IONNA claims the largest 400 kW charging network in the US

Since early 2026 the automaker-backed IONNA network has more than doubled, past 180 US sites. It now calls itself the largest 400 kW EV charging network in the country, ranked first among DC fast chargers in the J.D. Power 2026 public charging study. New charging discounts are rolling out for Hyundai and Mercedes-Benz drivers alongside existing GM and BMW rates.

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GM bets Spring Hill on LMR battery cells

Ultium Cells will mass-produce prismatic lithium-manganese-rich cells at its Spring Hill, Tennessee plant — expected to be the first factory in the world to do so at scale. LMR is pitched at about 33% higher energy density than LFP at a comparable cost, aimed at future GM electric trucks and full-size SUVs with over 400 miles of range. Plant upgrades target completion by 2028; first LMR vehicles expected that year.

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Lucid opens Gravity Touring orders in Canada

Lucid opened Canadian orders for the 2026 Gravity Touring at $113,500 CAD — $21,000 under the Grand Touring. Dual-motor AWD, 560 hp, 89 kWh pack, 542 km NRCan / about 337 miles EPA. Native NACS for Tesla Superchargers (up to 225 kW) and up to 300 kW on 1,000-volt DC fast chargers. Canadian deliveries expected early 2027.

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Rivian R2 demand is not the bottleneck

After Morgan Stanley’s mid-September autos event, analysts said Launch Edition conversion for Rivian’s R2 has beaten management expectations despite a ~$57k start, with test-drive activity roughly double prior levels and a broader buyer base. The cheaper Standard R2 is still slated for 2027 — so execution and cost, not interest, look like the near-term watch items.

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Casio MR-G MRG-B2100HR, 30th anniversary

Casio’s flagship MR-G line turns 30. The limited MRG-B2100HR-1A (800 pieces) gets a kigumi-inspired lattice dial finished in platinum leaf applied by metal-leaf artist Hiroto Rakusho, with structural-color textures on the bezel and bracelet. Built on the octagonal MRG-B2100 platform — toughness with a quieter kind of flash.

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Rolex Perpetual Padellone

Rolex brought back the Padellone name for a modern instantaneous annual calendar with moon phase. 39 mm case in Everose gold or platinum 950, calibre 7190 (shared Land-Dweller base), Haplos calendar, ~66-hour reserve. US retail reported at $59,000 (Everose on strap), $66,200 (platinum), and $72,800 (Everose on Settimo bracelet).

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Casio MR-G MRG-D5000 in blue sapphire

Limited to 20 pieces worldwide, the MRG-D5000 is the first G-SHOCK with a shock-resistant structure built around blue sapphire crystal components — screwless multi-piece bezel and case so the sapphire doesn’t crack under impact. Gallium Tough Solar module; sapphire also set into the screw-lock case back with an individual serial.

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Omega Speedmaster 38 mm, closer to the Moonwatch

At a Dubai boutique evening in September, Omega gave an exclusive first look at seven new Speedmaster 38 mm references: rounded subdials instead of ovals, cleaner dial text, thicker bezels with the Dot-Over-Ninety cue. Self-winding Co-Axial calibres 3330 (date) and 3332 (no-date).

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Reverse sear trades some Maillard intensity for a better bite. In a side-by-side on beef tenderloin, reverse-seared steaks showed lower cooking loss, lower hardness and chewiness, and higher sensory scores for juiciness, texture, and umami — while conventionally seared steaks produced more of the volatile compounds tied to a harder sear. Low-and-slow first, then a short hard finish, is the trade: even doneness and tenderness over maximum crust aroma.

Lee, I.Y. et al., Foods 2022, 11(14), 2135