Honda enters an entirely new market segment with the world debut of the 2006 Ridgeline pickup truck.
Honda?s first entry into the half-ton pickup segment is a 4-door 5-passenger truck that offers a number of innovative features including a steel reinforced composite bed, a dual action tailgate, and a lockable watertight storage area location under the truck bed. The Dual Action tailgate can be lowered like a traditional tailgate or swing to the side.
Ridgeline is powered by a 3.5-liter VTEC V6 engine that produces 255 horsepower and 252 lb-ft of torque, mated to a standard 5-speed automatic transmission.
Standard equipment includes air conditioning, power windows, power door locks, air conditioning, and 5-passenger seating. The second-row features a 60/40 split bench seat will lift up to allow using the rear seat area for cargo. Standard safety equipment includes side curtain airbags with rollover sensor, front side airbags, ABS with Electronic Brake Force Distribution, Vehicle Stability Assist, and traction control.
Unlike traditional full-size pickup trucks, the Ridgeline does not have a cargo bed that is separate from the passenger cab; the bed and cab are integrated, giving the truck a distinctive look. The Ridgeline uses a fully integrated closed box frame and unit body construction, and is rated for a half-ton (1,100-pound) bed capacity and 5,000-pound towing capacity.
The Ridgeline also features four-wheel fully independent suspension and a fully automatic Variable Torque Management 4-Wheel Drive System (VTM-4WD) that can transfer up to 70 percent of the available torque to the rear wheels.
Ridgeline will be offered in three versions, RT, RT-S, and RT-L, and will go on sale at Honda dealerships in March of 2005. Final pricing has not been announced but is expected to be in the range of $27,000 to $32,000.
Topic: Honda Pickup (Read 3101 times)