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2005 North American International Auto Show |
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Honda R&D Americas' Ohio and Los Angeles Centers were responsible for the design and development of the Ridgeline. The Ridgeline is Honda R&D Americas' fourth light truck development following the Acura MDX, Honda Pilot and Honda Element. Production of the Ridgeline will be done by Honda of Canada Manufacturing. This is the fourth exclusive new light truck model launch by Honda's Alliston, Ontario, plant, beginning with the previous generation Odyssey and followed by the MDX and Pilot. The Ridgeline will be available in three well-equipped trim levels, the RT, RT-S and RT-L. Standard features on all models will include a 5-speed automatic transmission; VTM-4WD; Vehicle Stability Assist with Traction Control; side curtain airbags; ABS with EBD; power windows, mirrors and locks; air conditioning; cruise control; lockable In-Bed Trunk; Dual Action tailgate and towing package. Pricing is not yet finalized, but is expected to be in the range of $27,000 to $32,000. Approximately 50,000 trucks are expected to be sold in the first 12 months. |
The Honda Ridgeline truck made its world debut today at the 2005 North American International Auto Show as American Honda Motor Co., Inc., announced plans for the launch of its innovative new truck at Honda dealerships nationwide in March of this year as a 2006 model. Developed as a next generation truck, the Ridgeline takes advantage of an innovative new truck body construction and a steel reinforced composite bed to deliver true truck capabilities including half-ton hauling and 5,000-pound towing, along with next-generation truck styling, performance and packaging. The Ridgeline boasts the pickup truck segment's first four-wheel, fully independent suspension system combined with an advanced fully automatic four-wheel drive system to deliver superior ride and handling versus traditional truck designs, and a number of exclusive new features including a Dual-Action tailgate and the industry's first In-Bed Trunk(TM). "The truck market is evolving and we think Ridgeline is at the leading edge of the trend," said Dick Colliver, executive vice president of American Honda Motor Co., Inc. "The Honda Ridgeline delivers all the capabilities of a truck with none of the traditional truck trade-offs. It combines Honda innovation, Honda engineering and Honda's commitment to environmental and safety leadership in a next generation truck package." Highlights of the new Ridgeline truck include:
Honda engineers developed a new truck body construction, a fully integrated truck frame with two longitudinal frame rails and seven high-strength steel cross members that create a fully boxed, deep channel, ladder frame structure fully integrated into the upper body of the vehicle. Body bending rigidity is more than 2.5 times stiffer than the best performing body-on-frame compact truck competitor and rear torsion rigidity is more than 20 times stiffer. Fully 93 percent of the Ridgeline's frame components are exclusive to this model. The Ridgeline's powertrain is designed for excellent all-around performance, including towing, with class-leading fuel economy and ultra-low (ULEV) emissions. Its high-output, 3.5-liter VTEC V-6 engine produces 255 horsepower and 252 lb.-ft. of torque. Unique in the class, the Ridgeline provides a standard 5-speed automatic transmission and fully automatic four-wheel drive system. The Ridgeline's standard Variable Torque Management 4-Wheel Drive System (VTM-4WD) is designed for excellent all-weather handling, traction and off-road ability, and can transfer up to 70 percent of available torque to the rear wheels. The Ridgeline delivers EPA-rated fuel economy of 16/21 for city/highway driving and is the first pickup to meet stringent Ultra-Low Emissions Vehicle (ULEV) standards in all 50 states. |
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