The "Ho Chi Minh Trail" is the name given to the network of transport routes used for moving troops and supplies during the Vietnam War.
Staff from Top Gear magazine took part in a drive through the jungles of Southeast Asia. They set themselves the task of testing whether the Grip Control function, designed for front-wheel-drive cars, could handle off-road conditions as successfully as an all-wheel-drive system.
The new model was built on the basis of the crossover in the Gt Line version with a 1.6-liter petrol turbo engine producing 181 hp and 250 Nm of torque. The engine is paired with an eight-speed automatic transmission.
The crossover was equipped with 17-inch steel wheels with Cooper AT3 off-road tires, a front skid plate, and an aluminum roof rack carrying a rooftop tent from ARB. In addition, the car received a special mount for transporting a bicycle.
Recall that the Grip Control traction control system can change the algorithms of the ABS and the dynamic stability system, adapting them for driving on a specific type of surface (asphalt, snow, mud, or sand). The company notes that Grip Control, together with the hill descent control function, gives the car "incredible off-road capability," despite the fact that it does not have all-wheel drive.
