2018 Honda Accord Press Kit - Chassis

Based on a substantially stiffer unibody structure with new front and rear suspension systems and benefitting from a lower center of gravity and a lower front roll center height, the 10th-generation Accord’s chassis significantly advances the dynamic performance of Accord. Handling prowess, steering and braking precision and ride comfort communicate a sense of “absolute confidence” to the driver and passengers in all driving conditions.

On the Touring trim, the MacPherson strut front and multi-link rear suspension now include Accord’s first application of an Adaptive Damper System for an improved ride quality and driver-selectable performance via the Accord’s Two-Mode Driving System with Normal and Sport modes.

The new Accord features larger front disc brakes, standard 17-inch aluminum alloy wheels with 225/50R17 all-season tires and available 19-inch wheels and 235/40R19 all-season tires. Shared with certain other 2018 Honda models are Straight Driving Assist, Agile Handling Assist, an Electric Parking Brake (EPB) with Automatic Brake Hold, Hill Start Assist, and an Indirect Tire Pressure Monitoring System (TPMS).

Key Chassis Features
• New MacPherson strut front suspension system with aluminum control arms and subframe
• New multi-link rear suspension with floating subframe
• New fluid-filled front and rear suspension compliance bushings
• New front and rear stabilizer bars utilizing bonded bushings
• New Adaptive Damper System (Touring trims)
• New Dual Pinion Variable Ratio Electric Power-Assisted Steering*
• Vehicle Stability Assist™ (VSA®) with Traction Control
• Power-assisted 4-wheel disc brakes
• 4-channel Anti-lock Braking System (ABS) with Brake Assist
• Electronic Brake Force Distribution (EBD)
• Electronic Brake Booster (EBB)
• Vehicle Stability Assist™ (VSA®) with Traction Control
• Agile Handling Assist
• New noise-reducing wheels*^
• Straight Driving Assist
• Agile Handling Assist*
• Hill Start Assist
• Electric Parking Brake (EPB) with Automatic Brake Hold*
• Indirect Tire Pressure Monitoring System (TPMS)

* First for Accord ^ First for Honda

Suspension

Front and Rear Suspension
The 2018 Accord’s new suspension system uses a combination of front MacPherson struts and rear multi-link with rigid subframes, including a lightweight cast-aluminum unit in front and floating type in the rear. The strut-style front suspension improves the room available for crash reinforcement, and the compact multi-link rear suspension provides outstanding handling characteristics and ride quality – while also helping to maximize second-row seating and cargo space. Front and rear stabilizer bars on all trims improve turn-in response while reducing body roll during cornering. The stabilizer bars are now bonded to their mounting bushings and use low-friction connecting links for smoother operation. Sport trims have firmer spring and stabilizer tuning for improved responsiveness and a more connected feel, in keeping with the expectations of the Sport buyer.

In a first for Accord, Touring trims feature an Adaptive Damper System with a wide range of damping capabilities. Controlled by a microprocessor using information from the Vehicle Stability Assist (VSA) system’s wheel sensors, yaw/G sensor, engine rpm and torque, and steering angle, the Adaptive Damper System can adjust every 0.002 seconds to adapt individual wheels to road surfaces. This provides the Accord Touring trims with the most composed and comfortable ride possible for the road conditions.

By selecting NORMAL or SPORT setting on the center console, the driver can take advantage of ride and handling characteristics focusing on either a more comfortable ride or else more responsive handling. The Adaptive Damper System links to the ADS function; when in SPORT mode the Accord Touring’s steering function firms up the dual-pinion variable-ratio electric power-assisted rack-and-pinion steering (EPS), adding a higher level of feedback and feel for the driver. The system automatically resets to NORMAL whenever the Accord is started.

MacPherson Strut Front Suspension
A new MacPherson strut front suspension is engineered to provide inspired handling performance and a responsive feel for the driver. New L-shaped aluminum lower suspension arms connect to the cast-aluminum subframe via hydraulic compliance bushings. Engineered to absorb both longitudinal and lateral forces, they provide the ideal combination of handling stability and ride comfort, along with maximum isolation from road noise, vibration and harshness (NVH). The lightweight lower suspension arms are aluminum for reduced suspension inertia, the front hub carriers are steel, and all Accord trims use a tubular front stabilizer bar with bonded mounts for smoother functionality. Specially calibrated geometry ensures a high degree of quickness and precision, smoothness and stability.

Multi-Link Rear Suspension
Accord’s new multi-link rear suspension includes stamped-steel arms, cast-aluminum hub carriers and a stabilizer bar. Mounted on a floating type steel subframe, the rear suspension provides agile handling, both during normal driving and in emergency maneuvers, together with a flat ride. The trailing arms are located on the unibody via hydraulic compliance bushings for exceptional control of noise, vibration and harshness NVH while maintaining precise handling. All Accord trims use a solid rear stabilizer bar for crisp turn-in and body roll control. The compact design of the rear suspension also facilitates a more spacious trunk design.

Dual Pinion Variable Ratio Electric Power-Assisted Rack-and-Pinion Steering (EPS)
A first for Accord, the Electric Power Steering (EPS) incorporates dual pinion gears and a variable gear ratio for steering feel, performance and comfort that is unsurpassed in the class. Compared to a traditional single-pinion steering system, the dual pinion EPS utilizes the physical steering input from the driver as well as from a supplemental electric motor. A non-contact torque sensor measures the driver's steering effort and an ECU determines how much electric motor assist to apply, resulting in smooth, natural and precise steering feel.

The steering ratio is variable with a final full off-center ratio of 11.8:1. This provides a quick 2.3 turns lock-to-lock (compared to 2.5 on the previous model), enabling confident, precise steering control and easy low-speed maneuverability. The EPS on the Sport trim is further tuned to provide more information from the front tires for a more secure and precise enthusiast-oriented feel.

Straight Driving Assist
In another first for Accord, the Straight Driving Assist function reduces the steering effort required when driving on a sloped or crowned road. When the Straight Driving Assist system detects that steering effort is being applied to keep the car driving along a slope, the Electric Power Steering system applies motor assist. This reduces the muscle effort required to maintain the desired direction on the sloped road to the same level as is required on a flat road.

Four-Wheel Disc Brakes with ABS, Electronic Brake Booster (EBB), Electronic Brake Force Distribution and Brake Assist
4-wheel disc brakes with 4-channel (ABS), Electronic Brake Booster (EBB), Electronic Brake force Distribution (EBD) and Brake Assist are standard equipment on all 2018 Accords. The system utilizes a large-diameter master cylinder to achieve a short-travel, firm pedal. The EBB uses an electronic servomotor to assist braking performance while improving brake feel and pedal modulation in virtually all conditions. The result is a comfortable and refined braking feel at low speeds, predictable and easy operation on the highway, a sporty feel on winding roads, and reassuring high-performance stopping in emergency situations.

The ventilated front brakes rotors are clamped by single-piston brake calipers. The rear disc brakes incorporate solid rotors, likewise paired with single-piston brake calipers. The low-friction design of the brake calipers reduces energy losses when the brakes are not in use, directly improving fuel efficiency.

Vehicle Stability Assist™ (VSA®) with Traction Control
Vehicle Stability Assist™ (VSA®) is an Electronic Stability Control system that works in conjunction with the Accord’s Drive-by-Wire™ throttle and its 4-channel ABS systems to enhance control capability while the vehicle is accelerating, braking, cornering or when the driver makes a sudden maneuver.

VSA also provides a limited-slip differential effect for the driving wheels by applying braking force to a slipping wheel, thereby redirecting driving force to the wheel with more traction. While the driver can reduce the traction control effectiveness allowing more wheel slip during stuck conditions by pressing the VSA button, ABS remains fully operational at all times.

Agile Handling Assist
Standard on all Accord trims, Agile Handling Assist selectively uses the vehicle's brakes to improve initial turning response and overall cornering ability. Agile Handling Assist utilizes brake vectoring to improve corner traceability and promote a confident handling feel. By applying braking force to the inside wheels during cornering at high lateral G, the system creates a yaw moment, thus generating more turning force and reducing understeer. Agile Handling Assist further sharpens the Accord’s dynamics when the driving mode system is set to SPORT.

Hill Start Assist
The Hill Start Assist function helps to prevent the vehicle from rolling backwards when the driver switches from the brake pedal to the accelerator pedal while the vehicle is stopped on a hill. Hill Start Assist automatically activates when the vehicle senses a certain incline and is fully stopped in any forward gear when facing up hill or reverse gear when facing downhill. The system uses a longitudinal G-sensor along with a wheel speed sensor to control the hydraulic brake modulator.

Electric Parking Brake (EPB) with Brake Hold
The standard Electric Parking Brake (EPB) is simpler, more convenient and comfortable to use than a traditional parking brake. The EPB also frees up center console space, allowing a higher console and an extended armrest length.

Engaging the parking brake now requires only a pull on a switch on the center console. To release the parking brake, the driver simply presses on the accelerator pedal while the seatbelt is buckled when the transmission is in Drive or Reverse (AT models) or else pushes on the parking brake switch while operating the brake pedal.

Automatic Brake Hold
When activated, Automatic Brake Hold retains brake pressure when the vehicle comes to a stop such as at a traffic light or in heavy traffic. This frees the driver from continually pressing the brake pedal to maintain the vehicle in a stopped position until the driver presses the throttle pedal.

Operating the system requires two simple actions from the driver:
• Activating/deactivating the system via a switch on the center console
• Pressing on the brake pedal until the vehicle comes to a stop

Once these steps are taken, Automatic Brake Hold will indicate engagement and then maintain brake pressure when the vehicle has come to a stop, even if the driver later releases the brake pedal. A green "Brake Hold" icon on the instrument panel illuminates to show that the system is functioning. The Accord then remains stopped – even on a hill – until the driver presses the accelerator pedal. At this point, Automatic Brake Hold releases the brakes and the vehicle resumes normal braking function.

Wheels and Tires
The Accord LX, EX, EX-L and Hybrid trims ride on 225/50R17 A/S tires mounted on 17 x 7.5-inch aluminum alloy wheels, while Sport and Touring trims are equipped with lower-profile 235/40R19 A/S tires on 19 x 8.5-inch, 5-spoke aluminum alloy wheels. All tires carry an M+S all-season rating, making them suitable for year-round use in all weather and road conditions.

Developed cooperatively with Honda engineers, the tires help to reduce rolling resistance while also helping to improve both ride quality and handling. With low unsprung weight, they also allowed the engineers greater control of suspension tuning, which further improves ride and handling characteristics.

A summary of the 2018 Accord’s wheel and tire sizes include:

LX, EX, EX-L

• 17 x 7.5-inch alloy wheels
• 225/50R17 94V all-season tires

Sport, Touring

• 19 x 8.5-inch alloy wheels
• 235/40R19 96V all-season tires

Hybrid

• 17 x 7.5-inch alloy wheels
• 225/50R17 94V all-season tires

Noise-Reducing Wheels
In a first for any Honda production vehicle, all 2018 Accord EX and above wheels have a special noise-reducing design that lowers noise by 6dB. The key elements of the noise-reducing function are a resonator and a resin molding applied in a band on the inside of the rim. The result is reduced noise resonance in the air column inside the wheel. One important benefit of the noise-reducing wheel technology is a noticeable reduction in audible thumping or bumping noises when the Accord crosses expansion joints on the roadway.

Noise Reducing Wheel Design

Space-Saving Spare Tire
For all gasoline-engine Accord trims, the spare tire is a space- and weight-saving temporary unit on a steel wheel stored under a carpeted floor in the cargo area. Hybrid models use a Tire Repair Kit (TRK).

Low-Friction Wheel Bearings
The Accord’s wheel hubs feature low-friction bearings that measurably reduce rolling resistance, which directly contributes to improved fuel efficiency.

Fuel Tank
The 14.8-gallon fuel tank (12.8-gallon on Hybrid) and fuel lines are molded of high-density polyethylene for low weight, freedom from corrosion, impact resistance and fuel vapor losses. The thin-walled tank and filler pipe are formed as a single unit, reducing weight and complexity, while further improving safety in the event of a collision. Additionally, the tank is positioned ahead of the rear wheels to help guard against collision damage. A high-efficiency fuel pump is housed inside the tank, and the fuel filter is a lifetime design that never needs replacement. An integrated baffle system, also positioned inside the tank, reduces the sound of fuel sloshing.

Indirect Tire Pressure Monitoring System (TPMS)
The new Accord uses an indirect Tire Pressure Monitoring System (TPMS) that uses the existing ABS wheel-speed sensors to continually monitor the rotational speed of each wheel. Because a tire with low pressure rotates more quickly than one with a higher pressure, by comparing these values with a specifically designed computer algorithm, indirect TPMS can determine when a tire is low on pressure. This information is delivered to the driver in the form of a warning symbol on the instrument panel. Special logic included in the TPMS processor is designed to eliminate false warnings.

Chassis Features