Ridgeline - 2013, 14 & 15 - the future.

[speedlever]

Same here bluewater1.

[DogOnBoard]

I can't imagine Honda downsizing the RL. Subaru's latest experiment with a compact sport truck -- the Baja -- ended with poor sales and it seems unlikely they even recovered their development costs for the vehicle. It might have been too small and too car-like for the niche market of small truck buyers that still exists out there. Neverless, that maket is apparently not big enough to interest the major carmakers. Maybe Scion will pull it off.

Regardless, the new RL will surely be based on a shared platform with the Pilot. That's just the new economic reality of a competitive global market: build vehicles from a limited number of versatile, well-tested platforms and stay flexible to changing demand. Conceivably, a sport truck could be designed from the CRV platform, but where's the market for it? The vast majority of Amercian truck buyers now want 5 passenger capacity and comfort, plus some towing and open hauling capability. Otherwise, they'll buy an SUV or CUV.

With all the new technology and the ever-rising bar to meet CAFE regs, I'm hoping the new RL will get a LOT better mpg's, despite keeping similar dimensions to the current RL. I think the competition is pushing hard to increase fuel efficiency for trucks.

[IanRTL]

Originally Posted by DogOnBoard

I can't imagine Honda downsizing the RL. Subaru's latest experiment with a compact sport truck -- the Baja -- ended with poor sales and it seems unlikely they even recovered their development costs for the vehicle. It might have been too small and too car-like for the niche market of small truck buyers that still exists out there. Neverless, that maket is apparently not big enough to interest the major carmakers. Maybe Scion will pull it off.

Regardless, the new RL will surely be based on a shared platform with the Pilot. That's just the new economic reality of a competitive global market: build vehicles from a limited number of versatile, well-tested platforms and stay flexible to changing demand. Conceivably, a sport truck could be designed from the CRV platform, but where's the market for it? The vast majority of Amercian truck buyers now want 5 passenger capacity and comfort, plus some towing and open hauling capability. Otherwise, they'll buy an SUV or CUV.

With all the new technology and the ever-rising bar to meet CAFE regs, I'm hoping the new RL will get a LOT better mpg's, despite keeping similar dimensions to the current RL. I think the competition is pushing hard to increase fuel efficiency for trucks.

It wouldn't be too far-fetched to think that a smaller sport truck type vehicle could be made from the CR-V chassis. Just look at the new RDX - Honda has proven they can shoehorn a version of the 3.5 liter V6 into a CR-V-like frame. However, as was suggested, the R&D needed to produce an essentially brand new vehicle like that would be very expensive and the sales forecasts are just not there to justify such a vehicle. Now, simply taking an already great truck, adding some tweaks to an already great engine and giving it a new transmission and sheet metal??? THERE is where the cost-to-benefit ratio is. Relatively low cost to produce a vehicle that can easily sell 15-20k units per year.

[dboz]

You guys really expect HONDA to perform physics miracles. More power (many want 300hp) and still get a LOT better MPG's?? I guess if they lose the brick that is the front end the aerodynamic advantages are obvious.

That is why I want a more chisled looking vehicle. Sleek and muscular. Not block and boring. I can even live with the size but I think a 500lbs. curb weight reduction would do wonders for the 3.5 and help MPG.s Giving up a few inches in width will not hurt anything. I guess you still need the plywood crowd to have their width though.

The BAJA is a CRUCK, not a TRUCK. I was in no way suggesting something that small. The BAJA was way too expensive.

[John32070]

I looked at a Baja before the Ridgeline, but at 6' 3" I just wasn't comfy and it didn't even come with a tilt steering wheel. Back in the 90's I saw a concept El Camino that it sounded like GM was sure to be going ahead with (it was a Camaro with a bed) but it never did come. One thing I'll say about the Baja you don't see many on Carmax or any used lots and I've read where they are actually keeping their value. I still see quite a few SporTrac's on the road, I just think Ridgeline fits the bill perfect for what I was looking for. Had I been comfy in the Baja I might have actually jumped at it (I'd have sure wanted the Tubo version though), but I'm glad I didn't.

[phillyguy]

Originally Posted by dboz

You guys really expect HONDA to perform physics miracles. More power (many want 300hp) and still get a LOT better MPG's?? I guess if they lose the brick that is the front end the aerodynamic advantages are obvious.

That is why I want a more chisled looking vehicle. Sleek and muscular. Not block and boring. I can even live with the size but I think a 500lbs. curb weight reduction would do wonders for the 3.5 and help MPG.s Giving up a few inches in width will not hurt anything. I guess you still need the plywood crowd to have their width though.

The BAJA is a CRUCK, not a TRUCK. I was in no way suggesting something that small. The BAJA was way too expensive.

Most crossovers are appreciably smaller in all dimensions than the Ridgeline, can handle far smaller payloads, tow a lot less, and still weigh about 4K pounds. I'd be surprised if Honda could really drop the weight of the RL all that much. I'm not even sure if it would be a good idea if it would alter how it handles a payload or how it tows (don't know if it would or not, just speculating).

[dboz]

Yeah, 500lbs. is a lot. You are probably right about that.

[speedlever]

I certainly wouldn't want to give up any inches in width. I would hate for the interior to be any smaller.

Edit: I knew what the mpg was when I bought the RL. I gave up mpg to have a 4 door truck. The mpg has been right where I expected it to be. I am unwilling to give up functionality for mpg, if that is my choice. Sure, I'd love to have higher mpgs. But not at the cost of sacrificing room in either the cabin or the bed. The RL carries what I need it to carry and it still fits in my garage. It does so safely and with relative efficiency.

[DogOnBoard]

Maybe, but don't discount the evolution of high strength steel, lightweight composites, new transmissions and other engine refinements. Most folks who want to see the RL get a power boost would probably settle for a more modest improvement in fuel efficiency. I'm hoping for more than that but I know it's a tall order. I'd be fine if they gave the RL an Eco button that resets the computer to maximize fuel efficiency at the expense of acceleration and power. Then when you need the power boost, just turn off the Eco mode. I guess that's kinda Ford's idea behind the EcoBoost engines, but according to Consumer Reports, there are reliability problems with some EcoBoost engines. Anything new will likely have bugs to work out.

[DogOnBoard]

I shudda quoted first. My previous post was in response to trimming 500 lbs off the RL.