Burke, Roffey and Farag at the launch of the new 2012 Honda Pilot yesterday. PICTURE: Shaji Kayamkulam
Domasco has launched the new 2012 Honda Pilot medium sport utility vehicle (SUV), dubbed the ‘Grand Comfort Cruiser,’ and the ‘smart choice mid-size SUV in the GCC region.’
With a new design for front facia and refined instrument panel, the 8-seater has received significant improvements in exterior and interior styling.
“The 2012 Honda Pilot marks the debut of the top-of-the-line touring grade,” Domasco’s Honda sales and marketing manager Greig Roffey said yesterday.
The new features also include a hard disk drive (HDD) navigation system, DVD rear entertainment system, intelligent multi-information display (iMID), wide mode rear view camera, Bluetooth hands-free phone and audio streaming and 18” alloy wheels.
“This is the latest version of the second generation Honda Pilot, introduced in 2009 as the successor to Honda MRV, which was in the market from 2003 to 2008,” Roffey said.
The front grill, front bumper, rear bumper and rear skid plates of the new Honda Pilot have a new design. Headlights have been reconfigured. The front fog lights are in new style. There is a new tow hitch cover and chrome side steps.
Speedometer and tachometer gauges are sharper and easy to read with new, large clear digits and brilliant white background lighting at night. There are new buttons for easier use, improved material finishes, new 8” colour screen and improved head rest design for second and third row seats.
“The Honda Pilot, which is also a highly capable off roader, offers a very smooth, quite and comfortable driving experience,” the Domasco official said.
Available in EX, EX + and Touring grades, the showroom prices are QR139,000, QR149,000 and QR169,000, respectively.
The 2012 Honda Pilot, which uses 52% of high strength steel for more rigidity and better fuel efficiency, is equipped with 3.5 litre i-VTEC V6 engine with VCM technology.
The maximum (net) power and torque output (net) is 257 PS @ 5,700 rpm and 35.4 kg-m @ 4,800 rpm – respectively. The Pilot engine is mated to a 5-speed automatic transmission system.
The VTM-4 system on Pilot delivers seamless 4-wheel drive when needed. The principal safety feature used on all Honda models is the advanced compatibility engineering body structure for enhanced frontal collision energy management and vehicle-to-vehicle frontal crash compatibility.
Standard on all grades, the passive safety features include dual-stage front airbags, side airbags, 3-row/ full length side curtain airbags and front active head restraints.
The side curtain airbag system includes three satellite sensors and a main unit, and detects a crash within 5-7 milliseconds.
It also includes a rollover sensor which deploys the airbags if there is a risk of vehicle overturning. Available as standard, the active safety features include Vehicle Stability Assist, 4-channel anti-lock braking system, Electronic Brake Distribution, Brake Assist and Hill Start Assist.
Honda provides 3 years or 100,000km warranty for the Pilot and Domasco offers lifetime warranty for engine and gearbox.
Domasco’s after sales manager Iain Burke said that the service facility on Street 10 of Industrial Area is now equipped with fully air-conditioned workshops.
“Honda Pilot offers an excellent value-for-money package for city and off road adventurers,” Roffey stated.
Honda showroom manager Amr Farag was also present.
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