New Honda Ridgeline...sort of

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Originally Posted By: Hokiefyd
Interesting. I see a flat top bed rail and a gap between the bed and the body.


I surmised earlier that the flat bed rail was a nod to either bed cap makers or to other users who need to put a box of some sort on.

The gap is interesting. Removing that gap made the body more rigid, but rigidity I'd think is not highly required for offroad use--which this truck was never really meant for. [I know it can go offroad, and is quite capable, but it's no Jeep and doesn't pretend to be one.]
 
I don't hate the angled bed rail that the 1st generation has, but will say that I really like the look of what we've seen of the 2nd generation so far. I hope and trust that they continue with 4-wheel independent suspension and unibody/box frame construction like the 1st generation.
 
Originally Posted By: Hokiefyd
I don't hate the angled bed rail that the 1st generation has, but will say that I really like the look of what we've seen of the 2nd generation so far. I hope and trust that they continue with 4-wheel independent suspension and unibody/box frame construction like the 1st generation.


Kind of a Catch-22 for Honda. If they try to please the "real" truck people too much, then the potential buyer that liked the qualities of the first generation unibody, will be possibly put off.

Hopefully, whatever the final product is, it will appeal to a broader range of folks than the last model.

For me, the new one looks a tad bit sedate and really rather...dull. But I could be wrong.
 
Originally Posted By: andrewg
For me, the new one looks a tad bit sedate and really rather...dull. But I could be wrong.


I like it for that reason. I like simple shapes, subtle touches...basically, the opposite of ostentation. I don't think the old Ridgeline was "too showy", but I could certainly live with straighter bed lines. I never have been a fan of the old generation's interior, visually. Having said that, after owning one for six months now, it's a study in how to do ergonomics right.
 
Originally Posted By: Hokiefyd
Originally Posted By: andrewg
For me, the new one looks a tad bit sedate and really rather...dull. But I could be wrong.


I like it for that reason. I like simple shapes, subtle touches...basically, the opposite of ostentation. I don't think the old Ridgeline was "too showy", but I could certainly live with straighter bed lines. I never have been a fan of the old generation's interior, visually. Having said that, after owning one for six months now, it's a study in how to do ergonomics right.


I see your point....and for the most part agree. I certainly don't like flashy pickups. I don't like too boring of a look either. But being that Honda has always had modest sales figures for the Ridgeline, I would think that they COULD offer a more aggressive version with a higher rise, bore serious tires, and maybe more HP....just to hedge the bet. I'd imagine Honda could sell far more of them while still offering the sedate version. All a manufacturer needs to do is add HP and people will instantly notice. Is that cost effective? Probably not or they would do it.
 
Honda sent this out to us at the dealers on the 18th of this month

Quote:
Honda Accelerates Sweeping Light Truck Makeover with New Ridgeline Pickup Set for Global Debut at the 2016 North American International Auto Show



TORRANCE, Calif., December 18, 2015 – Honda will challenge conventional thinking in the midsize pickup segment with the return of the Honda Ridgeline truck, set to make its world debut at the 2016 North American International Auto Show in Detroit on Monday, January 11 at 1:15 p.m. EST. Designed, developed and manufactured in America, the all-new Ridgeline is the fourth new or significantly refreshed light truck model introduced by Honda in the past 18 months and will hit roads nationwide in the first half of next year.



“We developed this new Honda Ridgeline to offer something new and fundamentally better suited to the way many buyers use their truck,” said Jeff Conrad, senior vice president and general manager of the Honda Division. “Ridgeline will deliver everything you’d expect in a Honda from incredible packaging and fuel-efficiency to top safety technologies and innovative, segment-first features. We’re honored to once again debut the Ridgeline in Detroit at the North American International Auto Show.”



Honda began the complete remake of its light-truck lineup in the fall of 2014 with the freshened 2015 Honda CR-V, America’s best selling SUV. Earlier this year, Honda launched the all-new HR-V crossover, gateway to the Honda truck lineup, and the third generation of its popular Pilot three-row SUV. In 2016, Honda will continue the strengthening of its light-truck family of vehicles with the new Ridgeline and a fully redesigned Odyssey minivan.



Calendar year 2015 sales of Honda light trucks are up 11.8 percent to 599,507 vehicles through the end of November and are on track to set a new all-time sales record for the brand, beating the previous best of 602,123 units in 2006.



Like the first generation Ridgeline, which also debuted at NAIAS in 2005, the all-new Ridgeline was designed and developed by Honda R&D Americas, Inc., in its Torrance, California design studios and Raymond, Ohio, new-vehicle development center. The Ridgeline and its engine will be produced (1) by Honda Manufacturing of Alabama, Inc., in Lincoln, Alabama.



Watch the press conference live at Honda’s YouTube channel, youtube.com/user/Honda or media website, hondanews.com/channels/ridgeline.
 
Originally Posted By: supton
TTAC has a front pic: http://www.thetruthaboutcars.com/2016/01...ruck-right-cha/

(can't post the pic at the moment, maybe someone else will)


I personally don't like the front that much, I like the back half...

29hezb.jpg
 
I watched the company unveiling live.

I must say that I am not that impressed with the new Ridgeline's looks. Rather dull...mundane and sedate looking. It needed a bit of muscularity and maybe some more ride hight.

I'd give it a 6 out of 10 for looks.
 
I don't think I care for the front end. The headlamps look smooshed rearward. I do like the rear styling. Maybe it's the angle -- the top picture in front of the mountains looks a lot nicer than the press room photos to me. Could also be the color combo and trim pieces. The black one isn't doing anything for me, but the lighter blue/silver one looks better.

The TTAC article says that the box is larger and 4x8 plywood can lay flat in the bed. It's good that Honda kept that capability; the old Ridgeline can do that as well.

It's essential that they keep the trunk and the dual-mode tailgate, which they seem to be doing. I use both pretty much every time I drive mine. It looks like Honda is going down the road of leaving amber rear turn signals off their models -- a total turn-off for me.

I'd like this truck a lot more if they had amber rear turn signals and front styling a little more squared-off. I do like the straight box lines, though, and I'm sure the powertrain improvements are many. The torque vectoring AWD would really be fun -- I understand it's essentially a renamed Acura SH-AWD system.
 
Never really got the point of these trucks. To large to be a compact truck and to light duty to do anything a half ton can do.

Whatever, looks like a nice 2006 I mean 2016 I'm sure they will sell a few hundred.
 
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Originally Posted By: Miller88
I like it!

At least it only has the front clip from the Traverse. Not the whole thing.


crackmeup2.gif


Yeah I still hold my ground about it being a minivan up front
 
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