I dunno why, I just thought they were neat and Big Boys. So that combined with my general love for reptile accents made this one a no-contest.

Season | Desnik, Greenskeeper 2018

Here’s some piping hot tea: Desnik deserves even more wins than they already have. Their entries are always really creative and fit well with each flight. They’re someone else I’ve enjoyed watching their style develop over the last few years. It’s no surprise I like body-mod skins, but body-mod skins that come with shading? Hoo boy, that’s the Good Shit right there.

Sunbeam Sentinel | Piney, Brightshine 2015

This was one of my all-time favorite skincents while I was still in Light, it was just about perfect for my aesthetic. Because of some personal stuff, guardians + Light stuff = hardcore weird nostalgia?? Really just, lots of feelings?? This is definitely another skin that can be credited with “why I fell in love with lady guardians”

Thundervolt | Houseteeth, Thundercrack 2015

Yeah, I’m putting two of Des’s skins here because they deserve it! I’ve always loved how they do metal and other shiny things, and the really painterly style on the lightning is super unique. It’s also a bonus to see a slightly different palette than most of the cyborg dragon skins out there. Don’t get me wrong, I love a good copper/light blue, but bright gold and cyan? Now we’re cooking with tastey.

Earthforge Whisper | Endivinity, Flameforger’s 2018

Earthforge is kinda like Windforge right? I guess really the mirror universe Windforge, since Earth and Wind are pretty opposite lel. Anyways this one just completely ticks all my aesthetic boxes. Big teeths? Check. Bogsnoop? Of course. Pretty scales and fins? You betcha. Beautiful swirly smoke plumes of the highest aesthetic quality? Damn skippy.

Guardian of Ether | AppleDad, Starfall 2018

Tundras! Need! More! Accents! That’s just a general mood in the chat right now. But specifically I like this one so much not just because it’s pretty and glowy, but it’s so different from most of the Arcane entries we get. I mean, it could easily pass for a Trickmurk skin. Don’t get me wrong, there are lots of really good skins made every year with the normal purble/pank/magenta Spacedad palette, but variety is good! 

Vulture Culture | Hanmonster, Riot of Rot 2017

Now THIS is a Plague skin! So often I see the staff keep insisting that instead of blood and gore we do survival-themed entries, then they pick a bunch of disease-related stuff anyway. Plague is about not letting anything go to waste, but in a “wear the bones of your enemies for extra armor” kinda way. Plus, real life vulture culture is rad (referring to both people who collect and clean bones and other wildlife remains, and the culture that encourages vultures being awesome and helpful cause they totally are).

Ancient Soulwarden | Endivinity, Rockbreaker’s 2016

I’ll stop picking Endivinity’s skins when they stop producing such delightful content!!! I love that the stonework has an almost...I wanna say Southeast Asian feel to it? It reminds me of a garuda statue I have that my grandma brought back from her travels back in the day. And of course, the best teeth aesthetic is the big curly lion statue teeths. I don’t make the rules.

[mypubliclands]

#NewYearNewAdventures: Our favorite road trips/byways

We’re continuing to share some of the top spots on #yourpubliclands to start the New Year off right. Explore the outdoors with these road trips and byways this year to BLM-managed public lands.

Dalton Highway, Alaska

The Dalton Highway stretches 414 miles across northern Alaska from Livengood (84 miles north of Fairbanks) to Deadhorse and the oilfields of Prudhoe Bay. Built during construction of the trans-Alaska oil pipeline in the 1970s, this mostly gravel highway travels through rolling, forested hills, across the Yukon River and Arctic Circle, through the rugged Brooks Range, and over the North Slope to the Arctic Ocean. Along most of its length, you'll see no strip malls, no gift shops, no service stations, just forest, tundra, and mountains, crossed by a ribbon of road and pipe.The BLM manages a swath of public lands along the highway from the Yukon River to the north side of the Brooks Range. Within the Dalton corridor, the BLM maintains campgrounds, rest areas, interpretive panels and the award-winning Arctic Interagency Visitor Center in Coldfoot.This is no ordinary road -- it pays to be prepared. There is no cell phone service or public Internet connection along the Dalton Highway.

Route 66 Historic Backcountry Byway, Arizona

This 42-mile stretch of two-lane blacktop is one of the last and best-preserved segments of the original Route 66, one of America's first transcontinental highways. This portion of the highway once included one of the most fearsome obstacles for "flatland" travelers in the 1930's: the hairpin curves and steep grades of Sitgreaves Pass, which characterize Old Route 66 as it makes its way over the Black Mountains of western Arizona. 

Bodie Hills, California

Always on our #roadtrip #bucketlist! California’s Eastern Sierra region is a dramatic transition zone between the snow-capped granite spires of the Sierra Nevada and the endless sagebrush covered uplands of the Great Basin. A trip at the right time of year will reward visitors with a diversity of wildflowers.

One great wildflower viewing area is just north of Mono Lake and east of Yosemite National Park in the rolling Bodie Hills – hills being an understatement since they top out at over 10,000 feet! Because of their high elevation, wildflower blooms are later here than much of California – typically arriving in May-June on the lower slopes and into July on the highest peaks. Several back roads traverse the area and offer access to view the displays of phlox, penstemon and paintbrush to name a few of the many wildflower species. More than 100,000 acres of BLM lands cover most of the Bodie Hills and include several wilderness study areas.

Bodie State Historic Park is the best-preserved ghost town in California, and arguably in the United States. Wildlife viewers can see antelope, mule deer, and if lucky, get a glimpse of a sage grouse. If you visit later, around early October, crisp clear nights will turn the scattered aspen stands to gold, giving a second opportunity to see Bodie Hills in color.

Alpine Loop National Backcountry Byway, Colorado

A #roadtrip to the #AlpineLoop should be on your #bucketlist for 2018! Located northeast of Silverton, Colorado in San Juan and Hinsdale counties, the Alpine Loop Back Country Byway is a premiere visitor destination. The epic scenery draws off-highway-vehicle enthusiasts across the country who are treated with a network of roads that climb above the timberline, accessing unparalleled vistas in an alpine environment. The hiking, biking and camping in the area is also fantastic. Scattered along the Alpine loop are remnants of our nation’s frontier history, where visitors can learn about the bustling mining towns that once thrived here. 

While many roads are accessible by regular, two-wheel drive vehicles, getting into the alpine areas require high-clearance, four wheel drive vehicles. Plan your trip accordingly.

Washington-Rochambeau Revolutionary Route National Historic Trail, Virginia

Journey through early American history and walk in the footsteps of our nation’s founding fathers as you explore the Washington-Rochambeau Revolutionary Route. This National Historic Trail commemorates over 680 miles of land and water trails followed by the allied armies of General George Washington and the French Lieutenant General Comte Jean de Rochambeau. During their 1781 march from Newport, Rhode Island to Yorktown, Virginia, the French army established an encampment on what is now the Meadowood Special Recreation Management Area (SRMA). A segment of this trail connects with a BLM system of trails crossing the SRMA on the historic Mason Neck Peninsula, just a short drive from the nation’s capital. At Meadowood, the trail transects open meadows, enters into mature hardwood forests, and crosses riparian wetlands. While in the area, visit Gunston Hall, the home of Founding Father George Mason, a strong supporter of individual liberties and the author of the Virginia Declaration of Rights. Many of the concepts in that document found embodiment in the first ten amendments to the U.S. Constitution, the Bill of Rights.

Lewis and Clark Backcountry Byway, Idaho

The Lewis and Clark Backcountry Byway and Adventure Road is a 36-mile loop drive through a beautiful and historic landscape following the Lewis and Clark National Historic Trail and the Continental Divide National Scenic Trail. Experience incredible views of the Lemhi Valley and the surrounding mountain ranges; truly some of the finest scenery in America!

The mountains, evergreen forests, high desert canyons and grassy foothills look much the same today as when the Lewis and Clark Expedition passed through in 1805. Take a slow and meandering journey along this drive with time to stop along the way for hiking, fishing, mountain biking and exploration. With a 4,000 foot gain and loss in elevation, expect some steep grades too.

Lemhi Pass is well-known for its wildflower displays in the spring and summer. Captain Lewis collected three new plant species in this area: mountain maple, common snowberry and Lewis’s monkey flower. You might see elk, mule and whitetail deer, black bear, moose, pronghorn antelope, coyotes and many smaller mammal species. Early mornings and evenings are the times to look for wildlife, particularly where the forest and meadow meet.

By late September, shorter days and cooler temperatures release hues of red, yellow, and gold in aspens, cottonwoods, willows and shrubs. Don’t miss Agency Creek in October – it’s beautiful!  Download a visitor guide for your roadtrip from our website.

Big Sky Byway, Montana

The 105-mile Big Sky Back Country Byway begins in Terry, MT, and travels north and south covering badlands and rolling prairies. The byway ends in Wolf Point, MT, on the beautiful Missouri River, part of the Lewis and Clark National Historic Trail. The route is part of the National Scenic Byways Program, linking Terry with Wolf Point. Taking 2 hours one way, you can stop to take a look at the information kiosks in Terry, Circle, and Wolf Point, which describe byway attributes, local history, and culture. Visitors can enjoy the scenic badlands of eastern Montana year round from this all-weather road.

Lunar Crater Backcountry Byway, Nevada

The scenic loop (the Lunar Crater Back Country Byway) passes by the crater with a stopping point near the crater where visitors can get out to view the impressive volcanic feature. Vehicles are limited to existing roads and trails.

Lake Valley Backcountry Byway, New Mexico

A meandering 48-mile drive on paved roads takes visitors through ranching and mining country and past the ruins of the 1880s mining town of Lake Valley. The Lake Valley Backcountry Byway is nestled between the Mimbres and Caballo Mountains and the Cooke's Range in southwestern New Mexico and offers spectacular scenic views. Rich in history and scenery, the Byway offers an outstanding trip for travelers with an hour to spare.

Steens Mountain, Oregon

How about this for a scenic byway: Glacier-carved gorges, pristine alpine lakes and wild and scenic rivers, all accessible via the highest elevation road in Oregon!

Come take a drive on the 52-mile-long Steens Mountain Backcountry Byway! There are four campgrounds along the byway for those wanting to stay a little bit longer in one of the most remote places in the U.S.!

Photo/video: https://goo.gl/VOkTFg

San Rafael Swell, Utah

Make the most of your road-trip to Moab or the Skyline Drive! Take the scenic route through the San Rafael Swell.  Emery County Road 332 is a gravel road that connects approximately 45 miles between Huntington, Utah to Interstate 70 in the heart of the San Rafael Swell. Enjoy the amazing desert scenery, stop at the wedge overlook for a view of the “Little Grand Canyon,” view the ancient rock art of the Buckhorn Draw Panel, and maybe even take a side trip to the Cleveland-Lloyd Dinosaur Quarry. While there is primitive-style camping in the area, there are no other services. Come prepared with everything you need, and take home everything you bring. Flat tires are common.

Red Gulch/Alkali National Backcountry Byway, Wyoming

The Red Gulch/Alkali National Backcountry Byway is a 32-mile scenic drive on improved gravel and dirt roads through the foothills of the Bighorn Mountains. Near each of the two entrances to this historic route you will see a National Backcountry Byway kiosk which provides historical information about the byway as well as road conditions. The steep, rugged canyons cut into the mountains along the byway and offer many challenging and interesting hiking opportunities. Among the wondrous sights you may see are hoodoos. These strange, artistic rock formations were carved over the centuries by Wyoming’s wind.

[injamaica]

2018 Toyota Tundra SR5 Double Cab

  Transmission: Automatic Body Style: Pickup Parish: Kingston Price: $ 15,000.00 Category: Tundra

source https://www.jamaicaautoclassifieds.com/cars/toyota/tundra/2018-toyota-tundra-sr5-double-cab-14732.html

[donqhox-blog]

BTOB

⠀⠀

BTOB (비투비, Born TO Beat) is a 7-membered boygroup under Cube Entertainment. They debuted on the 21st of March, 2012 with the music videos for “Insane”.

Fandom: MELODY.

Sub-units: BTOB BLUE.

Music video(s): Insane, Father, Irresistible Lips, WOW, Lover Boy, 2nd Confession, When I Was Your Man, Thriller, Beep Beep, You’re So Fly, You Can Cry, The Winter’s Tale, WOW (Japanese), It’s Okay, Way Back Home, Mirai (Ashita), My Girl, Remember That, Pray (I’ll Be Your Man), Dear Bride, L.U.V, Christmas Time, MOVIE, Missing You, MOVIE (Japanese), Brand New Days, Only One For Me.

Social media: YouTube, Twitter, Instagram, Facebook, Daum Café, vLive.

EUNKWANG — 은광

Birth name: Seo Eunkwang — 서은광.

Birth date: November 22, 1990.

Birth place: Yongin, Gyeonggi Province, South Korea.

Nationality: South Korean.

Blood type: A.

Height: 173 cm — 5′8″.

Weight: 62 kg — 136 lbs.

Sibling(s): One younger brother — Seo Eunchong.

Position: Leader, vocal.

Social media: Instagram, Twitter.

Language(s): Korean, Japanese.

Instrument(s): Piano.

Ideal type: Someone with a kind heart, goes to church, has double eyelids, medium sized beautiful eyes, thick lips, long straight hair, and he likes it when she puts one side of her hair behind her ear.

Collaborations: Love Virus (with Yoo Sungeun), Fingertips Love (with B1A4, Hur Youngji, A-JAX, April, Oh My Girl, Kassy & fellow bandmember Changsub), So Do You (with NC.A), Let’s Meet Once (with Kim Bokyung), I Miss You (with Miyoo), Goodbye Sadness (with fellow bandmembers Changsub & Ilhoon), For You (with fellow bandmembers Minhyuk, Changsub & Ilhoon), Ambiguous (with fellow bandmembers Hyunsik & Sungjae).

Musical appearances: “The Count Of Monte Cristo” (2013), “Bachelor’s Vegetable Store” (2013), “Hamlet” (2017), “Ah! My Goddess” (2017), “Three Musketeers” (2018), “Barnum: The Great Snowman” (2018).

Drama appearances: “I Live In Cheongdam-dong” (2012), “Monstar” (2013, cameo), “When A Man Falls In Love” (2013, cameo), “The Village: Achiara’s Secret” (2015, cameo).

Owns, alongside a friend, a Korean café in Singapore named “+82″, which is South Korea’s country code.

His mother’s name  is Hwang Soonok.

MINHYUK — 민혁

Birth name: Lee Minhyuk — 이민혁.

Also known as: HUTA.

Birth date: November 29, 1990.

Birth place: Seoul, South Korea.

Nationality: South Korean.

Blood type: A.

Height: 173 cm — 5′8″.

Weight: 61 kg — 134 lbs.

Sibling(s): One older brother — Lee Jungmin.

Position: Rap, dance, vocal, visual.

Social media: Instagram, Twitter.

Language(s): Korean, Japanese.

Instrument(s): Piano.

Ideal type: Cute smiley eyes, has a small face with a body proportion of 1:8, has complete self management, firm and elastic figure from exercising, occasionally revealing the expression like a kitten of puppy, a well-liked person who is kind and knows how to show cuteness. Has clean and clear skin and neat teeth, someone who can watch ball games together, go to amusement parks together, go to famous tourist attractions for holiday, traveling on trains and travel anywhere.

Collaborations: I’m OK (with Postmen), 2Limes (with Inoran & fellow bandmembers Peniel & Ilhoon), You To The Bone (with Song Yubin), For You (with fellow bandmembers Eunkwang, Changsub & Ilhoon), Past Days (with Yong Junhyung, Ha Yeonsoo & fellow bandmembers Changsub, Hyunsik & Sungjae), After Time Passes (with Yong Junhyung & fellow bandmembers Changsub, Hyunsik & Sungjae), First Love (with Yong Junhyung & fellow bandmembers Changsub, Hyunsik & Sungjae), No (with Minah), After the Show Ends (with CLC’s Elkie & fellow bandmember Changsub).

Drama appearances: “I Live In Cheongdam-dong” (2012), “Reckless Family 2″ (2013), “Fantastic Tower” (2013, cameo), “Monstar” (2013, cameo), “The Heirs” (2013, came), “When A Man Falls In Love” (2013, cameo) “Love And War 2: Her Choice” (2014, cameo), “A New Leaf” (2014), “Sweet, Savage Family (2015), “The Village: Achiara’s Secret” (2015, cameo), “Nightmare Teacher” (2016), “Oh My God Tip” (2016), “After The Show Ends” (2016), “Unexpected Heroes” (2017).

Movie appearances: “Halfway (KitKat Micro Film)” (2017), “The Swordsman” (2018).

CHANGSUB — 창섭

Birth name: Lee Changsub — 이창섭.

Birth date: February 26, 1991.

Birth place: Suwon, Gyeonggi Province, South Korea.

Nationality: South Korean.

Blood type: O.

Height: 177 cm — 5′10″.

Weight: 64 kg — 141 lbs.

Sibling(s): One younger sister — Lee Jungeun.

Position: Vocal.

Social media: Instagram, Twitter.

Language(s): Korean, Japanese.

Instrument(s): Piano, drum, bass, guitar.

Education: Howon University.

Ideal type: Someone with a small, egg shaped face, with long straight of wavy hair, wears sports shoes, is about 165 cm tall, has an s line body, smiley eyes, someone who is more lively than him and thinks before acting, doesn’t put on thick make-up, milky white skin, someone who leads him on, someone who will go with him to Busan’s Haeundae to look at the sea and eat sashimi, to go to awesome places to have coffee together and eat pork soup with rice at night.

Collaborations: The Love Of Fingertips (with B1A4, Hur Youngji, A-JAX, April, Oh My Girl, Kassy & fellow bandmember Eunkwang), Be Alright (with Yang Yoseob, G.NA & Gayoon), Bye Bye Love (with HIGHLIGHT’s Yang Yoseob & Dongwoon & fellow bandmember Ilhoon), Past Days (with Yong Junhyung, Ha Yeonsoo & fellow bandmembers Minhyuk, Hyunsik & Sungjae), After Time Passes (with Yong Junhyung & fellow bandmembers Minhyuk, Hyunsik & Sungjae), Goodbye Sadness (with fellow bandmembers Eunkwang & Ilhoon), After The Play Ends (with CLC’s Elkie & fellow bandmember Minhyuk), For You (with fellow bandmembers Eunkwang, Minhyuk & Ilhoon).

Drama appearances: “Monstar” (2013, cameo), “The Heirs” (2013, cameo), “When A Man Falls In Love” (2013, cameo), “The Village: Achiara’s Secret” (2015, cameo).

Musical appearances: “Boys Over Flowers” (2017), “Napoleon” (2017), “Edgar Allan Poe” (2017), “Dogflight” (2018).

Has a couple of tattoos.

HYUNSIK — 현식

Birth name: Im Hyunsik — 임현식.

Birth date: March 7, 1992.

Birth place: Seoul, South Korea.

Nationality: South Korean.

Blood type: A.

Height: 177 cm — 5′10″.

Weight: 66 kg — 145 lbs.

Sibling(s): One older brother — Im Yoonsik.

Position: Vocal, dance.

Social media: Instagram, Twitter.

Language(s): Korean, Japanese.

Instrument(s): Guitar, piano.

Ideal type: Extraordinary, someone who is more special than him, someone who is very adorable but will be very sexy when she is next to him, someone who is not too boring. Someone who is willing to give but knows that she is lacking, a woman who compliments him.

Collaborations: Playground (with Eden Beatz), “Baby Ride” (with Woodz), Eating Alone (with Woodz), Cream-like Wave (with Im Jisoon), Rainy Apgujeong (with Yoon Gun), Past Days (with Yong Junhyung & fellow bandmembers Minhyuk, Changsub & Sungjae), After Time Passes (with Yong Junhyung & fellow bandmembers Minhyuk, Changsub & Sungjae), First Love (with Yong Junhyung & fellow bandmembers Minhyuk, Changsub & Sungjae), Ambiguous (with fellow bandmembers Eunkwang & Sungjae).

Drama appearances: “I Live In Cheongdam-dong” (2012), “The Heirs” (2013, cameo), “Monstar” (2013, cameo), “When A Man Falls In Love” (2013, cameo), “The Village: Achiara’s Secret” (2015, cameo).

Has a couple of tattoos.

Composes a lot of songs for BTOB, as well as for other artists.

His father is Im Jihoon, who is a singer as well.

PENIEL — 프니엘

Birth name: Peniel Shin.

Korean name: Shin Donggeun — 신동근.

Birth date: March 10, 1993.

Birth place: Chicago, Illinois, United States.

Nationality: South Korean.

Blood type: AB.

Height: 175 cm — 5′9″.

Weight: 63 kg — 139 lbs.

Sibling(s): One older sister — Jennifer Shin.

Position: Rap, vocal

Social media: Instagram, Twitter, YouTube.

Language(s): Korean, English, Japanese.

Instrument(s): Guitar.

Ideal type: A girl with a beautiful smile, must definitely not smoke. Hopes she would be either pretty or adorable, someone who is positive and is able to fit in well.

Drama appearances: “The Heirs” (2013, cameo), “Monstar” (2013, cameo), “When A Man Falls In Love” (2013, cameo), “The Village: Achiara’s Secret” (2105, cameo).

Collaborations: 2Limes (with Inoran & fellow bandmembers Minhyuk & Ilhoon).

Former JYP Entertainment trainee.

Allergic to watermelon and cats.

Suffers from hair loss, that’s why he shaved his head.

ILHOON — 일훈

Birth name: Jung Ilhoon — 정일훈.

English name: Michael Jung.

Birth date: October 4, 1994.

Birth place: Seoul, South Korea.

Nationality: South Korean.

Blood type: B.

Height: 176 cm — 5′9″.

Weight: 64 kg — 141 lbs.

Sibling(s): One older sister — Jung Minjoo; singer JOO.

Position: Rap, vocal.

Social media: Instagram, Twitter.

Language(s): Korean, Japanese.

Instrument(s): Piano.

Ideal type: Long eyelashes, big eyes, s line figure, slender body. It doesn’t matter if she is tall or short, has a white skin, has brown colored pupils. It would be nice if she had a short bob style hair.

Collaborations: My Love By My Side (with Heo Gayoon), Baesisi (wih Jisook), Unripe Apple (with HyunA), Nightmare (with 2YOON), Oops! (with G.NA), Just Pass By (with Sumin), 2Limes (with Inoran & fellow bandmembers Minhyuk & Peniel), Roll Deep (with HyunA), Wind Clock (with Wax), Chamisma (with CLC), You Seem Busy (with Melody Day), One (with Samuel), Bye Bye Love (with HIGHLIGHT’s Yang Yoseob & Dongwoon & fellow bandmember Changsub), Goodbye Sadness (with fellow bandmembers Eunkwang & Changsub), For You (with fellow bandmembers Eunkwang, Minhyuk & Changsub).

Drama appearances: “I Live In Cheongdam-dong” (2012, cameo), “The Heirs” (2013, cameo), “Monstar” (2013, cameo), “When A Man Falls In Love” (2013, cameo), “The Village: Achiara’s Secret” (2015, cameo), “Webtoon Hero: Tundra Show” (2015).

Composes a lot of songs for BTOB and other artists.

Has a couple of tattoos.

SUNGJAE — 성재

Birth name: Yook Sungjae — 육성재.

Birth date: May 2, 1995.

Birth place: Yongin, Gyeonggi Province, South Korea.

Nationality: South Korean.

Blood type: A.

Height: 180 cm — 5′11″.

Weight: 68 kg — 149 lbs.

Sibling(s): One older sister — Yook Sungyoung.

Position: Vocal.

Social media: Instagram, Twitter.

Language(s): Korean, Japanese.

Instrument(s): Guitar, bass.

Ideal type: Suzy. A girl that has droopy shaped, big eyes, black and straight long hair, someone who is sexy but will show him her cute side. She would have a belly button that looks good, a slender figure and is glamorous. He wants to put his arm around her waist and walk along the beach together, watch a movie, etc.

Collaborations: Photograph (with APINK’s Namjoo), Playing With Fire (with NC.A), On The Four Lane Road (with Geeks’ Louie), Past Days (with Yong Junhyung & fellow bandmembers Minhyuk, Changsub & Hyunsik), After Time Passes (with Yong Junhyung & fellow bandmembers Minhyuk, Changsub & Hyunsik), First Love (with Yong Junhyung & fellow bandmembers Minhyuk, Changsub & Hyunsik), Curious (with CLC’s Seunghee), Love Song (with Park Hyesoo), Ambiguous (with fellow bandmembers Eunkwang & Hyunsik).

Drama appearances: “Monstar” (2013, cameo), “The Heirs” (2013, cameo), “Reply 1994″ (2013), “When A Man Falls In Love’ (2013, cameo), “Plus Nine Boys” (2014), “Who Are You: School 2015″ (2015), “The Village: Achiara’s Secret” (2015), “Guardian: The Lonely And Great God” (2016-2017).

Appeared on television show “We Got Married”, where he was paired to Red Velvet’s Joy.

Was a member of parody group Big Byung.

[orchidsheep4-blog]

The Best Non-Fiction Picture Books of 2018

The Children’s Book Review | January 8, 2018

The abundance of smart, engaging, and digestible non-fiction picture books—as well at the variety of topics and people represented in the pages—has been on the rise … and we love it! Here are 19 of our favorite non-fiction picture books from 2018—and be sure to check out our list of the best fiction picture books from 2018.

Water Land: Land and Water Forms Around the World

Written and Illustrated by Christy Hale

Publisher’s Synopsis: A lake turns into an island. A cozy bay into a secluded cape. A gulf with sea turtles transforms into a peninsula surrounded by pirate ships.

This unique information book for the very young switches between bodies of water and corresponding land masses with the simple turn of a page. Readers will delight as the story of Water Land unfolds and will see just how connected the earth and the water really are.

Order a Copy Now: Indiebound | Amazon | Barnes and Noble

Ages 3-6 | Publisher: Roaring Brook Press | May 22, 2018 | ISBN-13: 978-1250152442

The Brilliant Deep: Rebuilding the World’s Coral Reefs

Written by Kate Messner

Illustrated by Matthew Forsythe

Publisher’s Synopsis: All it takes is one: one coral gamete to start a colony, one person to make a difference, one idea to change the world. The ongoing efforts to save and rebuild the world’s coral reefs—with hammer and glue, and grafts of newly grown coral—are the living legacy of Ken Nedimyer, founder of the Coral Restoration Foundation. Kate Messner and Matthew Forsythe tell the true story of the coral restoration pioneer in this brilliant tribute to the wonders of nature and the power of human hope.

Order a Copy Now: Indiebound | Amazon | Barnes and Noble

Ages 6-9 | Publisher: Chronicle Books | May 8, 2018 | ISBN-13: 978-1452133508

The Elephant

Written and Illustrated by Jenni Desmond

Publisher’s Synopsis: In this, Jenni Desmond’s third nonfiction children’s book about one of the large, endangered animals of Earth, we join a young boy as he learns about The Elephant.

From Africa to Asia, the elephant makes its home. Light on their feet, despite their great weight, these magnificent creatures appear light and graceful because they’re always walking on their tip-toes. They have excellent hearing and can detect the rumblings of other elephants from six miles away. And, just like humans being right handed or left handed, elephants can be right tusked or left tusked! The recipient of the 2016 New York Times Best Illustrated award for her book The Polar Bear, Desmond creates illustrations that are scientifically accurate, strikingly detailed, and beautifully rendered in collage, paint, and colored pencil.

Order a Copy Now: Indiebound | Amazon | Barnes and Noble

Ages 4-8 | Publisher: Enchanted Lion Books | November 6, 2018 | ISBN-13: 978-1592702640

Shaking Things Up: 14 Young Women Who Changed the World

Written by Susan Hood

Illustrated by Multiple Illustrators

Publisher’s Synopsis: Fresh, accessible, and inspiring, Shaking Things Up introduces fourteen revolutionary young women—each paired with a noteworthy female artist—to the next generation of activists, trail-blazers, and rabble-rousers.

From the award-winning author of Ada’s Violin, Susan Hood, this is a poetic and visual celebration of persistent women throughout history.

In this book, you will find Mary Anning, who was just thirteen when she unearthed a prehistoric fossil. You’ll meet Ruby Bridges, the brave six-year-old who helped end segregation in the South. And Maya Lin, who at twenty-one won a competition to create a war memorial, and then had to appear before Congress to defend her right to create.

And those are just a few of the young women included in this book. Readers will also hear about Molly Williams, Annette Kellerman, Nellie Bly, Pura Belprè, Frida Kahlo, Jacqueline and Eileen Nearne, Frances Moore Lappè, Mae Jemison, Angela Zhang, and Malala Yousafzai—all whose stories will enthrall and inspire. This book was written, illustrated, edited, and designed by women and includes an author’s note, a timeline, and additional resources.

With artwork by notable artists including Selina Alko, Sophie Blackall, Lisa Brown, Hadley Hooper, Emily Winfield Martin, Oge Mora, Julie Morstad, Sara Palacios, LeUyen Pham, Erin Robinson, Isabel Roxas, Shadra Strickland, and Melissa Sweet.

Order a Copy Now: Indiebound | Amazon | Barnes and Noble

Ages 4-8 | Publisher: HarperCollins | January 23, 2018 | ISBN-13: 978-0062699459

Mary Who Wrote Frankenstein

Written by Linda Bailey

Illustrated by Julia Sarda

Publisher’s Synopsis: Fresh, accessible, and inspiring, Shaking Things Up introduces fourteen revolutionary young women—each paired with a noteworthy female artist—to the next generation of activists, trail-blazers, and rabble-rousers.

From the award-winning author of Ada’s Violin, Susan Hood, this is a poetic and visual celebration of persistent women throughout history.

In this book, you will find Mary Anning, who was just thirteen when she unearthed a prehistoric fossil. You’ll meet Ruby Bridges, the brave six-year-old who helped end segregation in the South. And Maya Lin, who at twenty-one won a competition to create a war memorial, and then had to appear before Congress to defend her right to create.

And those are just a few of the young women included in this book. Readers will also hear about Molly Williams, Annette Kellerman, Nellie Bly, Pura Belprè, Frida Kahlo, Jacqueline and Eileen Nearne, Frances Moore Lappè, Mae Jemison, Angela Zhang, and Malala Yousafzai—all whose stories will enthrall and inspire. This book was written, illustrated, edited, and designed by women and includes an author’s note, a timeline, and additional resources.

With artwork by notable artists including Selina Alko, Sophie Blackall, Lisa Brown, Hadley Hooper, Emily Winfield Martin, Oge Mora, Julie Morstad, Sara Palacios, LeUyen Pham, Erin Robinson, Isabel Roxas, Shadra Strickland, and Melissa Sweet.

Order a Copy Now: Indiebound | Amazon | Barnes and Noble

Ages 5-8 | Publisher: Tundra Books | August 28, 2018 | ISBN-13: 978-1770495593

Let the Children March

Written by Monica Clark-Robinson

Illustrated by Frank Morrison

Publisher’s Synopsis: I couldn’t play on the same playground as the white kids.  I couldn’t go to their schools.   I couldn’t drink from their water fountains.   There were so many things I couldn’t do.

In 1963 Birmingham, Alabama, thousands of African American children volunteered to march for their civil rights after hearing Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. speak. They protested the laws that kept black people separate from white people. Facing fear, hate, and danger, these children used their voices to change the world. Frank Morrison’s emotive oil-on-canvas paintings bring this historical event to life, while Monica Clark-Robinson’s moving and poetic words document this remarkable time.

Order a Copy Now: Indiebound | Amazon | Barnes and Noble

Ages 6-9 | Publisher: HMH Books for Young Readers | January 2, 2018 | ISBN-13: 978-0544704527

The Eye That Never Sleeps: How Detective Pinkerton Saved President Lincoln

Written by Marissa Moss

Illustrated by Jeremy Holmes

Publisher’s Synopsis: From award-winning author Marissa Moss comes the first children’s book about Allan Pinkerton, one of America’s greatest detectives. Everyone knows the story of Abraham Lincoln, but few know anything about the spy who saved him! Allan Pinkerton’s life changed when he helped the Chicago Police Department track down a group of counterfeiters. From there, he became the first police detective in Chicago and established the country’s most successful detective agency. He went on to solve more than 300 murders and recover millions of dollars in stolen money. However, his greatest contribution was protecting Abraham Lincoln on the way to his 1861 inauguration. Though assassins attempted to murder Lincoln en route, Pinkerton foiled their plot and brought the president safely to the capital. The Eye That Never Sleeps is illustrated with a contemporary cartoon style, mixing art and text in a way that appeals to readers of all ages. The book includes a bibliography and a timeline.

Order a Copy Now: Indiebound | Amazon | Barnes and Noble

Ages 6-9 | Publisher: Harry N. Abrams | November 6, 2018 | ISBN-13: 978-1419730641

When Paul Met Artie: The Story Of Simon & Garfunkel

Written by G. Neri

Illustrated by David Litchfield

Publisher’s Synopsis: From childhood friendship to brief teenage stardom, from early failures to musical greatness — the incredible story of how Simon & Garfunkel became a cherished voice of their generation.

Long before they became one of the most beloved and successful duos of all time, Paul Simon and Art Garfunkel were just two kids growing up in Queens, New York — best friends who met in a sixth-grade production of Alice in Wonderland and bonded over girls, baseball, and rock ’n’ roll. As teens, they practiced singing into a tape recorder, building harmonies that blended their now-famous voices until they sounded just right. They wrote songs together, pursued big-time music producers, and dreamed of becoming stars, never imagining how far their music would take them. Against a backdrop of street-corner doo-wop gangs, the electrifying beginnings of rock ’n’ roll, and the rise of the counterculture folk music scene, G. Neri and David Litchfield chronicle the path that led two young boys from Queens to teenage stardom and back to obscurity, before finding their own true voices and captivating the world with their talent. Back matter includes an afterword, a discography, a bibliography, and a fascinating list of song influences.

Order a Copy Now: Indiebound |  Amazon | Barnes and Noble

Ages 7-10 | Publisher: Candlewick | 2018 | ISBN-13: 978-0763681746

Joan Procter, Dragon Doctor: The Woman Who Loved Reptiles

Written by Patricia Valdez

Illustrated by Felicita Sala

Publisher’s Synopsis: For fans of Ada Twist: Scientist comes a fascinating picture book biography of a pioneering female scientist–who loved reptiles!

Back in the days of long skirts and afternoon teas, young Joan Procter entertained the most unusual party guests: slithery and scaly ones, who turned over teacups and crawled past the crumpets…. While other girls played with dolls, Joan preferred the company of reptiles. She carried her favorite lizard with her everywhere–she even brought a crocodile to school!

When Joan grew older, she became the Curator of Reptiles at the British Museum. She went on to design the Reptile House at the London Zoo, including a home for the rumored-to-be-vicious komodo dragons. There, just like when she was a little girl, Joan hosted children’s tea parties–with her komodo dragon as the guest of honor.

With a lively text and vibrant illustrations, scientist and writer Patricia Valdez and illustrator Felicita Sala bring to life Joan Procter’s inspiring story of passion and determination.

Order a Copy Now: Indiebound | Amazon | Barnes and Noble

Ages 4-8 | Publisher: Knopf Books for Young Readers | March 13, 2018 | ISBN-13: 978-0399557255

Bloom: A Story of a Fashion Designer

Written by Kyo Maclear

Illustrated by Julie Morstad

Publisher’s Synopsis: A dazzling picture book biography of one of the world’s most influential designers, Elsa Schiaparelli.

Elsa dared to be different, and her story will not only dazzle, it will inspire the artist and fashionista in everyone who reads it.

By the 1930s Elsa Schiaparelli had captivated the fashion world in Paris, but before that, she was a little girl in Rome who didn’t feel pretty at all. Bloom: A Story of Fashion Designer Elsa Schiaparelli is the enchanting story for young readers of how a young girl used her imagination and emerged from plain to extraordinary.

Order a Copy Now: Indiebound | Amazon | Barnes and Noble

Ages 4-8 | Publisher: HarperCollins | February 6, 2018 | ISBN-13: 978-0062447616

Drawn from Nature

Written and Illustrated by Helen Ahpornsiri

Publisher’s Synopsis: An intricately crafted journey through four seasons of flora and fauna.

Helen Ahpornsiri’s intricate artwork transforms leaves, petals, and seeds into bounding hares, swooping swallows, and blossoming trees. Using nothing but pressed plants, this journey through the seasons captures the wonder and magic of the natural world between the pages of a book. This standout title with beautiful nonfiction text will take readers through an extraordinary year in the wild.

Order a Copy Now: Indiebound | Amazon | Barnes and Noble

Ages 6-9 | Publisher: Big Picture Press | March 13, 2018 | ISBN-13: 978-0763698980

Thank You, Earth: A Love Letter to Our Planet

Words and Photographs by April Pulley Sayre

Publisher’s Synopsis: Acclaimed children’s book author and photographer April Pulley Sayre’s love letter to Earth is a stunning exploration of the beauty and complexity of the world around us. Remarkable photographs and a rich, layered text introduce concepts of science, nature, geography, biology, poetry, and community.

April Pulley Sayre, award-winning photographer and acclaimed author of more than sixty-five books, introduces concepts of science, nature, and language arts through stunning photographs and a poetic text structured as a simple thank-you note.

Touching on subjects from life cycles to weather, colors, shapes, and patterns, this is an ideal resource for science and language art curriculums and a terrific book for bedtime sharing. Thank You, Earth is a great choice for Earth Day celebrations, as well as family and group read-alouds.

Includes backmatter with kid-friendly ideas for conservation projects information about the photographs, and additional resources.

Order a Copy Now: Indiebound | Amazon | Barnes and Noble

Ages 4-8 | Publisher: Greenwillow Books | February 20, 2018 | ISBN-13: 978-0062697349

A Lady Has the Floor: Belva Lockwood Speaks Out for Women’s Rights

Written by Kate Hannigan

Illustrated by Alison Jay

Publisher’s Synopsis: Written in the same vein as the recent best-selling titles I DISSENT and SHE PERSISTED, here is a nonfiction picture book biography of Belva Lockwood, a lawyer, activist and presidential candidate who devoted her life to overcoming obstacles and demanding equality for women.

Activist Belva Lockwood never stopped asking herself the question Are women not worth the same as men? She had big dreams and didn’t let anyone stand in her way–not her father, her law school, or even the U.S. Supreme Court. She fought for equality for women in the classroom, in the courtroom, and in politics. In her quest for fairness and parity, Lockwood ran for President of the United States, becoming the first woman on the ballot. In this riveting nonfiction picture book biography, award-winning author Kate Hannigan and celebrated artist Alison Jay illuminate the life of Lockwood, a woman who was never afraid to take the floor and speak her mind.

Order a Copy Now: Indiebound | Amazon | Barnes and Noble

Ages 7-10 | Publisher: Calkins Creek | February 20, 2018 | ISBN-13: 978-1629794532

Otis and Will Discover the Deep: The Record-Setting Dive of the Bathysphere

Written by Barb Rosenstock

Illustrated by Katherine Roy

Publisher’s Synopsis: The suspenseful, little-known true story of two determined pioneers who made the first dive into the deep ocean.

On June 6, 1930, engineer Otis Barton and explorer Will Beebe dove into the ocean inside a hollow metal ball of their own invention called the Bathysphere.

They knew dozens of things might go wrong. A tiny leak could shoot pressurized water straight through the men like bullets! A single spark could cause their oxygen tanks to explode! No one had ever dived lower than a few hundred feet…and come back. But Otis and Will were determined to become the first people to see what the deep ocean looks like.

This suspenseful story from acclaimed author Barb Rosenstock with mesmerizing watercolors by award-winning artist Katherine Roy will put you right in the middle of the spine-tingling, record-setting journey down, down into the deep.

Order a Copy Now: Indiebound | Amazon | Barnes and Noble

Ages 4-8 | Publisher: Little, Brown Books for Young Readers | June 5, 2018 | ISBN-13: 978-0316393829

Flying Deep: Climb Inside Deep-Sea Submersible Alvin

Written by Michelle Cusolito

Illustrated by Nicole Wong

Publisher’s Synopsis: Climb aboard Alvin, the famous deep-sea submersible credited with helping to find the Titanic, and take a trip two miles down to the bottom of the ocean.

Experience a day in the life of an Alvin pilot and join scientists at the seafloor to collect samples and conduct research. Along the way, discover what one wears, eats, and talks about during a typical eight-hour trip in a underwater craft and find out more about the animals that live deep in our oceans. Extensive back matter explains how Alvin works, describes the author’s research, and includes a glossary and further reading.

Order a Copy Now: Indiebound | Amazon | Barnes and Noble

Ages 5-9 | Publisher: Charlesbridge | May 22, 2018 | ISBN-13: 978-1580898119

Written  by Diane Lang

Illustrated by Stephanie Laberis

Publisher’s Synopsis: Come along on a rhyming tour through the amazing animal kingdom—from mammals to millipedes and everything in between—with this engaging picture book about how all creatures are connected!

There are so many wild and wonderful animals in our world. Some have fur, some have feathers, some have fins, but all are connected. This fact-filled rhyming exploration of the diversity of the animal kingdom celebrates mammals, birds, insects, fish, reptiles, amphibians, and more! It’s a perfect match for budding naturalists and animal enthusiasts everywhere.

Order a Copy Now: Indiebound | Amazon | Barnes and Noble

Ages 3-6 | Publisher: Beach Lane Books | May 1, 2018 | ISBN-13: 978-1481447096

Counting on Katherine: How Katherine Johnson Saved Apollo 13

Written by Helaine Becker

Illustrated by Dow Phumiruk

Publisher’s Synopsis: The bold story of Katherine Johnson, an African-American mathematician who worked for NASA during the space race and was depicted in the film Hidden Figures.

You’ve likely heard of the historic Apollo 13 moon landing. But do you know about the mathematical genius who made sure that Apollo 13 returned safely home?

As a child, Katherine Johnson loved to count. She counted the steps on the road, the number of dishes and spoons she washed in the kitchen sink, everything! Boundless, curious, and excited by calculations, young Katherine longed to know as much as she could about math, about the universe.

From Katherine’s early beginnings as a gifted student to her heroic accomplishments as a prominent mathematician at NASA, Counting on Katherine is the story of a groundbreaking American woman who not only calculated the course of moon landings but, in turn, saved lives and made enormous contributions to history.

Order a Copy Now: Indiebound | Amazon | Barnes and Noble

Ages 5-9 | Publisher: Henry Holt and Co. | June 19, 2018 | ISBN-13: 978-1250137524

Bonkers About Beetles

Written and Illustrated by Owen Davy

Publisher’s Synopsis: Owen Davey’s dynamic art and witty informational tidbits shine a light on the toughest bugs in the insect world: those brawny beetles!

Did you know that there are roughly 400,000 different species of beetles? These incredible creatures make up about 25% of all animals on our planet! Beetles are superbly adapted to life in various climates across the world, wherever trees and flowers are found. From the mighty Goliath beetle to the beautiful iridescent scarab beetle, this captivating and stunningly illustrated guide will teach you everything you need to know about these fascinating insects.

Order a Copy Now: Indiebound | Amazon | Barnes and Noble

Ages 5-9 | Publisher: Flying Eye Books | June 5, 2018 | ISBN-13: 978-1911171980

Nothing Stopped Sophie: The Story of Unshakable Mathematician Sophie Germain

Written by Cheryl Bardoe

Illustrated by Barbara McClintock

Publisher’s Synopsis: The true story of eighteenth-century mathematician Sophie Germain, who solved the unsolvable to achieve her dream.

When her parents took away her candles to keep their young daughter from studying math…nothing stopped Sophie. When a professor discovered that the homework sent to him under a male pen name came from a woman…nothing stopped Sophie. And when she tackled a math problem that male scholars said would be impossible to solve…still, nothing stopped Sophie.

For six years Sophie Germain used her love of math and her undeniable determination to test equations that would predict patterns of vibrations. She eventually became the first woman to win a grand prize from France’s prestigious Academy of Sciences for her formula, which laid the groundwork for much of modern architecture (and can be seen in the book’s illustrations).

Award-winning author Cheryl Bardoe’s inspiring and poetic text is brought to life by acclaimed artist Barbara McClintock’s intricate pen-and-ink, watercolor, and collage illustrations in this true story about a woman who let nothing stop her.

Order a Copy Now: Indiebound | Amazon | Barnes and Noble

Ages 6-9 | Publisher: Little, Brown Books for Young Readers | June 12, 2018 | ISBN-13: 978-0316278201

For more of the best new picture books for kids, follow along with our articles tagged with New Books for Kids, Picture Books, Books for Ages 0-3, Books for Ages 4-8, and Best Kids Books Of 2018.

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Source: https://www.thechildrensbookreview.com/weblog/2019/01/the-best-non-fiction-picture-books-of-2018.html

[lagunapeach]

2018 Toyota Land Cruiser Prado, Price, Release date, Engine, Interior

2018 Toyota Land Cruiser Prado, Price, Release date, Engine, Interior

The latest Prado has been released back again in 2009, and considering that then it did not alter all that much. It seems that this pattern will go on in the long term as nicely since the future 2018 Toyota Land Cruiser Pradohas been leaked not that extensive back. From the leaked shots it seems the design will alter, but which is about the only real alter. The chassis, functioning gear, and…

[usedcarsnearme]

BEST USED PICKUP TRUCKS | Cars near me

The used pick-up Trucks are beneficial as they are multi-purpose and have the best towing and payload capabilities. The pickup trucks offer a huge amount of safety instead of any Sedan even. It has been observed that pickup trucks are becoming the people’s choice go-to choice to buy as they are more reliable than others.

Used Toyota Tundra It comes with two variants of engine V6 or V8 which generates more power. It includes a complete set of accessories of Toyota inbuilt in the Truck.

In the full-size truck, Toyota Tundra is the best option to buy as it comes with the maximum performance and as well as provide vigorous performance. The Toyota Trucks has been in the market for a longer amount of time which increases their reliability and comes with the standard features which are bit expensive and adds value to the money.

Used Chevrolet Colorado

It has an extremely good towing capacity which can extend up to more than 3,500 pounds with 4 cylinder models.

Chevrolet made his extravagant entry in the market by launching the best mid-size pickup truck which is also offering the features of the full-size truck which are beneficial for towing and payload capabilities. In the midsize pickup trucks, it comes with the three variants of the engine which provide the user’s option to buy what best suits their pocket. Colorado comes up with the comfortable ride and advanced features which offers a great deal at the time of reselling it too.

Does Chevrolet Colorado comes in diesel model? The Chevrolet Colorado is the only midsize truck model that comes in a diesel engine with 2.8 liter Duramax. It provides a smooth and powerful driving experience and enhances the fuel economy.

Are different options available in Chevy Colorado Crew? It has the inclusion of two advanced engines in the Chevy Colorado:

The new and advanced engine has 3.6 liters with V6 Duramax diesel extends the performance and it also provides the option to choose crew cab body. The upgraded Z71 model comes with the suspension and provides the utmost off-roading capabilities.

Used GMC Canyon

Used pickup truck costs up to $25,757 which tends to save a lot of money instead of buying new. It also offers comfort like sedans which makes them super roomy and enhances the experience.

The two extravagant brands GMC and Chevrolet can be rivals but at the same time offers similar trucks but with slightly different features. The GMC Canyon interior reflects the luxury and exteriors have a valiant grille and a leather-wrapped steering wheel which makes them suitable buy in the used pickup trucks.

Used Ford F-150

The Used Ford F series comes in different generations such as 2015, 2016, 2017, 2018 The Used Ford F series comes up in the less expensive price of $30,923.

Americans have always been fond of pickup trucks rather than driving a sedan. The Ford F-150 is perfect for off-roading, towing as it offers 4 engines which provide users plenty of options and they are most reliable and highly capable of towing the weight. Ford F-series is one of the best buys in the used pickup truck segment which can make you save huge amounts of money.

Used Dodge Ram 1500

The impeccable looks, cabin area and extravagant V8 engine and the inclusion of Ram box inbuilt adjustable cleats to hold the load and also lift heavy.

Ram’s Full size pick up has always been famous for its comfort, powerful engine and performance which makes users buy them. It offers exceptionally comfortable interiors and exteriors and solid transmission helps in enhancement of the driving experience. Ram 1500 lies in the expensive category but also it provides the overall satisfaction with the solid transmission. It comes with the V8 engine 345 hp with the five-speed automatic engine which provides the exciting speed and performance.

Used Ford Super Duty F-250

It has an exhaust brake feature with the diesel engine. Ford Super duty is born to lift heavy and offers tremendous performance with its gasoline and diesel engines.

Ford has retained market dominance over the years by producing trucks, SUVs which has the capability to lift heavy and have high resell value. Ford 250 serves the purpose of having it in the form of family purpose and also load heavy too. It comes in different sizes of the cabin with luxury features in the low mileage model. Ford Super Duty F250 gives a smooth experience while driving they don’t go harsh on roads which makes them a suitable match for off-roading activities.

Used Nissan Frontier

The Nissan Frontier provides different levels of trims and the inclusion of extended cab model which can be 5 or 6 footbeds. It has electronic stability control and passenger seats with the rear flip up and fold-flat front passenger seats.

The Nissan Frontier is a small pickup truck that is less expensive and comes in the different trims which have a different set of features. It remains solid for a longer duration without any major changes which can affect the performance and comes with the V6 engine with 261 hp which makes them more reliable. It has heated leather seats, flexibility in rough and rash driving.

Used Honda Ridgeline

It also has the inclusion of In-bed Trucks which makes your beverages stay cool without making a mess.

This midsize pickup truck does not have a classic truck looks but has all the capabilities in terms of towing and loading capabilities. The exterior is built with smart and edgy rounded looks and has comfortable seating and is the perfect match for the family outings. Honda comes with the ultimate reliability and maximum resell value which makes them stand out of the crowd and increases the users.

Why should I buy used Honda Ridgeline? Honda Ridgeline has tough exterior and body which is subtly associated with the independent suspension and provides a comfortable ride. It has the inclusion of a V6 engine which enhances the fuel economy and produces 250 horsepower.

Used GMC Sierra 1500

Isn’t it amazing you get comfort according to the weather conditions?

GMC Sierra comes with the heated and cooling seats in the SLT trims which keeps you cozy in winters and cool in summer.

GMC produces the vehicle which comes with advanced features and offers exceptional good designs and style. Sierra comes up with the front shock suspension and V6 engine with 403 hp smoothens the drive even at roughest surfaces and also enhances the fuel economy.

Used Toyota Tacoma

It comes with a supercharger kit and a functional bed. Toyota Tacoma comes with the double cab engine which features VVT-I technology with intelligence which lessens the effort between low end torque and peak horsepower.

Toyota has always remain user’s first choice due to its rough exterior and heavy lifting capabilities which makes them versatile and suitable for off-roading. Toyota Trucks are most reliable as they are best for day to day pickups and also suitable for adventurous and long drives. The installation of the new grille has updated its look across the line and increases its front end treatment.

[terryblount]

Star Citizen will be free to play from November 23rd to November 30th + Star Citizen 3.3.5 screenshots

Cloud Imperium Games has announced that it will make the Star Citizen Alpha free to download and play for any player to celebrate the launch of Star Citizen’s first habitable planet, Hurston. Revealed at CitizenCon 2018, on October 10, Hurston is a massive planet encompassing thousands of kilometers of playable space, with more than five distinct biomes including cityscapes, savannahs, frigid tundra’s, mountains and coastal seascapes.

Lorville, the planet’s major city hub, will also be available to all players. In Lorville, players can expect to find a densely populated, living city, including the “New Deal” ship shop, the game’s in-game location for the buying of in-game ships with in-game currency.

To celebrate the launch of the game’s first planet, Cloud Imperium Games will launch a “Free Fly” event encompassing its stable of more than 80 flyable vehicles, from more than ten different manufacturers. This makes it free for anyone to create an account at www.RobertSpacesIndustries.com to download and play Star Citizen.

Within the game, each manufacturer will make its entire flyable inventory free for a 24 hour “Test Flight,” after which it will then be replaced by the inventory from another manufacturer. During the promotion, it will be free for anyone to join the Star Citizen Persistent Universe and play across not only Hurston and Lorville, but Star Citizen’s more than 30 varying mission types, 8 traversable moons, several “rest stops” and more. Players who accumulate in-game currency can use it to purchase additional ships, flyable until each server re-start.

Star Citizen Alpha 3.3.5 is currently available on PTU servers and our reader Sean has shared with us some screenshots that you can find below.

Star Citizen Alpha 3.3.5 includes numerous features launched in Alpha 3.3 including:

Object Container Streaming, a processing tool that controls how much of the game’s massive universe must be loaded by player’s CPU. Object Container Streaming is an important behind-the-scenes technical milestone that enables the rapid creation of future content and locations, including the Planet Hurston and its main city, Lorville. Object Container Streaming has led to massive performance gains, which can be seen on the newly launched Star Citizen Telemetry page.

‘Face and Voice over IP’ allows players to connect their webcams and control their in-game character’s facial expressions with their own, creating a new level of immersion never before seen in video games.

FPS AI Enemies and Missions to populate the universe with NPC enemies to hunt or be hunted by.

‘Scramble Race’ Missions for players to compete across Star Citizen’s massive planetary bodies.

Anyone who plays Star Citizen between November 23 and November 30 will enjoy access to the following Free Fly Schedule:

Nov 23 – Anvil Aerospace

Arrow: Agile fighter that packs a huge punch. A speedy glass cannon.

Gladiator: A ruggedly built two-person dive bomber.

Hornet F7C: Tough and dependable, the F7C is a multipurpose medium fighter.

Hornet F7C Wildfire: Special Edition of the F7C Hornet with custom livery and loadout geared for Arena Commander.

Hornet F7C-R – Tracker: Sacrificing a turret for an advanced radar dome, the Hornet Tracker seeks what is hidden.

Hornet F7C-S – Ghost: Stealthy, quiet, silent – the Ghost haunts an area by keeping a low profile.

Hornet F7C-M – Super Hornet: A two-seater multi-purpose medium fighter with a heavier loadout.

Hurricane: A heavy fighter with excessive loadout, including a turret that punches through shields and defenses.

Terrapin: Heavily armored ship with a sophisticated scanner, ideal for recon and exploration.

Valkyrie: A heavily armed multirole gunship and dropship.

Nov 24 – Roberts Space Industries

Aurora ES: A descendent of the X-7, this is the perfect choice for new ship owners. Versatile and intuitive.

Aurora LN: For the combat focused, the Aurora LN comes with bigger shields and larger weapons that pack a punch.

Aurora LX: The Aurora Deluxe, adding luxury and comfort for long stretches in the deep black.

Aurora MR: A balance of function and performance, the Aurora MR comes with cargo capacity and guns to ensure freight gets there safely.

Constellation Andromeda: A multicrew freighter with modular design, the RSI Andromeda is one of the most iconic ships in the verse.

Constellation Aquila: Exploring the stars and distant horizons, the redesigned cockpit offers max visibility with a rover and sensor suite to explore it all.

Constellation Phoenix: A chariot of the Gods, this converted luxury, high performance Constellation freighter is ideal for VIP transport.

Ursa Rover: Rugged, Durable and tough, this is the rover you need to explore a multitude of environments.

Nov 25 – Origin Jumpworks

300i: Travel in style with this high-performance sleek touring ship.

315p: Traverse the ‘verse with this high-performance exploration focused ship.

325a: Origin’s sleek signature fighter, the 325 makes a great companion for finding your mark in style and sophistication.

350r: Origin’s sleek signature racer, the 350 makes a great companion for leaving your peers in the dust.

600i Explorer: The luxury yacht of Star Citizen, designed to explore in comfort and style with a vehicle bay.

85X: A luxury and sporty short-range runabout for pilot and passenger.

M50: Origin’s premier racer, small, fast and highly agile.

Nov 26 – Aegis Dynamics

Avenger Stalker: A modified version of the Avenger, catering to bounty hunters with prison cells.

Avenger Titan: A former police ship with a cargo hold for light freight and courier abilities.

Avenger Titan Renegade: Special Edition of the Avenger Titan with custom livery and loadout geared for Arena Commander.

Avenger Warlock: A variant of the Avenger, armed with EMP generator to disable enemies.

Eclipse: A sleek stealth bomber, armed with heavy torpedoes.

Gladius: An aged but agile light fighter with mid-range armament.

Gladius Valiant: Special Edition of the Gladius with custom livery and loadout geared for Arena Commander.

Hammerhead: A multi-crew corvette bristling with manned turrets designed to counter fighters.

Reclaimer: A heavy deep space salvage vessel to reclaim wrecks and derelicts.

Retaliator Bomber: A long-range anti capital ship bomber, covered in turrets and capable of launching size 9 torpedoes.

Sabre: Favoring agility over durability, this ship is light, sleek and deadly.

Sabre Comet: Special Edition of the Sabre with custom livery and loadout geared for Arena Commander.

Vanguard Hoplite: Long-range Squad Dropship with a turret gunner.

Vanguard Warden: Long-range Heavy Fighter with a turret gunner.

Nov 27 – Drake Interplanetary

Buccaneer: A light fighter that sacrifices durability and an ejection seat for raw fire power.

Caterpillar: A heavy multicrew commercial freighter. Lightly armed, with superior cargo capacity.

Caterpillar Pirate: A heavy multicrew commercial freighter. Lightly armed, with superior cargo capacity and custom pirate livery.

Cutlass Black: Black is Back. Drakes multicrew Cutlass is highly versatile, with combat and cargo prowess.

Dragonfly Black: A two-seater grav-lev bike. Easily traverses rough terrain, or closes the distance in space.

Dragonfly Yellowjacket: A two-seater grav-lev bike. Easily traverses rough terrain or closes the distance in space with custom yellow livery.

Herald: No secret is safe, Drake’s Herald captures and stores information before leaving at blistering speed.

Nov 28 – Alien Manufacturers

Khartu-al: Enigmatic, exotic and agile. The fragile Khartu-al excels at lateral thrust and maneuverability.

Nox: Sleek and fast, this gravity bike slices across rough terrain. Perfect for scouting and racing.

Nox Kue: Sleek and fast, this gravity bike slices across rough terrain. Perfect for scouting and racing with a bespoke Silver paintjob.

Vanduul Glaive: This Alien medium fighter replica drives fear with it’s ramming blades.

Vanduul Blade: Armed and Dangerous. This alien fighter slices through the air with it’s agility and shreds its foes.

Nov 29 – Musashi Industrial and Starflight Concern

Freelancer: A multicrew cargo freighter, with turret and ordnance to deter those after it’s haul.

Prospector: A miner’s best friend, with a powerful mining laser and saddle bags to turn mineral to profit.

Razor: Cutting ahead of the competition, this sleek racer will give the others a run for pole position.

Razor EX: Stealth special edition of the Razor outfitted with signature-reducing materials and stealth components.

Razor LX: Special edition of the Razor features an overclocked engine, reduced maneuverability and armaments in exchange of straight-line speed.

Reliant Kore: A fusion of Xi’an and Human technology, this light freighter allows you to haul cargo with a friend.

Starfarer: Keep fleets on the move with this heavy refueler.

Starfarer Gemini: Keep fleets on the move with this heavy refueler, the Gemini version sacrifices capacity for armor and a missile launcher.

Nov 30 – Kruger/Argo/Tumbril/Consolidated Outland

Argo MPUV 1C: A small and unarmed utility runabout that transports cargo.

Argo MPUV 1P: A small unarmed utility runabout tuned to transport personnel.

Cyclone: Stir up a storm with this robust two-seater buggy that can carry a little something in the back.

Cyclone AA: This two-seater buggy with EMP functionality is armed with an anti-air missile launcher to deter threats from above.

Cyclone RN: Unveils the fog of war, the recon variant of the Cyclone is mounted with a powerful scanner array.

Cyclone TR: Support ground infantry with this combat variant, equipped with a mounted turret to provide cover fire for ground operations.

Mustang Alpha: Consolidated Outland’s premier ship for those wanting to push the limits a little more when starting out.

Mustang Beta: Home is where the heart is, the Beta offers comfortable living quarters for beginners roaming the frontier.

Mustang Delta: The Mustang Delta is armed with heavier weapons and rocket pods.

Mustang Gamma: Racing the competition? The additional engine loaded into the back will provide competitive the edge you need.

P-52 Merlin: Small, agile and comes with a sting. This snub fighter is fragile, but difficult to hit.

Star Citizen will be free to play from November 23rd to November 30th + Star Citizen 3.3.5 screenshots published first on https://touchgen.tumblr.com/

[thegloober]

Toyota Showcases Tweaked Trucks And Custom Corollas At SEMA

Rear-wheel drive Corolla drifters to Baja winning trucks are part of the display.

Toyota isn’t pulling any punches at this year’s SEMA Show. For years the automaker stagnated in the realm of reliable cars that weren’t terribly exciting. That’s been changing recently, and the wide variation of custom rides on display in Las Vegas is a testament to that.

In addition to a massive Supra invasion, Toyota has a plethora of custom Corollas and pickup trucks in its stable ranging from mild to wild. Here’s a look at each with a short description of what the buzz is all about, starting with the Corollas.

Toyota Corolla Super Street SEMA Custom

Wearing a body kit and a red dress, the Super Street Corolla has JDM upgrades aimed primarily for style but it’s also tweaked for occasional track use. Inside is still about comfort, however, with heated seats and a rocking stereo.

Toyota Corolla SoCal Kustomz SEMA Custom

Toyota commissioned a “build-off” between a couple shops, and the SoCal Kustoms Corolla embodies a hot-rod style attitude with an ode to the crazy graphics from the Fast & Furious movie franchise. It also gets a nitrous oxide system for an extra power boost.

Toyota Corolla Papadakis Racing Drift Car SEMA Custom

On the wild side of the equation comes this rear-wheel-drive purpose-built drift car. You won’t be seeing this on the street anytime soon obviously, but if you did, its boosted four-cylinder would be sending the rear tires up in smoke so much you’d struggle to see the gutted interior and cool widebody kit.

Toyota Corolla Muscle Tuner SEMA Custom

The foil to the SoCal Kustomz Corolla is this AE86 tribute car from Muscle Tuner automotive. Sadly it’s not rear-wheel drive, but the custom exterior pays homage to the classic compact drifter and the engine is enhanced with nitrous for extra power. It also rides on custom suspension for a low, lean look.

Toyota Corolla Hoonigan Camera Car

This is a name you might associate with Ken Block and his Ford team, but whereas those cars are in front of the camera, this special Corolla is the camera. It’s modified with camera gear and mounts and designed to function as a mobile high-end video production machine.

Toyota Tundra PIE Pro

Moving on to trucks, this curious creation is designed to cook and deliver piping-hot Pizza Hut orders with a touch of green. That’s because this Tundra and its onboard kitchen are powered by a hydrogen fuel cell.

Kevin Costner Toyota Tundra

There’s something we never thought we’d say in the same sentence. The noted Hollywood actor teamed up with the Toyota to build this off-road adventure machine. It’s based on a Tundra Platinum and gets a plethora of add-ons including a 4.5-inch lift, steel bumpers winches, lights, and yes, Costner has apparently used it for camping and reaching remote film shoots.

Toyota Tacoma, Tundra TRD Pro

Mixed into the crazy custom rigs and race machines are mildly tweaked TRD Pro editions of the Tundra and Tacoma, wearing upgraded suspension and the all-important snorkel to keep water and sand clear of the engine.

Ivan Stewart’s Toyota Baja Race Truck

Perhaps better known by his “Ironman” nickname, off-road legend Ivan Stewart drove Toyota trucks to numerous Baja victories. Joining the factory-tuned vehicles on display is one of his full-on race-prepped trophy trucks that conquered the Baja terrain.

Source: Toyota

Hide press releaseShow press release

TOYOTA TAKES YOU PLACES AT SEMA 2018

From Supras, a Pizza-making Tundra, Corollas, and Trucks, Toyota Brings Those Places to Life PLANO, Texas, Oct. 30, 2018 — Toyota’s suite of vehicles on display at the 2018 Specialty Equipment Market Association (SEMA) Show pays tribute to the heritage of the Toyota Supra, the launch of the 2019 Corolla Hatchback, the latest TRD Pro trucks, and a very special hydrogen fuel cell-powered Tundra that robotically makes pizza.

“The theme for SEMA 2018 is our call to action — ‘Let’s Go Places,’” said Ed Laukes, Group Vice President – Toyota Division Marketing. “This year we’re definitely going places with the introduction of the all-new 2019 Toyota Corolla Hatchback and the latest TRD Pro trucks. We’re also taking a look back at the history of the Toyota Supra up through our state-of-the-art Supra race cars on display in the booth. And no one will soon forget the pizza-making Tundra PIE Pro!” Highlights of this year’s SEMA display include:

TUNDRA PIE PRO HYDROGEN FUEL-CELL Everyone’s heard of pizza delivery, but the hydrogen fuel cell electric-powered Tundra PIE Pro takes the concept to another level. It is one Toyota truck that takes the party wherever it goes with virtually no carbon footprint—leaving only water vapor emissions and delicious Pizza Hut pizza in its wake. Powered by a Toyota Mirai powertrain and converted to FWD, this Tundra can power itself and the entire bed-mounted kitchen via its hydrogen fuel cell electric powertrain. Two robotic arms bake, cut, box and deliver the pizza.

KEVIN COSTNER’S CUSTOM TUNDRA Kevin Costner’s custom Tundra Platinum is a truck that was built to conquer the great outdoors. The Tundra has been outfitted with an array of custom equipment to tailor its use to Mr. Costner’s passion for nature and active outdoor lifestyle.

CUSTOM COROLLA BUILDS To introduce the 2019 Corolla Hatchback to the performance aftermarket, Toyota launched a Battle of the Shops to see who could build the best, most unique custom version of the new car. Two builders answered the call: well-known Latino builders Julio Ixta of SoCal Kustomz, and Alex Molina of Muscle Tuner Auto. Two additional builds will also be present, a time attack-inspired entry by automotive media network Super Street, and a “Russian Arm” camera car by the rally racers at Hoonigan.

FORMULA DRIFT COROLLA The TRD/Papadakis Racing Corolla Hatchback was inspired by, and built for, Formula Drift competition. This 2019 Corolla Hatchback features a full rear-wheel-drive conversion, a custom suspension built from scratch, and a fire-breathing turbo engine pushing more than 1,000 horsepower. It won in its first-ever outing in Long Beach, Calif., and took second place in the 2018 Formula Drift Pro rankings.

TOYOTA SUPRA IN MOTORSPORTS Toyota’s SEMA 2018 display celebrates the return of Toyota’s most iconic performance car with raceprepared renditions of the upcoming fifth generation Supra. Toyota will campaign a Supra-bodied car in next year’s NASCAR Xfinity Series, and it will be parked next to what may be the most extreme new Supra to date—the Supra GTE racing concept introduced earlier this year at the Geneva International Motor Show. The car is making its North American debut at this year’s SEMA show.

TOYOTA SUPRA, MARKS 1-4 In support of Supra’s return to the racetrack and the street, a display of classic Supras—featuring generations one through four, all in white—will be parked at the 2018 SEMA booth. The pristine assembly will be accompanied by eight modified examples displayed on the outdoor patio, celebrating a die-hard enthusiast following that endures to this day.

NEXT GENERATION TRD PRO TACOMA, TUNDRA, 4RUNNER Six Toyota trucks will be present in the 2018 booth in support of automotive enthusiasts of a different stripe. The new 2019 TRD Pro Series trucks—Tacoma, Tundra, and 4Runner— will be parked alongside three SR5 models equipped with TRD parts. They will be displayed adjacent to a comprehensive TRD parts wall designed to allow owners to customize their own Toyota trucks. They will be joined by the multi-championship-winning Baja race truck driven by off-road legend Ivan “Ironman” Stewart.

Rutledge Wood—The NBC Sports NASCAR Analyst and self-professed Supra geek returns for the seventh year running to co-host the Toyota SEMA Press Conference with Group Vice President – Toyota Division Marketing, Ed Laukes.

The entire collection of vehicles can be seen in the Toyota display booth (#24800) in Central Hall and the adjoining Patio Annex at the Las Vegas Convention Center, October 30-November 2, 2018.

Source: https://bloghyped.com/toyota-showcases-tweaked-trucks-and-custom-corollas-at-sema/

[operationrainfall]

Title Mega Man 11 Developer Capcom Publisher Capcom Release Date October 2nd, 2018 Genre Platformer Platform Steam, PS4, Switch, XBox One Age Rating E for Everyone – Cartoon Violence Official Website

I’ve been waiting to write this review ever since Mega Man 11 got announced. In fact, much of the speculation in my opinion piece regarding this and Mighty No. 9 gets resolved here. But first let’s back up a little. I feel like I’ve been waiting for this game a very long time, and part of that was due to how Capcom seemed to ignore Mega Man for a period of several years. We can speculate about why they suddenly felt the need to make a big push again with Mega Man 11, but I’d rather talk about my impressions of the game. My goal with this review is to give a fair and unbiased picture of the game, not just be the ravings of a fanboy (though I certainly am one). So, the question is, was Mega Man 11 worth the lengthy wait? Or was Capcom right to ignore the blue bomber for as long as they did?

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One of the first things that stuck out to me in this game was that Mega Man 11 has a bit more focus on plot than most games in the series. I’ve said before that nobody plays Mega Man games for their plot, and while that’s true, sometimes a little can go a long way, especially when it sheds new light on iconic characters. Specifically, this game gives us a look at Light and Wily in their youth and the precipitating event that splits them apart. It’s easy to see Dr. Wily as nothing more than a cartoon villain, devoid of substance. Here, we see how his ideals conflicted with those of a young Dr. Light, and how the object of that split is put to use as a new weapon in his war on mankind. Back in the day Wily built the Double Gear system, and in this game he captures eight more Robot Masters, reprograms them and empowers them with it.

Knowing this would immediately put Mega Man at a huge disadvantage, Dr. Light uses Wily’s prototype Double Gear to enhance him, and you’re off to the races. I liked the inclusion of this mechanic, and found it dramatically affected gameplay. There are two Gears you can activate as you play: Power and Speed. While either is active, a meter will fill up, and when it’s full, you’ll be unable to use either Gear until you cool down. As for what the Gears do, you can probably guess from their descriptions, but I’ll run through it real quickly. The Power Gear makes your basic shots more powerful, and even supercharges the special weapons you get from bosses to devastating effect. The Speed Gear on the other hand makes you go so fast that everything else seems to slow down in comparison. But that’s not the same as you being super fast; it more drains the speed from everything on the screen. This slow-mo effect was very useful as I played, and I found myself using it much more often than the Power Gear.

This angry mushroom was one of my favorite new enemies.

One of the things I most appreciated about this system is how well it was implemented into the game as a whole. Not just for combat, but for tricky platforming as well. For example, in Acid Man’s stage there’s a section where you’re navigating a spiky gauntlet underwater. I died at first, until I realized I had to use the Speed Gear to slow down my reaction time so I could just avoid getting punctured as I hopped through. I also depended on the Speed Gear to freeze foes when they made themselves vulnerable, as many enemies in the game have an unbreakable shield. However, you can also get past them by hitting most foes with fully charged shots, which will stun them briefly. This brings me to my complaint about the Power Gear. It just didn’t feel as necessary for the general puzzle solving the game confronted you with. There were never any times I had to use it to break an obstruction or open a specific type of door. It just made me stronger, which felt much less important when my other Gear could slow enemies to a crawl.

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Another new aspect to the game is that you can select your difficulty. I went with Normal, but for those uncertain about their platforming skills, there’s no shame in choosing an easier option, especially since even on Normal, Mega Man 11 is tough. Though you can get through the game in 3-6 hours (my playtime was about five and a half), each level will make you earn your victory. That goes double for the challenging boss fights, which were all delightfully distinct. Other than that, there are many newer series staples, such as purchasing upgrades from Auto and Roll. I found this very handy, as I could always use some spare Bolts to buy E-Tanks and extra lives for especially challenging levels. Though there was one feature I found very problematic, and that was the weapon shortcuts. I’m used to pressing shoulder buttons to switch between my powers, but you can also do it with the right Joy-Con stick. Problem is, I generally played the game portably, and often would accidentally hit the joystick as I played, which would distract me just long enough for something to kill me. Thankfully, you can turn that feature off in the settings, which I quickly did.

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It’s never a great Mega Man game without great Robot Masters, and Mega Man 11 certainly delivers. I’m still impressed Capcom can keep coming up with names at this point, especially considering how many are iterations on the same idea, such as Fire or Ice. Each of the eight Robot Masters has a totally unique design, and they fight very differently. There’s the suave and precise Tundra Man, who skates around like an Olympic ice skater. Or take Blast Man, who hurls explosives everywhere in a frenzy. One of my favorites was Bounce Man, who jumps around like he’s propelled by rubber bands, flinging his stretchy fists at Mega Man.

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What I most enjoyed about the boss fights was that each of them will bust out their own Gear-powered attacks when they’re losing, which makes things a lot more challenging. Some examples are when Impact Man uses the Power Gear to transform into a massive threat, or when Fuse Man uses the Speed Gear to zap around trying to electrocute you. They’re all great bosses, especially since each of them is voiced. Yes, some are a bit corny, like the medieval knight voice of Impact Man, or the flamboyant Tundra Man, but I’ve come to expect and appreciate a little silliness in Mega Man. If I want dark and edgy content, I’ll stick to the X or Mega Man Zero series of games.

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Other than the Double Gear system and difficulty selection, Mega Man 11 plays many things safe. That’s not a complaint, mind you. If a formula works, why change it unnecessarily? That said, there are nice modern flourishes that keep things fresh, such as handy checkpoints in each stage. It’s a good mix of old school challenge and new school streamlining. The game is definitely tough, but never in a way that felt unfair. Sure, I died plenty of times, but usually it was due to not paying attention or reacting fast enough. This happened a lot in Torch Man’s stage as I ran from walls of flames, or in Tundra Man’s stage when I got blown by a gust of wind into a bottomless pit. My only critique is that several of the bosses and mini bosses in the game have a bad tendency to push you into a corner and crowd you. You can avoid this most of the time, but it was frustrating that it happened more than once.

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If all that wasn’t enough, there are also Challenges in the game to add replay value. There’s a wide variety, from collecting medals to using as few jumps as possible to even a Boss Rush or two. Adding to that are a wide variety of records to unlock, reminiscent of Smash Bros. I appreciate Capcom making sure there’s some replay value, especially since the game can be beaten in under an hour (at least according to one of the records I have yet to unlock). It’s much easier to justify a short game when there’s reasons to keep on playing, other than just wanting to beat the game again.

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Visually, this is a beautiful Mega Man game. I like to think of it as a mix of the challenge of Mega Man 9 and 10 with the color and style of Mega Man 8. Sure, it’s not 8-bit, but it’s still quite stunning in action. I also appreciated how Mega Man changes his look depending on which power he has equipped (kind of like Beck…). Not just the color scheme, but the look of his body. I also never encountered any slowdown, which is great for this genre. Musically, I had no real complaints. It kept me tuned in, and each level theme was fitting. While I don’t recall any standout tracks, I also didn’t dislike anything I heard. The icing on the cake was the aforementioned corny voice acting for the Robot Masters, as well as Mega Man, Roll, Auto, Dr. Light and Dr. Wily. Mega Man 11 does a good job of showing how such a classic series can hold its own in a modern environment.

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All in all, I rather enjoyed Mega Man 11, and feel it was worth the long wait. But I have a proviso. I love pretty much everything about this game, but I think it proves Capcom has no more excuses to wait more than two years before the next one. They still know how to make a great Mega Man game, and they can plainly see there is still plenty of demand for them. For $29.99, fans can’t really go wrong with this. It isn’t perfect, and I feel the Double Gear system was a bit half-assed, but it does so many other things right that it’s hard to complain. If you’ve been waiting for a new Mega Man game, or just want a great platformer, you can’t go wrong. Nice to see Mighty No. 9 did one thing right.

[easyreview cat1title=”Overall” cat1detail=”” cat1rating=”4.5″]

Review Copy Purchased by Author

REVIEW: Mega Man 11 Title Mega Man 11

[sweetawesomequalified-blog]

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[fashiontrendin-blog]

The Best New Menswear Pieces To Buy Right Now

http://fashion-trendin.com/the-best-new-menswear-pieces-to-buy-right-now-40/

The Best New Menswear Pieces To Buy Right Now

Sandqvist Aste Bumbag

With co-signs from Chance The Rapper, A$AP Rocky and half of Instagram’s influencer crowd, the cross-body bag is officially hot stuff for SS18. Is there lasting appeal though? Swedish bag-maker Sandqvist seems to think so, already releasing an AW18 range that plays up the practicality with a water-resistant polyester outer and a two-way zipper. Buy Now: £49.00

Marks & Spencer Parrot Printed Shirt

Buying statement pieces doesn’t necessarily have to come with a hefty dent in your bank balance. Marks & Spencer has always been well-priced, and this printed cotton short sleeve shirt is undoubtedly ‘nice’ enough to deserve a space in your ‘nice shirt’ rotation.

Buy Now: £22.50

Napapijri Rainforest Jacket

When it comes to festival season, it pays to be prepared. Tent? Check. Ticket? Check. Lightweight raincoat for the inevitable final day downpour? Oh, shoot. Not to worry, Italian brand Napapijri usually makes coats for bolting down alpine slopes in, but its range of pullover anoraks is better suited to bolting toward to the main stage.

Buy Now: £160.00

Cole Haan Grand Motion Runner Trainers

Adidas and Nike seemingly rule the roost when it comes to the knitted trainer trend. But there’s a new contender: New York-based brand Cole Haan, maker of high quality, life-changingly comfortable shoes, like this leather and knit hybrid that’s bound to give the kings of the game a run for their money.

Buy Now: £190.00

Montblanc 1858 Automatic Chronograph Watch

Celebrating 160 years of producing some of the finest watches to ever grace men’s wrists, Montblanc’s latest chronograph more than delivers on old world charm. Come for the aged cognac calfskin strap, stay for the bi-compass counters and subtle engravings that reference the brand’s long history.

Buy Now: £3,480.00

Adidas Originals Two Pack Socks In Mint

Chances are in high heat your feet aren’t smelling minty fresh, but with these handsome hoof-coverers from Adidas, they can at least look like they do. Better yet, they tick multiple trend boxes like pastel shades, tube socks and retro sportswear. Win, win and win.

Buy Now: £10.00

Maison Margiela x MatchesFashion Wool Coat

Even if the weather outside is delightful at the moment, we’re confident that we’ll soon be plunged back into the tundra-like conditions we know and loathe. Stay one step ahead with this dandy wool coat that we’ve plucked from the 10-piece capsule collection that Maison Margiela has conjured up to be sold exclusively at MatchesFasion.

Buy Now: £1,745.00

Vans Colour Theory Apricot Shoes

A bleached apricot may sound like a (very painful) beauty treatment but it’s actually one of the latest shades in the new ‘Colour Theory’ collection from Vans. The tasty hue sits alongside fruit, chocolate torte and cress green and all in five of Vans’ most classic shapes. Great, now we’re hungry.

Buy Now: £55.00

Ellesse Cotechino T-Shirt

Last time we checked, cotechino was a large Italian sausage. Obvious innuendos aside, we can’t help shouting about this glorious chest embroidered T-shirt from Ellesse. Although we still love the sports brand’s original sun logo, the neat cut and cool back-to-primary-school colouring is everything a guy could want in a summer tee.

Buy Now: £12.50

Polo Ralph Lauren CP-93 Swim Short

Minimalism may be big in 2018, but in the nineties, the idea of anything simple was downright weird. Take these swim shorts from Ralph Lauren CP-93, a collection inspired by the brand’s sponsorship of the ’92 America’s Cup. They pack a technicolour sail on one leg, with the American flag emblazoned on the other, all done well enough so you won’t feel like you’re at a political rally.

Buy Now: £174.00

Topman Red Marble Short Sleeve Shirt

Ever heard the term ‘go hard or go home’? Looking at this vibrantly patterned Cuban collar shirt that appears to have been designed exclusively for flouncing around the park in, we’re guessing Topman has. Throw it under a lightweight jacket or suit to maximise style and minimise Magnum P.I vibes.

Buy Now: £30.00

Wrangler Regular Denim Jacket

Leonardo DiCaprio and Brad Pitt broke the internet this week – leaning back and rocking a great big dollop of seventies fashion in the first photo from Quentin Tarantino’s new film Once Upon a Time in Hollywood. It’s the double denim worn by Pitt that is the real star of the show so get in on the action with Wrangler’s iconic jean jacket. Devastating good looks not included.

Buy Now: £90.00

Richard James Kim Sunglasses

Savile Row was feeling a bit stuffy before Richard James set up shop in the early 1990s and gave it a shake-up. Nearly three decades on, the brand is firmly part of the tailoring establishment, so it was probably about time it set up shop elsewhere. The destination? The Sun, baby, with a new set of sunglasses that look as chic as its suits.

Buy Now: £355.00

Just for Men Grey Reducing Anti-Dandruff Shampoo

Like a superhero sworn to rid your scalp of every nuisance that can blight the hair of middle-aged men, Just For Men has released an update to its grey-reducing formula in the shape of a shampoo that also works to tackle pesky dandruff, too.

Buy Now: £8.99

Carhartt WIP Striped T-Shirt

‘Jeans and a nice top’ has become the universal uniform for girls on a night out, and we lads shouldn’t be afraid to follow suit. What warrants a nice top, though? Having cooked in a work shirt all week, it’s best to go for a T-shirt, an excellent option being this funky logo choice from workwear-as-streetwear expert Carhartt WIP.

Buy Now: £34.99

Havaianas Origine Beach Shoes

Sometimes it pays to stick to what you know, but then if flip-flop making maestros Havaianas did that we would never have these cool and breezy espadrilles to savour. An update on the classic style, the palm tree beauties come with a unique heat-resistant sole to help you walk around the hotel pool like an ooh-ahhing John Wayne.

Buy Now: £32.00

The Idle Man Breton Stripe Navy Jumper

Give us a good summer jumper and a breezy afternoon any day of the year. But don’t go silly and lug around a chunky cable-knit with you; instead opt for this light towel-textured Breton option from The Idle Man, because the boys from Brittany sure know how to regulate their body temperature when the weather is being a cruel mistress.

Buy Now: £30.00

Onia Linen Blazer

Since 2009, premium swimwear brand Onia has been on a mission to take men’s swimwear from budgie smugglers and oversized board shorts to something actually cool. And now the brand has its eyes set on conquering the rest of the male wardrobe. Its first-ever men’s blazer – cut with a relaxed, oversized fit and made out of a slouchy linen fabric – is a pretty good start.

Buy Now: £255.00

New Balance x J.Crew 791 Suede Sneakers

Throw a tactile fabric on a shoe and we’re sold quicker than Usain Bolt playing Supermarket Sweep. And that’s just what New Balance has done this week, updating its archive 791 style with an all-over suede construction for fellow US brand J. Crew, resulting in a preppy piece of footwear that’s giving us all the feels.

Buy Now: £75.00

Sif Jakobs Mariotto Croce Blue Bracelet

Most men’s experience with bracelets ends at wearing grotty Glastonbury wristbands from 2005. Make this the season to upgrade your armwear with a proper bracelet, like this soft braided blue leather example from Scandinavian jewellery maker Sif Jakobs. All the style, none of the stench.

Buy Now: £109.00

[eddiejpoplar]

2018 Chicago Auto Show Hits, Misses, and Revelations

CHICAGO, Illinois – Big news out of the nation’s biggest auto show, counting public days, was actor Jim Belushi bantering with Ford Motor Company’s sales, U.S. marketing and service vice president Mark LaNeve over the 2019 Ford Transit Connect Wagon’s mid-cycle refresh.

In their presentation, Ford appeared to have discovered, or at least rediscovered, Baby Boomers and their buying power, while the charming character actor who recently played a casino boss in Showtime’s “Twin Peaks” complained that the passenger van doesn’t come with a cigarette lighter.

We have our own complaints, of course, though with this show so light on news we find ourselves in the unusual position of having far more hits than misses …

HIT: 2018 Nissan 370Zki

I love how stupid this thing is and I’m jealous that Lassa got to play Rockford with it outside of Jackson Hole, Wyoming. If you haven’t seen it yet, Nissan made a snowmobile out of its aging sports car by adding skis and some Dominator tracks and it looks pretty rad. Chicago got a good dusting of snow last night—I wonder if Nissan will let me take it for a spin outside of McCormick Place?

—Ed Tahaney

SUVs and trucks on ski tracks are nothing new, but this is the first time I can recall seeing skis on a sports car. Well played, Nissan. In the unlikely event this thing makes it to production, I’m moving to Detroit.

– Aaron Gold

HIT: Toyota Tundra, Tacoma and 4Runner TRD Pro models

I can’t say whether these offroad TRD Pros will ever pose a threat to trail rated Jeeps, but they surely look the part, and by the way Toyota Group vice president Jack Hollis talked them up, the Fox internal bypass shocks installed on each must make for some serious offroading. The black safari-style rooftop carrier on the 4Runner TRD Pro stands out. These trucks and the 86 sports car are the enthusiast counterpoints that make appliances like the RAV4, Camry and Corolla forgivable.

—Todd Lassa

MISS: Toyotaspeak

Over several auto shows now, Hollis has referred to Toyota buyers as the brand’s “guests,” as if Toyota was operating a hotel chain instead of selling cars and trucks. They’re not “guests,” unless Toyota offers a car-sharing service, and even then the term is an annoying relic of early ‘00s corporate-speak, as in “Toyota associates sell many Camrys to Toyota’s guests.” Hollis also pointed out the Toyota Tacoma TRD Pro’s new “desert-air intake” in his presentation. Serious off-roaders that Hollis wants to attract would call it a “snorkel.” —T.L.

REVELATION: Nissan’s Souvenir

The tchotchke that Nissan was handing out at the show? Turns out it’s a hand warmer, not a breast implant.

– A.G.

HIT: Volkswagen Arteon

A super subtle sedan that looks upscale just enough to help it stand apart from the rest of the pack. It’s got a sleek look, clean cabin, fastback feel, and comes with a six-year limited warranty. Its 2.0-liter turbo four-cylinder engine offers 268 hp and 258 lb-ft of torque. Will SUV-obsessed Americans buy it when it finally goes on sale in the U.S. later this year? We’ll keep our fingers crossed.

—E.T.

In my opinion, this was the star of the show. The Arteon is a handsome car at first glance, and the longer you look at it, the more the details show themselves and the better it looks. My favorite view is from the side: There’s something of the first-gen “Bauhaus” Audi TT in the Arteon’s profile. Read the specs you’ll see that the Arteon’s luxury creds are, well, credible. This is a legitimate luxury car to which people will aspire. Almost makes one wonder what could have happened to the Phaeton had Volkswagen approached it a bit differently.

– A.G.

HIT: Subaru 50th Anniversary Lineup

It’s not as exciting as the Ascent reveal in L.A. and this could have gone seriously wrong with an all-black or midnight edition trim—but the Heritage Blue paint on the eight models works for me—especially on the BRZ and WRXes. Are these badges, special doodads, and blue paint going to add any value to your car? Probably not, but this is a must for diehard Subie fans.

—E.T.

REVELATION: Subaru is not so much into autonomy or ride-sharing

At the Midwest Auto Media Association’s Thursday morning keynote breakfast, Subaru of America president and chief operating officer Thomas Doll predicted that electric vehicles will catch on and quickly replace the internal combustion engine when costs come down, ranges go up and recharging becomes quicker and more accessible, though he doesn’t think the world is ready for Level IV or V autonomy or a switch to car-sharing services. “There’s a question of the secondary market for ride share cars,” he said, predicting ride sharing will grow only in large, congested cities like Manhattan, and maybe not even Chicago.

—T.L.

MISS: 2018 Lifted Nissan Titan HD Concept

Man, that truck is ugly and as silly looking as all those “Star Wars” inspired vehicle tie-ins. I hope this doesn’t blow my chances at driving the 370Zki—but then again there’s always the GMC Sierra 2500HD All Terrain X to commandeer.

—E.T.

HIT: Nissan…

…for creating a gigantic walk-in snow globe. For three minutes every fifteen, a section of the Nissan stand is deluged in snow (actually biodegradable bubbles, so there’s no mess). When it came to auto shows, I thought I’d seen it all, but making it snow indoors is a new one. That said, I’m from Los Angeles, and snow is a novelty. Chicago locals probably won’t be as impressed, especially the ones who went to the auto show specifically to get away from the snow.

– A.G.

MISS: Chicago Blackhawks Custom Camaro Convertible

Sorry Chicago—you couldn’t give this car away. Oh, wait—my bad. Chevrolet is giving it away to some unlucky fan. If you register to win it, you only have yourself to blame. Stick with the Chicago Cubs Toyota 4Runner instead.

—E.T.

MISS: Lexus LC ‘Black Panther’ Concept

Yet another over-bling’d movie car for another superhero action flick. The only add-on it’s missing is a vinyl top. Since automakers now have to pay movie producers to supply such cars, the question is, what good does this thing do for Lexus’ luxury image?

—T.L.

HIT: Hyundai I30N TCR

Bryan Herta with his drivers Michael Lewis and Mark Wilkens introduced Hyundai’s first North American race car, the I30N TCR, which will compete this year in the Pirelli World Challenge’s new Touring Car class. Why a race car based on the not-for-North America Hyundai I30N instead of the new Veloster built on the same platform? Because the 130N Touring Car already has had success in Europe, and anyway, Hyundai says it’s not ruling out switching to a Veloster body some time in the future.

—T.L.

Damn, this thing looks cool. Want, want, want.

– A.G.

MISS: Hyundai Veloster ‘Ant Man and The Wasp’ Concept

This movie car, presumably for yet another comic book super hero adaptation, almost makes the Lexus LC ‘Black Panther’ movie car look tasteful by comparison. Almost.

—T.L.

IFTTT

[jonathanbelloblog]

2018 Chicago Auto Show Hits, Misses, and Revelations

CHICAGO, Illinois – Big news out of the nation’s biggest auto show, counting public days, was actor Jim Belushi bantering with Ford Motor Company’s sales, U.S. marketing and service vice president Mark LaNeve over the 2019 Ford Transit Connect Wagon’s mid-cycle refresh.

In their presentation, Ford appeared to have discovered, or at least rediscovered, Baby Boomers and their buying power, while the charming character actor who recently played a casino boss in Showtime’s “Twin Peaks” complained that the passenger van doesn’t come with a cigarette lighter.

We have our own complaints, of course, though with this show so light on news we find ourselves in the unusual position of having far more hits than misses …

HIT: 2018 Nissan 370Zki

I love how stupid this thing is and I’m jealous that Lassa got to play Rockford with it outside of Jackson Hole, Wyoming. If you haven’t seen it yet, Nissan made a snowmobile out of its aging sports car by adding skis and some Dominator tracks and it looks pretty rad. Chicago got a good dusting of snow last night—I wonder if Nissan will let me take it for a spin outside of McCormick Place?

—Ed Tahaney

SUVs and trucks on ski tracks are nothing new, but this is the first time I can recall seeing skis on a sports car. Well played, Nissan. In the unlikely event this thing makes it to production, I’m moving to Detroit.

– Aaron Gold

HIT: Toyota Tundra, Tacoma and 4Runner TRD Pro models

I can’t say whether these offroad TRD Pros will ever pose a threat to trail rated Jeeps, but they surely look the part, and by the way Toyota Group vice president Jack Hollis talked them up, the Fox internal bypass shocks installed on each must make for some serious offroading. The black safari-style rooftop carrier on the 4Runner TRD Pro stands out. These trucks and the 86 sports car are the enthusiast counterpoints that make appliances like the RAV4, Camry and Corolla forgivable.

—Todd Lassa

MISS: Toyotaspeak

Over several auto shows now, Hollis has referred to Toyota buyers as the brand’s “guests,” as if Toyota was operating a hotel chain instead of selling cars and trucks. They’re not “guests,” unless Toyota offers a car-sharing service, and even then the term is an annoying relic of early ‘00s corporate-speak, as in “Toyota associates sell many Camrys to Toyota’s guests.” Hollis also pointed out the Toyota Tacoma TRD Pro’s new “desert-air intake” in his presentation. Serious off-roaders that Hollis wants to attract would call it a “snorkel.” —T.L.

REVELATION: Nissan’s Souvenir

The tchotchke that Nissan was handing out at the show? Turns out it’s a hand warmer, not a breast implant.

– A.G.

HIT: Volkswagen Arteon

A super subtle sedan that looks upscale just enough to help it stand apart from the rest of the pack. It’s got a sleek look, clean cabin, fastback feel, and comes with a six-year limited warranty. Its 2.0-liter turbo four-cylinder engine offers 268 hp and 258 lb-ft of torque. Will SUV-obsessed Americans buy it when it finally goes on sale in the U.S. later this year? We’ll keep our fingers crossed.

—E.T.

In my opinion, this was the star of the show. The Arteon is a handsome car at first glance, and the longer you look at it, the more the details show themselves and the better it looks. My favorite view is from the side: There’s something of the first-gen “Bauhaus” Audi TT in the Arteon’s profile. Read the specs you’ll see that the Arteon’s luxury creds are, well, credible. This is a legitimate luxury car to which people will aspire. Almost makes one wonder what could have happened to the Phaeton had Volkswagen approached it a bit differently.

– A.G.

HIT: Subaru 50th Anniversary Lineup

It’s not as exciting as the Ascent reveal in L.A. and this could have gone seriously wrong with an all-black or midnight edition trim—but the Heritage Blue paint on the eight models works for me—especially on the BRZ and WRXes. Are these badges, special doodads, and blue paint going to add any value to your car? Probably not, but this is a must for diehard Subie fans.

—E.T.

REVELATION: Subaru is not so much into autonomy or ride-sharing

At the Midwest Auto Media Association’s Thursday morning keynote breakfast, Subaru of America president and chief operating officer Thomas Doll predicted that electric vehicles will catch on and quickly replace the internal combustion engine when costs come down, ranges go up and recharging becomes quicker and more accessible, though he doesn’t think the world is ready for Level IV or V autonomy or a switch to car-sharing services. “There’s a question of the secondary market for ride share cars,” he said, predicting ride sharing will grow only in large, congested cities like Manhattan, and maybe not even Chicago.

—T.L.

MISS: 2018 Lifted Nissan Titan HD Concept

Man, that truck is ugly and as silly looking as all those “Star Wars” inspired vehicle tie-ins. I hope this doesn’t blow my chances at driving the 370Zki—but then again there’s always the GMC Sierra 2500HD All Terrain X to commandeer.

—E.T.

HIT: Nissan…

…for creating a gigantic walk-in snow globe. For three minutes every fifteen, a section of the Nissan stand is deluged in snow (actually biodegradable bubbles, so there’s no mess). When it came to auto shows, I thought I’d seen it all, but making it snow indoors is a new one. That said, I’m from Los Angeles, and snow is a novelty. Chicago locals probably won’t be as impressed, especially the ones who went to the auto show specifically to get away from the snow.

– A.G.

MISS: Chicago Blackhawks Custom Camaro Convertible

Sorry Chicago—you couldn’t give this car away. Oh, wait—my bad. Chevrolet is giving it away to some unlucky fan. If you register to win it, you only have yourself to blame. Stick with the Chicago Cubs Toyota 4Runner instead.

—E.T.

MISS: Lexus LC ‘Black Panther’ Concept

Yet another over-bling’d movie car for another superhero action flick. The only add-on it’s missing is a vinyl top. Since automakers now have to pay movie producers to supply such cars, the question is, what good does this thing do for Lexus’ luxury image?

—T.L.

HIT: Hyundai I30N TCR

Bryan Herta with his drivers Michael Lewis and Mark Wilkens introduced Hyundai’s first North American race car, the I30N TCR, which will compete this year in the Pirelli World Challenge’s new Touring Car class. Why a race car based on the not-for-North America Hyundai I30N instead of the new Veloster built on the same platform? Because the 130N Touring Car already has had success in Europe, and anyway, Hyundai says it’s not ruling out switching to a Veloster body some time in the future.

—T.L.

Damn, this thing looks cool. Want, want, want.

– A.G.

MISS: Hyundai Veloster ‘Ant Man and The Wasp’ Concept

This movie car, presumably for yet another comic book super hero adaptation, almost makes the Lexus LC ‘Black Panther’ movie car look tasteful by comparison. Almost.

—T.L.

IFTTT