Autoblog

Click above for high-res gallery of the 2009 Honda Ridgeline

All we have to go on are the images and information posted on Carscoop, but it appears the redesigned 2009 Honda Ridgeline is stepping out a bit early to what may be disinterested public. The Ridgeline for '09 gets Honda's new grille that first appeared on the '09 Pilot CUV, along with a new front bumper, headlights and all that jazz in the rear. The interior, while not all-new, gets major upgrades like a new steering wheel, gauges, and HVAC controls, as well as a Bluetooth HandsFreeLink, satellite navigation, a 115-volt power outlet and requisite jacks for the iPod and other MP3 players. According to Carscoop, Honda has largely left the Ridgeline's 3.5L VTEC V6 the same except for a new camshaft profile and better breathing practices that net a 3 horsepower bump to 250 at 5,700 RPM and a torque increase of 2 lb-ft to 247 at 4,000 RPM. New ratios in the 5-speed automatic transmission are said to take advantage of the new torque and improve acceleration.

We admit that Honda was smart not to dive head first into the full-size truck market in the U.S. like Toyota did with the Tundra, but the Ridgeline with its V6 and unit body has never enjoyed hot sales. It's both terrifically ugly and ill-suited for those super hard core tasks that, while rare, require a real rig. Nevertheless, this is Honda, a brand that really doesn't care what we think about its trucklet and will continue tweaking and perfecting it until we change our minds. Looks like that won't happen in 2009, though we're told to expect it in dealers as early as this September.


[Source: Carscoop]

Click above for high-res gallery of the 2009 Honda Pilot

Honda has got to be happy that it has a hot selling compact car to take some of the pain out of the slowing minivan and SUV markets. Hurt by the sky-high price of gasoline, both the Odyssey and Pilot, both recently redesigned, are sitting on dealers lots longer than Honda would like. In order to match production with consumer demand, Honda will close its plant in Lincoln, Alabama for two days next month and cut second shift production at the plant every Friday in August through October. Displaced workers can choose to take either unpaid time off or use paid vacation leave. Some of that unused capacity will be taken up by the Ridgeline, which will now be assembled at the Lincoln plant instead of in Ontario where it is currently being built.

The Civic, on the other hand, will see its production boosted at the East Liberty, Ohio plant and in Alliston, Ontario, where capacity will be available due to the Ridgeline's departure. Score another point for Honda's modular manufacturing techniques.


[Source: Automotive News - sub. req'd]

Click above for more high-res shots of the 2009 Honda Ridgeline.

After Honda showed its new schnoz on the redesigned Pilot, we knew what was bound to happen to the Ridgeline. And it's as unfortunate as expected. These newest spy shots show Honda's unibody pickup with a similar nose job as its fully enclosed sibling, complete with an upright grille framing an angular trim piece, and new headlamps. The only other discernable difference on the outside are redesigned taillights, and here's hoping that the interior gets some much needed material love when the new Ridgeline debuts later this year.

Surprise! Honda's controversially styled Ridgeline truck is about to get the Pilot's controversial snout. First released for the '06 model year, the unibody truck has not seen any real changes to this point and it's high time for a mid-cycle model refresh. Considering that the Pilot and Ridgeline share plenty in common, it's no shocker that Honda would share styling cues between the two vehicles. Also included in the refresh are some oddly-placed dual front foglights, new tail lights and redesigned bumpers front and rear. Not much seems updated in its profile, but some new 18-inch rims have a nice, chunky look to them.

So far, nobody at Honda is talking regarding powertrain updates for the Ridgeline. As we've reported in the past, though, a new diesel V6 engine of undertermined displacement seems very possible for both the Ridgeline and Pilot. With gas prices continuing to rise, Honda's Ridgeline may continue to be a popular option for those who use their trucks only for occasional hauling or towing and don't mind being seen in one ugly mutha trucka.

[Source: Temple of VTEC]

Honda built its state of the art Lincoln, Alabama plant to produce the Odyssey minivan and Pilot SUV, and now it's going to add the Ridgeline unit-body pickup, as well. Cost-wise, it makes a lot of sense to move Ridgeline production from Canada to Alabama, considering all three vehicles share a platform and powertrain. What's tough to understand is how Honda intends to squeeze out an additional 40,000 units from the ultra-efficient plant. The Lincoln plant is already operating 13,000 units beyond peak capacity, with its very strong minivan and SUV selling well around the country.

Lucky for Honda we're not in charge of vehicle production, and we're sure the company's many brilliant engineers know what they're doing. Now, if the Japanese automaker can get some equally talented designers to gussy up the visual train wreck that is the Ridgeline, then they'd definitely need a second manufacturing sight site.

[Source: AL]

Inside Line has got the, ummm, inside line on Chevrolet's future CUV offerings, and the big news is that GM's suppliers are saying a "crossover pickup" is in the cards. A four-door crew cab version in the same vein as the Honda Ridgeline is planned with both a sizable bed and an all-wheel-drive option.

In addition, the Equinox will be redesigned for 2010, receiving a bit more length to accommodate seven passengers atop the Theta-Epsilon platform, while the eight-passenger Chevy Traverse based on the Lambda platform will fill the hole left by the exiting Uplander.

A smaller CUV built off the Gamma platform still hasn't been approved, but if all goes according to plan, it'll be built in Lordstown, Ohio or Mexico and should go on sale sometime in 2012.

[Source: Inside Line]

As Toyota readies its latest attempt to send a shock through the full-size pickup market with its new, fully-redesigned Tundra, Honda is quite content to stand on the sidelines and watch as the battle royale ensues.

John Mendel, American Honda's senior VP of automotive operations, says that creating a big body-on-frame pickup runs counter to the company's philosophy, which is to ultimately produce fuel-efficient vehicles. He correctly points out that Toyota has been at this for a while now with the Tundra, and stated, "We're fine with Ridgeline," Honda's unique-looking unibody pickup.

While we're sure that there are plenty of readers who'd love to see Honda's take on the full-size pickup, the company's reluctance to dip a toe into that pool is completely understandable. The level of competition in the segment is relentless, and Ford, GM, and Chrysler still have a distinct advantage over newcomers. Just look at the sales numbers, where Tundra and Nissan's Titan are routinely trounced by the Americans. (To illustrate the Titan's place in the market, consider that Chevy sold more Uplanders – the aged, unappealing minivan – last month than Nissan did Titans.)

Toyota has taken its lumps, learned its lessons, and is in it for the long haul, with its new San Antonio, Texas plant geared up to build the all-new Tundra. Still, it's going to be an uphill battle for them, as the Tundra is met by a welcoming committee of completely redesigned GM trucks.

Honda's doing the right thing. They have an appealing niche pickup in the Ridgeline, and for them, that's enough. They're probably more than happy to keep building their bread-and-butter vehicles while watching from afar as their competitors beat each other's brains out with their big pickups.

[Source: Ward's Auto World]