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Honda Pilot
The Honda Pilot in 2003,
was Honda's second Honda marked SUV fully
built and designed by Honda. The Honda Pilot
was built in Alliston, Ontario, Canada. Honda's
initial SUV offering for many years was the
Passport, which was a rebadged Isuzu Rodeo.
Where the previous incarnation was truck based,
the Pilot shares underpinnings and powertrain
with the Acura MDX, which has a lineage which
can be traced to the Honda Odyssey minivan
(itself based on an expanded Accord platform).
The Pilot’s unit-body structure, however,
is fortified with integrated perimeter frame
rails, which helps it withstand moderate off-highway
use.
Like the MDX, the Pilot
is propelled by an alloy aluminium J35, 3.5-liter
SOHC 24-valve VTEC V-6. The engine is rated
at 240 hp and 242 pound-feet of torque, mated
to a five-speed automatic, which, as tested
by Sunny Kar, results in a 0-60 time of a
mere 7.2 seconds and quarter mile sprint of
14.6 seconds. For the 2005 model, the power
was increased to 255 hp, 250 pound-feet of
torque and includes a Drive by Wire (DBW)
Throttle System. The Pilot weighs in at a
little over 4400 pounds establishing the mated
engine as just adequate for a vehicle of its
size.
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