Next-Generation Honda Ridgeline Teased

[mugencivic4dr]

Honda is dribbling out some information concerning the next-generation Ridgeline, announcing that the new truck will “come to market in less than two years.”

The current Ridgeline, which is built exclusively in Lincoln, Alabama, will conclude production in mid-2014 to make way for the new truck. The Ridgeline was introduced in the 2006 model year, and is still the only pickup truck to use a closed-box unibody platform.

A sketch of the next-generation Ridgeline was also released by the brand, and shows off the new truck’s new square style.

The Ridgeline has never sold in huge numbers, despite being lauded as the 2006 North American truck of the year. The best month ever for the Ridgeline saw 1853 units moved, though sales are up by 29 percent in 2013 year-to-date thanks in part to a new top of the line trim level.

http://www.autoguide.com/auto-news/2...two-years.html

[mugencivic4dr]

Honda promises all-new Ridgeline within two years

Despite an aging design and low sales, Honda has remained committed to its Ridgeline pickup truck. Now, in its first official confirmation of a next-gen Ridgeline, Honda has released a teaser sketch (click to enlarge) of the new truck and promised a debut within two years, as previously reported.

The sketch shows the direction that Honda is planning for its new truck, which appears to ditch the single-piece body in favor of a more conventional pickup truck design. Even with the new design, it's not clear if Honda will move away from the Ridgeline's car-based platform shared with the Odyssey, Pilot and Accord. Sales of the Ridgeline dipped to below 10,000 units in 2011 but have increased steadily over the last two years (including 29 percent so far in 2013) with slightly more than 16,000 units on the year.

As for the current Ridgeline, Honda will wind down production at the Lincoln, AL assembly plant sometime during the middle of next year. The press release for the announcement is posted below.

Press Release

All-new Honda Ridgeline Pickup to Debut Within Two Years

12/10/2013 - TORRANCE, Calif.
-Design sketch reveals styling direction for Next-Gen Honda truck
-Current Ridgeline production will end mid-2014
-Sales of Ridgeline up 29 percent in 2013

An all-new Honda Ridgeline pickup truck will come to market in less than two years and, today, Honda shared a sketch expressing the new truck's styling direction. Honda also confirmed that production of the current Ridgeline (http://automobiles.honda.com/ridgeline/), built exclusively by Honda Manufacturing of Alabama, LLC, in Lincoln, Alabama, will conclude in mid-2014.

Like the innovative first-generation model that earned 2006 North American Truck of the Year and Motor Trend Truck of the Year honors after its fall 2005 debut, the next-gen Ridgeline is being designed and developed by Honda R&D Americas, Inc. at its Los Angeles and Ohio R&D centers.

The Honda Ridgeline broke new ground in the American pickup market with its unique design featuring a spacious five-passenger cabin, smooth ride and handling, and half-ton truck capability. The first truck of its kind to be built on a closed-box unibody platform, the Ridgeline introduced innovative new features to the pickup segment, such as its large In-Bed Trunk® and dual-action tailgate.

"The next generation Ridgeline will build on Honda's role in creating new value with a new take on advancing form and function in the truck segment," said Michael Accavitti, senior vice president of automobile operations for American Honda Motor Co., Inc. "With a clear path forward, Ridgeline will play an even more important role in our future product portfolio and strengthen an already class-leading lineup of light trucks."

Sales of Ridgeline have enjoyed strong momentum in 2013, strengthened recently by the introduction of a new top-of-the-line Special Edition model for 2014, with sales totaling 16,160 units through the first 11 months of the year, an increase of 29 percent.

About Honda
Honda offers a complete lineup of cars and trucks through a network of more than 1,000 dealerships in the United States. Honda has more than 30 years of experience producing automobiles in the region, which began with the Accord in Marysville, Ohio, in November 1982. Having produced more than 25 million vehicles in North America through 2012 using domestic and globally sourced parts, Honda currently operates 14 major manufacturing facilities in North America, producing a wide range of Honda automobiles, all-terrain vehicles, power equipment products, engines and transmissions.

http://www.autoblog.com/2013/12/10/h...ine-two-years/

[mugencivic4dr]

Next Honda Ridgeline to eschew weird visuals, go mainstream?

Last year, Honda gave us the first furtive glance at the next-generation Ridgeline with a shadowy photo of it in profile (above), and it promised that the pickup would "come to market in less than two years." That would have put the truck on track for a 2015 debut, but the automaker hasn't said anything more officially about the new model since then.

A new report from USA Today might shed some new light on the mysterious model. It claims that the next Ridgeline has more conventional pickup styling than the original model in a bid to conquest some buyers. You can get that feeling from the sketch, which appears to showing something far more traditional than the unorthodox original Ridgeline, whose odd tapering bedsides terminated in a double-hinged tailgate.

USA Today goes on to claim that the new Ridgeline will go on sale around late 2015 or early 2016. That's a bit later than expected, but fits with an earlier rumor.

Even accepting the Honda's original two-year claim, the new Ridgeline is diving into a filling pool of midsize pickups. The new Chevrolet Colorado and GMC Canyon should have their diesel engines about then, and the next Toyota Tacoma is rumored for around then too. A Nissan Frontier successor might also be on the way. That's a lot of fresh competition hitting at roughly the same time for a segment that hasn't seen a new entrant in many years.

The original Alabama-built Ridgeline wasn't exactly a rip-roaring sales success with its unibody chassis and quirky layout. So maybe Honda is right to bide its time until the next one is perfect.

http://www.autoblog.com/2014/10/08/h...ng-mainstream/

[mugencivic4dr]

New Honda Ridgeline coming in 2016

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.

http://www.worldcarfans.com/11501138...-new-ridgeline

[H311RA151N]

Hopefully they do a little better with the 4x4 operation this go around. The last one sucked. And you couldn't tow crap with it. Looked good. Had nice features and plenty of room. And you find them on occasion with 250-300k. But they traded power for MPG and you never do that with a truck. What they ended up with was a truck that got shitty MPG and was gutless.

I think maybe it's time for Honda to try their hand in 8 cylinders. Their reason for not doing so is pretty stupid. There could be so much more in an S2000 like car with lets say a 4.3l V8. Or like this Ridgeline.

It seems they just don't want to offer what people want because they don't have too. They made their name. They know people will buy their daily commuters and thus keep them afloat. But they are only going to make what they want to make. Which none of it is competitive. Quick for a Honda yeah but just listen to that. "Quick for a Honda..."

[mugencivic4dr]

^^^i agree, IMO since 2001 honda's design team and R&D just do put much effort into any car they design/manufacture. that lazy-ness (or whatever you want to call it) will eventually catch up to them and they'll become what GM because in the 80's and 90's, bunch of crappy vehicles.

[XCRN]

Best we can hope for is probably a turbo 6 cylinder which might work but there would probably be better options available.

[H311RA151N]

Turbo 6 cylinder would be alright. I could deal with that. But even then they would put it in a FWD car. You know they would. And it wouldn't be a straight 6.

[mugencivic4dr]

Honda Sketches Out New 2017 Ridgeline Pickup Truck in Chicago

During its 2015 Chicago Auto Show presentation of the new 2016 Pilot mid-size crossover, Honda dropped a teaser sketch of the related, next-gen Ridgeline truck.

"The all-new truck will take the original's award-winning performance, comfort and utility to new levels with completely new styling that communicates unmistakably that it's a pickup, yet with a uniquely Honda flair," the carmaker said in a brief statement.

As with the previous Ridgeline, the new model will be based on the Pilot, keeping its four passenger doors but swapping out the rear hatch-section for a pickup truck bed.

It should get the same 3.5-liter V6 direct-injection engine as the new Pilot coupled to either a 6-speed automatic or the new 9-speed automatic transmission and all-wheel drive.

*Update: Honda said that the new Ridgeline will join their lineup "Within the next two years".

http://www.carscoops.com/2015/02/hon...ridgeline.html

[mugencivic4dr]

2017 Honda Ridgeline spied in the United States

Click here to view more photos

The 2017 Honda Ridgeline has been spied undergoing testing in the United States.

Dressed in heavy camouflage, the redesigned truck has a prominent grille, sweptback headlights and five-spoke alloy wheels. Additional details are hard to see but a previous teaser image revealed the model will have plastic body cladding, muscular fender flares and a tailgate with an integrated spoiler.

Honda has been tight lipped about specifications but the model is expected to be heavily influenced by the 2016 Pilot. This means power will likely be provided by a 3.5-liter V6 that develops 280 bhp (208 kW) and 262 lb-ft (355 Nm) of torque.

http://www.worldcarfans.com/11508039...-united-states

[Night Wolf]

Probably gunna be filled with expensive accessories like an EX-L accord. They should have a base version for work duties only.

[AccordWarrior]

It's interesting that it seems more like a VW Amarok than a conventional pickup. My suspicion is that it will be unibody, which will hamper it somewhat in terms of using it as a true truck (and a big reason we'll never see a stripped down version).

Given the dislike the new Tacoma seems to be getting in the press and on TacomaWorld, and given that there is still a large group of enthusiasts that don't want a full size truck, but don't need a full frame and whatnot, I could see this becoming a surprise hit.

I'm growing very tired of this high beltline BS though.

[mugencivic4dr]

Probably gunna be filled with expensive accessories like an EX-L accord. They should have a base version for work duties only.

more than likely.

It's interesting that it seems more like a VW Amarok than a conventional pickup. My suspicion is that it will be unibody, which will hamper it somewhat in terms of using it as a true truck (and a big reason we'll never see a stripped down version).

Given the dislike the new Tacoma seems to be getting in the press and on TacomaWorld, and given that there is still a large group of enthusiasts that don't want a full size truck, but don't need a full frame and whatnot, I could see this becoming a surprise hit.

I'm growing very tired of this high beltline BS though.

i don't mind the ridgeline but i think Honda should focus on the towing capacity. if the 1st gen had a higher TC i think more consumers would of considered purchasing it. (oddessy drivetrain doesn't cut it)

i really think that the 2nd gen will not be what every one expects and still would not be be considered a truck at all.