We recently got the chance to drive around in a seriously hot hatchback. The Toyota GR Yaris. The new GR Yaris incorporates knowledge and technology born from WRD into a sports car to drive around in every day. The GR Yaris has been developed by the experts at Toyota Gazoo Racing World Rally Team. Also, it incorporates advanced technology including GR-Four. As it is Toyota’s first sports AWD system in 20 years. A thrilling 1.6L 3 cylinder Turbo engine. Making it lightweight and exhilarating to drive.

So, the GR Yaris has been designed to lift trophies. It is low, wide and dramatic. The aerodynamics employ a host of weight saving materials to win challenges on the Rally of Finland and the flowing curves of your favourite roads. While, it is a performance car, bringing motorsport technology and design to the road car.

RALLY INSPIRED DESIGN

Under the bonnet of the GR Yaris is a beast of an engine that is compact, lightweight and responsive. While the 1.6L turbo charged engine is ready to respond on the track and thrill on the road.

GR YARIS CABIN

• Developed directly alongside the Toyota World Rally Team.
• GR Ultrasuede® Sports Seats
• GR leather steering wheel
• 8” Multimedia multimedia system with Smartphone integration incl Apple CarPlay™ & Android Auto™
• 6 speakers, USB connector and DAB radio
• Smart Entry & Push-button start
• GR Floor Mats
• Aluminium Pedals
• Black Leather gear shift with red stitching
• Black Leather handbrake with red stitching

GR YARIS SUSPENSION

GR Yaris benefits from a newly developed MacPherson strut front suspension offering lightweight and high rigidity and the rear suspension developed with a trailing double wishbone. Together the high rigidity maximise the grip of the tyres to give excellent road holding capabilities.

DIFFERENTIALS

Repeatedly tested and honed by WRC drivers, the GR-FOUR 4WD system features a high-response coupling that balances torque between front and rear wheels. This delivers greater cornering response and stability for tight corners.

GR YARIS AND GR YARIS CONVENIENCE PACK

• OPEN DIFFERENTIAL

  Transmits the torque to the left and right wheels, and contributes to the light weight and high rigidity needed for sports driving.

• LEFT/RIGHT SPLIT CONSTRUCTION

  Lightweight, high-rigidity die-cast aluminium carrier with a left/right split construction adopted.

• MULTI-PLATE TYPE CLUTCH SUPPORT

  Multi-plate type clutch support rear bearing used for drive pinion shaft support, reducing the size.

GR YARIS CIRCUIT PACK

• TORSEN LIMITED-SLIP DIFFERENTIAL

  Provides a quick response to accelerator operation, and optimum torque distribution to all four wheels, contributing to a higher level of sports driving.

• STRAIGHT-LINE DRIVING

  Torque due to engine braking is distributed from the inside wheels to the outside wheels, enhancing the stability.

• CORNERING TO ACCELERATE OUT OF CORNERS

  Torque is optimally distributed in accordance with the load on the left and right wheels, enhancing the high traction performance and the handling.

RALLY-BRED SUSPENSION

A new MacPherson strut and double-wishbone suspension set-up, tuned by the TOYOTA GAZOO Racing World Rally Team, delivers outstanding traction and control on the most demanding surfaces.

FRONT SUSPENSION

Newly developed MacPherson strut suspension offering lightweight and high rigidity, maximizing the grip of the tyres.

The excellent road holding capability provides harder lateral and torsional movement, which is required for vehicle controllability.

COIL SPRING

Realizes both a high level of handling stability and ride comfort. Lateral force control spring adopted to reduce suspension friction.

STABILIZER

This contributes to collision safety performance, high roll rigidity, and weight reduction. It is placed in front of the steering gear box to reduce weight and collision (frontal) G force. ​

REAR SUSPENSION

Newly developed trailing double wishbone suspension.

ENHANCED RIGIDITY

The GR Yaris showcases increased suspension rigidity due to an improved design of the rear trailing arm bush and bearing.

The grip capability of the tyres is maximised by enhancing suspension geometry and settings: the trailing arm type double wish bone initial camber has been increased, spring characteristics have been optimised and the exclusive absorber has been setup for high responsiveness.

GR CIRCUIT SUSPENSION

The GR Yaris Circuit pack benefits from GR Circuit suspension.

The front anti-roll bar is thicker and the diameter of the front suspension spring is increased, which makes the suspension slightly stiffer and therefore the vehicle is more stable at high speed and agile when cornering.

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ENGINE SPECIFICATIONS

GRADE	GR YARIS & CONVENIENCE PACK	CIRCUIT PACK
TOTAL LENGTH X FULL WIDTH X TOTAL HEIGHT (MM)	3,995 X 1,805 X 1,455
WHEELBASE (MM)	2,560
TREAD FRONT / REAR (MM)	1,536 / 1,572
VEHICLE WEIGHT (KG) KERB WEIGHT MIN/ KERB WEIGHT MAX/ GROSS VEHICLE WEIGHT	1,280/ 1,305/ 1,645
NUMBER OF PASSENGERS (PEOPLE)	4
ENGINE	IN-LINE 3-CYLINDER INTERCOOLER TURBO
VALVE MECHANISM	DOHC 4-VALVE ROLLER-LOCKER
DISPLACEMENT (CC)	1,618
MAXIMUM OUTPUT (KW / RPM)	192 / 6,500
MAXIMUM TORQUE (NM / RPM)	360 / 3,000-4,600
BHP	257
0-62 MPH (SECONDS)	5.5
TOP SPEED (MPH)	142MPH
MODEL	G16E-GTS
TRANSMISSION	6-SPEED MANUAL TRANSMISSION (IMT)
DRIVE SYSTEM	4WD SPORT 4WD SYSTEM “GR-FOUR”
DIFFERENTIAL DEVICE	ELECTRONICALLY CONTROLLED MULTI-PLATE CLUTCH/4WD MODE DIAL SWITCH (NORMAL/SPORT/TRACK)
	4WD OPEN DIFFERENTIAL	4WD TORSEN LIMITED SLIP DIFFERENTIAL
SUSPENSION FRONT / REAR	MACPHERSON STRUT FRONT SUSPENSION / DOUBLE WISHBONE REAR SUSPENSION
BRAKES FRONT / REAR	VENTILATED DISC 4-CYLINDER / VENTILATED DISC 2-CYLINDER
TYRE SIZE	TREAD FRONT / REAR (MM)
TURNING RADIUS (M)	DUNLOP SP SPORT MAXX 050 (225/40R18)	MICHELIN PILOT SPORT 4S (225/40R18) TYRE

(Toyota)

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Wearables are now becoming more of a norm and rings are going to become smarter and smarter as time goes on. Well the best thing to use your ring for would be to pay for things! That’s what McLear are doing with their ring, the McLear RingPay!

Below are a few features that their smart ring can do:

• Use your ring to make secure payments anywhere that accepts contactless.
• It’s funded by connecting your debit or credit card.
• Earn Cashback through use
• One click deactivate
• Hypoallergenic
• Scratch Resistant
• Waterproof
• No Charging

Features of the McLear RingPay

Using your ring to pay for things makes so much sense as it is simply a case of waving or in the McLear’s case, knocking your wrist over the sensor. While it is much faster than using a credit card or debit card as it doesn’t require you to take out your phone or adjust your watch. It’s always there on your finger, ready to go when you need it.

HTC have announced a brand new virtual reality headset, the VIVE Flow. It is a compact, lightweight immersive glasses device. Which transports it’s wearers wherever and whenever they want. While the Flow has been designed with comfort and portability in mind. Allowing users to experience calm and well-being for themselves:

• Meditation 2.0 with apps like TRIPP, or taking a scenic, immersive drive down Route 66 with MyndVR’s original series: A Road to Remember
• Watching TV or movies on their own personal, cinema-sized VR screen
• Exercising their minds with brain training apps
• Collaborating and socializing with colleagues and friends on VIVE Sync

The HTC Vive Flow is available in November. The main feature of the Flow is to help people nurture their minds, relax and have fun on a daily basis. With a big focus on portability.

CEO’s Thoughts:

“With VIVE Flow, HTC is taking technology in a new direction, focusing not on what we do, but on how we feel. Maintaining our wellness has come to the forefront in the last few years, with so many millions feeling stressed every day, so it has never been more important to take time out to calm our minds, and VIVE Flow provides the perfect opportunity to escape our four walls and immerse ourselves in our ideal ambience,” 

“Meditation, gentle stretches, brain training, streaming our favorite shows or even meeting friends or coworkers in VR with VIVE Sync can all be enhanced by a device light and compact enough to fit in our pocket. VIVE Flow represents the next evolution of technology, as we take a more holistic view of how we can make life better.”

“Relaxation means different things to different people,” said Nanea Reeves, CEO of leading XR wellness service TRIPP. “It’s important to find your own version of zen, whether that means meditating, watching videos, or playing games. The fact that HTC gets it, that we can use VR in these ways that can benefit peoples’ emotional and mental well-being is something that I personally am very excited about as is our entire team at TRIPP.” Cher Wang, Chairwoman and CEO of HTC.

Go with the Flow the HTC Vive Flow

With the HTC Vive Flow, users will find it easy to find time for meditation, entertainment or productivity, even on a hectic day. This is thanks to the lifestyle minded features on the device:

• Dive into a range of immersive experiences via the Viveport app store anytime, anywhere, using your Android smartphone as a controller.
• Connect wirelessly to your 5G Android smartphone and stream content like TV shows and films from your favorite platforms.*
• Meet with colleagues and friends in realistic virtual environments via VIVE Sync.

Portability meets power

The Vive Flow weighs just 189g. The device has a dual hinge design and has a soft face gasket to allow it to fold down, giving it even more portability. The Vive Flow’s hinge is designed to fit into many different head shapes and sizes. Taking inspiration from the Vive Focus 3, the magnetic connections make it simple and quick swap out, perfect if you want to share. The HTC Vive has built in diopter dials. Making it easy to adjust for crystal clear visuals. The active cooling system also helps with comfort. As it pulls warm air away from your face.

Furthermore the Vive Flow has incredible immersion, thanks to the expansive 100-degree field of view. Giving users cinematic screens to lose yourself in HD quality content, with a sharp 3.2K resolution and a smooth 75Hz refresh rate. While it also features full 3D spatial audio, the Vive Flow delivers immersive sound and can connect to Bluetooth earphones.

Unwind to your heart’s content – HTC Vive Flow

HTC Vive have also unveiled a special Viveport subscription plan. The plan is $5.99 a month and gives users access to loads of apps including brain training, productivity, light gaming and exclusive content like a L0-Fi room. While this has been designed to look and feel like a cozy cafe.

Pricing, accessories, and availability – HTC Vive Flow

So, VIVE Flow has a matching carry case available for purchase, giving you peace of mind no matter where you go. A small but powerful 10,000mAh VIVE power bank can be purchased separately, providing extra battery life for long days.

While, VIVE Flow retails for USD $499 / £499 / and starting from 549€. It will be available via https://www.vive.com/vive-flow, as well as retailers around the world. Pre-orders start on Oct 14 globally, and anyone pre-ordering will receive the official VIVE Flow carry case and a gift bundle of 7 pieces of content. Open sales begin in November 2021.

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(HTC)

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We all hate washing dishes right? Well we have found something that may be your saving grace.  A dishwasher, but not just any dishwasher. A Mini Dishwasher. It’s called the: Bob Mini Dishwasher. It’s really small and can be placed right the worktop at home, or in the office. So if you don’t have a dishwasher, now is the excuse to get one!

Small and Mighty

The Bob Mini Dishwasher is as small as a microwave and can be placed anywhere. It is also light as a feather. Weighing only 10kg and is really easy to carry due to integrated handles. The Bob Mini Dishwasher also is tiny and has a width of just 34cm or 13.4 inches. While it can accommodate plates up to 29cm or 11.4 inches. Which is a first for a dishwasher this size!

Don’t have access to a water supply? Don’t worry you can use the 3.9 later integrated water tank to help clean your dishes. The Bob Mini Dishwasher also conveniently fills up from the front, which allows the Bob to be placed under a kitchen cabinet. Furthermore if you do have a water supply you can connect it to water using the Bob easy water inlet hose.

The Bob Mini Dishwasher is inspired by professional dishwashers and has an adaptable basket, which is modular and can be customised to meet your own needs. You can wash up to 16 classes or cups in 15 minutes! While it can also do your daily dishes in 20 minutes!

While Bob can wash dishes with only 2.9L of water which is 5 times less water than washing by hand (15L)!

Bob Mini Dishwasher Features

Bob is available in 24 color combinations and is the first dishwasher with an automatic magnetic door opening. This helps for improved drying and consumes no energy at all. So it is tacticle, simply when you touch the door it will open automatically. It also features a light panel with LED technology which is extremely bright to highlight your dishes. While also enhancing the mood in the kitchen.

Bob Mini Dishwasher is also the first mini dishwasher to be able to connect to Wifi for updates to it’s OS and update other features. It uses the worlds most effective all in one dishwasher detergent distribution system. Cassettes. While Bob+ is a subscription service that activates the automatic renewal of the Bob Cassetter. You will only pay for what you use and it will be delivered to your door.

UV

This next feature is optional, the UV-C module will kill 99% of bacteria and viruses with a waterless cycle. It will disinfect all kinds of objects in 20 minutes. Masks, dishes, wallet, keys etc etc. However if you choose the Bob Premium Pack it will come as standard.

Purchase a Bob Mini Dishwasher here! (Affiliate Link)

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Lexus have created a range of music tracks to help aid mindfulness. This is while in or out of the car. All of the sounds are carefully crafted sounds. Car sounds that is. Such as seatbelt clicks, tailgate warning bells and adjustable seat motors from Lexus Cars.

The track can be streamed for free on Spotify: Lexus Mindfulness Tracks

Lexus Releases Car-generated Soundtracks to Aid Mindfulness

Lexus cars are known for a meticulous attention to detail. This includes developing and improving the sounds that Lexus cars make. Also the sound of a door closing has been optimised to have the most pleasing sound. It is known that sounds can influence our well-being and even encourage a positive mood in us.

Lexus has kept this in mind and produced a range of music tracks. Helping to aid mindfulness while in or out of the car. While many would think instruments would be used. The tracks consist entirely of carefully crafted sounds from a variety of Lexus Cars. All were recorded in a studio and then mixed.

So, the sounds that have been used are tailgate warning bells and adjustable seat motors are among the sounds that take the place of drums, cymbals, percussion and keyboards to make up the tracks.

Not what you think…

However, it’s not as literal as you may be thinking as the sounds have all been engineered to sound exactly like chilled mindful tracks. The tracks sound really good and the sounds that were used. Such as tailgate warning sounds and seat motors for example, have been crafted to sound like a piece of music and not simply tailgate sounds.

Lexus Mindfulness Teacher

Christoph Spiessens is a certified mindfulness teacher, learning and development and coach who has been people cultivate calm. He also helps people to cultivate calm, confidence and mediation and workshops for over 15 years.

He explains…

He’s working with Lexus on projects for several years and provided guidance on how the soundtracks can help promote mindfulness.  Explaining:

“Music has the power to stimulate emotions, affect blood pressure and heart rate and improve mental alertness. Mindfulness practice helps us become aware of our immediate reactions and judgements, and this increased awareness creates a helpful pause; a space from which we can choose to respond instead of react.

The Lexus mindfulness tracks, through a huge array of interesting sound effects and melodies, provide the opportunity to notice our initial reactivity to these intriguing soundscapes as well as the tendency of our mind to label these sounds or be carried away by the music.

These extraordinary compositions offer a refreshing way to befriend our minds and thus enhance our wellbeing. They can be used while driving, to practise ‘mindful listening,’ but of course they should not be used for mindfulness meditation when at the wheel.  

Cont…

“A beautiful foundational attitude from the world of mindfulness is called a ’Beginner’s Mind‘ (“shoshin” in Japanese, from Zen Buddhism),”

“By bringing a beginner’s mind to the experience of listening to any of these tracks, we make a conscious choice to listen with an open and curious attitude, making a commitment to approach our experience as if we are hearing these sounds for the first time, with full awareness of our preconceptions which will undoubtedly crop up. This enables us to discover new things and become aware of the reactivity of our minds.” 

When listening to Lexus Mindfulness

He asks listeners when listening to Lexus Mindfulness:

• Notice what mood or frame of mind you are in right now?’ This is about music as a vehicle for self-awareness.
• Also, notice your eagerness to play a track. The mind is always making predications, it wants to know. Think about your breathing for a few moments. Mindfulness is, in a way, “heartfulness,”  (‘Nen’ is Mindfulness in Japanese and teaches us to ‘stay in the moment’) and means establishing a connection between mind and body.
• When the music starts, notice the mind’s reactivity. Can you “be” with the raw experience of these interesting sounds; the sensory qualities, such as pitch, loudness?
• How about your emotions, do they change during the track? Are you able to keep focused on the music or does your mind wander? All these questions are at the very core of mindfulness practice: non-judgemental noticing and present-moment awareness.

The Lexus mindfulness tracks – Breakdown

Calming Duet of Seat Motor and Tailgate Warning Bell

This two-and-a-half-minute track opens with the gentle hum of the Lexus RX L seven-seat SUV’s adjustable seat motor and then a simple melody is overlaid featuring different notes from the tailgate warning bell.

Tonal elements are provided by the RX L adjustable seat motors and the Lexus NX SUV’s power-assisted steering system, while the melody is from the RX L power tailgate warning bell. Spiessens comments:

 “I believe this track is well suited for ‘mindfulness of breathing’ practice. It is my favourite Lexus track and the calmest and I listen to it when I need a moment to collect my thoughts, before or after an important meeting, or before I switch off my computer after a busy day. I like how the track begins with a sound similar to that of an engine rumbling which soon fades (like the mind stilling) and is followed by simple bell-like sounds and a celestial soundscape.

Lexus Uplifting Idle Engine

The main melodic riff from this catchy tune consists of an RX L engine idling, accompanied by the raw sound of Lexus LC 500 coupe window motors. ‘Stabs’ (single staccato notes/chords that add dramatic punctuation to a musical piece) which sound like steel drums, are actually the sound of an LC window motor.

For the percussion elements the kick drums are the Lexus UX SUV sun visor closing, together with the sound of an RX L engine bay being hit with a soft beater, while the ‘snare drums’ are the LC seatbelt latch and door close, plus the RX L power button. Clicks and snaps are provided by various LC 500 switches.

The tonal elements consist of the plucky percussive xylophone-type sounds from a soft beater hitting sections of an LC chassis. Special effects consist of the tonal electronic buzzing from an RX L ignition sequence recorded under the bonnet. Spiessens comments: “

This track is upbeat from the start and offers many different sound effects. ‘Hedonic tone’ in psychology, is a very important foundation of mindfulness. We tend to immediately evaluate the bare qualities of an experience, the primary appraisal. ‘Vedanā’ (an ancient term that means feeling or sensation) arises when our senses, but also the mind, meet an experience, therefore including physical sensations and emotions.

‘Vedanā’ is important because the more we are consciously aware of how we interpret something (as pleasant, unpleasant or neutral), the more we can be in control of how we respond more mindfully.”

Lexus Rhythmic Warmth from Screen Spray 

This track centres on the rhythmic mechanical swooshing sound of Lexus RX L windscreen wipers and spray. Percussion elements, or ‘kick drums,’ are from the sounds of an LC boot closing, and the ‘snare drums’ are the sound of a Lexus UX door closing. The ‘hi-hats’ (clap from two cymbals) are provided by the sound of an LC passenger window motor.

For the tonal elements, the bass is an LC infotainment bell layered with the LC window motor. The ‘marimba-esque’ melodic lead line is formed by the Park Assistance Brake of a Lexus NX. At 0.45 seconds you can hear the pitchy tone provided by the UX electric windows.

The special effects elements are the wooshes and sweeps provided by the RX L air conditioning system. Spiessens comments:

“This is by far the most ‘techno’ track of them all and is one that I believe could be useful to listen to while driving, as it could enhance focus and therefore a better driving performance.”

Lexus Infotainment Groove

This four-minute track is one of the most complex of the Lexus mindfulness tracks, featuring sounds from multiple Lexus vehicles as various relays and motors spring into action. The percussion elements or ‘kick drums’ are the sound of a Lexus LC Coupe seat being slapped and the ‘claps’ are the clicks of an LC fuel cap being closed.  Extra Percussion sounds are from LC seat switches and the UX power button.

The lead melody consists of a selection tone from a Lexus infotainment system, while the bass is the sound of the Lexus UX adjustable steering column which has been lowered in pitch.  At 0:40 seconds you can hear harmonic elements being introduced, which are provided by the clicks from the UX ignition sequence which were recorded under the bonnet. The ‘wooshes’ are from the RX L air-conditioning system. Spiessens comments:

 “This is a longer track, which is great for practising sustained attention on breathing. It instantly catches your attention and builds anticipation.  Does your mind fill in the bass ahead of the actual bass drop?”

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