The Honda Passport went out of production nearly 16
years ago but a new report is indicating the company will revive the moniker on
an all-new crossover.
Automotive
News is reporting Honda will use the Passport name on a new crossover which
will be positioned between the CR-V and Pilot. Little is known about the model
but the publication says the crossover will be approximately six inches shorter
than the Pilot and compete with models such as the Ford Edge and Nissan Murano.
Honda declined to confirm the report but the
Passport will reportedly debut at the Los Angeles Auto Show in November before
going on sale in the United States in 2019. The model is expected to be based
on the same platform that underpins the Pilot and will likely be built
alongside the model in Lincoln, Alabama.
Given the similarities between the Passport and
Pilot, it is possible the crossover will be powered by a 3.5-liter V6 engine
that produces 280 hp and 354 Nm of torque. In the Pilot,
the engine can be connected to either a six- or nine-speed automatic
transmission.
Pricing remains unconfirmed but the CR-V starts at US$ 24,150 while the Pilot begins at US$ 30,900. This likely means the Passport will
be cost between US$ 26,000 and US$ 28,000.
