2009 Ridgeline Info - NEW!

[Andy-Montreal]

Originally Posted by HKINGS

New features coming to the RTL model include 18" wheels and a rear-view camera.

Honda's almost up there with the others. I'm sure we can squeeze another 1" outta them!

HKings, thanks for the heads up!

[ChrisM]

Originally Posted by csimo

I don't know about blue, but some people drink a mocha on a gray day.

That is one heck of a hint.

I'm basing my color suggestion on the test mule that I think that I saw in Columbus not too long ago.

I might be wrong though. It could have been another brand's attempt to mock the shape of a Ridgeline. The vehicle was cloaked in all that camo crap that looks like a bra. It might be a new GM vehicle driving to use the Honda test track for all I know.

I have seen numerous vehicles in this camo drab before they went into production. I saw the current F150 on the freeway about 3 months before it hit the car shows all dressed up. I have a picture of it somewhere.

[csimo]

Originally Posted by ChrisM

That is one heck of a hint.

I'm basing my color suggestion on the test mule that I think that I saw in Columbus not too long ago.

I might be wrong though. It could have been another brand's attempt to mock the shape of a Ridgeline. The vehicle was cloaked in all that camo crap that looks like a bra. It might be a new GM vehicle driving to use the Honda test track for all I know.

I have seen numerous vehicles in this camo drab before they went into production. I saw the current F150 on the freeway about 3 months before it hit the car shows all dressed up. I have a picture of it somewhere.

The TRC (Transportation Research Center) is just north of Columbus, OH that Honda (and a few other companies to a lesser degree) use as a proving ground. No telling what you'd see there, but usually not many secret projects use that facility since it's a state owned facility.

The secret stuff is kept on the 3,600 acre private Honda facility out in the Mohave Desert in California.

[ChrisM]

I don't know if Ohio is a popular state with the manufacturers but I have seen quite a few caravans of unreleased vehicles driving the back roads of Ohio with manufacturers license plates. I drive around a lot for work and see some pretty interesting stuff rolling around. (and some pretty interesting stuff in the ditch as well.)

I call it the Honda test track because they have the closest factory in proximity to the track and from what I understand use it the most but you are correct, it's not Honda's facility.

I thought that ODOT sold TRC to a private party a while ago because it was falling into disrepair and Ohio could not allocate the taxes to maintain it.

[OwnerCS]

IMHO I believe our series of Ridgelines will become classics. Really the Ridgeline body design is a clean and bold near knife-edge design that established a new direction. Not every truck series will become a classic. I can see where the bodylines pay homage to some early Elwood Engle designs. Remember how the 61 Lincoln knife-edge design was a radical departure from finned wonders that were rolling out of Harley Earl's GM design studios? The new knife-edge design took a couple years for the public to accept. However, by 1964 it was on its way to becoming one of the most reused designs of the era. Rightly or wrongly the knife-edge body design was carried into 1989.

The 1947-54 Chevrolet trucks are an example of a classic truck series. I remember people were saving and performing restorations on early 50s Chevy trucks in the mid-60s. The Chevy SSR is a retro of those early 50s trucks.

[csimo]

Originally Posted by ChrisM

I thought that ODOT sold TRC to a private party a while ago because it was falling into disrepair and Ohio could not allocate the taxes to maintain it.

Your info is probably more up to date than mine. Last time I was there it was owned by Ohio, but that may have changed.

The last I knew about it there was some crash testing done there, and some used it for emissions certification.

[WhiteRTLnav]

Originally Posted by xridgelinex

So are we talking Mocha Metallic and possibly Sterling Gray Metallic?

Honda loves to share paint colors among it's "trucks" (We all know the Ridgeline is a truck, but the Pilot and Odyssey are also classified by Honda as trucks). Since all of the Ridgeline colors have been available on the Pilot, I would expect this tradition to carry on for 2009. I wouldn't be surprised if Honda offered Mocha Metallic on the Ridgeline for 2009.

Another bit of information I have heard is that the changes to the Ridgeline will bring it more in line with the Pilot in terms of appearance. Also, with the integrated hitch, I would expect the Ridgeline's towing capacity to be increased to 4500 lbs. (Matching the Pilot's capacity)

[shovelhd]

Originally Posted by WhiteRTLnav

Also, with the integrated hitch, I would expect the Ridgeline's towing capacity to be increased to 4500 lbs. (Matching the Pilot's capacity)

That would be a decrease.

[Andy-Montreal]

Originally Posted by OwnerCS

IMHO I believe our series of Ridgelines will become classics. Really the Ridgeline body design is a clean and bold near knife-edge design that established a new direction. Not every truck series will become a classic. I can see where the bodylines pay homage to some early Elwood Engle designs. Remember how the 61 Lincoln knife-edge design was a radical departure from finned wonders that were rolling out of Harley Earl's GM design studios? The new knife-edge design took a couple years for the public to accept. However, by 1964 it was on its way to becoming one of the most reused designs of the era. Rightly or wrongly the knife-edge body design was carried into 1989.

The 1947-54 Chevrolet trucks are an example of a classic truck series. I remember people were saving and performing restorations on early 50s Chevy trucks in the mid-60s. The Chevy SSR is a retro of those early 50s trucks.

IMHO, one of the most accurate descriptions to date of our truck's styling origins. Nice comparison!

[davedad]

Originally Posted by csimo

I don't know about blue, but some people drink a mocha on a gray day.

Don't know how true this is but while in Ohio this week-end, I went to Mentor Honda to buy some touch up paint for my RL, the parts counter person there informed me that the Steel Blue color was being discontinued, I did get the last bottle of touch up paint available there.