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Honda Ridgeline (2017)

idolevi159
Feb 7, 2017
3 min read

Despite pickup trucks being America’s favorite vehicle, Honda has found the going tough with their Ridgeline pickup truck. Since the Ridgeline made its maiden debut in the American market in 2005, it only enjoyed a single good year in 2006 and from then things have been on a nosedive.

The American pickup truck market is dominated by General Motors, Fiat Chrysler and Ford Motor. To penetrate the market therefore needs an excellent offering. We believe the Japanese auto maker has learned from his mistakes. Actually its unibody styling proved to be a huge disadvantage and it is good that the auto maker has changed its styling to the body-on-frame which offers more flexibility, strength and is easy to maintain. After discontinuing production of the model in 2014, Honda is ready to give it a second shot with a revamped model going by the name 2017 Honda Ridgeline.

Honda Ridgeline Exterior:

Honda had previously signaled its intent to produce a redesigned Ridgeline by releasing teaser images. The model has been spotted recently during testing covered in heavy camouflage making it clear that a new Ridgeline is coming in the near future. According to the spy shots we have, the new model has drawn its styling inspiration from the new Pilot SUV.

In terms of its dimensions, the pickup truck might reach 206 inches in length, 73 inches height, and 78 inches width with a wheelbase of 126 inches. Its total bed trunk capacity is 1,550 lbs making it comfortable even when carrying high amount loads.

The new 2017 Honda Ridgeline has been redesigned and takes a more traditional pickup profile. At the front, the vehicle has a more prominent grille flanked by sweptback headlights. The rear C-pillar is vertical and the bedsides are straight and horizontal. The vehicle will ride on 5-spoke alloy wheels. The vehicle will also feature plastic body cladding, muscular fender flares and a tailgate which has been integrated with a spoiler. We will communicate clearer information when the automaker makes its specs public or if we manage to capture clearer shots.

Honda Ridgeline Interior:

The interior specs have not been made public but from the spy shots we have the cabin looks to have been greatly improved. The new cabin looks enhanced than most pickups in the market today. Passengers will find plenty of head and leg room. The truck is made with a cost effective point of view, thus, the truck does not feature luxurious or sophisticated interior.

However, the cabin comes with all basic components. It is rumored that the seats will be upholstered in leather with 10-way power adjustable seats, heated front seats and adjustable seat belts. For comfort, the pickup truck might come with dual-zone automatic air control, flat rear floor, rear view mirror with a camera, a column mounted shifter system and illuminated mirrors among others. Other likely features will be a touch-screen infotainment system, basic music connectivity and a premium sound system.

Engine Specs:

Under the hood of the new Ridgeline, Honda has featured similar engine as the one in the Pilot SUV. The unit is a 3.5 L V6 engine. The official output details are not yet out but the engine produces 280 hp and 260 lb-ft of torque on the Pilot SUV. The pickup truck will be offered in both all-wheel-drive and front-wheel drive.

This drive-train will be paired with a 6-speed automatic transmission system with an option for a 9-speed automatic transmission. There are also rumors going round about the possibility of a diesel engine.

Price and release date:

According to credible reports, the automaker will premiere the 2017 Honda Ridgeline pickup truck in an North American International Auto Show early in 2016 and follow up its release to showrooms later probably during the early summer.

The Ridgeline will cost around $ 30,000. We will inform you of the official price and release date when the automaker releases official information.