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Honda Begins Producing Innovative Ridgeline Pickup

First Pickup Truck to Offer Handy Trunk is also First Honda Pickup Truck

Hondas new pickup truck, dubbed Ridgeline, went into production on Monday, February 1st at the Japanese automakers Alliston, Ontario production facility, from where it will be shipped to both Canadian and U.S. markets.

The Ridgeline is already making waves in the segment for its innovative 8.5 cubic-foot car-like trunk, despite not even having arrived at dealer showrooms yet.

But the trunk isnt all that separates it from the conventional pickup truck crowd, it also features something Honda calls a Dual Action tailgate,

Hondas new pickup truck, dubbed Ridgeline, went into production on Monday, February 1st. (Photo: American Honda)

a truly unique feature that integrates a high-strength steel frame and has the ability to flip down or swing out.

While it might look to be derived from the brands midsize Pilot SUV, which rides on a modified Odyssey architecture that itself is developed off of the Accord chassis, the Ridgeline can do more than light-duty hauling.

The Ridgeline can do more than light-duty hauling, it can manage more than half-ton payloads (actually 1,100 pounds) and 5,000 pounds of trailer weight. (Photo: American Honda)

Actually, it can manage more than half-ton payloads (actually 1,100 pounds) and 5,000 pounds of trailer weight thanks to a steel reinforced composite bed hooked up to a fully integrated, closed-box frame.

This unique undercarriage gives it much greater body rigidity than conventional compact or midsize pickup trucks, while still featuring a functional 5-foot bed. Other standard towing equipment includes

"The Honda Ridgeline delivers all the capabilities of a truck with none of the traditional truck trade-offs," said executive vice president of American Honda Dick Colliver. (Photo: American Honda)

transmission and power steering coolers, pre-wiring for trailer connections, a dual fan radiator, heavy-duty brakes and an exclusive fresh air intake system, giving no need for a special towing package, only the addition of a hitch.

Whats a fully integrated, closed-boxed frame? Nothing to do with the Pilot SUV, the Ridgelines undercarriage boasts 93 percent exclusive components, including two longitudinal frame rails and seven high-strength steel cross members for the fully boxed effect, plus a deep

The Ridgeline boasts a large cabin with the best rear legroom in the 4-door pickup class. (Photo: American Honda)

channel, ladder frame structure which is fully integrated into the upper body of the vehicle. The result is body bending rigidity more than 2.5 times stiffer than the best performing body-on-frame compact truck competitor and rear torsion rigidity more than 20 times stiffer.

That rigidity reportedly not only creates a truck more capable of hauling heavy loads and undergoing sizeable trailer weights, but also one that rides and handles better than the average pickup truck available.

"The truck market is evolving and we think Ridgeline is at the leading edge of the trend," said executive vice president of American Honda Dick Colliver. "The Honda

Hondas high-output 255-hp 3.5-liter SOHC VTEC V6 is best-in-class fuel economy. (Photo: American Honda)

Ridgeline delivers all the capabilities of a truck with none of the traditional truck trade-offs. It combines Honda innovation, Honda engineering and Hondas commitment to environmental and safety leadership in a next generation truck package."

Those buyers opting for Hondas entry due to its similar hauling characteristics to a conventional open bed truck, superior car-like driving dynamics achieved via a fully independent suspension, with standard Vehicle Stability Assist (VSA) and Traction Control for safetys sake, an integrated cab and cargo box design, and excellent interior packaging, will also benefit from a large cabin with the best rear legroom in the 4-door pickup class, ideal for families not needing the third row of seats the brands Pilot SUV offers, and alternatively

The new Honda truck will come in three trim levels, RT, RT-S and RT-L. (Photo: Trevor Hofmann, American Auto Press)

needing exterior cargo capacity.

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