2009 Honda Pilot, What we know so far;

Well, it's been a pretty slow week for news, so I decided to put together a recap of everything that we know about the new 2009 Honda Pilot.

- At 1:45 PM on Sunday, January 13th, Honda will be revealing their prototype of the 2009 Pilot at the 2008 North American International Auto Show.

-Expected release date is in June/July of 2008.

-A Diesel powertrain is expected to be released later in the year, however I expect it to be in the 2010/2011 model year.

-A 3.7Litre or a 3.8Litre engine is expected, up from the 3.5Litre that it has now.

-Horse Power is expected to go upwards to around 270hp from the 244hp it has now.-The new Pilot is said have more towing and cargo hauling capacity.

-The Diesel is expected to be Honda's new 3.5Litre V6, and is expected to get approx. 30% better fuel economy than the regular gas engine.

-The Pilot will run on regular unleaded fuel and won't be thirsty for premium.

-Honda said the new Pilot is sleek and futuristic-looking and will have advanced safety and fuel efficiency technology.

-The future Pilot is unlikely to employ a V-8 engine.

-A less-boxy and more-sculpted look than today's Pilot is expected.

-Judging by the latest MDX, the 2009 Honda Pilot is likely to add two inches to its wheelbase and overall length, and could swell two or three inches wider, all for more passenger and cargo room. Standard three-row seating will continue.

-Rumours of Variable Cylinder Management on all models abound (Cylinder deactivation, 6 to 4) to conserve fuel.

-The model will also pack in a complete overhaul of the interiors.

Detroit Auto Show 2009 Honda Pilot Update

Well, I know this isn't saying much, but it's an update in the least;

"Of course, the RA isn’t the only hotly awaited debutante at Detroit. Also due is the Pilot small crossover from Honda which will see its next-gen avatar in Detroit. Like the new next generation CR-V launched at the Paris Motor Show in 2006, the new Pilot too will pack in a lot of design cues. Apart from improved safety, fuel efficiency and a clutch of new convenience features, the model will also pack in a complete overhaul of the interiors. Mainly targetted at the American market, the Pilot is manufactured by Honda at its Lincoln Alabama plant. Pilot sales have been more than perky this year. In November alone, production was up by nearly a quarter compared to the same month last year. However, net net Pilot production has come down because Honda decided to pull it off its other plant in Ontario."

Here's the link;

http://economictimes.indiatimes.com/Auto/Debutantes_of_the_Detroit_Motor_Show/articleshow/2635658.cms

How Close will the 2009 Honda Pilot Rendering be to the Production Model?

Here is a shot of the rendered MDXHere is a shot of the production MDX

As most of you know already, there has been a 2009 Honda Pilot rendition released that is creating some buzz in the industry. Alot of people are wondering how accurate this rendition will be to the actual production model. One can only guess, however as some of you will remember a similar picture was released from Acura on the highly anticipated MDX redesign, and it was pretty close to the actual production model. So, anyway, food for thought.

2009 Honda Pilot Rendering and Official Honda Press Release

Well, we didn't have to wait long for a little more information on the upcoming Honda Pilot. Here is what the official Honda Press release had to say;

12/12/2007 - TORRANCE, Calif. -
A prototype of the next-generation Honda Pilot will be unveiled at the January 2008 North American International Auto Show (NAIAS) in Detroit, American Honda Motor Co., Inc., announced today.
The prototype will convey design features of the more boldly-styled, next-generation Pilot and will emphasize authentic SUV styling, clever interior packaging and advanced technologies for safety, fuel efficiency and convenience.
The current-generation Pilot offers versatile eight-passenger seating and all-weather, medium-duty off-road capabilities while earning a distinctive reputation in the midsize SUV class for its refined handling and ride comfort. Among its numerous accolades, the Honda Pilot has earned Car and Driver magazine's prestigious "5Best Truck" award for six straight years (2002 thru 2007).
Additional Honda vehicles to be on display at NAIAS include the FCX Clarity hydrogen fuel cell vehicle, introduced at the 2007 Los Angeles Auto Show, and the CR-Z concept vehicle, introduced at the 40th Tokyo Motor Show. Limited retail marketing of the FCX Clarity will begin in summer 2008. The CR-Z is a next-generation lightweight sports car concept equipped with Honda's original gas-electric hybrid system.

Here's the link;
http://www.hondanews.com/categories/804/releases/4384

Here's another link to a previous post on what to expect on the 2009 Honda Pilot;
http://thehondaportal.blogspot.com/2007/10/2009-honda-pilot-what-to-expect.html