I've been wavering between the Highlander and the new '09 Murano (I don't need a 7-seater), and figured I might as well wait for the new Pilot as well.
Some of the things I'm noticing from the press photos*: - no keyless start (I can see the key/remote in the steering column) - turn signal repeaters in the mirrors (missing on the Highlander and Murano) - the rear hatch does not have a power-assist (usually you can see the arm that pulls the door down), but maybe it's just missing on the concept - center position seatbelt still hangs from the ceiling (like the Murano, but unlike the Highlander) - body side moldings to protect the side (unlike Highlander and Murano) - the side view mirrors look small, but that may also be specific to the concept - interior door panels seem very bland, but that may be because of the color scheme - inverse gauge faces (i.e. white background) -- this seems like a step backwards from the existing gauges (hopefully it's only on the concept).
The exterior reminds me of the side windows of a Chevy HHR, the rear of a Dodge Caravan and Nitro mixed with a Chevy Tahoe and Uplander. There's also some Nissan Pathfinder in there.
* I know it's a "concept" version, but Honda's concepts tend to be pretty close to the production version (with the exception of the wheels or other details).
Uuuggly Yikes is an understatement It looks like a brick. I was waiting to see the Pilot before deciding between a Highlander or Pilot.
The new Pilot makes the Highlander a winner hands down.
Even if the Pilot was nicer, I could not get it as Honda has chosen to continue to use RED turn signals on the rear (which is a known safety flaw base on worldwide research)
Honda Engineers must be smoking something. Car manufacturers should be held to account for using the unsafe RED turn signal design. I am so disappointed in the Pilot, after gettting my wife a CR-V (which has amber turn signals). Honda should be held criminally liable for the continued insane use of RED rear turn signals
The only difference between this and the production model will be the head light and some interior pieces, like moving the shifter to the steering column. What you are seeing is nearly identical to the production model. If you do don't like the concept, I doubt you will like the actual production model. Most people will buy it because it is a Honda.
It's really is a disappointment from the released sketches which seemed to indicate it it would have some style to it. Oh well maybe it will look better in person. I think I see Wonderbug's eyes in the front grille lol. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wonderbug
Dear Honda Please could you reconsider your decision to use RED rear turn signals on some of your vehicles (such as the Pilot)
I don't know how a company such as Honda, would fall into the laziness of American Auto manufacturers, who first started this unsafe and irresponsible design.
A competent instrumentation Engineer knows from experience, that using different illumination colors to indicate different signal functions, allows the human brain to react more quickly. Lets assume for sake of argument, the colored signals on traffic lights. If we were to make stop and go the same color (Red) and make the stop signal flash, and the go signal a steady red light.
When approaching a traffic light, if you encountered a flashing red light, you wouldn't know it was a stop signal until the first time the light flashed. Every time the light came, on, there would be the 1 second anticipation of whether the light would stay on, or turn off. Then when the "GO" signal activates, it would be about 2 seconds to realize it wasn't going to flash off.
Not only is this confusing, it is dangerous and would get very annoying.
The same applies to vehicles with red turn signals. Especially ones with a single bulb for both functions. Only slightly less dangerous are vehicles with separate bulbs for brake and turn. The contrast between a fully lit red brake light, and a flashing red turn signal is nearly impossible to resolve, especially at night.
Obviously, the Engineering team on the CR-V (which was designed for an international market) used amber rear turn signals. Maybe this was due to the international regulation of using amber rear turn signals, got the design right for the US market.
So please, for the sake of the occupants in your vehicles, and to stay at the top of the field in automobile design with safety in mind, please use Amber rear turn signals on all Honda's.
You have the chance to get it right on the new Pilot.
While the new design doesn't repeat (thankfully) some of the styling gimmicks of the CR-V, it is not a major improvement over the current edition. I hope the grille is a show-only item (although the MDX makes me worry about that), but most of all, I dislike the rear windows, small with much of the apparent window area actually unusable. Makes me want them to pass that 'visibility' regulation. :mad:
If I wanted a Nissan Pathfinder, I'd buy one. If I wanted a Jeep Cherokee, I'd buy one. This reminds me of the much awaited deput of the very plain and safe Honda Accord a few year back. Too bad. Well at least I no longer have to wait to buy a Highlander. The only thing that intrigues me is the diesel due out next year.
I really like the new pilot. So many comments I read are about how it is not sleek enough, or it is too boxy. Well, if you want the room for 8 passengers, leg room, cargo room, etc. that is what you will have to put up with. If I wanted a Pathfinder or Jeep I would have bought one too, but I really want a Honda, so what if they look similar. At least it doesn't look like the Suburban. I am more concerned with how it perfoms, fits my family, safety etc. I really like it and will be turning in my 2005 for the 2009 as soon as it is on the lot.
They did the same thing with my '07 MDX, made the windows between the c & d pillars smaller. I don't feel like it has made visibility worse when compared to my '04 MDX. For me, not that big of a deal.
Not only is the window smaller, but the A (I think) and B, C, and D (for sure) pillars are wider. Honda's not alone, just about all cars are doing this. I wonder why? Rollover protection?
My husband kept saying wait for the new Pilot, but I didn't want to so I bought an MDX. My husband stole my MDX and now it's his car. I got an 07' Odyssey that I love, my third one actually. My husband says of the MDX, he has not loved a car more since his 84' Prelude, that is saying a lot. That said, the new Pilot looks like a Ford Explorer! Ugh! What is wrong with Honda? Curved edges would have looked much better, not a lot of curve but just a little. It's like a Ridgeline crossed with an Explorer. Really dissapointed... wow. Our MDX ROCKS though! Love all the techy features and the throaty roar, if you don't need all the space, spend $6000 more and get the MDX, it's awesome...
I waited a year for this and my initial impression is this car is ugly. Here is my view. I especially don’t like the front end. It is cluttered with elements fighting each other. I don’t call this a pretty design but rather a myriad of design elements from other cars. I wonder if Honda picked up some designers from Subaru after the Tribeca front-end mistake.
The side profile is acceptable with the clean Tahoe look. GM set the trend for windows with the Tahoe and I guess Honda saw something they liked. I am surprised that Honda restricted the visibility with the heavier looking B and C pillars. The bumper and taillights look unfinished. I would smooth out the angles. The mirrors look cheap. The mix of angles and smooth edges just does not blend for me. The front end is just awful.
Hopefully Honda has brought something new to the driveline besides engine management. But hey, the Ridgeline was odd looking and I guess the Pilot is going that direction. The Element is growing on me. The CRV is elegant and fresh. Ford must feel the Honda fumbled the ball away inside their 10 year line. I am so disappointed
We can only hope that the front end might be improved, it would be an easy fix, unlike the visibility issues. I, too, first thought 'Tahoe' when I saw the new Pilot.
I've been waiting for this new Pilot to make up my mind on buying a new SUV. I'm mad that I waited this long: this Pilot doesn't look that much different than the outgoing model, which wasn't my cup of tea to begin with. The goal of a new model is to make the old one seem way, way out of date, and I'm not so sure the 2009 version achieves this.
I don't think dimensions have been posted yet, but I doubt this new Pilot will be as long as the GMC Acadia or the Mazda CX-9 (both around 200 inches long, while the outgoing Pilot is 188 in long--don't think they'll add 12 inches). So if you really need room for a family and gear, the Acadia and CX-9 are likely better choices (which might be the reason why the Acadia is selling so well)
Here is hoping they keep the shifter off the steering column! That is something I dislike about the current model because it hits my leg when in drive.
MSN had a special on last night and said spring 08 it will be on lots. I guess I'm a middle aged man with bland tastes because I like the new version. It looks roomier, the shifter is off of the steering column and it looks more like a truck than the old style. I'll be more sure when I see it in person at the NY auto show. I imagine the packages will stay the same but I will be in the market for one this fall. Good job Honda.
I’m not a van guy so I don’t know the question. Isn’t this dash shifter modeled after the Odyssey van? Does the shifter in the van allow ease of and control of individual gears? I am thinking of picking and controlling a gear. That is where a console shifter or steering wheel control is so nice. This setup looks very awkward but maybe it is ok.
That spy photo looks more like my '07 MDX than the '09 Pilot prototype. I think those are my headlights! The rear end on the spy photo slopes down like the MDX.
Did S-H AWD from new MDX make it to the 2009 Pilot/Prototype? Thanks!
PS- I agree with most of those in the foregoing about the poor design elements of the front end and Honda designers copying some of the Nissan X-terra shape/style, which are not very pleasing at all.
I don't know, I was saying I will be waiting for the '09 but I am very underwhelmed. Will have to see it in person, but there is nothing to really make me run out and buy one as soon as it hits the lots, as I was prepared to do if the design was impressive enough.
It does seem like a strange place for a shifter but I guess you can get used to anything. By keeping it off the floor it allows for good storage between the front seats. By the way anyone liking the dual exhausts?
I was hoping the SH-AWD fom the MDX (or a varition thereof) would make it to the 2009 Pilot.
Also, would you or any of the other folks here know if the split center arm rest that is pictured in the prototype make it to production? It looks like it would be very uncomfortable! I hope they keep the current large non-split center arm rest which is also on the new MDX.
Well the artist's rendering was a bit of teaser, and I was ready to buy one this year based on that slick design. Steeply raked front is gone altogether.
The so-called prototype isn't exactly ugly but it has no cutting edge design aspects. Take off the badges and it could be any current model two box SUV. The front end grill looks like it was yanked off a Ridgeline and stuck on the night before the unveiling. Doesn't really flow at all. It makes the boring Highlander design look elegant in comparison. This is a big disappointment following the Civic and Accord revamps. Unfortunately I doubt if this will change much thru production, check out the Accord so-called prototype photos. I guess we'll have to wait for the 2010 model for the mid-mark tweeks to improve the looks. Interior looks nice, but I expect some of that will be detuned for the production model.
It looks to me like Honda are scared of threatening sales of the successful MDX and are playing it safe. Too safe in my opinion. Other makers are taking leaps forward in SUV design. This thing could start looking old fast.
Kinda looks like the designers of the Element got their hands into the design of the exterior. :confuse: I like the looks of the interior features, but the exterior.... not like the rendering at all.
I have been reading a lot of unfair criticism of the new Pilot in this forum, and I think enough is enough. The beautiful new Pilot is obviously the result of thousands of hours devoted to creative design, wind tunnel testing, and trials at the track. Amazingly, even the earliest prototype was a thing of beauty. Honda needed to change very little in bringing this new vehicle to market.
One good thing. These pictures made go ahead and get a 2008 EX-L w/navigation for a great price ($2000 under invoice and no fees). Told them that in 2 months the 2008 would be obsolete. I didn't tell them that the 2009 is the worse looking Honda I've ever seen and I've had 3 ( 2CR-V and 1 Accord ) Traded the 2002 CR-V.
Hopefully Honda still have some time to take note of the criticisms. If they reworked the front end styling a bit I think it could be a much prettier package. The rather traditional profile is likely to stay but at least it's more or less benign. It's just that pieced together front end with the oversize grill that looks so awkward.
You would hope that they release these so-called prototypes to garner some feedback before finalizing design details. Unfortunately if the car is hitting showrooms in the Spring they may already be well into production, or least have tooled up the factory.
It may be significant that I think the Pilot is only sold in the North American market and may have suffered from a sub-standard US design team. You may not like the latest CR-V but at least the lines flow on the car.
I sense you hit the nail on the head with the comment of a "substandard US design team." It seems originally the designers had a great idea of a more spacious mid sized suv but now they seem to be trying to design it into a full size vehicle for eight passengers. Their compromises in design have gotten ugly. A comfortable five passenger mid size suv seems to make better sense than stretching the elements towards a full size powered by a 6 cylinder engine. The designers also have lost the simplicity of form and seem to be following some vague concept of popular appeal. So it goes with the "POP" arts.
I think Honda's approach/target market is large families who don't want a van. I don't think they are worried about single people /college kids looking for a sleek SUV. Thats what there CR-V is for. This suv is perfect for me because no matter how it looks, I can't look cool with 2 car seats in the back, so I'm more worried about the interior.
That is undoubtedly true, but even family buyers like me look for some sort of design appeal in an SUV. Design is probably the biggest component in car buying decisions. Look at the first version of the Subaru Tribeca. Conceptially and functionally a great package but a bad design led to a flop in sales. Subaru were forced to change that design way ahead of their normal cycle. I think Honda makes great cars. Maybe the best of the mainstream Japanese marques, but today they need to compete with the likes of Mazda's CX-9, a very dynamic design which didn't exist in 2003 when the first pilot appeared.
if you click on the honda pilot video link on edmunds auto show coverage, the reporter states the headlights and some interior elements are "concept" and won't make it into production.
Comments
http://vtec.net/news/news-item?news_item_id=732256
The vehicle shown at the Detroit Auto Show looks like the [non-permissible content removed] child of a Subaru Forrester and a Ford Explorer.
Some of the things I'm noticing from the press photos*:
- no keyless start (I can see the key/remote in the steering column)
- turn signal repeaters in the mirrors (missing on the Highlander and Murano)
- the rear hatch does not have a power-assist (usually you can see the arm that pulls the door down), but maybe it's just missing on the concept
- center position seatbelt still hangs from the ceiling (like the Murano, but unlike the Highlander)
- body side moldings to protect the side (unlike Highlander and Murano)
- the side view mirrors look small, but that may also be specific to the concept
- interior door panels seem very bland, but that may be because of the color scheme
- inverse gauge faces (i.e. white background) -- this seems like a step backwards from the existing gauges (hopefully it's only on the concept).
The exterior reminds me of the side windows of a Chevy HHR, the rear of a Dodge Caravan and Nitro mixed with a Chevy Tahoe and Uplander. There's also some Nissan Pathfinder in there.
* I know it's a "concept" version, but Honda's concepts tend to be pretty close to the production version (with the exception of the wheels or other details).
2008 Detroit Auto Show: 2009 Honda Pilot
And more photos here.
More pictures here:
http://www.hondanews.com/categories/1074/search/photos?q=PilotProto&s=honda
Yikes is an understatement
It looks like a brick.
I was waiting to see the Pilot before deciding between a Highlander or Pilot.
The new Pilot makes the Highlander a winner hands down.
Even if the Pilot was nicer, I could not get it as Honda has chosen to continue to use RED turn signals on the rear (which is a known safety flaw base on worldwide research)
Honda Engineers must be smoking something.
Car manufacturers should be held to account for using the unsafe RED turn signal design. I am so disappointed in the Pilot, after gettting my wife a CR-V (which has amber turn signals). Honda should be held criminally liable for the continued insane use of RED rear turn signals
Please could you reconsider your decision to use RED rear turn signals on some of your vehicles (such as the Pilot)
I don't know how a company such as Honda, would fall into the laziness of American Auto manufacturers, who first started this unsafe and irresponsible design.
A competent instrumentation Engineer knows from experience, that using different illumination colors to indicate different signal functions, allows the human brain to react more quickly.
Lets assume for sake of argument, the colored signals on traffic lights. If we were to make stop and go the same color (Red) and make the stop signal flash, and the go signal a steady red light.
When approaching a traffic light, if you encountered a flashing red light, you wouldn't know it was a stop signal until the first time the light flashed. Every time the light came, on, there would be the 1 second anticipation of whether the light would stay on, or turn off. Then when the "GO" signal activates, it would be about 2 seconds to realize it wasn't going to flash off.
Not only is this confusing, it is dangerous and would get very annoying.
The same applies to vehicles with red turn signals. Especially ones with a single bulb for both functions. Only slightly less dangerous are vehicles with separate bulbs for brake and turn. The contrast between a fully lit red brake light, and a flashing red turn signal is nearly impossible to resolve, especially at night.
Obviously, the Engineering team on the CR-V (which was designed for an international market) used amber rear turn signals. Maybe this was due to the international regulation of using amber rear turn signals, got the design right for the US market.
So please, for the sake of the occupants in your vehicles, and to stay at the top of the field in automobile design with safety in mind, please use Amber rear turn signals on all Honda's.
You have the chance to get it right on the new Pilot.
The side profile is acceptable with the clean Tahoe look. GM set the trend for windows with the Tahoe and I guess Honda saw something they liked. I am surprised that Honda restricted the visibility with the heavier looking B and C pillars. The bumper and taillights look unfinished. I would smooth out the angles. The mirrors look cheap. The mix of angles and smooth edges just does not blend for me. The front end is just awful.
Hopefully Honda has brought something new to the driveline besides engine management. But hey, the Ridgeline was odd looking and I guess the Pilot is going that direction. The Element is growing on me. The CRV is elegant and fresh. Ford must feel the Honda fumbled the ball away inside their 10 year line. I am so disappointed
I don't think dimensions have been posted yet, but I doubt this new Pilot will be as long as the GMC Acadia or the Mazda CX-9 (both around 200 inches long, while the outgoing Pilot is 188 in long--don't think they'll add 12 inches). So if you really need room for a family and gear, the Acadia and CX-9 are likely better choices (which might be the reason why the Acadia is selling so well)
No such luck, judging by the photos. The lever does look short, maybe fixes your problem.
Steering Column
The current Ridgeline and Pilot (and old CR-V) had it on the column which was not a winner for me.
http://www.autospies.com/images/users/Agent001/SP32-20060801-180545.jpg
Thanks!
PS- I agree with most of those in the foregoing about the poor design elements of the front end and Honda designers copying some of the Nissan X-terra shape/style, which are not very pleasing at all.
I don't know, I was saying I will be waiting for the '09 but I am very underwhelmed. Will have to see it in person, but there is nothing to really make me run out and buy one as soon as it hits the lots, as I was prepared to do if the design was impressive enough.
I was hoping the SH-AWD fom the MDX (or a varition thereof) would make it to the 2009 Pilot.
Also, would you or any of the other folks here know if the split center arm rest that is pictured in the prototype make it to production? It looks like it would be very uncomfortable! I hope they keep the current large non-split center arm rest which is also on the new MDX.
The so-called prototype isn't exactly ugly but it has no cutting edge design aspects. Take off the badges and it could be any current model two box SUV. The front end grill looks like it was yanked off a Ridgeline and stuck on the night before the unveiling. Doesn't really flow at all. It makes the boring Highlander design look elegant in comparison. This is a big disappointment following the Civic and Accord revamps. Unfortunately I doubt if this will change much thru production, check out the Accord so-called prototype photos. I guess we'll have to wait for the 2010 model for the mid-mark tweeks to improve the looks. Interior looks nice, but I expect some of that will be detuned for the production model.
It looks to me like Honda are scared of threatening sales of the successful MDX and are playing it safe. Too safe in my opinion. Other makers are taking leaps forward in SUV design. This thing could start looking old fast.
Joe
Here is the original prototype:
Pilot Prototype
http://www.collegehillshonda.com/artman2/publish/Pilot_21/Next-Generation_Honda_- Pilot_Balances_Ideal_Combination_of_SUV_Strengths_and_On-road_Refinement.shtml
You would hope that they release these so-called prototypes to garner some feedback before finalizing design details. Unfortunately if the car is hitting showrooms in the Spring they may already be well into production, or least have tooled up the factory.
It may be significant that I think the Pilot is only sold in the North American market and may have suffered from a sub-standard US design team. You may not like the latest CR-V but at least the lines flow on the car.
http://www.edmunds.com/insideline/autoshows/detroit/2008/index.html