Honda is investing in advanced virtual reality technology to help develop models such as the new 2023 Honda Pilot TrailSport and 2024 Honda Prologue.

The 2024 Honda Prologue had interrupted development during the global Covid-19 pandemic, which prevented Honda designers from collaborating freely with engineers. But by using virtual reality, the car company was able to “bridge the divide” between the global design and development teams when working on the 2024 Honda Prologue. 

Virtual reality technology enabled Honda’s global design team to keep up development while enjoying immediate feedback on aspects such as colour, material types, finishes and clay modelling. It is thought that virtual reality will play a key tool for Honda’s development of future models.

“Incorporating virtual and augmented reality in the design process allowed our Honda engineers and designers to merge digital content and physical assets in a cohesive way to interact with what they’re experiencing and touching in an immersive environment,” said Mathieu Geslin, VR technology leader, Honda Design studio. 

“Honda Prologue was key to fully using VR in a data-led design process, with clay modelling as the verification tool, something we will carry forward into the development of other Honda products.”

The new 2023 Honda Pilot was the first production model where virtual reality was used to evaluate the product, the company says. The LA-based design team was able to test colour evaluation in a virtual reality environment, with second-by-second communication between teams in the United States and Tokyo. 

The Honda Pilot was made available for sale in December 2022.