Honda debuted a thinly-veiled production version of its all-new 2009 Pilot at the 2008 Detroit Auto Show - followed by the full production version just a few months later.

Based on an entirely new platform, the eight-seater offers more legroom and overall occupant space for all passengers. It also has more cargo space and easier access to the third row.

The 60/40 split second row, now more spacious, slides further forward for increased ease of access to the third row. The 60/40 split third row, now supplies enough knee room for an above-average-sized adult male to fit comfortably. Each side of the second and third row independently folds down for cargo. A flat floor is created when the second and third rows are folded down.

The 2009 Pilot's new body features the most extensive use of high-strength steel in any Honda product to date. This provides enhanced collision safety and better off-road durability.

The Pilot originally debuted as a 2003 model in July of 2002. Design and development of the 2003 Pilot and the 2009 Pilot were carried out at Honda R&D Americas in Raymond, Ohio, and Torrance, California. The Pilot is assembled at Honda Manufacturing of Alabama in Lincoln.

A new 250 horsepower 3.5L V6 engine introduces the latest generation of Honda fuel-saving Variable Cylinder Management (VCM) technology that operates in 6-cylinder mode for power and 4- and 3-cylinder modes for efficiency, an improvement compared to the existing Pilot's available VCM system that works exclusively in 6- and 3-cylinder modes.

The new fuel-saving measures return an EPA-estimated city/highway/combined fuel economy of 17/23/19 miles per gallon on two-wheel-drive models and 16/22/18 miles per gallon on four-wheel-drive models.

The 2009 Pilot has a base price of $27,595 for the LX model -- the same as the outgoing 2008 model. The up-level Pilot EX lists from $30,395, with the EX-L model starts off at $33,595. The range-topping Pilot Touring edition retails from $36,795.

Honda's Variable Torque Management 4-wheel-drive (VTM-4) system adds $1,600 to the price of any 2009 Pilot model.