American Honda has continued its upward trajectory, with July sales climbing 8% compared to the previous year. This robust performance has propelled the company’s sales to a 9% increase over the first seven months of the year, surpassing 811,000 units delivered.
While the Honda brand has been the driving force behind this growth, with a nearly 10% increase in July and a total of 736,000 units sold year-to-date, Acura has struggled, experiencing a 7% decline in July and a substantial 12.3% drop.
This disparity is reflected in the divergent fortunes of specific models. While the Civic surged by 35%, the Accord tumbled by almost 20%, and the Passport plummeted over 30%, the newer Pilot soared by more than 19%. This contrasting performance has prompted American Honda to reveal early teasers for the all-new 2026 Honda Passport TrailSport, scheduled for a full reveal early next year.
Honda’s recent update to the Pilot three-row SUV, featuring a new model year and expanded trim options, hasn’t quenched the thirst for even more aggressive variants in the digital world. The AutoYa Interior YouTube channel has taken the lead in envisioning a performance-oriented Pilot, dubbed the Type R.
This CGI-crafted concept pushes the boundaries of the Pilot’s capabilities, imagining a potent plug-in hybrid powertrain that marries the Civic Type R’s turbocharged engine with an electric motor, potentially delivering a substantial 450 horsepower. The digital transformation extends beyond the powertrain, as the designers have boldly reimagined the Pilot’s exterior and interior with a full-blown Type R aesthetic.
A lowered stance, wider body, and aggressive styling cues are complemented by a hypothetical six-speed manual transmission, creating a compelling vision of a performance-focused Pilot that, while currently existing only in the digital world, ignites the imagination of automotive enthusiasts.
