Honda has confirmed it is developing a third-generation Ridgeline pickup truck, with plans to bring the new model to market within the next two years, the company announced.
The announcement comes as Honda released a teaser image showing the silhouette of a four-door pickup. Lance Woelfer, Vice President of Auto Sales at American Honda, stated, "The next Ridgeline... will advance this legacy while gaining even more rugged design and capabilities."
The next Ridgeline... will advance this legacy while gaining even more rugged design and capabilities.
Production of the current Ridgeline will pause later this year to prepare for the new model, which will be built at Honda's assembly plant in Lincoln, Alabama. The third-generation Ridgeline is designed at Honda's Southern California design studio and engineered at the Honda Auto Development Center in Ohio.
Honda has not yet detailed the powertrain, and no official announcement has been made. Some reports suggest a hybrid V-6 with up to three electric motors could improve acceleration by over 10% and fuel economy by over 30% compared to outgoing gas-only models, while others say the Ridgeline is expected to remain an internal-combustion-engine vehicle. Honda has shifted much of its North American portfolio toward hybrids, introducing hybrid versions of Civic, Accord, CR-V, and Prelude.
The current Ridgeline debuted for the 2017 model year and received a substantial refresh for 2021. It uses a unibody platform, providing a smoother ride and more car-like handling than many midsize pickups. The new model will retain practical strengths such as its dual-action tailgate and lockable in-bed trunk.
Honda stated that the new Ridgeline will continue to focus on the needs of recreational truck buyers. A debut date and pricing have not yet been announced.