Eight-passenger SUV will arrive shortly after new HR-V compact utility

A redesigned eight-passenger Honda Pilot is on the way and it will arrive soon — later this year, in fact. At least that’s what the top executive for Honda U.S. told Edmunds at the North American International Auto Show last week.

John Mendel, executive vice president of Honda’s U.S. Automobiles division, announced the new HR-V will arrive this spring.

“Shortly after, we’ll introduce an all-new Pilot SUV that will redefine what is possible with an eight-passenger midsize SUV, and further ahead, a completely reengineered Ridgeline pickup. And we have some more excitement on the passenger car side of our lineup this year as well.”

The Pilot replaced the Isuzu-sourced Honda Passport in 2002. The eight-passenger SUV is now in its second generation and received a mid-cycle refresh for 2012. A new Pilot is good news for Honda dealers as the model faces newer competition other automakers.

A new Ridgeline, which was teased over a year ago with the promise of a new truck within two years, also faces new competition from Toyota and General Motors.

On the car front, Honda does have at least one aging model in its lineup in need of attention. The slow-selling Honda CR-Z could either drop its hybrid system or be replaced in its entirety by the new Honda S660 (though both of those are long shots and the CR-Z is more likely to be dropped completely than anything else). Considering the “more excitement” comment from Mendel, he’s probably not referring to the Honda FCV either.

Your guess is as good as ours at this point.