Detroit News: Honda says slow-selling Ridgeline stays

Honda Motor Co. refuted reports Tuesday that it was phasing out its Ridgeline pickup.

"The reports in the media that we have plans to discontinue the Ridgeline pickup truck are false," said Sage Marie, manager of truck product planning at American Honda.

"To the contrary, Ridgeline has a significant role in the Honda lineup, and it is expected to continue in the foreseeable future," he said.

Marie noted that Honda had already announced the 2012 Ridgeline will feature new styling cues, improved fuel efficiency and a new Sport variant.

U.S. sales of the Ridgeline, an unusual, award-winning pickup designed and built on a unibody platform, have slumped by half this year to 6,500 from 12,700 compared with the first nine months of 2010.

Honda has struggled this year with output disruptions because of the March earthquake, and it halted production of the Ridgeline for three months in March. During that period, the tooling to make the truck was moved to another line at the Lincoln, Ala., plant, and production resumed in August.

"It is too early to talk publicly about the details of our future plans for Ridgeline," Marie said. "It will remain an important part of the Honda product portfolio."

Source;
http://detnews.com/article/20111004/AUTO01/110040402/Honda-says-slow-selling-Ridgeline-stays#ixzz1a0e0HLYh

2012 Honda Ridgeline Trim Levels and Colours for Canada

Well, here are a couple of changes, gone is the EX-L model, replaced by the Touring, I'm guessing the leather model will be available in a Navi/Bluetooth/Backup Cam pkg, along with the introduction of the new Sport model pictured below....

2012 Honda Ridgeline DX

NH-578 White Ext / GM (?) Int

NH-700MX Silver Ext / GM Int

NH-731P Black Ext / GM Int

NH-737M Grey Ext / GM Int



2012 Honda Ridgeline VP (Value Package)

Same as above plus;

B-552P Blue Ext / GM (?) Int

R-549PX Red Ext / Grey Int



2012 Honda Ridgeline Touring

Same as above plus;

NH-731P Black Ext / BM (?) Int

NH-731PX Black Ext / Grey Int



2012 Honda Ridgeline Sport

Only 2X Colour Choices Available;

NH-578 White Ext / Grey Int

NH-731PX Black Ext / Grey Int



Source;

Honda Canada

Honda Spyshot: 2012 Honda Ridgeline

We recently covered the 2012 Honda Ridgeline's new Sport trim package (pic below), which adds several exterior changes to our favorite unibody pickup. But if you're wondering about changes to other models, our spies have come through with the photos Honda doesn't want you to see.



Other Ridgeline models, including the high-end RTL version caught here during hot weather testing, are set to receive a new three-bar grille that's similar to the 2012 Honda Pilot crossover's grille, plus restyled taillights. We hear there will be several minor interior changes as well.

Officially, Honda says there will also be a slight boost in EPA mileage ratings for the 2012 Ridgeline in addition to the cosmetic updates. The 2011 Ridgeline is rated at 15/20 mpg city/highway and 17 mpg combined.



On sale November 2011.



Source;

http://news.pickuptrucks.com/2011/08/spied-2012-honda-ridgeline-rtl.html

Old Honda Truck Rendering

I was submitted this picture of an old rendering of what a Honda Truck could look like, looks like a 3 door style, with a first gen Acura MDX front. Cool find, thanks goes out to Greg Morgan....