Honda Ridgeline 2017 Release Date Announced? Specs Unveiled At Detroit Auto Show!
A decade after the original unit got released at the North American International Auto Show, the second generation model, the Honda Ridgeline 2017, has been unveiled at the 2016 edition of the same show in Detroit and the release date has been announced.
The latest version has an improved look and improved specs, making the truck so innovative and putting Honda in a good position, according to fans who await the release date.
Unlike its previous version's styling, the new truck ditches the high and sloping side rails and adopts a more traditional three-box design. It resembles a blown-up CR-V with no mistakes of the family resemblance when it comes to the grille. This new truck might resemble a traditional pickup truck but it's just as focused on car-like features as its previous version.
Now there comes a question if this will be appealing enough for buyers who have the Chevy Colorado and GMC Canyon as options as well.
The new truck is designed in a more conventional way with more chiselled bodywork and a more angular silhouette. The front fascia resembles a ripped off Pilot Crossover. The Interiors feature uni-body construction just like a crossover but unlike any other pickup truck, making the Honda Ridgeline 2017 release date a little too far off from fans, according to them.
To add to the specs, dual-action lift gate and in-bed trunk with a fully flat door are included. The bed itself has a 4-foot wide flat space between the rear wheel arches to let users to haul items like sheets of plywood and drywall flat. The composite scratch-resistant bed also has a 400-watt AC power outlet, a 540 watt in-bed audio system.
The company also indicated that the new unit will make a mid-size truck with an estimated payload capacity of nearly 1600 pounds, Cited CNET.
It will come with only one powertrain, comprising of a 3.5 liter V6 and six-speed automatic transmission. This will be the only pickup truck sold in the U.S with front-wheel drive, while all-wheel drive would be optional.
It is equipped with a i=VTM4 torque-vectoring system similar to the one offered on the pilot, and Intelligent Terrain Management with Normal, Sand, Snow and Mud Modes. These modes wouldn't probably enable the hardcore off-roading, what other trucks are capable of. But this will probably make the unit better to drive where people spend most of their time on pavement.
This new Ridgeline has new features like a Display Audio System with 8-inch Touchscreen, Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. It will also be offered with a host of driver assists like Honda's LaneWatch System, Lane departure warning, Forward Collision, lane keep assist, automated braking and road departure mitigation, Cited DigitalTrends.
A spokesperson has said that after the announcement for release date, more details pertaining to the 2017 Honda Ridgeline's specs will be released at a later time, probably close to its on-sale date, which, as of now, is planned for spring.
