Montreal auto show – Honda Ridgeline pickup truck debuts

Montreal, Quebec – The new Honda Ridgeline truck made its Canadian debut at the 2005 Montreal International Auto Show. It is scheduled to go on sale in Canada in April as a 2006 model.

Click image to enlarge More Photos

Developed to appeal to a new generation of truck buyers, the Ridgeline boasts the pickup truck segment’s first four-wheel, fully independent suspension system to deliver superior ride, handling and packaging efficiency along with half-ton payload capacity and a number of innovative new features, including the industry’s first In-Bed Trunk.

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. 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 the Ridgeline’s innovative In-Bed Trunk. Accessed by lifting up the hinged rear portion of the bed floor, the In-Bed Trunk features 241-litres of secure, lockable and waterproof storage space – large enough to hold a 69-litre stadium cooler, three sets of golf clubs or a wide variety of other cargo. Making access to the trunk and bed even easier is the Ridgeline’s Dual Action Tailgate that is hinged at the bottom and side for both drop-down and swing-out operation.

With a total payload capacity of 1550-pounds (703 kg), the Ridgeline exceeds the hauling capabilities of some full-size trucks. In addition, the Ridgeline was designed to handle the kinds of towing and off-road duties most common to recreational truck users. This includes the ability to tow 5,000-pound (2,268 kg) loads along with two passengers and 175-pounds (79 kg) of cargo without the need for any extra-cost towing add-ons.

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 space enough under the seat for storing a set of golf clubs and features a 60/40-split folding seat bottom allowing for storage of even bulkier items like a full-size mountain bike.

Pricing will range from the mid-$30,000’s for the base model to the mid-$40,000’s with an available moonroof and satellite navigation.