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Canada's Online Auto Magazine |
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January 11, 2005
Honda's new 2006 Ridgeline pickup avoids "truck trade-offs"
Detroit, Michigan - The Honda Ridgeline truck made its world debut at the 2005 North
American International Auto Show. It's expected to go on sale in March of this year
as a 2006 model.
As well, the Ridgeline has a number of exclusive new features including a
Dual-Action tailgate and the industry's first In-Bed Trunk.
"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."
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.
For hauling, the Ridgeline features a steel reinforced, five-foot, composite truck
bed (6.5 feet with the tailgate down) designed to carry up to a half-ton of cargo.
An exclusive new Dual Action tailgate features a high-strength steel frame and has
the ability to flip down or swing out, providing easier access for loading and
unloading of bulky cargo or loose materials such as gravel or mulch.
The Ridgeline can haul a full-size ATV or two of Honda's largest off-road
motorcycles. Due to its wide bed and minimal wheel arch intrusion, the Ridgeline can
also carry 4-foot wide sheets of building material flat on the floor, something no
other compact or mid-size truck can do.
Incorporated into the floor of the bed is one of the Ridgeline's most innovative new
features: an In-Bed Trunk. Accessed by lifting up the hinged rear portion of the bed
floor, the In-Bed Trunk features 8.5 cu.-ft. of secure, lockable and water resistant
storage space. The spare tire is stored in a sliding tray inside the trunk and can
accommodate a full-size spare tire.
Its high-output, 3.5-litre 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 class-leading fuel economy.
Inside, the Ridgeline boasts a spacious, five-passenger cabin with interior space
similar to that of a full-size truck, including the most generous rear seat legroom
for a four-door pickup. The versatile second-row bench has storage space under the
seat large enough to hold a set of golf clubs or other oversized items, and features
a 60/40-split lift-up rear seat allowing for storage of even bulkier items like a
full-size mountain bike.
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