(April 10, 2015) TORRANCE, Calif. — The all-new, third generation 2016 Honda Pilot will go on sale this summer with what Honda says are more of what active families seek in a three-row SUV — sleek and athletic styling, outstanding power, sophisticated technology and, new for 2016, an all-new Elite model with a panoramic roof and a vast array of other standard features.

Building on the solid reputation established from the fall 2002 introduction of the first generation 2003 model, the 2016 Pilot brings a new level of refinement and available content to the segment.

This includes a more powerful direct injected 3.5-liter SOHC i-VTEC Earth Dreams Technology engine producing 280 horsepower and 262 lb-ft of torque, and new 6-speed and 9-speed automatic transmissions. Providing dynamic handling are a new Intelligent Variable Torque Management (i-VTM4) AWD system and all-new selectable Intelligent Traction Management system featuring Normal, Mud, Sand, and Snow modes on the AWD model and Normal and Snow on the 2WD model.

Also significantly upgraded are the display audio and navigation systems. The available Honda Sensing suite of safety and driver assistive technologies brings available features that include Collision Mitigation Braking System with Forward Collision Warning, Road Departure Mitigation System, Lane Keeping Assist System with Lane Departure Warning and Adaptive Cruise Control.

Providing customers with an increased range of trim levels, the 2016 Pilot is available in a new top-of-the-line Elite trim together with LX, EX, EX with Honda Sensing, EX-L, EX-L with Honda Sensing and Touring trims. Honda Sensing is standard on both Touring and Elite trims. The Pilot Elite offers an extensive feature content list, including a panoramic glass roof, heated and ventilated front seats, second-row heated captain's chairs, LED headlights with auto high-beam, rain sensing windshield wipers and much more. And these are in addition to a long list of standard features throughout the Pilot trim range.

The 2016 Pilot delivers more refined, powerful and fuel-efficient performance than ever before courtesy of its new 3.5-liter, direct-injected i-VTEC V-6 engine with Variable Cylinder Management (VCM) cylinder deactivation technology.

The engine's peak output of 280 horsepower and 262 lb.-ft. of torque is up 30 hp and 9 lb.-ft. over the previous model. The engine is matched to a choice of two new advanced transmissions — a Pilot-first 6-speed automatic transmission or, on upper trims, a Honda-first 9-speed automatic transmission — both delivering more refined, responsive and fuel-efficient performance.

Intelligent Variable Torque Management for all Four Wheels (i-VTM4)
Honda says the Pilot's available new Intelligent VTM4 (i-VTM4) is the most sophisticated and technologically advanced all-wheel-drive system offered in a mainstream, three-row SUV. This system progressively distributes optimum torque between the front and rear axles and, for the first time ever in a Honda vehicle, dynamically distributes engine torque between the left and right rear wheels using the new, lightweight rear drive unit.

Benefits include superior all-weather handling and neutral, accurate steering under power that is unmatched by front-drive, rear-drive or conventional all-wheel-drive systems.

The Pilot features a new button-operated Intelligent Traction Management System that offers different operating modes — for the AWD: Normal, Mud, Sand and Snow; and for the FWD: Normal and Snow. Reflecting Pilot's role as a key U.S. export model, this system was developed, tuned and tested at various locations in the U.S. and around the world — including in Imperial Dunes “Glamis,” Calif.; Moscow, Russia; and Dubai, United Arab Emirates.

The Intelligent Traction Management system allows the driver to select the operating mode that best suits the driving conditions by simply pushing a button on the vehicle's center console. Based on the setting selected, the system adjusts the drive-by wire map, transmission shift map, Vehicle Stability Assist and i-VTM4 torque distribution for AWD equipped models for optimal performance in varying road or surface conditions.

Honda's latest thinking for advanced, family-friendly technology is embodied in the new Pilot. New features include the available 8-inch capacitive touchscreen Display Audio telematics interface with Android operating system and all-new Honda Satellite-Linked Navigation System developed in cooperation with Garmin.