Earlier in the year, rumors began to bubble up about Honda ditching its half truck, half SUV Ridgeline after the 2011 model year. Recently however, the company themselves issued a statement putting those rumors officially to rest. According to Sage Marie, Manager of Honda Truck Product Planning, the Ridgeline “has a significant role in the Honda line-up and it is expected to continue in the foreseeable future.”
The Ridgeline was brought into this world for a reason: so loyal Honda customers could have the option to purchase a pickup truck. Admittedly, the truck does have a ‘love it or hate it’ design, but that didn’t stop it from earning Motor Trend Magazine’s Truck of The Year Award as well as the North American Truck of The Year Award when it debuted. Borrowing most of its mechanicals from the award-winning Pilot SUV, the Ridgeline does have dynamic prowess that can’t really be denied. For the 2012 model year, Honda isn’t afraid to update their truck just a little bit to give it another edge on the competition.
In Honda’s announcement, Marie mentioned that the Ridgeline will play an important part in the company’s future. “And, while it is too early to talk publicly about the details of our future plans for Ridgeline, I can reassure that it will continue to build onto its fundamental strengths, and will remain an important part of the Honda product portfolio.”
Source: Honda
