The next-generation Honda Pilot is due to debut before the end of the year, and the big reveal may be coming soon. The latest teaser images give the best look at the new SUV, which Honda showcased in its TrailSport trim, with the automaker promising that it will be the most “off-road capable” SUV ever.
Honda has kept specific details private, but there is some interesting information about the Pilot TrailSport trim. The SUV will make its first public appearance this week during the 2022 Austin City Limit Music Festival and will come standard with some rugged equipment. The upgrade includes expanded all-wheel-drive capability, raised off-road-tuned suspension, skid armor plates, front and rear recovery points, all-terrain tires and full-size spares.
The pilot in the teaser image wears a pixel art wrap for the Rebelle Rally 2022 outing starting this weekend. The exposed wrapper gives a clear look at the SUV’s design for the first time, removing the camouflage and cladding worn by the SUV in the previous teaser. At the front, the SUV has a large, simple grille flanked by slim headlights and topped by a flat clamshell hood. Fog lights and vertical vents cover the wide bottom grille opening.
The rear design features chunky taillights connected by trim pieces that shade the words “PILOT”. Honda equipped the SUV with rectangular dual exhaust pipes, a black roof spoiler, and some silver trim on the lower bumper. TrailSport badges adorn the front grille and liftgate.
Powertrain details remain a mystery, with the current Pilot featuring Honda’s 3.6-liter V6. It produces 280 horsepower (205 kilowatts), and Honda could use it in next-generation models. Honda paired the engine with a nine-speed automatic gearbox in the Pilot today.
One thing Honda hasn’t teased about is the Pilot’s interior, and we might not see it until its big debut. It should receive a thorough makeover like the exterior, with Honda likely to give the SUV a simpler interior design by emphasizing a digital screen for the driver and an infotainment system. The Honda Pilot 2023 will debut before the end of the year.
