Here is an article describing the "new" Ridgeline. What a disappointment, if it is true. I am so glad I decided not to wait any longer and bought another vehicle although I am keeping my 2006 RL. Again, if the article is correct, the "re-tooled" Ridgeline we have been waiting for for over 2 years is at least another year away. I really doubt we will ever see it. Here are a couple links:
The first article makes we wonder if the writer is a Ridgeline owner. He knows a lot about the RL including a lot of the same praises & complaints many of us on the forum have.
The 2nd article reads like it is translated from another language. Pretty general stuff in comparison.
The first article does not quote any announcements by Honda. If you look at the wording, it vacillates between indefinite terms like "should", "could", "almost certain", "likely", "possible", "Bank on" and definite terms like "will". In other words, this article appears to just be more speculation. It is of no more reliability than the pessimistic announcements of Ridgeline cancellation that we have seen for years.
The author does seem to know some more about the Ridgeline than most automotive journalists, but he gets some things wrong, such as the remarks about rigidity and weight.
I agree about the second article. Its writing style does not inspire confidence.
For both articles, I see that the authors simply gathered information from other article-writers (or read this forum a bit) and rehashed it into fresh, unsupported speculation. Did I miss a useful citation in either article?
I just glanced at both, on a re-read you are right, he got some basic things wrong. I was surprised when he mentioned the absence of bluetooth without navi, generally most reviewers skim over different model options, he seemed to have those locked down, but not much else.
Both articles are very negative, sometimes it's deserved, but seem to lack any support for what they say.
I guess in a court a law, both would be considered 'hearsay'.. or just plain rumor.
You guys are right. I was a little suspicious too and mentioned that "if the article is correct", we are not going to get a "new" RL this year. That may come to pass but as you point out, the authors have gotten too many things wrong to have much credibility.
Was at my Honda dealer today for my free oil change. Spoke to the new car sales manager who's a friend of mine about the RL and its release date. He told me he had to put in his order for 2013 models and when he inquired about the RL, they told him they would be released on dealer lots end of October early November but he could not get any details on any changes if any. He admitted he was clueless but at least they confirmed the 2013 RL for his order.
With the major changes required for 2016 - I doubt that the 2013 will be anything other than the 2006-2012 with a stronger roof (2013 requirement).
They have not wore out the tooling for the current body style so I would guess another year before the body changes, it is a simple change to add strength to the roof on the pillars and an additional hidden support in the roof.
I could see the newer GDI engine appear as an enhancement to the 2013. The weight and MPG requirements for 2016 would make the design that was supposed to come out in 2011 obsolete as it could not be modified to meet the 2016 standards (watch all trucks become smaller and lighter to meet the 2016 standards or expect an extra $2500 obese vehicle tax to show up on models that do not meet the standards).
http://iguida.com/ did the same thing with the Element a couple years ago. The took old information which was about 6 years old and changed the dates and presto a new story on a "new" vehicle.
In the words of one of my instructors a cople years ago.....
orders on 2013 not untill november? isnt that kind of late?
I hope honda has something good planned for the new RL. I doubt it, as their all 'new' cars look the same as they did the previos generation.