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Yup. Unfortunately I really like the Ridgeline, but it's obvious Honda won't commit to a new one. The 2-year hiatus = "let's-hope-they've-forgotten-by-now" strategy.
On the really bad snow days here, I've asked myself why I didn't look into a Ridgeline when I was browsing for my TL-S. Or trade it in while the TL-S still has relatively low miles.
I realize it's not exactly anyone's first go-to, poor-weather choice of a vehicle, but I've always had a soft spot for that sucker.
If you had had bought the RidgeLine, then you would constantly be asking yourself why I didn't look into a TL-S when I was browsing for my RidgeLine, for the entire year other than those couple of once-in-a-decade bad snow days.
If you had had bought the RidgeLine, then you would constantly be asking yourself why I didn't look into a TL-S when I was browsing for my RidgeLine, for the entire year other than those couple of once-in-a-decade bad snow days.
Touche, good sir.
Unfortunately, I didn't win (any portion of) the Powerball on Wed, otherwise we wouldn't be having this convo.
And will it FINALLY have the long rumored diesel V6?
No and no.
This is like asking if Honda will have a V8 or RWD cars.
They will probably use some SUV platform and drive-train straight out of the Honda parts bin. As GM found with Colorado, there's probably a healthy market for smaller pickups than full size ones that dominate the market. If Honda can design/price it right they could capture a good chunk of that market.
Honda’s second-generation Ridgeline truck shed a few more layers of camouflage recently, as spy photographers snapped the upcoming pickup ahead of its Detroit auto show debut in January.
The shots confirm what many in the industry had been expecting -- that Honda would ditch the controversial flying buttress profile from the original Ridgeline in favor of a more traditional trucklike silhouette.
But hints of the old design stuck around: A closer look at the rear of the new Ridgeline’s four-door cabin shows the rear glass tilts inward at the top.
The Ridgeline prototype -- seen testing on public roads -- also appears to share much of its face with the recently redesigned Pilot crossover. The Ridgeline and Pilot share the same unibody platform, making it an oddity in a world still dominated by body-on-frame trucks.
The prototype’s softer, curvy look sets it apart from its more blocky midsize competitors such as the Toyota Tacoma, Chevy Colorado and GMC Canyon. In-bed lighting and a bedliner can be seen in the photos, as well as a dashboard design that echoes the new Pilot’s.
Honda previewed other styling cues on the redesigned pickup with the Ridgeline Baja Race Truck that debuted at the Specialty Equipment Market Association show in Las Vegas this month.
The new Ridgeline is expected to come with the same 3.5-liter, V-6 engine that Honda uses in the Pilot. In that application, it makes 280 hp and 262 pounds-feet of torque. It’s hooked up to either a six-speed automatic transmission in lower trims or a nine-speed auto in high-end models.
The re-engineered and redesigned Ridgeline is expected to go on sale in 2016 as a 2017 model.
It replaces an innovative first-gen truck that used its unibody setup to offer features such as in-bed storage and a tailgate that opened either down or to the side.
Reaction to the original Ridgeline was mixed. It was Motor Trend’s Truck of the Year in 2006 and sales peaked at more than 50,000 that same year. It had total sales of 257,516 from 2005 through 10 months of 2015.
But sales slowed after the model’s first four years of production as buyers remained loyal to more traditional midsize offerings.
Honda is hoping to tap into low gas prices and consumers’ increased appetite for trucks that aren’t traditional full-size models from the Detroit 3, whose prices and size have grown significantly in recent years.
General Motors has proved there’s demand in the midsize pickup market. It’s on pace to generate U.S. sales of more than 100,000 Chevy Colorado and GMC Canyon trucks in 2015.
Honda will return to the Super Bowl with a spot showcasing the new 2017 Ridgeline pickup.
The ad, which will be the Ridgeline’s TV debut, is slated to run in the third quarter. The Ridgeline will make its world debut at the Detroit auto show in January.
Honda last ran a Super Bowl ad in 2014. Its safety-themed “Hugfest” spot starred Bruce Willis.
In addition to Honda, Hyundai, Acura and Kia have confirmed that they will run Super Bowl 50 ads.
“The big game is the largest and most coveted stage to show the world that Honda is back in a big way with an all-new Ridgeline truck,” said Jeff Conrad, general manager of Honda Division, in a statement.
The new Ridgeline will be produced at Honda’s auto and engine plant in Lincoln, Ala. It's expected to reach dealerships in the first half of 2016.
The Ridgeline, Honda’s first foray into the North American pickup market, went on sale in early 2005. Monthly U.S. sales peaked at 6,589 in December 2005, and it was named North American Truck of the Year in 2006, partly because of its clever layout and innovative cargo stowage system.
Production of the first generation in Lincoln ended in 2014. Through November, Honda sold 518 of the outgoing Ridgelines.
Meh, looks like many other Japanese and some American pickups and that's the point Honda made, not trying to distinguish this time around for the Ridgeline.
Sometimes that works (Ram), but many times it does not. Simple reason Chevy and Ford don't mess around much with exterior styling on their trucks.
As far as the Ridgeline is concerned, looks bland but will probably sell more with this gen.
I'd be curious to see the sales numbers of the base FWD trim. A FWD truck? Hmm.
It would be very unique - though I'm not sure I'd market my truck around that. It looks like a truck and has Honda reliability - I can see it selling well.
has the first ridgeline sold well? I don't know anything about it really. I saw some here and there, looked at pricing YEARS ago but FWD/AWD system they had turned me away from it. I didn't like it in the 2003 MDX my ex gf had and ridgeline had the same system I believe.
They need to put SH-AWD in this or make it a true 4x4. Otherwise, it looks decent for the city driving with occasional need for the bed. Definitely not rugged stuff
I'd buy one of these after they hit the 3-4 year old mark. It would be a handy hauler, for moving random stuff and summer activities. I loved the original Ridgeline and it's usefulness. I think the looks of the new Ridgeline will likely be better in person than in photos.
07-15-2013, 04:08 PM
Thats the best they could come up with? 
honda
Meh, looks like many other Japanese and some American pickups and that's the point Honda made, not trying to distinguish this time around for the Ridgeline. 
