2019 Honda Pilot AWD ELITE

2019 Honda Pilot AWD ELITE  

Round Rock Honda

Honda worked with ZF on updates to the 9HP 9-speed automatic (right) to address drivability concerns that have dogged several automakers

Front Suspension
At the front is a strut-type system with forged-aluminum lower control arms, hydraulic bushings, coil springs and a solid stabilizer bar. This setup uses moderate spring rates, relatively firm damping and specially tuned bushings for a smooth, controlled ride with exceptional cornering abilities. The upper front damper mounts provide a “triple path" load-bearing system that helps absorb road vibration and harshness.

Rear Suspension
At the rear is a compact multi-link design with a tubular stabilizer bar. This multi-link system allows a generous amount of wheel travel and excellent compliance for a supple ride, together with confident cornering and handling. All rear suspension control arms are steel – including the high-strength steel upper and lower control arms. Compared to the previous Pilot, the new 2016 Pilot has improved rear-suspension geometry, the upper damper mounts are now located on the body side rails for greater rigidity, and softer bushings are calibrated to reduce road noise without compromising handling.

Also compared to the previous Pilot generation, where the previous setup transmitted suspension loads to the vehicle's rear wheelhouse, the new setup transmits suspension loads to the more rigid body side frame, which allows for more aggressive tuning of suspension bushings to aid both ride comfort and handling precision. The transmission of road vibration to the second- and third-row seats is also significantly reduced. Further, the elimination of the forward trailing arm on the previous Pilot rear suspension allows for a 1.4-inch lower rear floor that, along with a 1.8-inch longer wheelbase and redesigned second-row seat, provides for easier third-row ingress and egress.

VINFAST Sedan & SUV - First Luxury Cars of Vietnamese

A corner of VinFast auto performance stage at the Paris Motor Show 2018. — Photo vtv.vn

Viet Nam News

HÀ NỘI — Football legend David Beckham has kicked-off Viet Nam’s entry into the global automobile market.

The former Manchester United and Real Madrid star was guest of honour, launching the new VinFast cars at the Paris Motor Show on Tuesday.

“These cars are incredible, sleek and high-tech,” said Beckham. “It is amazing. It is so, so beautiful.

“To create something in such a short space of time is really incredible. VinFast is a miracle for Việt Nam.”

The former England football captain was joined on stage in Paris by Miss Vietnam 2018 Trần Tiểu Vy.

VinFast used the 120^th Paris Motor Show to introduce to the world their new sedan and SUV models.

It’s the first time cars from Việt Nam lined up with leading brands such as Mercedes, Porche, Audi, Lamborghini and Lexus.

Speaking at the event, VinFast Chairwoman Lê Thị Thu Thuỷ said VinFast was the newest member of the Vingroup, the largest private firm in Việt Nam.

“Vingroup’s goal is to build Việt Nam’s international brand. The two cars are the first achievement on the path of realising that mission, naming on the map of the world car manufacturing industry," she said.

More than a dream, VinFast had a seemingly impossible journey: Within just a year, it turned a swamp into the leading modern automobile manufacturing factory.

Located in coastal land Cát Hải in the northern city of Hải Phòng, the 335ha area of marsh land deserted nearly a year ago has now become a modern VinFast automobile plant with a capacity of 500,000 vehicles per year by 2025.

Journalist Paul Eisenstain from CNBC said he was extremely impressed as he visited VinFast Hải Phòng complex. “It’s huge and modern with scale no less than the modern automobile plant in the world,” he said.

VinFast’s sedan and SUV models used BMW’s 2.0-liter four-cylinder engines and Italian design from Pininfarina. The appearance of VinFast at the Paris Motor Show 2018 has astounded professionals in the industry and international media. Thousands of articles have been written about the vehicles, which have been developed in just over 365 days.

The names of its first two cars as LUX A2.0 for the sedan and LUX SA2.0 for the SUV were announced just one day before the Paris Motor Show 2018. However, the price has not yet been revealed.

VinFast said it was currently co-operating with leading names in Europe and America in the automotive field such as BMW, Bosch, Magna Steyr and Pininfarina, who have the best technology and experience in the world, creating LUX A2.0 and LUX SA2.0 with superior "Vietnamese identity - Italian design - German technology - international standard".

With the goal of producing a "national car" for the Vietnamese, VinFast organised the programe "Choosing lovely car with VinFast" from the designs created by four famous Italian studios: Pininfarina, Zagato, Torino and Ital Design. The programme attracted 62,000 entries, resulting in two designs of Ital Design was voted the most.

The Paris Motor Show is one of the most important events in the motoring calendar. Also known as Mondial de l’Automobile, it was the world’s first motor show when it first opened its doors in 1898. Since 1976, it’s been held every two years.

Held in the Paris expo Porte de Versailles, the largest exhibition centre in France, the Paris Motor Show is the home turf of French manufacturers like Renault, Peugeot and Citroen, but as it’s grown in popularity it’s become a real worldwide event. Every major manufacturer shows off its wares within the show, with facelifts, all-new cars, concepts and the occasional classic car all on display.

DOES the 1.0 L opel engine better THAN ford's and vw's ??!!!

opel Corsa 1.0 eco FLEX S  automatic

heels.

Does the 1.0-litre Corsa engine better Ford's and VW's?

The 114bhp 1.0-litre engine fires to a near-silent idle, and in general it’s responsive and keen. It revs willingly, and such is the quietness and consistency of output that there are times while cruising when you could be in any of, say, three gears and you wouldn’t notice much difference in either noise or throttle response. It drives as standard through a six-speed gearbox that is occasionally notchy but otherwise positive.

The rest of the Corsa package hasn’t quite taken the same leap forward betraying the fact that this isn’t an all-new Corsa. That comes in 2018, with it based on a smaller version of the Astra’s underpinnings, which means significant weight reduction, and increased cabin space.

The steering of Vauxhall models has been tuned specifically UK, and no question, the Corsa feels quick to turn, with light, lively but mostly consistent steering. It doesn’t have the dynamic moves of a Ford Fiesta, and all of the controls, which again are consistent and easily modulated, have a lighter touch. It’s an easy car to drive.

Ride comfort is competitive, too. The last Corsa’s ride was well isolated. This one feels like it will retain that, but our test car might not be the best example from that viewpoint, because it rode on 17-inch wheels. I suspect that smaller ones will be more absorbent.

Pricing is competitive; they all are in this segment, but the Corsa starts from under £11,000 and in the meat of the range there’s a lot of standard clobber. Like that heated windscreen. Class leads aren’t won or lost over such details for us, but they matter to a lot of buyers. The Corsa will go on pushing their buttons.