Automotive: April 2019

2018 Honda Odyssey Showcases New Features In Detroit

Brace yourself suburban dwellers, the 2018 Honda Odyssey Minivan is here to fulfill all of your vehicular needs in one, clever, efficient moving package. Stuff, people, animals, kids, more stuff, more kids, the new Honda Odyssey can handle it.

The 2018 Honda Odyssey will be motorized by a 3.5-liter, direct-injected V-6 engine. There’s a whole can of alphabet soup acronyms that go along with it (i-VTEC for example), but what matters is how the V6 puts out 280 SAE net horsepower and has two available new transmissions.

There’s a 9-speed automatic and, for upper trim levels, an all-new 10-speed automatic.

Aerodynamics & Handling

The body is more rigid and lightweight as there’s new chassis technology hidden underneath. The new aerodynamic designs are expected to result in best-in-class fuel economy ratings. Bad weather won’t be a problem with Honda’s Intelligent Traction Management system that has normal and snow modes. There is also Agile Handling Assist and better brakes for improved all-weather traction and control as well.

There’s lots of advanced materials in the 2018 Odyssey, including ultra-high-strength steel, aluminum, and magnesium to minimize weight and improve rigidity. Weight is down by 96 pounds and torsional rigidity is up 44 percent from the outgoing model.

The steering is new and quicker too with the Dual-Pinion Electric Power Steering unit. Out back, there’s a compact new trailing arm rear suspension and stabilizer bar, improving handling and ride comfort. It also helps give the 2018 Honda Odyssey the most spacious rear cargo area in the class.

At the rear, the 2018 Honda Odyssey combines style and functionality. There are LED taillights and an available new hands-free power tailgate with foot activation. Photo: Honda North America.

Connectivity & Controls

In-vehicle connectivity, that is, stuff like listening to the radio and watching movies and such, is facilitated by a bunch of tech wizardry. There’s New Display Audio with an 8-inch high-resolution touchscreen interface: that’s the nerve center for a multitude of new audio and telematics options.

When it comes to updates, owners can download them to the Display Audio operating system and rear entertainment system via 4G LTE, Wi-Fi, or USB.

There is also something called CabinWatch that allows you to spy, er watch your kids, using a camera. Second and third row speakers and rear entertainment system headphones will also allow the driver to talk to rear passengers though the CabinTalk system. A new “How Much Farther?” app lets passengers track the family’s trip progress, so you little brats can shut up already.

And finally, there is CabinControl, that allows you to use a downloadable app and smart phone to control the rear entertainment system, rear cabin heat, and air conditioning.

Flexible Seating

You want seating options? Oh yeah, there’s Easy Access, Super, and Wide modes, and even something called Buddy mode. This is all thanks to the New Magic Slide seating system with an easily reconfigurable second row seat, for optimal passenger comfort, people-and cargo-hauling flexibility, and easy access to the third row of seats.

Honda thinks they’ve really ticked all the USA check boxes, because the all-new 2018 Honda Odyssey was designed and developed in North America at Honda’s R&D Center.

They keep the production close to home too, with both the Odyssey itself and its 3.5-liter V6 engine being manufactured exclusively at Honda’s Lincoln, Alabama plant using domestic and globally sourced parts. The new 10-speed transmission will be produced at the company’s transmission plant in Tallapoosa, Georgia, the first of its kind for a minivan.

Can’t wait for the 2018 Honda Odyssey? We recently took a detailed look at the 2017 model, in case you need your Odyssey tomorrow.

Tony Borroz has spent his entire life racing antique and sports cars. He means well, even if he has a bias towards lighter, agile cars rather than big engine muscle cars or family sedans.

2018 Honda Odyssey Gallery

Photos & Source: Honda North America.

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Letter From The UK: Good News Is Not Newsworthy

Ever since Great Britain voted to leave the European Union last June, the country has been riven with dissent as both sides of the argument have become increasingly nasty. It is rare for this country to be so divided. We are supposed to be a United Kingdom but the cracks are beginning to show with Scotland being especially tiresome and annoying.

Although they cannot change the will of the people, a couple of wealthy folk whose finances will likely suffer when we leave, have taken the UK Government to law to get their own way.

Even the self-aggrandizing, discredited former Prime Minister, Tony Blair, is trying to get the country to backtrack. It is very sad that vested interests consider themselves above the nation.

The Media

Needless to say the media loves all this. There’s nothing like a bit of strife to get the juices flowing at the TV stations. Doom and gloom have been the order of the day. The economy is going to go down faster than Justin Bieber’s career, apparently. We are all going to go back to a lifestyle equivalent of the Middle Ages. We will live in hovels and eat tree bark while ebullient, healthy European nationals look across the English Channel at us and laugh caustically at our folly.

But Wait . . .

In fact, our economy is doing rather well and certainly better than many European nations. In particular, the UK new car market achieved yet another record year in 2016, with annual new vehicle registrations climbing for the fifth year in a row to almost 2.7 million.

Further, UK engine manufacturing rose by twenty percent in November, with 250,879 units produced – the highest on record. Overall for the year, in the domestic market only, production was over one million units. There has also been an up-turn in the production of small commercial vehicles, described as vans in the UK.

Not bad for a so-called broken economy.

Overall, the British economic growth held up better than expected immediately after the Brexit vote, particularly as it regards consumer spending and services. For 2016 as a whole, growth now looks likely to average around two percent Gross Domestic Product.

In September of 2016, Jaguar Land Rover’s Castle Bromwich plant began production of the Jaguar XE. In order to properly build the car, Jaguar Land Rover committed to a state-of-the art aluminum body shop – the largest single investment in the history of the Castle Bromwich plant. Other investments included a new blanker line and Aida press line. The automaker continues to emphasize their commitment to both the Birmingham plant and the greater scope of British manufacturing. Jaguar Land Rover’s West Midlands manufacturing operations have been instrumental in employing a workforce of 3,000 at the plant. Over the past five years, Jaguar Land Rover has doubled sales and employment, more than tripled turnover, and invested over £12 billion in new product creation and capital expenditure. Photo: Jaguar Land Rover.

Getting It Wrong. Again.

In the same way that political polls continually get it terribly wrong (witness your presidential elections) so economic forecasters have slipped up here too. It seems to me that economists are rarely right. I believe their thinking is based on some sort of shamanic ritual using bones. There isn’t an algorithm available that can second-guess the actions of this volatile world.

Our very own Bank of England has quite rightly come under criticism for predicting a dramatic slowdown in the UK’s economy in the event of a vote for Brexit. How wrong can you be? Remember, these are the people who run our finances. They are supposed to manage the money. Not so expert after all then? Why should we listen to them at all? Ironically, the former Governor of the BoE and a guy who really knows his economics, Mervyn King, is very up-beat about Brexit.

Maybe he should come back?

The reality is that their predictions were totally contrary to the evidence, and our economy has bounced back strongly and remains one of the best performing in the developed world. The present Governor of the Bank of England has been attacked by politicians for predicting a dramatic slowdown in growth if the country voted to leave the EU.

Bank of England via Creative Commons.

Future Prospects

The truth is, nobody can predict the future. There are simply too many variables which is why pollsters so often get it wrong.

Right now, the UK does not have an economic problem, yet still – still – the doom-mongers keep predicting the worst for 2017. Who Knows? This may well be so. We have not yet left the EU, but considerable auto price rises are predicted for this year.

The UK car market, we are told, could see a nine percent sales dip in 2017 as Britain’s re-negotiations with Europe damage consumer and manufacturer confidence.

Future Considerations

Of course Britain is faced with numerous challenges in renegotiating trade agreements with the European Union, and with the fifty other countries with which it has similar arrangements. It is going to be a rocky road but all parties surely have a vested interest in making a good deal. Certainly there are some European leaders who are throwing their toys out of the buggy because the British won’t toe the European line, but it is the business market that must have the final say, not dogmatic politicians.

Why can we not enjoy some good news for a change? Why is it always necessary for politicians and the media to take a pessimistic line and project negative vibes out into the world like the Wicked Witch of the West?

Right now, the UK economy is in decent shape. Let’s just celebrate that for once. Certainly, our economy could go to hell in a handcart next week but that is just another bridge we will have to cross when – and if – the worst happens. Maybe it won’t.

Geoff Maxted is a motoring writer, photographer, and author of our Letter From The UK series. Follow his work on Twitter: @DriveWrite

Cover Photo: Silentpilot.

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2018 Volkswagen Tiguan Showcases Longer Wheelbase in Detroit

The new 2018 Volkswagen Tiguan was unveiled at the North American International Auto Show and aims to be the bread and butter SUV that keeps sales afloat, and turns around the German company’s fortunes.

The vehicle was engineered specifically for American customers.

“The new Tiguan demonstrates how we plan to give American customers the usability and versatility they demand without sacrificing style or Volkswagen’s trademark driving dynamics,” said Hinrich J. Woebcken, CEO of the North American Region, Volkswagen.

Which is a polite way of saying it’s bigger and badder, or at least that’s the most important point. The new, extended wheelbase model adds a more refined and roomy interior, flexible seating, high-tech infotainment, and an array of driver assistance features.

Interior Resources

The new Tiguan has far more interior space! Clocking in at 185.2 inches long, the 2018 model has up to 57 percent more cargo capacity than the 2017 version. The 109.9-inch wheelbase provides both sliding second-row seats and the all important optional third row seating that Americans demand in their SUVs.

On the inside, the Tiguan’s interior has been rethought and refreshed. There’s a new cloth pattern for the seats of entry models, which now feature a rhombus pattern. There is an optional Volkswagen Digital Cockpit display, offering drivers a reconfigurable display of key data and the ability to position navigation data front and center for easy viewing. Also available is Volkswagen’s Car-Net system which provides a suite of neat little features including standard App-Connect technology. It’s compatible with smartphones for Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, and MirrorLink.

A Fender Premium Audio System is available too.

In addition to a new series of exterior and interior colors, there is also an eight-way power driver’s seat, heated front seats, and a heated steering wheel available. That second-row bench can slide seven inches fore and aft and also splits 40:20:40. The coveted third-row seats come standard on front-wheel-drive models and are optional on all-wheel-drive versions.

A panoramic sunroof is available, and there is a handy foot-activated power liftgate that makes the cargo space easily accessible.

Safety & Security

The 2018 Volkswagen Tiguan offers a complement of driver assistance technology. A rearview camera comes standard, for example. Other available features include Adaptive Cruise Control, upgraded for use in stop and go traffic; Forward Collision Warning and Autonomous Emergency Braking with Pedestrian Monitoring, Blind Spot Monitor with Rear Traffic Alert, and Lane Departure Warning.

Why? Because you baboons need to start paying attention, that’s why.

Power & Performance

Motivation is provided by an updated version of Volkswagen’s evergreen 2.0-liter turbocharged, direct- injected TSI engine. Said plant cranks out 184 horsepower and 221 lb-ft. of torque, driving the front wheels via an eight-speed automatic transmission. There is also the option of a 4Motion all-wheel drive system with four selectable modes to maximize driving dynamics.

VW’s product platform, dubbed MQB, allows for a wider, lower stance, while enhancing the exterior design. The exterior design also works in favor of the Tiguan’s usefulness on or off-road. For example, it allows for a 26-degree approach angle while off-roading on the trails, and a lower lift-in height for the tailgate when shopping for groceries.

VW also says the vehicle’s LED lighting has already garnered several European design awards.

So, if you’re an American in the market for a new SUV, Volkswagen’s 2018 Tiguan is worth a look.

Tony Borroz has spent his entire life racing antique and sports cars. He means well, even if he has a bias towards lighter, agile cars rather than big engine muscle cars or family sedans.

Photos & Source: Volkswagen of America, Inc.

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2017 NAIAS: The 2018 Lexus LS takes on a more dramatic design

Lexus reveals the hotly anticipated, next-generation Lexus LS flagship sedan at the 2017 North American International Auto Show.

What’s going on?

Believe it or not, the current generation Lexus LS flagship luxury sedan has been with us for over 10 years. So it’s way overdue for a replacement.

But now that the 2017 Detroit Auto Show is happening, Toyota’s luxury branch finally revealed the all-new, next-generation 2018 Lexus LS sedan at the Cobo Center in Detroit. And already, you can tell that a lot is different.

With its new design, the 2018 Lexus LS follows the whole trend of utilizing a more “coupe-like” design, thanks to its long, low and sloping roofline. Then it takes the brand’s latest corporate front end and “spindle grille” to make the most aggressive-appearing Lexus LS ever made.

So Lexus is finally replacing the aging LS. Sweet! What’s new about it?

In addition to the new design, the new LS is built from the ground up on an all-new platform. Thanks to the new underpinnings, Lexus was able to focus on handling performance, agility, and comfort to keep from compromising the LS’s reputation or being a luxury sedan.

For instance, the new LS comes with the brand’s first-ever Lexus Advanced Safety Package. It incorporates a long-list of passive and active safety tech, such as Active Steering with Pedestrian Detection. It works with the LS’s electric power steering and lane-keeping assist and helps drivers avoid related accidents.

Sadly though, gone is Lexus’ legendary naturally-aspirated 4.6L V8. Taking its place is Toyota’s and Lexus’ first-ever twin-turbocharged V6 with 415 horsepower and 442 pound-feet of torque. Mated to a 10-speed automatic, the result is a 0-60 time of just 4.5 seconds for the rear-wheel drive model.

When will the 2018 Lexus LS go on sale?

Lexus confirmed the new LS will go on sale in the later half of 2017. Though pricing details should arrive closer to that date.

– By: Chris Chin

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2017 NAIAS – Audi pulls the sheets off of the new Q8 Concept

Ingolstadt’s finest reveals a new concept that previews the much-anticipated Q8 luxury full-size crossover at the 2017 NAIAS.

What’s going on?

Over the past year or so, Audi’s been hinting strongly at the prospect of an all-new full-size crossover. The idea is to have its new SUV sit above the Q7, which moved down to become the company’s midsize offering.

Now, Audi finally materialized a concept in the form of the Audi Q8 Concept. And they just unveiled it at the 2017 North American International Auto Show.

What’s cool about it?

Usually with crossovers, there isn’t much in the form of “cool.” But the Audi Q8 has some neat tech with its power and drivetrain.

The Q8 is helps Audi pave the way for its future line of crossover SUVs. That means the Audi Q8 Concept is designed to compete with the likes of the Mercedes-Benz GLS and BMW’s impending and hotly-anticipated full-size crossover. Additionally, the Q8 features a whole range of new in-car technology, hinting at Audi’s intent to do away with analog controls and instrument clusters for large, digital touchscreens.

What powers it?

The Audi Q8 Concept’s plug-in hybrid power- and drivetrain are also its signature features. Propulsion begins with a traditional internal combustion engine. That engine is Audi’s latest 3.0L TFSI supercharged V6 with 333 horsepower and 368 lb-ft of torque. An electric motor then assists the V6 providing an extra 100 kW. The result is a 0-62 mph time of just 5.4 seconds and a top speed limited to 155 mph. Because of the hybridization, fuel economy is also predictably high with the Q8 rated to return the equivalent to 102.3 US mpg.

The electric motor receives juice from a newly specially-designed lithium-ion battery pack with 104 prismaticc cells. Capable of 17.9 kWh, it enables the Q8 to travel on all-electric power for up to 37.3 miles. Combined range for the Q8 with both the gas and electric motors tops around 1000 kilometers or 621.4 miles.

Will it reach production?

Audi says the Q8 is virtually production ready with the final version launching in 2018. Pricing wasn’t announced, but we predict the Q8 will cost as much as a Mercedes-Benz GLS or similar, meaning its MSRP is likely to live above the $65,000 mark.

– By: Chris Chin

The post 2017 NAIAS – Audi pulls the sheets off of the new Q8 Concept appeared first on egmCarTech.

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