This is your sign to get behind the wheel and go on your dream desert getaway. With their Lexus GX 550 Overtrail+, Freida Pinto and Cory Tran took full advantage of everything Joshua Tree has to offer: thrilling mountain bike trails, scenic rock climbs, jaw-dropping hikes, and beautiful vistas for stargazing.

Discover More Extraordinary 窪蹋勛圖厙s

Lexus��� passion for brave design, imaginative technology, and exhilarating performance enables the luxury lifestyle brand to create amazing experiences for global customers. Lexus is committed to being a visionary brand that anticipates the future and is the luxury hybrid leader with eight Lexus Hybrid Drive models. Learn more at��.

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Southern California is blessed with rolling hills, surreal desertscapes, and more varied terrain than any state has a right to. It���s also home to a tight-knit community of local mountain bikers who work year-round to keep the region���s trails in pristine condition. Put all the variables together and you have the ingredients for a perfect weekend on the bike.

Discover More Extraordinary 窪蹋勛圖厙s

For your first taste of the classics, head to Pasadena. Just north of town, offers flowy riding through a lush canyon, complete with rock gardens, fast switchbacks, and perfectly sculpted berms. Do the trail on its own (about two miles total) or link up with neighboring trails for a six-mile loop. Cap off the day at nearby Tapia Canyon, another local gem. Just east of Santa Clarita, this patch of rolling scrubland is packed with fun, swoopy trails. Connect G-Out, Sidewinder, Dogtag, and Karl���s for a ; including approach trails, it clocks in at about nine miles total.

On day two, head to Joshua Tree National Park, where rugged 4×4 roads plunge deep into the desert. While the park itself offers few technical bike trails, these dirt roads are ideal for touring���and serve up near-constant views of golden granite cliffs and iconic Joshua Tree forest. Looking for more challenging trails? Just outside the park���s borders, you���ll find the Desert View Conservation Area, where miles of singletrack wind around desert scrub and prickly pear cactus gardens. (Note: Most vehicles can navigate the dirt roads here, but 4WD is recommended to access the deeper trailheads and more advanced riding.)

Getting There

To get to El Prieto Canyon, take CA-110 North from downtown Los Angeles to Pasadena. Here, get on CA-710 and go north to Exit 22B. From here, take North Windsor Avenue to the Windsor Boulevard Bike Parking Area on your left (GPS coordinates: ).

When to Go

Thanks to SoCal���s mild temperatures and low rainfall, the local riding season lasts pretty much all year round. That said, summers can be hot and dry, which makes fall through spring a slightly better time to visit.

Where to Stay

Why choose between a mountain bike trip and a beach vacation? Book a stay at , a collection of retro seaside trailers in San Clemente, near Irvine���s plentiful trail riding. More of a mountain person? Book a swanky modern cabin at , tucked into the woods just north of San Bernardino.

Pro Tips

Warm, dry, dusty conditions are the norm here. Take these precautions for hot-weather riding.

• Schedule rides for early morning and early evening, especially on hot days.
• Budget at least a gallon of water per person, and sip constantly throughout the day.
• Wear sunglasses, and reapply sunscreen throughout the day.
• Make sure you have the right vehicle to access dry or sandy trails. While many trailheads are accessible with 2WD, a 4WD vehicle will keep way more options open.

Next-Level 窪蹋勛圖厙

Paddling

When the summer heat ticks toward triple digits, it���s time to hit the water. Rent a kayak or stand-up paddleboard from a local outfitter and head to the Salton Sea, a vast inland oasis within the Southern California desert. As you paddle along the shoreline, keep your eyes peeled for mule deer, cormorants, pelicans, and coyotes.

Climbing

When your quads are too sore to tackle another descent, pack up your rope and harness and head to Joshua Tree National Park, one of the birthplaces of modern American rock climbing. Here, climbers tackle classic granite lines amid a surreal desert setting. While there are some bolted climbs to be found, this place is known for its traditional style of climbing; if you���re new to the sport, it���s best to book a .

Lexus’ passion for brave design, imaginative technology, and exhilarating performance enables the luxury lifestyle brand to create amazing experiences for global customers. Lexus is committed to being a visionary brand that anticipates the future and is the luxury hybrid leader with eight Lexus Hybrid Drive models. Learn more at .

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I drove a 2024 Toyota Tacoma for the first time yesterday. That���s relevant to an article about the new 4Runner, because both it, the new Taco, and also the new Land Cruiser are all built on the same platform, with the same engines, axles, and suspension. And that creates a conundrum for shoppers, because prices between all those capable and mechanically-very-similar vehicles range from $33,000 all the way up to $75,000, and you���re left parsing very minor differences to try to decide how much money to spend. To be transparent, I own and absolutely love a Toyota 200-series Land Cruiser, which is a remarkably capable vehicle for drivers who prioritize off-road durability.

Here is my effort to simplify your available choices from Toyota.

What���s going on here is called platform sharing. And while that practice is about as old as the mass-produced automobile itself (General Motors was doing it as far back 1908), I don���t think we���ve ever seen an example of the practice with such a large spread of prices, sizes, or sheer number of different models all built on the same basic frame.

That frame is called TNGA-F, and it now underpins every body-on-frame Toyota and Lexus vehicle, running from the base $33,000 Tacoma, all the way up to the $130,000 Lexus LX600 Ultra Luxury (yes, that really is the name), and includes the all-new 2025 4Runner, Land Cruiser, Tundra, Sequoia and Lexus GX along the way.

My friend, and former car engineer David Tracy Toyota makes to that frame to adapt it to such a wide array of applications. In short, applying different thicknesses of steel to certain parts of the frame can add or take away strength and weight.

In addition to using the same frame, full-size pickups and SUVS���the Toyota Tundra and Sequoia, and the Lexus GX and LX���all share the same turbocharged six-cylinder engines, and basic suspension and axle components. While all the mid-size vehicles���Tacoma, 4Runner, and new Land Cruiser���use the same turbocharged four-cylinder engines and lighter suspension and axles.

Across all those vehicles, there are two versions of each engine���one that includes an electric motor and batteries, and one that doesn���t. But unlike the hybrid powertrains we���re used to seeing from Toyota, those aren���t used to maximize fuel economy, they���re used on all these trucks to maximize performance.

Where gasoline-only versions of the Taco and 4Runner all make 278 horsepower and 317 pound-feet of torque (the cheapest work-spec Tacomas are detuned to 228 horsepower and 243 pound-feet), ones wearing a hybrid badge will make 326 horsepower and 465 pound-feet. All versions of the new Land Cruiser are only available as hybrids. Whether they wear a hybrid badge or not, all versions of these trucks return miles-per-gallon numbers in the low 20s, depending on the traction options detailed below, and the weight added by luxury features.

Before we dive into the minor differences between the new mid-size Toyota trucks, it’s important to first establish one thing. Versus lighter, more efficient unibody passenger cars which are designed to move people, trucks are built using the heavier, body-on-frame configuration because it���s the job of a truck to move weight. Beyond shiny paint jobs, confusing badges, or snazzy touchscreen infotainment systems, we quantify the capability of a truck through the amount of weight it���s designed to carry.

The secondary big mechanical differentiator truck people use to quantify capability are off-road features, which are traction, gearing, suspension articulation, tire size and angles. Toyota has made our job here easy, since all these mid-size trucks share the same basic suspension layout (again, the cheapest Tacoma trim level differs slightly in its use of a rear leaf spring rather than coil layout), and the same transmission and transfer case. The only difference we really have to worry about here is traction.

Let���s breeze through this: rear-wheel drive (RWD) sends power to the wheel on the rear axle with the least traction. Adding an optional locking axle differential will match wheel speeds across that axle, doubling traction. Four-wheel drive (4WD) sends power to the wheel on each axle with the least traction, also doubling traction versus an unlocked rear-wheel drive vehicle. Part time 4WD vehicles nominally operate in RWD, and enter 4WD when the driver selects that mode, or when a computer does that for them. All-wheel drive (AWD) sends power to the one wheel (of all four) that has the least traction. Full time 4WD vehicles nominally operate in AWD, and enter 4WD when the driver or computer selects it. 4WD vehicles can also be equipped with locking axle diffs or modern traction electronics; Toyota is not offering locking front diffs on any of these vehicles.

If you drive off-road, ever, even just on easy gravel roads, then you should choose 4WD. Even on those simple gravel roads, it���ll add an appreciable amount of stability. If you do anything more difficult, then you���ll appreciate a locking rear differential too. If you regularly drive in winter conditions, you may appreciate the extra safety provided by AWD, and select a full-time 4WD vehicle as a result. But don’t forget that most winter capability is provided by tires.

The Tacoma and 4Runner are available in RWD, part time 4WD, and full-time 4WD forms, with optional locking rear differentials. The Land Cruiser is only available in full-time 4WD and includes a locking rear diff.

So choosing which one of these vehicles is right for you should be easy. Find the one with enough payload for your needs, then choose which traction features are appropriate for the conditions in which you plan to drive, then buy the cheapest vehicle with that spec. But sorting this out is more complicated that it sounds.

I���ve discussed payload at length before. Both as it pertains specifically to mid-size Toyotas, and trucks in general. So I won���t repeat myself here, except to say that weight adds up fast. And you know what���s heavy? Big battery packs. The hybrid powertrain Toyota is putting in these trucks adds about 400 pounds of weight. While the company hasn���t yet disclosed payload numbers for the new 4Runner, we have seen a few photographs of the vehicle’s door jamb (all new vehicles have a sticker in the driver���s door frame that lists suggested tire pressures and maximum payload), and in those photos we���ve seen a payload of .

Let���s run some math on that real fast. A full tank of 19 gallons of fuel weighs 114 pounds. The average adult male in this country weighs 199.8 pounds. A vehicle with an 895 pound payload cannot safely carry four average adult males.

So, I���m going to suggest you skip the hybrid if you want to buy a new 4Runner or Tacoma. I cannot tell you what the maximum payload for other versions of these trucks are, but I think it���s safe to assume that non-hybrid 4Runners and Tacos will be able to safely carry at least 400 pounds or more.

It also looks as if high-spec trim levels for these trucks are only going to come bundled with the hybrid powertrain. So, if you want to safely carry passengers, use the trucks to carry sports equipment, camping gear, or home improvement supplies, you won’t be able to buy a 4Runner or Tacoma with the TRD Pro or Trailhunter packages.

What about the Land Cruiser? It���s available as a hybrid only, but Toyota says its payload is about 1,600 pounds. Given that it���s using the same exact frame, axles, suspension, and powertrain as the other two mid-size trucks, I���m not sure why its payload is so much higher, and Toyota wouldn’t provide me with more details. Make sure you check that door jamb sticker on any truck before you buy it. But if the Land Cruiser really does ship with a 1,600 pound payload, that will be the reason to buy one over its otherwise mechanically identical siblings.

However, that���s only if you want to spend $55,000 or more on a mid-size truck. Because these things are going to be expensive. Toyota has not yet released 4Runner pricing, but it did just do that for hybrid versions of the Tacoma, which are going to cost as much as $65,000 in its TRD Pro form.

As another note on the the hybrid powertrain, it does not increase towing capacity for any of these vehicles. Given that it doesn���t use less fuel, and that you���re not buying a body-on-frame vehicle to drive fast, I wouldn’t spend extra money to buy a hybrid Toyota truck.

Given that, I think the sweet spot for both the Tacoma and 4Runner is going to be in non-hybrid TRD Offroad trim. That includes a locking rear differential, and an optional electronic disconnect for the front sway bar (sway bars increase on-road safety but reduce off-road articulation). Optioned like that, you can expect to pay about $47,000 for a Tacoma, and likely a little more for a 4Runner.

These are capable and reliable vehicles, and provided you pick one with an appropriate payload for your needs there is a reason that consumers choose them again and again.

If you���re one of those truck buyers that prioritizes Toyota���s reputation for reliability above all other factors, you can now buy one of these trucks with notably fewer sacrifices.

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Ready to play your part in making the world a better place? This year���s , which reward nonprofit organizations doing critical work in their communities, was the most competitive yet. But the judges have narrowed the hundreds of applicants to just 25 top contenders, and now you can help choose the winners. For these finalists���all small nonprofits���there���s a lot at stake. Five category winners will each receive a customized , as well as a $25,000 cash prize from their category sponsor. (窪蹋勛圖厙 is sponsoring the this year.) All finalists will each get an additional cash prize from CHASE ($5,000) and Warner Bros. Discovery ($2,500).

Plus, a sixth category has been added to the 2023 Defender Service Awards: 2021 and 2022 Defender Service Awards Honorees. More than 20 previous awards finalists have entered this category for consideration. Their heroism and service to their communities is commendable, and now they have a second chance at winning a new Defender 130.

So, how will Land Rover determine the winners? That���s the catch: it won���t. You will. Starting September 15, the 2023 finalists will go head-to-head in an intense round of public voting. Get to know the finalists below as they rally their supporters to the cause, and then until October 4 to help your favorite nonprofit win it all.

Why a Land Rover Defender 130?

When you have a big mission and a tiny staff, making time for fundraising isn���t easy. But while most nonprofit groups become skilled at making do, many still lack the tools to truly maximize their impact. For some groups, the biggest missing piece is financial backing or costly equipment, like a capable four-wheel-drive vehicle.泭

To provide reliable vehicle access to nonprofits in need, Land Rover launched its annual Defender Service Awards in 2021. Over the past three years, Land Rover has identified dozens of hardworking nonprofits and distributed tens of thousands of dollars in financial support. Each category winner also receives a brand-new, custom Land Rover Defender 130. With high clearance, four-wheel drive, seating for eight volunteers, and a spacious cargo area, the Defender 130 is one of the best tools for community outreach in any terrain. Past winners have used their Defenders for everything from releasing sea turtles to rescuing lost hikers to delivering food to disaster sites.

Meet the 2023 Finalists

While hundreds of nonprofits applied, only 25 were selected to continue to the final round, and more than 20 finalists from 2021 and 2022 awards will be given a second chance. Here are the category finalists for 2023.

Animal, Wildlife, and Marine Welfare Award | Presented by Animal Planet��

Lowcountry Marine Mammal Network (North Charleston, SC): This small nonprofit rescues and rehabilitates dolphins, whales, and seals along the South Carolina coast. The group has about 350 dolphins in its care at any given time. In addition to nursing these animals back to health, it conducts valuable research on causes of injury among marine mammals.

Midwest Animal ResQ (Raytown, MO): Midwest Animal ResQ operates a six-acre animal rehabilitation and adoption center just outside Kansas City. The group also manages an extensive foster network that helps dogs and cats find their forever homes.泭

Sea Turtle Inc. (South Padre Island, TX): Founded in 1977, Sea Turtle Inc. rehabilitates between 40 and 100 sea turtles each year and has released more than 7,400 hatchlings so far. That legacy continues today through critical sea turtle research, education, and emergency veterinary care.

Manitoba Underdogs Rescue, Inc. (Winnipeg, MB): This Canadian canine rescue helps hundreds of dogs find homes each year. To date, the group has cared for more than 3,500 dogs and manages a foster network of about 600 volunteers. But its reach goes well beyond Winnipeg: the nonprofit also sponsors outreach programs to spay and neuter pets in remote areas of Manitoba.

Appalachian Wildlife Refuge (Candler, NC): These are the folks you call if you find a wild animal injured in North Carolina. From snapping turtles to bats to birds of prey, creatures of all kinds receive life-saving care here. Then, whenever possible, this highly skilled team releases them back into the wild.

Community Services Award | Presented by ei3

Connecting Kids to Meals (Toledo, OH): This organization works hard to bring hot meals to kids in need all year long. Connecting Kids to Meals has been a community staple for more than a decade. In that time, it has served more than 7 million meals at nearly 200 different schools, churches, and community organizations.泭

Enjoy Detroit (Detroit, MI): One of the driving forces behind the ongoing revitalization in Detroit, this group works to make the city a more equitable place to live. Volunteers organize community cleanups, mentorship programs, school-supply drives, and leadership workshops, both to uplift current residents and help newcomers find community.泭

LiveOnNY (Queens, NY): About 9,000 New Yorkers are currently sitting on a long wait list for life-saving organ transplants���and not all of them have time to wait. LiveOnNY exists to help patients find critical transplants, getting them out of line and back to their lives and loved ones faster.

Kairos 窪蹋勛圖厙s Inc. (Casselberry, FL): This Florida-based group uses art, performance, and music to help kids who are differently abled find their talents and thrive in a welcoming, inclusive environment. It also runs a beloved community choir for participants of all abilities.泭

Chattahoochee Riverkeeper (Mableton, GA): For nearly 20 years, Chattahoochee Riverkeeper has been the voice of the Chattahoochee River, one of Georgia���s most biodiverse bodies of water. During its time in operation, the group has removed more than 55 tons of trash from the watershed, conducted critical research, and lobbied for game-changing conservation legislation.

Search, Rescue, and Emergency Support Services Award | Presented by PELICAN

Allegheny Mountain Rescue Group (Pittsburgh, PA): Volunteer rescuers regularly risk their lives to save outdoor recreationists in need. In the rugged Allegheny Mountains, the risks are all the higher. Fortunately, the Allegheny Mountain Rescue Group has the technical skills and experience to manage those risks and bring lost and injured hikers home. The group also operates a skilled canine search and rescue team for particularly difficult cases.泭

Taos Search and Rescue (Taos, NM): This hardworking team is dedicated to making the wilds of New Mexico safe for all. Since 1978, Taos SAR has conducted all kinds of rescues, from cliffside pluck-offs to swiftwater recoveries. The group also maintains specialized units for avalanche terrain and vehicle recoveries.

Squamish Search and Rescue Society (Squamish, BC): For the Squamish Search and Rescue Society, no location is unreachable���and that���s saying a lot given the region���s soaring peaks and remote backcountry. Whether you���re trapped on a mountaintop or surging along a frigid river, these experienced rescuers have what it takes to find you and bring you home.泭

Resources in Search and Rescue Inc. (Monroe, CT): Many search and rescue teams do a little bit of everything. But Resources in Search and Rescue has just one specialty���and does it at the highest level. This Connecticut-based group deploys nationally certified search dogs and handlers to find lost and missing persons in the most difficult-to-search terrain.

TEXSAR (Wimberley, TX): Established in 2004, TEXSAR responds to all kinds of emergencies and disasters across the state of Texas. These volunteers are experts in everything from backcountry search and rescue to disaster relief. TEXSAR will also deploy to each of the state���s counties, making it one of the most agile emergency response groups in the state.

Veteran and Civil Servant Outreach Award | Presented by Hearts and Science

Heroes Homestead (Clayton, WA): Heroes Homestead provides holistic care to veterans and their families. The homestead itself is a local farm where veterans can gather, enjoy fresh food, and participate in educational events. The organization also provides innovative programs designed specifically to help the families of veterans find connection and healing.

Big Red Barn Retreat (Blythewood, SC): This group���s eponymous big red barn hosts retreats and classes for veterans working through mental health issues. The nonprofit utilizes a number of innovative approaches, including yoga, gardening, financial education, and equine-assisted health programming.

Honour House Society (New Westminster, BC): When Canadian veterans came to Vancouver for medical treatment in the past, they struggled to find an affordable place to stay. Now, they can reside at Honour House, a free refuge that houses patients and their families until they���re well enough to return home.泭

Calgary Veterans Services Society (Calgary, AB): Founded in 2018, this community resource offers nutritious food, clothing, financial assistance, therapy, and laundry services to local veterans in need. It���s a crucial stepping stone for many folks to get back on their feet after deployment.

Warriors Choice Foundation (Jupiter, FL): Warriors Choice Foundation might be best known for its highly trained service dogs, but that���s just the tip of the iceberg. The group also provides workshops, retreats, networking events, and recreational opportunities to local veterans searching for community and companionship.

Outdoor Accessibility and Education Award | Presented by 窪蹋勛圖厙.

Camp Rainbow Gold (Boise, ID): Idaho���s first medical camp, Camp Rainbow Gold gives children with cancer the chance to have a true summer camp experience. The camp is equipped to support medical needs of the children and provides families a refuge from the hardships of diagnosis and treatment.

The Bethlehem Center (Chattanooga, TN): Bridge Outdoors, a youth program of a Methodist nonprofit called the Bethlehem Center, works to get hundreds of kids outdoors every year. Bridge uses trauma-informed programming to help kids find healing and confidence through activities like mountain biking, hiking, climbing, and trail stewardship.泭

Youth Sports Alliance (Park City, UT): Established more than a decade ago, the Youth Sports Alliance provides winter sports programs and scholarships for young athletes in the northern Utah area. These programs benefit more than 2,000 children each year.泭��

Idaho Trails Association (Boise, ID): Over the past few years, Boise has been growing fast���and so have the impacts to its landscapes. The Idaho Trails Association works to advocate for the state���s world-class trails, repair trail damage, and maintain them so they remain resilient for years to come.泭

Vermont Adaptive Ski and Sports (Killington, VT): Based in the heart of the Green Mountains, this group believes Vermont���s skiing and mountain biking are too good for anyone to miss out on. Its inclusive programs help athletes of all ability levels get out there, learn new skills, and find their stride.

Defender embraces the impossible. Each member of the is purposefully designed, highly desirable, and seriously durable. A modern-day hero that respects the past but at the same time anticipates the future. Available in 90, 110, and 130 body styles, with up to eight seats, each has a charisma of its own.

A beacon of liberty since 1948, Defender supports humanitarian and conservation work with the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies and the Tusk Trust.

The Defender brand is underpinned by ���a mark of trust built on 75 years of expertise in technology and world-leading off-road capability. Defender is designed and engineered in the UK and sold in 121 countries. It belongs to the JLR house of brands, alongside Range Rover, Discovery, and Jaguar.

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For more than 70 years, the Land Rover Defender has been the vehicle of choice for people making a positive dent in the world. That���s why Land Rover launched the ���to recognize and support organizations that are contributing to the health of their communities, the environment, and more. Now in its third year, the program rewards winners with a customized and a cash prize. Public voting for the 2023 Defender Service Awards takes place from September 15 through October 4, so be sure to to learn more, meet the finalists, and cast your vote.

And yes, your vote matters. This past year, five winners each went home with a Defender 130 and $25,000, and 25 finalists took home an additional $5,000 each courtesy of title sponsor CHASE. It gets even better in 2023: this year, six Defender 130 vehicles will be awarded, category sponsors (Animal Planet, Pelican, ei3, Hearts and Science, and 窪蹋勛圖厙 Interactive) will donate $25,000 each to the winners, and all 30 finalists will each get an additional cash prize from CHASE ($5,000) and Warner Bros. Discovery ($2,500). That kind of support can transform a nonprofit���s programs, present and future. Here are two of last year���s winning nonprofits and how their critical work is benefiting from the award.

Mercy Chefs

Community Services Award (Presented by ei3)

���Just go feed people.��� As a mission statement, it���s hard to get more clear. That���s what has been doing since 2006, but the clarity of the nonprofit���s mission can obscure an underlying belief that the group delivers with every plate of food: something amazing happens over a shared meal. The Virginia-based nonprofit isn���t just delivering calories, it���s also spreading love, connection, and community.泭

Mercy Chefs does this on multiple fronts: feeding victims, volunteers, and first responders after natural disasters; creating community kitchens in select locations; and delivering grocery boxes to food-insecure populations. That adds up to millions of meals. Its mobile kitchens alone can cook and serve 20,000 hot meals per day.

That���s where the Defender Service Award comes in. ���Adding the Defender 130 to our fleet of vehicles lets us reach remote areas with food,��� says Nick Beckman, director of logistics and facilities at Mercy Chefs. ���When the Virginia Beach tornado struck right in our backyard, the Defender 130 went with our response team. When phones are down and roads are a mess, we can just load 300 meals into the Defender 130 and go. We always want to be faster responding to disasters, and the Defender 130 makes me feel confident we can send anyone just about anywhere.��� Watch Mercy Chefs in action here.

Appalachian Bear Rescue

Animal Welfare Award (Presented by KONG)

The bear population is growing in the Southeast, which means more orphaned cubs and injured yearlings that need help. Thankfully, , the Tennessee-based rehabilitation and education nonprofit that won the 2022 Animal Welfare Award, is well equipped for the job.

���The Defender 130 allows us to do what we do better,��� says Dana Dodd, executive director of Appalachian Bear Rescue. ���It���s a much more reliable vehicle than the older vehicles we have. It���s safer to take rescue calls and is far more suited to transport supporters and guests to bear release events.��� Every year, the organization cares for about 30 rescued bears, working with wildlife officials to identify animals in need, and then rehabbing and releasing them back into the wild.

While the functional benefits of the Defender 130 are clear, Dodd says there are also intangible benefits that are just as important. ���The biggest impact has been the marketing and name recognition that the Defender 130 brings to Appalachian Bear Rescue,��� Dodd says. ���We���ve never had a vehicle with our logo or a vehicle that is so easily recognizable. Every time we drive the new Defender 130, folks notice us and learn about our mission.��� Watch the team in the field here.泭

When it comes to treating sick and injured young bears, the University of Tennessee College of Veterinary Medicine gives discounted care to the charges of Appalachian Bear Rescue. But costs still add up. ���The $25,000 donation from category sponsor KONG has literally saved the lives of our young bears,��� says Dodd. ���And KONG also donated a big box of their toys for our cubs. We���ve actually used KONG toys with our cubs for many years. We use them because they are tough and they stand up to the bear test. Our cubs love them.���

See Appalachian Bear Rescue in action: check out of the team releasing four yearlings in early July.

Founded in 1948, Land Rover designs and engineers its vehicles in the United Kingdom. For over 70 years the brand has built a reputation for providing its clientele with some of the most luxurious and capable vehicles in the world, whether driving through the heart of the city or traversing the countryside on- and off-road. Today���s Land Rover lineup includes the Defender, Discovery and Discovery Sport, Range Rover, Range Rover Sport, Range Rover Velar, and Range Rover Evoque. Land Rover is fully engaged with sustainability initiatives and social concerns with continuous involvement in environmental and community programs. For more information, visit the official Land Rover websites for the USA, , or for Canada . Learn more about the Defender Service Awards and previous winners .

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It���s a Land Cruiser, it���s a hybrid, and it will sticker in the mid-$50,000 range. If I stopped writing now, you���d still want one. And rightly so. The all-new 2024 Toyota Land Cruiser looks like a winner.

Toyota stopped selling the last Land Cruiser in the United States at the end of the 2021 model year. It was the end of a legendary, if flawed, legacy. While the rest of the world has always enjoyed a range of Land Cruisers running from hard-working commercial vehicles to mid-size consumer-spec versions, America���s only ever gotten a single model, which had grown very big, and very expensive.

Land Cruiser nerds���a group in which I proudly consider myself a member���refer to Land Cruisers by numerical model designations. You won���t find these numbers on any badges or in any marketing materials, but they help us easily differentiate generations and models that exist under the same badge. The last Land Cruiser Toyota sold in America is known as the 200-series.

My wife and I own a 200-series, which I have extensively modified with a one-off long travel suspension system, and a whole bunch of other fancy stuff. It���s very much not for sale, but if for some reason I did want to get rid of it, I���d probably set a price well in excess of $150,000. Toyota only ever sold about 3,000 units of the 200-series a year in this country. Ferrari sells more cars than that in this country every year.

Part of the reason for that limited volume was the price���the 200-series stickered for $85,000, and that was back before the pandemic sent the economy crazy. Everything else being equal, that���s a hair over $100,000 in today���s money. Another reason is that the 200-series was a deeply weird vehicle that only worked for a very specific audience. Price aside, it���s huge on the outside, but cramped on the inside, gets atrocious fuel economy, and while the seats are made from a quality of leather that would make a Rolls Royce jealous, the rest of the interior could have been borrowed from a 15-year-old 4Runner. To get the most out of a 200-series, you need to have deep pockets, no kids, prioritize off-road durability above anything else, and be willing to modify your expensive vehicle if you want it to work correctly. And even after all that, you also need to be cool with people in parking lots complimenting you on your ���nice Highlander.���

In the rest of the world, the new 300-series Land Cruiser continues that tradition. There���s people in Saudi Arabia shredding sand dunes in them as we speak, and Australians using them to tow rugged camper trailers across the Outback. And also in those markets there���s tradesmen hauling lumber in 79-series Land Cruiser pickup trucks, and people parking on crowded city streets in their mid-size Land Cruiser Prados. ���Prado��� is Portuguese for ���field,��� and it���s been used to designate smaller Land Cruiser SUVs since 1990.

Rather than sell limited volumes of the 300-series in America, Toyota has instead decided to pivot, and sell us the new Prado. The official name is just “Land Cruiser”, but it looks like nerds may be calling this one the 250.

Power Train Capabilities to Come

All new Toyota 4x4s are now being built onto the same modular frame that debuted on the new Tundra, and the Land Cruiser 250 is no different. Where we do see a lot of differentiation is with the power train. Where the Tundra, Sequoia, and new Lexus GX (Lexus is Toyota���s luxury brand) employ a 3.4-liter twin-turbo V6, the new Tacoma uses a smaller 2.4-liter single-turbo four cylinder. And that���s the motor being used on this new Land Cruiser, complete with an electric motor in the transmission bell housing that takes total output to 326 horsepower and 465 lb-ft of torque. Toyota isn���t talking fuel economy yet, but expect miles per gallon in the high teens, if not low 20s���a significant improvement over the 200-series real world 12.5 MPG.

Like that Tacoma, the new Land Cruiser will employ an electronically-actuated disconnecting sway bar. This will combine good off-road wheel articulation with safe and predictable on-road handling. And while a disconnecting sway bar won���t be able to match all the superlatives applied to 200-series��� complicated hydraulic system, it will be cheaper.

Traction in the New Toyota Land Cruiser

One area where the 250 has the 200 beat is traction. Like the old one, the new Land Cruiser will employ a full-time four-wheel drive system, with a two-speed transfer case. This nominally operates in all-wheel drive, but drivers can lock the center differential at the flick of a switch. Unlike the old one, the new Land Cruiser will include a rear locking differential. 200-series owners had to turn to the aftermarket for that important part.

To briefly recap, when things get slippery all-wheel drive sends all torque to the wheel with the least traction. This improves safety by reducing the tendency for a vehicle to spin out while accelerating in low traction conditions. Four-wheel drive locks the speeds of the front and rear axles together, so the wheel with the least traction on one axle is only able to spin as fast as the wheel with the least traction on the other axle. This improves capability, enabling the vehicle to continue progress in situations where there���s little to no traction. Locking axle differentials then match wheel speeds across that axle, so the front wheel on the new Land Cruiser with the least traction will only be able to spin as fast as the entire rear axle, taking traction even further. So, the new Land Cruiser will be safe like a Subaru, and capable like a Jeep, all at once. Toyota is also including the latest version of its gee-whizz electronic traction aids to take things even further, much more easily.

More improvements come inside. Not only does the leather look nice, but now there���s modern touch screens, and nice materials used on the dash, too.

Those are about all the details Toyota is releasing right now. I expect to drive the vehicle sometime in early 2024, and sales should start next spring. And while I have a lot of questions about things like payload numbers, articulation, and durability, initial signs here are incredibly promising. (Stay tuned for my take, soon.)

One of the most common questions I get from readers: What SUV should they buy for all-round use? They want something reasonably efficient, completely reliable, and super capable. In the past, that���s been a hard question to answer as there���s been nothing on the market that combined all those factors at a reasonable price. Now there is. If you’re shopping for a new 4×4 SUV, you should buy this new Land Cruiser.

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When a tornado strikes, emergency personnel flood into an area to clear debris and rescue the wounded. But these teams need to be fed���as do the victims who are left stranded. That���s where�� comes in. As the winner of the the Community Services Award at the 2022 , Mercy Chefs received a $25,000 cash prize and a customized to aid its mission.

Video submissions, along with new categories for the 2023 Defender Service Award, are open June 15 through July 21. Finalists will be announced in early November with public voting from September 15 through October 4. Learn more about the Defender Service Awards and previous winners��.

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So far, 2023 has been a busy year for��, the Tennessee-based rehabilitation and education nonprofit that won the Animal Welfare Award at the . The group currently has nine injured or orphaned bear cubs in its care���and has used its new to transport at least three of them.

Video submissions, along with new categories for the 2023 Defender Service Award, are open June 15 through July 21. Finalists will be announced in early November with public voting from September 15 through October 4. Learn more about the Defender Service Awards and previous winners��.

The post Appalachian Bear Rescue Saves Cubs with Its Defender 130 appeared first on 窪蹋勛圖厙 Online.

The are giving six customized vehicles to exceptional nonprofits. In addition, category sponsors, Animal Planet, ei3, PELICAN, Hearts & Science, and 窪蹋勛圖厙, will award $25,000 to their respective category winner. Each finalist will be given an additional $5,000 from the presenting sponsor, Chase, and $2,500 from Warner Bros. Discovery to aid in their services. Learn more about the Defender Service Awards and previous winners��.

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