The Japanese automaker hasn't done much in December in the United States – they launched Honda Racing Corporation USA, talked about their award-winning riders, or opened the reservation process for the all-electric 2024 Acura ZDX and ZDX Type S performance CUV.
Sure, there was other minor stuff happening, too – like the 30th anniversary Rose Parade Honda float, the 2024 Ridgeline TrailSport arriving at nationwide dealerships, or the announcement about debuting an all-new global EV series at CES 2024 in Las Vegas, Nevada, on January 9. And that's on top of posting strong November sales to maintain its robust momentum for the entire year.
As such, many could dare to assume that Honda doesn't nearly compare to rivals like Toyota, which has had a tidal wave of novelties for the North American region throughout the past 12 months. No worries, as the imaginative realm of digital car content creators is always ready and willing to provide us with unofficial new choices. For example, Dimas Ramadhan, the virtual automotive artist behind the Digimods DESIGN channel on YouTube, has taken up the task of pumping up the Pilot jam!
More precisely, the pixel master thinks that alongside the $24k HR-V, $29,500 CR-V, $33,700 CR-V Hybrid, and $41,900 Passport, the $37k Pilot three-row mid-size crossover SUV needs to take the mantle of an actual performance flagship with the apparition of a hypothetical 2025 Pilot Type R! Yep, that's right, this CGI expert has taken a page out of the $45k Civic Type R book and transfixed it to the hyped realm of crossover SUVs.
As far as the unofficial looks are concerned, the exterior design and overall styling don't stray away too far from the contemporary yet subtle looks of the fourth-generation Pilot three-row CUV. There are additional black plastic bits and pieces, all treated in gloss black, to make the vehicle a lot more stylish and menacing. There's also a noticeable lack of chrome details, plus substantial changes to the front and rear bumpers to accommodate the aerodynamic kit along with a tailgate spoiler.
Naturally, the rear incorporates not only some Type R badges but also Civic Type R's distinctive three-pipe central exhaust design. On the other hand, if a Pilot Type R ever happened in the real world, it would be logical to assume that Honda wouldn't downsize the flagship CUV to Civic Type R's 2.0-liter K20C1 turbocharged inline-four from the regular Pilot's 3.5-liter J35Y8 V6 mill. Instead, it would probably suffice to give it some beefier internals along with a twin-turbo setup and around 400 horsepower, right?
That way, it could easily go toe-to-toe with both the 400-hp Ford Explorer ST and its 3.0-liter twin-turbo EcoBoost V6 and the direct foe – Toyota's 2024 Grand Highlander, which also has a Hybrid Max option that gives it 362 electrified ponies to play with. So, what do you think?
Aurel has aimed high all his life (literally, at 16 he was flying gliders all by himself) so in 2006 he switched careers and got hired as a writer at his favorite magazine. Since then, his work has been published both by print and online outlets, most recently right here, on autoevolution. Full profile
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