Today during the kickoff of Power Lab 2019, a Honda Powersports dealer event held at TexPlex Park, Honda unveiled a pair of brand-new four-seat sport side-by-side models—the Talon™ 1000X-4 and Talon 1000X-4 FOX® Live Valve.
Breaking cover just six months after the industry-disrupting announcement of the Talon 1000X and Talon 1000R two-seat models—and only three months since they hit the market—these new additions to the young Talon family advance off-road driving technology while opening the experience to additional family and friends.
The Power Lab event, which featured a four-wheel-powersports focus, also saw Honda confirm the 2020 model-year return of the two-seat Talon 1000X and Talon 1000R, as well as the popular multipurpose side-by-side family: the flagship Pioneer 1000, middleweight Pioneer 700 and entry Pioneer 500.
“Since the two-seat Talon models hit the market a few months ago, it’s been fun to see how ready customers were for a sport side-by-side touting Honda’s legendary refinement, durability and performance,” said Chris Cox, American Honda’s Manager of Experiential Marketing/Public Relations. “By far the most common request we’ve heard in that time is for the capability to carry additional passengers, so it’s gratifying to bring the Talon 1000X-4 and Talon 1000X-4 FOX Live Valve to market so quickly. Like their two-seater siblings, these models introduce new technology to their category, and we’re confident that they’ll set new standards as well. Now, more people than ever can experience the fact that ‘Life is Better Side-by-Side.'”
Talon 1000X-4
Based on the Talon 1000X two-seater but with a longer chassis and room for two more people, the Talon 1000X-4 features stadium rear seating that positions the back passengers inboard and higher than those in front, ensuring that everyone on board enjoys an engaging, social experience. Powered by a performance-tuned version of Honda’s proven 999cc four-valve Unicam® parallel-twin engine, the Talon 1000X-4 features a high-tech Dual Clutch Transmission (DCT) that efficiently puts horsepower to the ground and gives drivers the ability to switch between drive modes—full automatic, a more spirited “Sport” automatic that holds higher rpm, and manual, with gear-changes accomplished via steering-column-mounted paddle shifters. (The paddle shifters can also be used to override the automatic modes.) FOX Podium Quick Switch 3 shocks allow fast and simple three-position adjustment, with 14.6 and 15.0 inches of travel, front and rear respectively. Of course other favorite Talon elements are carried over, including I-4WD traction-aiding technology, hill-start assist and Electronic Brakeforce Distribution (EBD).
Color: Metallic Grey/Pearl Red
Price: TBA
Availability: Fall 2019
Talon 1000X-4 FOX Live Valve
In expanding the Talon family to the four-seat market, Honda took the opportunity to introduce semi-active electronic suspension with the new Talon 1000X-4 FOX Live Valve. Sharing the same engine, frame and body as the other four-seat Talon, this flagship version benefits from a new collaboration between Honda, FOX and Bosch. The groundbreaking suspension system crunches data from a multitude of sensors and adjusts all four shocks 16 times per second for one of two drive-style choices (Normal and Sport). The result is an incredible ride and unmatched handling, with minimal body roll and stellar high-speed tracking in rough terrain. Front and rear travel are 14.4 and 15.0 inches, respectively. This model also comes standard with electronic Launch Mode for lightning-quick, full-throttle acceleration off the line.
Color: Metallic Grey/Metallic Orange
Price: TBA
Availability: Fall 2019
Talon 1000X
The sport side-by-side that took the powersports world by storm is back for 2020. Built to excel in situations where precise changes of direction are paramount, the Talon 1000X employs 2.0-inch body FOX Podium Quick Switch 3 shocks actuated via double-wishbone front suspension and a 3-link rear-suspension system to deliver 14.6 and 15.1 inches of front and rear travel, respectively. Also returning are the 999cc parallel-twin, four-valve Unicam engine paired with a Dual Clutch Transmission that delivers the exhilaration of running through the gears—in one of two automatic modes, manually, or a combination (driving in automatic and using the steering-column-mounted paddles to override). In four-wheel drive, I-4WD—a Honda exclusive in powersports—uses the braking system to deliver more power to the front wheel that has traction.
Colors: Pearl Red/Metallic Grey; Metallic Grey/Metallic Blue
Price: TBA
Availability: Fall 2019
Talon 1000R
Sharing the same engine, frame and body as the two-seat 1000X, the Talon 1000R uses larger, 2.5-inch body FOX QS3 shocks; a 4+link rear-suspension system and longer travel (17.7 and 20.1 inches front and rear, respectively), which combine with the wider footprint to deliver superb handling when driving through rough terrain at higher speeds. Like all Talon models, the 1000R was designed in Ohio and built in South Carolina, and it boasts legendary Honda durability, quality and reliability.
Colors: Pearl Red; Pearl Green
Price: TBA
Availability: Fall 2019
Pioneer 1000
Honda’s excellent multipurpose side-by-side family returns for 2020, including the category-benchmark Pioneer 1000, which has the best engine, drivetrain and chassis, as well as a high-tech automatic six-speed Dual Clutch Transmission (DCT)—a Honda exclusive in powersports. Three-person and convertible five-person versions are each available in standard and Deluxe variations, and a Limited Edition five-person model offers handy features like hill-start assist, Electronic Brakeforce Distribution (EBD) and the I-4WD traction-management system, another powersports exclusive that is a direct result of Honda’s automotive-engineering expertise. All trim levels get electric power steering.
Colors
Pioneer 1000-5 LE: Matte Green Metallic
Pioneer 1000-5 Deluxe: Honda Phantom Camo®, Red, Reactor Blue
Pioneer 1000 Deluxe: Honda Phantom Camo, Red, Black
Pioneer 1000-5: Red, Olive
Pioneer 1000: Red, Olive
Price: Starting at $15,799
Availability: Summer 2019
Pioneer 700
Comfortable, reliable and versatile, the Pioneer 700 has always been in demand in the midsize multipurpose side-by-side market, and it’s no wonder: this important category puts a premium on versatility, and one would be hard-pressed to find a more adaptable vehicle than the Pioneer 700, which sits right in the middle of Honda’s multipurpose side-by-side lineup, striking a good balance between size, capability and maneuverability. The four-seat models offer two- and four-seat configurations available in standard and Deluxe versions, the latter boasting features like painted plastic, aluminum wheels, Electric Power Steering (EPS) and color-matched suspension springs, and Deluxe versions also let drivers switch between automatic and manual shifting. Both four-seat models boast QuickFlip™ seating, which allows the two rear seats to fold into the bed so that owners can select between two-, three- or four-seat configurations.
Colors
Pioneer 700-4 Deluxe: Honda Phantom Camo, Pearl Red
Pioneer 700 Deluxe: Honda Phantom Camo, Matte Silver
Pioneer 700-4: Metallic Silver
Pioneer 700: Red, White
Price: Starting at $10,999
Availability: Summer 2019
Pioneer 500
There’s a reason Honda’s Pioneer 500 is such a popular entry side-by-side. Actually, there are a lot of reasons. The compact chassis is ready for width-restricted trails and fits in a full-size pickup-truck bed. The 475cc fuel-injected engine delivers power through a five-speed gearbox that gives the option (on-the-fly selectable) of fully automatic shifting or changing gears manually via steering-column-mounted paddles. Dual-rate shock springs help the suspension deliver a plush, progressive feel, and when there’s work to be done, even the littlest Pioneer has a 1,000-pound towing capacity, along with a rear-rack load capacity of 450 pounds.
Colors: Honda Phantom Camo, Moose Brown, Red, White
Price: Starting at $9,199
Availability: Summer 2019
ABOUT AMERICAN HONDA – American Honda Motor Co., Inc., is the sole distributor of Honda motorcycles, scooters, ATVs and Side-by-Sides in the U.S. American Honda’s Powersports Division conducts the sales, marketing and operational activities for these products through independent authorized Honda retail dealers.
For more information on Honda products, go to powersports.honda.com
