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2005 NAIAS: Honda Ridgeline Truck Unveiled at Detroit Auto Show - All-new 4WD Honda truck will debut as 2006 model


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January 10, 2005 -- Detroit -- 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:

Fully Integrated Closed Box Frame with unit body construction Next-generation styling with integrated cab and bed Steel reinforced composite bed with dual action tailgate and In-Bed Trunk Half-ton (1,100-pound) bed loading capability 255-horsepower 3.5-liter SOHC VTEC V-6 engine Standard 5,000 lb. towing capability Independent front and rear suspension Advanced VTM-4WD four-wheel-drive system Standard Vehicle Stability Assist (VSA) and Traction Control Standard side curtain airbags with rollover sensor, front side airbags and ABS with Electronic Brake Distribution (EBD) Fully-Integrated Closed Box Frame

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.

Steel Reinforced Composite Bed with In-Bed Trunk and Dual-Action Tailgate

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. Designed as the hub for Honda motorcycle, marine and power equipment product activity, 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.

Next-generation Powertrain

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.

Honest 5,000-pound Towing

In addition, the Ridgeline was designed to handle the kinds of towing and off-road duties most common to truck users. The Ridgeline has a long list of standard equipment geared for towing duties including transmission and power steering coolers, pre-wiring for trailer connections, a dual fan radiator, heavy-duty brakes and an exclusive fresh air intake system. This gives Ridgeline the ability to tow 5,000-pound loads with two passengers and their cargo, with only the addition of a trailer hitch.

Spacious and Versatile 5-passenger interior

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. With its improved packaging efficiency, Ridgeline delivers all this space and utility in a more maneuverable and garage-friendly mid-size truck package. Other interior highlights include large and easy to manipulate audio and HVAC controls, a steering-column mounted shift lever and an available voice-activated navigation system.

Safety Leadership

In keeping with Honda's industry-leading "Safety for Everyone" initiative, all Ridgeline models come equipped with a long list of standard safety features including 4-wheel anti-lock brakes with Electronic Brake Distribution, side curtain airbags with rollover sensor and Vehicle Stability Assist with Traction Control. Unit body construction allows for dispersion of collision forces through more load bearing channels than a traditional body-on-frame design.

North American Development and Production

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.

EXTERIOR
x
Four Door Cab
x
Vehicle-To-Vehicle Crash Compatibility Structure
x
Power Sliding Rear Cabin Window
x
Alloy Wheels
Available
Remote Entry System
x
Security System
Available
Power Moonroof
Available
Power Sliding Rear Cabin Window Open Indicator with Reminder Chime
x
Multi-Reflector Halogen Headlights with Auto-Off
x
Privacy Glass
x
Variable Intermittent Windshield Wipers
x
Automatic Heated Wiper Zone
x
Hidden Roof-Mounted Antenna
Available
Heated Side Mirrors
x
Roof Rails
Accessory
Heavy-Duty Front and Rear Tow Hooks
x
.
PICKUP BED
x
SRC Cargo Bed (Steel-Reinforced Composite)
x
In-Bed Trunk(TM)
x
Dual-Action Tailgate
x
Heavy Duty Tie-Down Cleats (6)
x
Integrated Bed Lights (4) with Auto-Off Timer
x
Motorcycle Wheel Indents
x
.
TOWING
x
Pre-Wired for Trailer Connection (4/7-pin)
x
Large Foldable Side Mirrors
x
.
SAFETY AND SECURITY
Side Curtain Airbags
x
Driver's and Front Passenger's (w/ OPDS) Side Airbags
x
3-Point Seat Belts at all Seating Positions
x
Headrests at all Seating Positions
x
Adjustable Front Seat Belt Anchors
x
Lower Anchors and Tethers for Children (LATCH)
2nd Row (3 positions)
Automatic Power Locks
x
.
COMFORT AND CONVENIENCE
Multifunctional Center Storage Console with Sliding Armrest
x
All-Weather Heavy Duty Floormats
x
Driver's Seat Adjustment
8-way Power Available
Driver's Seat Height Adjustment
Power Available
Front Bucket Seats
x
60/40 Fold-Up Rear Seat with Underseat Cargo Zone
x
Leather Trimmed Front and Rear Seats
Available
Heated Front Seats
Available
Power Windows w/Auto Up/Down Driver's Window
x
HomeLink(R) Remote System**
Available
Cruise Control with Steering Wheel Controls
x
Map Lights, Front and Rear (4)
x
Door Mounted Entry Lights (4)
x
Front 12V DC Outlets (2)
x
Rear 12V DC Outlet
x
Sunglasses Holder
x
Front Passenger's Illuminated Vanity Mirrors
x
Sliding Sun Visors
x
.
CLIMATE CONTROL
Air Conditioning with Air-Filtration System
x
Automatic Dual-Zone Climate Control System
Available
Rear Passenger Ventilation
x
Outside Temperature Gauge
Available
.
INSTRUMENTATION AND CONTROLS
Information Display
x
Smart Maintenance Minder
x
Adjustable Steering Column
x
Rearview Mirror with Compass
Available
Column-Mounted Shift Lever
x
Dash-Mounted Headlight Control
x
Remote Fuel Filler Door Release
x
Tailgate-Open Indicator Light
x
Low-Fuel and Low-Oil Pressure Indicator Lights
x
Digital Clock
x
.
AUDIO / NAVIGATION / ENTERTAINMENT
100-Watt AM/FM/XM(R)-Ready/CD Audio System with 6 Speakers
x
160-Watt AM/FM/XM(R)-Ready/6-Disc In-Dash CD Changer Audio System with 7 Speakers including Subwoofer
Available
XM(R) Satellite Radio
Available
MP3/Digital Media Auxiliary Jack
Available
Steering Wheel-Mounted Audio Controls
Available
Honda Satellite-Linked Navigation System(TM) with Voice Recognition
Available
Honda DVD Entertainment System
Accessory
** HomeLink(R) is a registered trademark of Price Corporation, a wholly owned subsidiary of Johnson Controls(TM).
January 10, 2005 -- Detroit --
ENGINE
Type: 60-degree Aluminum V-6
Displacement (liters/cc) 3.5/3471
Horsepower @ rpm (SAE net) 255 @ 5750
Torque (lb.-ft. @ rpm) 252 @ 4500
Valvetrain SOHC 24-Valve 3-Rocker VTEC(R)
Fuel System Multi-Point Programmed Fuel Injection (PGM-FI)
Throttle Control Drive-By-Wire
Intake Manifold Dual Stage (Aluminum)
Air Induction Fresh Air Intake
Emissions (Federal/California/Application) Tier 2 Bin 5 / ULEV-2/50 State
.
DRIVETRAIN
Automatic Transmission (Standard) 5-speed
Heavy-Duty Automatic Transmission Cooler x
Four-Wheel Drive VTM-4
Locking Rear Differential x
Maximum Rear Torque Transfer 70-percent
.
BODY/SUSPENSION/CHASSIS
Body Type Integrated Closed-Box Frame with Unitbody Construction
Body Construction Boxed Ladder Frame with Unitbody
Independent Front Suspension Type MacPherson Strut
Independent Rear Suspension Type Multi-Link with Trailing Arm
Steering Variable Assist Power Rack-and-Pinion
Heavy-Duty Power Steering Cooler x
Front and Rear Disc Brakes x
4-Wheel Anti-Lock Braking System (ABS) x
Electronic Brake Distribution System (EBD) x
Brake Assist x
Vehicle Stability Assist (VSA(R)) withTraction Control 4-Channel
Wheels 17 x 7.5 J
Tires: All-Season P245/65 R17 105S
Tire Pressure Monitoring System (TPMS) with Location and Pressure Indicators x
.
EXTERIOR DIMENSIONS
Wheelbase (in.) 122.0
Length (in.) 206.8
Height (in.) 70.3
Overall Width (in.) (no mirrors) 77.8
Wheel Track (in.) (front/rear) 67.1/66.9
Approach/Breakover/Departure Angles 24.5 / 15.9 / 22
Ground Clearance (in.) 8.2
.
PICKUP BED DIMENSIONS
Length (in.) 60.0
Depth (in.) 20.7
Width (in.) (wheel well to wheel well) 49.5
Length Tailgate Down (in.) 79.0
In-Bed Trunk(TM) Volume (cu. ft.) 8.5
Heavy Duty Tiedown Cleats 6
.
INTERIOR DIMENSIONS
Headroom (in.) (front/2nd row) 40.7/39.1
Legroom (in.) (front/2nd row) 40.8/36.4
Shoulder Room (in.) (front/2nd row) 63.2/62.6
Hiproom (in.) (front/2nd row) 57.6/57.2
EPA Passenger Volume 112.0
Seating Capacity 5
.
WEIGHTS AND LOAD RATINGS
GVWR (lbs.) 6050
Curb Weight (lbs.) 4552
Towing Capacity (lbs.) 5000
Vehicle Payload Capacity (lbs.) 1549
Trailer Pre-Wiring 4-pin/7-pin
.
EPA MILEAGE ESTIMATES* /FUEL CAPACITY
5-Speed Automatic (City/Highway) 16/21
Fuel (gal.) 22.0
* Based on Honda in-house 2006 EPA Mileage Estimates. Use for comparison purposes only. Actual mileage may vary.