Honda Pilot

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Honda Pilot
Manufacturer	Honda
Also called	Honda MR-V
Production	2003-present
Predecessor	Honda Passport
Class	Mid-size crossover SUV
Body style(s)	4-door SUV
Layout	Front engine, front-wheel drive / four-wheel drive
Engine(s)	3.5 L V6
Transmission(s)	5-speed automatic

The Honda Pilot is Honda's second SUV fully built and designed by Honda, released in the summer of 2002 for the 2003 model year. The Honda Pilot is built in Lincoln, Alabama and was built in Alliston, Ontario, Canada up until April 2007. The Pilot is now built exclusively at the Lincoln, Alabama plant. Honda's initial SUV offering for many years was the Passport, which was a rebadged Isuzu Rodeo. Where the Passport was truck-based, it replaced the extended-wheelbase EX trim of the Passport. The Pilot shares underpinnings and the powertrain with the Acura MDX, which has a lineage which can be traced to the Honda Odyssey minivan. The Pilot’s unibody construction, however, is fortified with integrated perimeter frame rails, which helps it withstand light off-road use.

The Pilot was designed to fill a large American demand for SUVs. Prior to the introduction of the Pilot, Honda only had the smaller CR-V based on the Civic, and the aforementioned Passport. However, the CR-V lacked in features many American consumers looked for in an SUV, which are overall size, passenger space, and towing capacity. The Pilot is at most designed to withstand light-duty off-roading. The Pilot has been a best-seller for Honda, with Honda selling over 100,000 Pilots in 2004, an increase of almost 20% over 2003. The Pilot is sold in North America, while Japan and Australia get its relative, the Honda MDX instead. In the Middle East, the Pilot is sold as the Honda MR-V.

For 2006, the Pilot received new front and rear fascias, a redesigned interior, and various standard safety features.

[edit] 2003-2008

First generation
Production	2003-2008
Assembly	Lincoln, Alabama Alliston, Ontario, Canada (2003-07)
Wheelbase	106.3 in (2700 mm)
Length	188.0 in (4775 mm)
Width	2003-05: 77.3 in (1963 mm) 2003-05 LX: 76.3 in (1938 mm) 2006-08: 77.5 in (1969 mm)
Height	2003-05: 71.7 in (1821 mm) 2003-05: 70.6 in (1793 mm) 2006-08 LX 2WD: 70.1 in (1781 mm) 2006-08 LX 4WD: 70.4 in (1788 mm) 2006-08 EX & EX-L 2WD: 71.3 in (1811 mm) 2006-08 EX & EX-L 4WD: 71.7 in (1821 mm)
Fuel capacity	20.4 US gal (77.2 L) (17 imp. gal)
Related	Honda Accord Acura MDX Honda Odyssey Acura TL Acura CL Honda Ridgeline

[edit] Specifications

Like the first-generation MDX, the Pilot is propelled by an aluminum alloy 3.5 L SOHC, 24-valve VTEC V6 engine. The engine is rated at 240 hp (179 kW) and 242 lb·ft (328 N·m) of torque, and mated to a five-speed automatic, which, as tested , results in a 0-60 mph time of 7.6 seconds and 1/4 mile sprint of 15.9 seconds. For the 2007 model, the power was increased to 244 hp (182 kW), 240 lb·ft (325 N·m) of torque and includes a drive-by-wire throttle. The Pilot weighs in at a little over 4400 lb (1996 kg), with an EPA estimated gas mileage for 2007 of 16 mpg–U.S. (14.7 L/100 km / 19.2 mpg–imp) city and 22 mpg–U.S. (10.69 L/100 km / 26.4 mpg–imp) highway for the two wheel drive model, and 15 mpg–U.S. (15.68 L/100 km / 18 mpg–imp) city and 20 mpg–U.S. (11.76 L/100 km / 24 mpg–imp) highway for the four wheel drive model. Also, like the MDX, the Pilot rides on struts up front with a coil-spring, multilink arrangement at the rear designed to allow a flat load floor. It also has the MDX’s wide track — 66.3 in (1684 mm) at the front and 66.5 in (1689 mm) at the rear. The Pilot has a 4500 lb (2041 kg) boat/3500 lb (1588 kg) trailer towing capability.

[edit] Design

The Pilot is capable of transporting up to eight passengers. The third row seats 3 but legroom is limited, allowing transportation of small children or adults on short trips. Similar to the Honda Odyssey, the rear seats are capable of folding into completely flat surfaces to allow larger cargo inside if necessary. Seats are configured as stadium seating. Optional amenities that can also be included are a powered moonroof, DVD entertainment system, and a navigation system.

The Pilot employs a four-wheel drive system called Variable Torque Management 4WD (VTM-4). The VTM-4 system delivers power to all four wheels under acceleration and when wheel slippage is detected. The VTM-4 system has a dashboard switch that locks both rear half-shafts to get the driver unstuck, but it operates in just the first two gears and unlocks at 18 mph (29 km/h). Otherwise, the system operates primarily in front-wheel drive and sends torque to the rear wheels when spin is detected up front. Two wheel drive models have been available since 2006.

The Pilot's safety mechanisms are the VTM-4 system, ABS-equipped four-wheel disc brakes, rack-and-pinion steering, four-wheel independent suspension and 282° of outward visibility. The foundation for the Pilot is a highly rigid unibody with reinforcing structures and energy absorbing crush zones. The Pilot's structure is designed to deform progressively in front, side and rear end collisions.

[edit] 2009-present

Second generation
Production	2009-present
Assembly	Lincoln, Alabama
Wheelbase	109.2 in (2774 mm)
Length	190.9 in (4849 mm)
Width	78.5 in (1994 mm)
Height	71.0 in (1803 mm)
Related	Honda Accord Acura MDX Honda Odyssey Honda Ridgeline

The new Pilot is available in four models; LX, EX, EX-L, and Touring. Its assembly began in Lincoln, Alabama. It receives a new V6 vtec 250-horsepower engine with 5700 RPM, its EPA is 16 city/23 highway and 17 city/23 highway. The exterior adds a new wheelbase which is 109.2 in (2774 mm), its length is 190.9 (4849 mm), width is 78.5 in (1994 mm), and its height is 71.0 in (1803 mm), its visibility is wider like the MDX. Much of the interior has changed, receiving a tri-zone automatic climate control system, a Satellite-Linked Honda Navigation System with an inference dial, which is only available on Touring, new two-position memory settings for the driver's seat, the third-row seats remain small like the Acura MDX, a new power tailgate, and a new 115-volt power outlet on the Touring.

[edit] Awards

• Car and Driver magazine's Best Large SUV for 2002 through 2007
• Intellichoice "Best Value of the Year"
• Edmunds.com "Most Wanted SUV"
• AMI Auto World "World Family Vehicle of the Year"
• Kelley Blue Book "Top 50 Most Popular Cars"

[edit] External links

• Official US site
• Honda News Articles regarding the Pilot
• Honda Pilot Info