Jun 20, 2016 - TORRANCE, Calif.,

• Ultra-rigid unibody structure delivers robust pickup capability, including class-leading payload capacity and benchmark dynamic performance
• World's first available Truck Bed Audio system, available 400 watt in-bed power outlet and Honda-exclusive In-Bed Trunk® and Dual Action Tailgate enhance utility and make Ridgeline the "ultimate tailgate party" vehicle
• More powerful V6 engine and available advanced torque vectoring all-wheel drive system extend on-road and off-road performance, with best-in-class fuel efficiency
• First midsize pickup to target highest collision safety ratings with ACE™ body structure and available Honda Sensing™ safety and driver-assistive technology

The completely redesigned 2017 Honda Ridgeline powers into the U.S. mid-size pickup market tomorrow with a long list of new features and improvements to deliver an unprecedented combination of cargo- and people-hauling capability and sophistication in the midsize pickup class. Boasting unsurpassed dynamic refinement and extensive comfort and convenience features, along with the most spacious and versatile interior and highest available payload capacity in its class, the 2017 Honda Ridgeline arrives in dealers tomorrow with manufacturer suggested retail prices starting at $29,475 for the RT 2WD and $31,275 for RT AWD.

"We've advanced the best and most beloved elements of the original Ridgeline and combined them with an outstanding new platform and the most advanced technology to create new value in the midsize pickup segment," said Jeff Conrad, senior vice president and general manager of the Honda Division. "The result is an amazingly versatile Honda truck with uncompromised capability."

The 2017 Honda Ridgeline is the second generation of Honda's innovative midsize pickup truck, redesigned from the ground up to offer both recreational and work users a higher degree of utility and versatility in a modern and rugged, yet sophisticated midsize pickup with the largest and most flexible cabin in its class. In addition, Ridgeline boasts a higher level of confident and refined dynamic performance and robust cargo-hauling and towing capabilities, including a class-leading maximum 1,584-pound (718.5 kg) payload capacity (varies by trim) and up to 5,000-pound (2,268 kg) towing.

Utilizing a highly rigid, aerodynamic and tightly sealed unitized body construction, which delivers up to three times the torsional rigidity of competing body-on-frame trucks, Ridgeline also features Honda's next-generation Advanced Compatibility Engineering™ (ACE™) body structure and fully independent front and rear suspension systems with Amplitude Reactive Dampers. The 2017 Honda Ridgeline offers vastly superior ride comfort and handling precision along with the top-in-class cabin quietness and, with available Honda Sensing safety and driver-assistive technology, is anticipated to earn class-leading collision safety ratings.

Ridgeline also offers class-leading EPA fuel economy ratings along with superior all-weather traction and handling capability and robust off-road performance, leveraging the new body structure with a more powerful and efficient direct-injected 3.5-liter i-VTEC™ V-6 engine, a wide-ratio 6-speed automatic transmission and available new Intelligent Variable Torque Management™ (iVTM-4™) torque-vectoring all-wheel drive, the most advanced and intuitive AWD technology in the midsize truck class,

The 2017 Ridgeline provides customers more choices than ever before including, for the first time, both two-wheel-drive and all-wheel-drive options, as well as an expanded array of standard and available premium features and technologies, including a new 8-inch Display Audio touchscreen with Android Auto™ and Apple CarPlay™ compatibility and new generation of Honda Satellite-Linked Navigation System™. A wide array of new standard and available equipment includes Tri-Zone Automatic Climate Control, Push-Button Start, Remote Engine Start, Smart Entry, a power sliding rear window, LED exterior and interior lighting and more.

The second-generation Ridgeline was designed, developed and is manufactured in America using domestic and globally-sourced parts. The Ridgeline's exterior and interior designs were created by Honda R&D Americas in its Los Angeles design studio, while vehicle development was undertaken at the company's Raymond, Ohio development center. Honda Manufacturing of Alabama in Lincoln, Ala., is the exclusive manufacturing home of the 2017 Honda Ridgeline.

Premium Style and Features
The all-new 2017 Ridgeline sports a sleek, sophisticated and rugged exterior design, incorporating new premium features including standard LED taillights and available features such as LED projector headlights and LED daytime running lights. The premium quality of the new Ridgeline carries over to the interior, where designers have applied high quality, soft-touch materials throughout the cabin and added thoughtful details such as LED map lighting (see the Interior section for more information on interior styling). Additional high-end amenities include a standard 4.2-inch color display, available heated front seats and a heated steering wheel. All models also come standard with a Class III towing hitch and AWD modes add a 7-pin wiring connector.

The Ridgeline's 60/40-split and folding rear seat offers roomy seating for up to three passengers and, with the seat bottoms folded up, has the capacity to carry bulky items like a 55-inch flat screen television or a mountain bike with the wheels intact. Exclusive in its class, the Ridgeline's large under-seat storage area can carry long items, such as golf clubs, with the rear seats folded down.

Innovative and Versatile Pickup Bed
The 2017 Ridgeline's new UV-stabilized, ultra-high strength glass fiber-reinforced SMC composite bed is longer (+3.9 inches, or 100 mm) and wider (+5.5 inches, or 140 mm) than in the previous model and is the only bed in the midsize class that can flat haul 4-foot-wide items, such as drywall or plywood panels on the floor between the wheel wells. The new Ridgeline bed also boasts numerous Honda-exclusive features and capabilities, including a highly versatile Dual-Action Tailgate, a redesigned In-Bed Trunk with fully flat floor and an available world's first Truck Bed Audio System, making this new Ridgeline the ultimate tailgating vehicle. An available 115V AC in-bed power outlet with up to 400-watt charging (with engine running) and eight standard 350-pound (159 kg) tie-down cleats complete the Ridgeline's capable and versatile bed design. The dent and scratch resistant bed construction is designed for rugged daily use and does not require the protection of a bed liner like conventional steel or aluminum beds.

Advanced Powertrain and All-Wheel-Drive Technology
The 2017 Honda Ridgeline is powered by a new 3.5-liter direct-injected SOHC i-VTEC™ V-6 engine with Variable Cylinder Management™ (VCM™) mated to a wide ratio 6-speed automatic transmission. Peak engine output of 280 horsepower (+30HP over the previous model) and 262 lb.-ft. of torque (+15 lb.-ft.), along with a 78-pound average reduction in curb weight and a more aerodynamically efficient exterior design, combine to deliver the quickest 0-60 mph acceleration and receive the highest EPA fuel-economy ratings in the midsize pickup truck class.

For the first time, the 2017 Ridgeline is available with the choice of two-wheel-drive or all-wheel-drive drivetrain. All-wheel-drive models utilize Honda's newest and most advanced AWD technology – Intelligent Variable Torque Management™ (i-VTM4). This entirely more capable system offers reduced weight, improved all-weather traction and enhanced dynamic handling capability. Honda i-VTM4 progressively distributes optimum torque between the front and rear axles and dynamically distributes engine torque between the left and right rear wheels, with the capacity to overdrive the outside rear wheel by 2.7 percent to create a yaw moment that improves cornering precision.

Intelligent Traction Management
This new Ridgeline features a button-operated Intelligent Traction Management System that offers different operating modes: Normal, Snow, Mud and Sand for AWD models, Normal and Snow for 2WD versions. Developed, tuned and tested in challenging environments in the U.S. and around the world – including in Imperial Dunes "Glamis", California; Moscow, Russia; and Dubai, United Arab Emirates – the Intelligent Traction Management system allows the driver to select the operating mode that best suits the driving conditions by simply pushing a button on the vehicle's center console. Based on the setting selected, the system adjusts the drive-by-wire throttle map, transmission shift map, Vehicle Stability Assist™ engagement and i-VTM4 torque distribution (for AWD-equipped models) for optimal performance in a variety of surface conditions.

Advanced Technology
The new Ridgeline delivers the most advanced technology and connectivity that Honda has to offer, including an available 8-inch capacitive touchscreen Display Audio connectivity interface with both Apple CarPlay™ and Android Auto™ compatibility for seamless integration of compatible smartphone features and functions, including smartphone-powered navigation capabilities.

The 2017 Ridgeline can also be equipped with a newly designed Honda Satellite-Linked Navigation System™ featuring improved graphics and new capabilities, including 3D renderings of terrain, buildings and road signs, improved lane guidance, live search function and more. Additional standard and available technologies include HD Radio, SiriusXM 2.0 and up to four USB ports including two with 2.5-amp charging capability.

Advanced Safety Performance
Utilizing Honda's second-generation Advanced Compatibility Engineering™ (ACE™) body structure and "3-bone" front floor construction, along with advanced supplemental restraint systems and available Honda Sensing™ safety and driver-assistive technologies, the 2017 Ridgeline targets the highest available crash safety ratings from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) and the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS), including an a 5-star Overall Vehicle Score in the NHTSA's New Car Assessment Program (NCAP) and a TOP SAFETY PICK+ score from the IIHS, including a GOOD rating in the Institute's rigorous small overlap frontal collision test.

Honda Sensing is the most comprehensive suite of advanced safety and driver assistive features available in the midsize pickup truck segment and includes Collision Mitigation Braking System™ (CMBS™), Lane Departure Warning (LDW), Forward Collision Warning (FCW), Lane Keeping Assist System (LKAS), Road Departure Mitigation (RDM) and Adaptive Cruise Control (ACC). The 2017 Ridgeline, depending on trim, can also be equipped with Honda LaneWatch™, Rear Cross Traffic Monitor and a blind spot information system; and all Ridgelines come equipped with a Multi-Angle Rearview Camera.

Standard safety features include four-channel anti-lock brakes (ABS) with Brake Assist and Hill Start Assist; Vehicle Stability Assist™ (VSA®) with Traction Control; Trailer Stability Assist; Agile Handling Assist; dual-stage, multiple-threshold front airbags, driver and front passenger side airbags and side-curtain airbags for all outboard seating positions; and a new Tire Pressure Monitoring System (TPMS) with real-time display of individual tire pressures.

Accessories
To further enhance the utility and provide personalization opportunities for the 2017 Ridgeline, Honda developed a broad range of Honda Genuine Accessories simultaneously with the truck. Examples include:

• In-Bed Trunk Carpet and Dividers
• Back-Up Sensors
• Bed Extender – Standard and Motorcycle
• Fender Flares
• Hard Tonneau Cover
• Skid Plate
• Sport Grille
• Bike, Kayak, Ski, Snowboard and Surfboard Attachments
• Tent (extends from bed)
• Additional Wheel Options
• Automatic-Dimming Mirror
• Heated Steering Wheel
• Rear Under-Seat Storage System

Summary of Major New Features

• 3.5-liter direct-injected i-VTEC V-6 with Variable Cylinder Management
• 6-speed automatic transmission
• Intelligent Variable Torque Management (i-VTM4) (AWD models)
• Intelligent Traction Management System
• Amplitude Reactive Dampers
• Truck Bed Audio System (available)
• 115V/400W in-bed power outlet (available)
• LED Daytime Running Lights (available)
• LED projector headlights with Auto high-beam (available)
• Acoustic windshield (available)
• Power sliding rear window with defroster (available)
• Smart Entry (available)
• Push-Button Start
• Remote Engine Start (available)
• Multi-Angle Rearview Camera
• Honda Sensing™ (available)
• Honda LaneWatch (available)
• Blind Spot Information System (available)
• Rear Cross Traffic Monitor (available)
• 8-inch touchscreen Display Audio System with Android Auto™ and Apple
• CarPlay™ compatibility (available)
• HD Radio™ (available)
• SiriusXM 2.0 (available)

General Specifications

For more information about the 2017 Ridgeline plus high-resolution images and video, go to: https://hondanews.com/channels/ridgeline

About Honda
Honda offers a full line of reliable, fuel-efficient and fun-to-drive vehicles with advanced safety technologies sold through approximately 1,000 independent U.S. Honda dealers. The Honda lineup includes the Fit, Civic and Accord passenger cars, along with the HR-V, CR-V and Pilot sport/utility vehicles, Ridgeline pickup and the Odyssey minivan.

Honda has been producing automobiles in America for 33 years and currently operates 19 major manufacturing facilities in North America. In 2015, more than 99 percent of all Honda vehicles sold in the U.S. were made in North America, using domestic and globally sourced parts.

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• Watch our 2017 Ridgeline ride along video here