This is the Honda Ridgeline which is sold only in North America using the MDX platform and powerplant, a 3.5-liter engine. South East Asia is now the biggest consumer of pickup trucks and Honda should consider a similar looking pickup with a smaller petrol engine or a diesel sharing the popular CRV platform. For 2012, the Ridgeline comes with an upgraded version of its four-door, five-passenger pickup which promises to offer improved fuel economy on the highway as well as some styling upgrades.
According to Honda, the 2012 Ridge line will be available in four version for North America: the Ridgeline RT, new Ridgeline Sport, Ridgeline RTS and Ridgeline RTL. All the receive for the 2012MY a new grille design, aerodynamic improvements, friction reduction measures in the engine and a new EPA fuel rating estimated of 15/21/17 city/highway/combined mpg, up 1 mpg in the highway rating.The most important will be the addition of the Ridgeline Sport model which adds the following features to the Ridgeline RT: new black 18-inch aluminum alloy wheels (+1 inch from RT steel wheels); exclusive black honeycomb grille with black surround; leather wrapped steering wheel with audio controls; auxiliary audio input jack; fog lights; rear privacy glass; all weather floor mats and black headlight and brake light housings.
Under the hood we find a standard all-aluminum, 60-degree, SOHC 3.5-liter VTEC engine delivering 250 hp @ 5,700 rpm and 247 lb-ft. of torque at 4,300 rpm. The engine is mated to a 5-speed electronically controlled automatic transmission featuring Grade Logic Control in order to help maintain the most appropriate gear when the car is going uphill or downhill to avoid gear “hunting.” Moreover, the fully automatic Variable Torque Management 4-wheel drive system (VTM-4) is perfect when driving in rain, snow, ice, sand and mud. Still, the system is operating predominately in front-wheel-drive during dry-pavement cruising conditions and continuously proportions torque to the rear wheels during acceleration and low traction situations.
