2017 Honda Ridgeline
We expected to see the new Ridgeline at
Detroit ever since Honda previewed it as a Baja race truck at SEMA.
After seeing a couple of teaser images
and the whole truck converted into a racer, we kind of had an idea how the
final product will look like. So, no surprises here, as the mid-size sport
utility truck appears to be a straightforward, no-nonsense vehicle.
Set to debut today at the North American
International Auto Show in Detroit, the new pickup truck is wider and longer
than the previous generation, measuring an additional 13.7
centimeters in width and 10 cm in length – sporting a four-foot
wide flat bed, with a fully flat-floor which can withstand and a maximum
payload capacity of 725 kilograms).
To top it off, the bed is apparently
scratch-resistant and comes with a dual action tailgate, a 400-watt AC power
inverter and an in-bed audio system that uses six exciters placed inside the
bed wall in order to release sound coming from the truck’s audio system for a
total output of 540 watts.
The 2017 Ridgeline will be powered
exclusively by a 3.5-litre V6 mated to a six-speed automatic gearbox, which
Honda says it will ensure best-in-class acceleration and fuel economy, and will
be available in both front and all-wheel-drive configurations. The AWD system
will incorporate Honda’s Intelligent Terrain Management, providing several
modes: Normal, Sand, Snow, and Mud.
As expected from a brand new model, it
will be available with a plethora of safety equipment, including Collision
Mitigation Braking, Lane Departure Warning, Road Departure Mitigation, Forward
Collision Warning, and Lane Keeping Assist. Moreover, all of the models will
get a multi-angle rearview camera as standard.
