Honda strikes with new Ridgeline bakkie

With the Ridgeline Honda is entering the lucrative US truck segment and the company describes the Ridgeline as a "next generation truck".

This bakkie has an innovative new truck body construction and a steel reinforced composite bed to deliver true truck capabilities.

Honda says that the Ridgeline boasts the pickup truck segment's first four-wheel, fully independent suspension system combined with an advanced fully automatic four-wheel drive system to deliver "superior ride and handling".

It also has a number of innovative features including a Dual-Action tailgate and the industry's first In-Bed Trunk.

The Ridgeline is available with a 3.5-litre V6 engine with a power output of 188 KW.

The vehicles's standard Variable Torque Management 4-Wheel Drive System (VTM-4WD) is designed for good all-weather handling, traction and off-road ability, and can transfer up to 70% of available torque to the rear wheels.

Inside, the Ridgeline boasts a spacious, five-passenger cabin with interior space similar to that of a full-size truck, including generous rear seat legroom for a four-door pickup.

The versatile second-row bench has storage space under the seat large enough to hold a set of golf clubs or other oversized items, and features a 60/40-split lift-up rear seat allowing for storage of even bulkier items like a full-size mountain bike.

Production of the Ridgeline will be done by Honda of Canada.