Styling tweaks appear to be substantial

The all-new Honda Pilot has been spied for the first time while undergoing testing in the deserts of California.

Now in its second generation, Honda's Pilot mid-size crossover looks bland even though it received a facelift for the 2012 model year. Hopefully that will all change with the third generation grabbed on camera for the first time by our spy photographers. The prototypes spotted in the deserts of California were wearing extensive camouflage which could indicate a significant makeover is in the works although the overall shape of the car will remain just about the same.

The front fascia appears to be more expressive and will feature a redesigned grille while the headlights come with new graphics and boast some LED elements. Moreover, the front bumper has also gone through surgery and houses massive turn signals as well as the fog lamps which have been placed low. The back was heavily camouflaged but we can already see the taillights are very different from those fitted onto the current Pilot facelift.

Moving inside the cabin, gone are the round air vents as Honda has decided to use a vertical arrangement and the central ones are flanking a generous touchscreen display. Another major change is the gear selector repositioned from the dashboard to the center tunnel for a more conventional layout.

According to our sources, the overhauled Honda Pilot will come with a direct-injection V6 3.5-liter engine benefiting from the latest Earth Dreams technology. Output is expected to significantly rise from today's 250 bhp (186 kW) to approximately 310 bhp (231 kW). It is believed front-wheel drive versions will feature a CVT whereas AWD models will be equipped with a six-speed manual gearbox.

The third generation Honda Pilot will reportedly be introduced next spring and should go on sale a few months later as a 2016MY.

These are the latest spy shots of a prototype for Honda’s next-generation Pilot SUV, which should roll into showrooms in the fall of 2015, as a 2016 model. The vehicle will once again share its underpinnings with the Acura MDX but this time around we can expect more expressive styling and a more upmarket interior.

With the latest MDX featuring an extra 3.0 inches of length in its wheelbase compared to its predecessor, we’ll likely see the 2016 Pilot’s wheelbase grow as well. This should translate to more space inside and easier access to the third row. Seating for eight should remain.

Power will once again come from a 3.5-liter V-6 but with output increasing to 290 horsepower and 267 pound-feet of torque, matching the figures of the engine in the MDX. Buyers will have the choice of front- or all-wheel drive.

A shot showing the interior reveals new rectangular vents instead of the current model’s circular units. It also looks like the current model’s dash-mounted gear lever is making way for a more conventional shifter, and a new LCD screen will be mounted to the center stack.

It’s possible a thinly-veiled prototype version of the 2016 Pilot will be shown ahead of the production model a couple of months later. Honda did this with the outgoing Pilot, which was launched on the market for the 2009 model year.

The Honda news continues as the company has announced plans to introduce a "fully redesigned" Pilot this summer.

Honda didn't have much to say about the model but confirmed will have seating for up to eight people. That's not much to go on but previous spy photos have shown the crossover will have an evolutionary front fascia with a revised grille and LED-infused headlights. Nothing is official but the model is expected to be powered by a 3.5-liter V6 engine that produces approximately 310 bhp (231 kW).

Besides announcing the redesigned Pilot, Honda confirmed plans to introduce a new Ridgeline in 2016. A previous teaser image showed the truck will adopt a more conventional design with a rounded front fascia and a steeply raked windscreen.