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Honda building spree reveals plans for global growth
So Acura won't be making it to Japan just yet, and the new NSX has been delayed until at least 2010, but parent company Honda is not slowing down for anything. Company President Takeo Fukui is determined not to let Honda get left behind in the battle for global automotive supremacy. In the name of meeting demand, he announced that Honda will be building five factories, two engine plants, and two R&D facilities. Much of the new construction will be taking place in Asia to fulfill demand in the Asia-Oceana region: Thailand, and Tochigi, Yorii, and Ogawa Japan. With everything in place, Honda plans to turbocharge production of its increasingly ubiquitous small cars by an extra 300,000 per year by 2010.
Thanks for the tip, Dylan!
[Source: Car Advice]
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 2)
Rambo 5:39PM (7/21/2007)
Honda should focus on building better looking cars first!
Ugliest cars on the road:
1. Toyota FJ
2. Honda Element
3. Honda Ridgeline
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Don 7:42PM (7/22/2007)
Too bad Honda doesn't build the FJ.
Max Merak 9:14PM (7/21/2007)
I disagree. I like the Ridgeline. It's the most capable medium pickup on the market. The Element is a good urban alternative to a minivan or a sport-ute. I'd prefer a Scion xB for the money, but the Element offers four-wheel-drive.
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smartmlp 11:10PM (7/21/2007)
You have got to be kidding me. The Ridgeline is a people mover, it is not a truck. The thing has more in common with a front wheel drive car then it does with a real truck. Its not even body on frame.
Barney 12:16AM (7/22/2007)
Honda will do it. They haven't forgotten how to make good reliable vehicles. Rambo may not like the looks of them but he has to admit that they sell well for a reason. Looks aren't everything.
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Phil 12:46AM (7/22/2007)
I'm a BIG Honda fan and have owned a few Honda's, all were great car's.
I have to agree the Ridgeline isn't what Id consider a real truck or great looking, I think Honda should have gone with a traditional truck similar to a Tacoma, Remember Honda's first Odyessy minivan?, it wasn't so hot, the 2nd version was a complete success, so lets see what Honda do with the next Ridgeline.
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nolan 3:04AM (7/22/2007)
I too am a big Honda fan. Though I think a manufacturer is defined by it's top spots car. Delaying the NSX is dissapointing. No new sports car coupled with a dismal F1 season makes Honda look bad.
I also agree that the Ridgeline is more of a van than a truck - trucks need V8's, at least as an option - ask Toyota...
The Acura line up needs to be RWD to compete with Infinity, BMW, Lexus and Mercedes to truly qualify as a luxury brand. Until then they will simply be sub-par, though the quality may be still there.
Honda's and Acura's shouldn't have the same drivetrains if you ask me.
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Petey 10:18AM (7/22/2007)
Well, the SH-AWD seems reserved for Acura. And the Turbo 4 in the TSX probably isnt coming to any Honda, anytime soon.
Barney 3:33AM (7/22/2007)
"Not a real truck"
For people who own it, it's truck enough. You don't need a F550 to carry a wheel barrow or a little dirt. I drove big trucks for a living and can easily use the same terms to say a pickup is not a real truck.
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Rambo 4:13AM (7/22/2007)
If you want to haul a "wheel barrow" buy a Subaru Baja! Don't buy a Ridgeline and act like you own a truck,
Stéphane Dumas 11:03AM (7/22/2007)
Rambo got a point although then some older small "utes" like the Dodge Rampage, VW Rabbit pick-up (still built in South Africa) are nice alternatives to the Ridgeline or the Nissan Blacki, a small pick-up derivated from the Datsun of the early 1970s who continued to be distributed in South Africa
http://www.leblogauto.com/2007/07/nissan-bakkie-appelez-moi-datsun.html (link in French)
http://www.nissan.co.za/vehicles_bakkie.asp?s=2
Barney 11:16AM (7/22/2007)
"Don't buy a Ridgeline and act like you own a truck"
Don't buy a pickup and think you own a semi. It seems that you think if it looks big and tough, it can only then be called a truck. Just because GM makes the same thing as a Ridgeline but only bigger. If size is what counts, then in the last few decades, there was no such thing as a "truck". Pickups today are bigger ten the have ever been. My 1952 Chev pickup is smaller then my 85 Toyota.
Barney 1:27PM (7/22/2007)
RE: Stéphane Dumas "Rambo got a point"
Just what is his point. He seems to have his own definition of "truck" and for some reason a Baja fits the bill but the Ridgeline doesn't.
"Truck - An automotive vehicle suitable for hauling"
The tradesmen think the Ridgeline is perfest for their uses. Storage for tools, room for some dirty stuff and capacity for a small crew.
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Rambo 5:25AM (7/23/2007)
I am a "tradesman", I don't know any "tradesman" that own a Ridgeline.
The Japanse want a peice of the truck market. However, they realize "tradesman" are usually too patriotic to buy an import truck. So they hide their definition of 'truck' in vehicles like the Ridgeline. The Tundra made the mistake of trying to sell a real truck to "tradesman" and it is a total failure.
My point is that if you want a 'truck' you buy it from those who know trucks best...Americans. If you want a 'wheel barrow hauler' buy a Subaru Baja (at least it knows it's not a truck).
Bruce 8:34PM (7/22/2007)
You also get the typical urban dweller owning a nice Ford F-150, who doesn't tow or anything, goes out to buy groceries and to the mall..but still needs the bed for yard work, etc. A Ridgeline is designed for that.
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Barney 9:08AM (7/23/2007)
Rambo says:"I am a "tradesman", I don't know any "tradesman" that own a Ridgeline.
I guess you live a very sheltered life. Perhaps you only apply your trade in the privacy of your own home.
He goes further on with his babble: "he Japanse want a peice of the truck market. However, they realize "tradesman" are usually too patriotic ..."
"Too Patriotic", like in overwhelmingly? You are suggesting that tradespeople are very stupid and the Japanese must lower themselves to cater to them. NOT everyone is American nor stupid enough to buy an inappropriate vehicle just because it's called "American".
And finally Rambo finishes his ramble with: you buy it from those who know trucks best..
Obviously those who need a truck have come to realize "Americans" no longer can see beyond their nose and don't build a truck appropriate for everyone's use. At least the Japanese are willing to differ from the American bullheadedness.
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Mike 12:54PM (7/23/2007)
@Barney
Your kidding me right? The Honda Ridgeline is NOT a truck. Unibody FWD vehicles are not TRUCKS. Ford still builds the Ranger and Sport Trac (both with body on frame) for people not needing a full size vehicle. GM still builds their S10 replacements and Dodge has the Dakota for the same market (also BOF).
Riddle me this batman, when your pulling your boat out of a launch or your camper (even a small one) through mud with your FWD Ridgeline, how well do you think it gains traction with all that weight on the rear of the vehicle?
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Barney 9:36PM (7/23/2007)
"Riddle me this batman, when your pulling your boat out of a launch or your camper (even a small one) "
Who says a truck has to pull a boat or carry a camper. That vast majority who buy a truck do neither. The vast majority who buy a 1/2 ton use it for small errands requiring a pickup bed. In many areas you cannot put a camper on a 1/2 ton. There you go Robbin. Your barking up a tree with no cat in it.
Barney 10:23PM (7/23/2007)
"GM still builds their S10 replacements and Dodge has the Dakota for the same market (also BOF). "
And just maybe people don't want all of the above. Maybe they like the storage under the bed and not a Dakota with a V8. You are the first to have pointed out that Toyota made to small a truck. You may want a 3/4 ton "truck" but few want one for doing daily errands. You may also stop your rant and consider who's government classified the Ridgeline as a truck.
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Barney 10:27PM (7/23/2007)
Unibody FWD vehicles are not TRUCKS
And Honda is a 4WD. Of course you knew that didn't you.
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