Click for more Ridgeline. Bet you can guess what brand the motorcycles are. You meet the nicest people on them.
American Honda Motor today revealed it 2024 model-year Ridgeline, along with its first ever TrailSport model in a lagging attempt to benefit from the booming off-road performance pickup truck market. TrailSport is said to be more off-road qualified, engineered with new details, including an off-road-tuned suspension, all-terrain tires and steel under-body protection. All 2024 Ridgeline models will begin arriving in dealers this winter.
“With every new TrailSport model we bring to market, Honda light trucks get more rugged than ever and the increase in Ridgeline’s off-road performance continues that trend,” said Lance Woelfer, assistant vice president of Honda Auto Sales, American Honda Motor. “Our more rugged Ridgeline will continue its strong momentum with sales up over 20% this year,” Woelfer forecast.
The 2024 Honda Ridgeline will be available in four all-wheel drive trim levels; Sport, RTL, the new TrailSport with off-road hardware, and the top of the model lineup – the so called Black Edition, even though it will take a lot of green to obtain when prices are announced. Ridgeline can also be customized with several post-production option packages, including the HPD (Honda Performance Division) package. Said to evoke Honda’s racing background, it adds to Ridgeline’s appearance a unique grille , black fender flares, bigger wheels and special graphics.
Ridgeline of course continues with its unibody construction that includes fully boxed frame members and an independent rear suspension. Here the age-old pickup truck debate about American versus Japanese designs continues.
“The unique design and sophisticated chassis deliver a high level of driving refinement and responsive handling no traditional body-on-frame competitor can match, while supporting an impressive 1583-pound payload capacity. Ridgeline can also tow as much as 5000 pounds, which is more than enough for many boats, campers or ‘toy’ trailers that serve as the key to adventure for many customers,” Honda said.
Ridgeline’s standard bed can flat-carry 4-foot-wide items, such as plywood and drywall, between the wheel wells. Constructed of glass fiber-reinforced SMC composite, the bed resists dents and scratches without the need for a separate bed liner. For securing loads, the bed also has eight 350-pound tie-down cleats. Under the bed floor is Ridgeline’s class-unique washable, lockable In-Bed Trunk®. The additional 7.3 cu.-ft. of storage space can double as an ice-filled cooler, making Ridgeline a tailgate vehicle for sporting events, picnics and other gatherings.
A new 7-inch digital instrument panel is now standard, featuring an all-digital tachometer on the left and a physical speedometer on the right. The display also includes user-selectable functions, such as Honda Sensing® settings, vehicle information and more.
All Ridgeline trims get a new, larger 9-inch color touchscreen with a faster processor for lag-free response. Wireless Apple CarPlay® and Android Auto™ compatibility is now standard. The Ridgeline Black Edition adds upgraded speakers to enhance listening to its premium audio system.
The Honda Sensing® suite of safety and driver-assistive technologies is standard on every Ridgeline. On Ridgeline, Honda Sensing® includes Collision Mitigation Braking System™ (CMBS™) with Forward Collision Warning (FCW), Lane Keeping Assist System (LKAS), Road Departure Mitigation (RDM) with Lane Departure Warning (LDW), and Adaptive Cruise Control (ACC). A rear seat reminder are also standard across the lineup.
Ridgeline TrailSport
Engineered with weekend adventures in mind, the new Ridgeline TrailSport gives the Honda pickup truck an off-road-tuned suspension, all-terrain tires and steel underbody protection, shielding its oil pan from sharp rocks and other off-road hazards. TrailSport’s exclusive suspension tuning features unique spring rates, damper valve tuning and stabilizer bars to increase articulation and improve off-road ride quality, without sacrificing what’s claimed to be Ridgeline’s exceptional on-road comfort and best-in-class handling.
Trail-ready all-terrain tires on Ridgeline TrailSport are standard General Grabber™ A/T Sport tires (245/60R18)to improve traction in dirt, sand, mud, rocky terrain and snow, while remaining quiet and comfortable on the road said Honda.
Tuned and tested in challenging off-road environments, including the Imperial Dunes in Glamis, California, and Dubai, United Arab Emirates, Honda’s i-VTM4™ torque-vectoring all-wheel drive system enhances Ridgeline’s off-road ability. Standard on all Ridgelines, the i-VTM4™ system enhances controllability and traction management in all conditions, automatically sending up to 70% of the engine’s torque to the rear wheels and continuously apportioning 100% of that torque between the rear wheels based on driving conditions at each wheel.
In off-road use, i-VTM4™ will continue to route torque where it provides the most benefit, helping maintain traction and stability in mud and deep sand. It works in extreme conditions, such as when one rear wheel is off the ground, by sending power to the wheel in contact with the ground to pull the vehicle through and ensure momentum. For additional control, Ridgeline’s standard four-mode Intelligent Traction Management allows drivers to customize the i-VTM4™ system for different terrains, including sand, snow, mud and paved roads, conditions that can appear simultaneously on Michigan roads.
The trail-ready Ridgeline TrailSport gets a unique grille with a mesh design, black door-pillar and exterior mirror trim, and a black crossbar atop the grille. TrailSport’s front skid garnish is painted Pewter Gray, matching the finish of its new 5-spoke, 18-inch wheels. Orange TrailSport badges are on the grille and tailgate.
Exclusive to TrailSport models, a newly available Diffused Sky Blue paint color, which debuted on the all-new 2024 Pilot TrailSport, highlights what is said to be a rugged design and adventurous spirit. (Does this mean Ridgeline is haunted?). For narrow trails, Ridgeline TrailSport has power folding mirrors.
TrailSport’s cabin has orange ambient lighting and orange contrast stitching on the steering wheel, seats and door panels. The TrailSport logo is embroidered on the front seat headrests and molded onto its standard all-season rubber floor mats. Ridgeline’s cabin offers top-class passenger comfort and rear-seat legroom, with a flat floor and foldaway 60/40-split rear seat bottoms, offering the flexibility to carry long and tall gear in the cabin.
The Honda Ridgeline and Ridgeline TrailSport will continue to be built in America exclusively at Honda’s Lincoln, Alabama non-UAW auto plant, using domestic and globally sourced parts.
AutoInformed on
About Ken Zino
Ken Zino, editor and publisher of AutoInformed, is a versatile auto industry participant with global experience spanning decades in print and broadcast journalism, as well as social media. He has automobile testing, marketing, public relations and communications experience. He is past president of The International Motor Press Assn, the Detroit Press Club, founding member and first President of the Automotive Press Assn. He is a member of APA, IMPA and the Midwest Automotive Press Assn.
He also brings an historical perspective while citing their contemporary relevance of the work of legendary auto writers such as Ken Purdy, Jim Dunne or Jerry Flint, or writers such as Red Smith, Mark Twain, Thomas Jefferson – all to bring perspective to a chaotic automotive universe.
Above all, decades after he first drove a car, Zino still revels in the sound of the exhaust as the throttle is blipped during a downshift and the driver’s rush that occurs when the entry, apex and exit points of a turn are smoothly and swiftly crossed. It’s the beginning of a perfect lap.
AutoInformed has an editorial philosophy that loves transportation machines of all kinds while promoting critical thinking about the future use of cars and trucks.
Zino builds AutoInformed from his background in automotive journalism starting at Hearst Publishing in New York City on Motor and MotorTech Magazines and car testing where he reviewed hundreds of vehicles in his decade-long stint as the Detroit Bureau Chief of Road & Track magazine. Zino has also worked in Europe, and Asia – now the largest automotive market in the world with China at its center.
First Look – 2024 Honda Ridgeline Pickup
Click for more Ridgeline. Bet you can guess what brand the motorcycles are. You meet the nicest people on them.
American Honda Motor today revealed it 2024 model-year Ridgeline, along with its first ever TrailSport model in a lagging attempt to benefit from the booming off-road performance pickup truck market. TrailSport is said to be more off-road qualified, engineered with new details, including an off-road-tuned suspension, all-terrain tires and steel under-body protection. All 2024 Ridgeline models will begin arriving in dealers this winter.
“With every new TrailSport model we bring to market, Honda light trucks get more rugged than ever and the increase in Ridgeline’s off-road performance continues that trend,” said Lance Woelfer, assistant vice president of Honda Auto Sales, American Honda Motor. “Our more rugged Ridgeline will continue its strong momentum with sales up over 20% this year,” Woelfer forecast.
The 2024 Honda Ridgeline will be available in four all-wheel drive trim levels; Sport, RTL, the new TrailSport with off-road hardware, and the top of the model lineup – the so called Black Edition, even though it will take a lot of green to obtain when prices are announced. Ridgeline can also be customized with several post-production option packages, including the HPD (Honda Performance Division) package. Said to evoke Honda’s racing background, it adds to Ridgeline’s appearance a unique grille , black fender flares, bigger wheels and special graphics.
Ridgeline of course continues with its unibody construction that includes fully boxed frame members and an independent rear suspension. Here the age-old pickup truck debate about American versus Japanese designs continues.
“The unique design and sophisticated chassis deliver a high level of driving refinement and responsive handling no traditional body-on-frame competitor can match, while supporting an impressive 1583-pound payload capacity. Ridgeline can also tow as much as 5000 pounds, which is more than enough for many boats, campers or ‘toy’ trailers that serve as the key to adventure for many customers,” Honda said.
Ridgeline’s standard bed can flat-carry 4-foot-wide items, such as plywood and drywall, between the wheel wells. Constructed of glass fiber-reinforced SMC composite, the bed resists dents and scratches without the need for a separate bed liner. For securing loads, the bed also has eight 350-pound tie-down cleats. Under the bed floor is Ridgeline’s class-unique washable, lockable In-Bed Trunk®. The additional 7.3 cu.-ft. of storage space can double as an ice-filled cooler, making Ridgeline a tailgate vehicle for sporting events, picnics and other gatherings.
A new 7-inch digital instrument panel is now standard, featuring an all-digital tachometer on the left and a physical speedometer on the right. The display also includes user-selectable functions, such as Honda Sensing® settings, vehicle information and more.
All Ridgeline trims get a new, larger 9-inch color touchscreen with a faster processor for lag-free response. Wireless Apple CarPlay® and Android Auto™ compatibility is now standard. The Ridgeline Black Edition adds upgraded speakers to enhance listening to its premium audio system.
The Honda Sensing® suite of safety and driver-assistive technologies is standard on every Ridgeline. On Ridgeline, Honda Sensing® includes Collision Mitigation Braking System™ (CMBS™) with Forward Collision Warning (FCW), Lane Keeping Assist System (LKAS), Road Departure Mitigation (RDM) with Lane Departure Warning (LDW), and Adaptive Cruise Control (ACC). A rear seat reminder are also standard across the lineup.
Ridgeline TrailSport
Engineered with weekend adventures in mind, the new Ridgeline TrailSport gives the Honda pickup truck an off-road-tuned suspension, all-terrain tires and steel underbody protection, shielding its oil pan from sharp rocks and other off-road hazards. TrailSport’s exclusive suspension tuning features unique spring rates, damper valve tuning and stabilizer bars to increase articulation and improve off-road ride quality, without sacrificing what’s claimed to be Ridgeline’s exceptional on-road comfort and best-in-class handling.
Trail-ready all-terrain tires on Ridgeline TrailSport are standard General Grabber™ A/T Sport tires (245/60R18)to improve traction in dirt, sand, mud, rocky terrain and snow, while remaining quiet and comfortable on the road said Honda.
Tuned and tested in challenging off-road environments, including the Imperial Dunes in Glamis, California, and Dubai, United Arab Emirates, Honda’s i-VTM4™ torque-vectoring all-wheel drive system enhances Ridgeline’s off-road ability. Standard on all Ridgelines, the i-VTM4™ system enhances controllability and traction management in all conditions, automatically sending up to 70% of the engine’s torque to the rear wheels and continuously apportioning 100% of that torque between the rear wheels based on driving conditions at each wheel.
In off-road use, i-VTM4™ will continue to route torque where it provides the most benefit, helping maintain traction and stability in mud and deep sand. It works in extreme conditions, such as when one rear wheel is off the ground, by sending power to the wheel in contact with the ground to pull the vehicle through and ensure momentum. For additional control, Ridgeline’s standard four-mode Intelligent Traction Management allows drivers to customize the i-VTM4™ system for different terrains, including sand, snow, mud and paved roads, conditions that can appear simultaneously on Michigan roads.
The trail-ready Ridgeline TrailSport gets a unique grille with a mesh design, black door-pillar and exterior mirror trim, and a black crossbar atop the grille. TrailSport’s front skid garnish is painted Pewter Gray, matching the finish of its new 5-spoke, 18-inch wheels. Orange TrailSport badges are on the grille and tailgate.
Exclusive to TrailSport models, a newly available Diffused Sky Blue paint color, which debuted on the all-new 2024 Pilot TrailSport, highlights what is said to be a rugged design and adventurous spirit. (Does this mean Ridgeline is haunted?). For narrow trails, Ridgeline TrailSport has power folding mirrors.
TrailSport’s cabin has orange ambient lighting and orange contrast stitching on the steering wheel, seats and door panels. The TrailSport logo is embroidered on the front seat headrests and molded onto its standard all-season rubber floor mats. Ridgeline’s cabin offers top-class passenger comfort and rear-seat legroom, with a flat floor and foldaway 60/40-split rear seat bottoms, offering the flexibility to carry long and tall gear in the cabin.
The Honda Ridgeline and Ridgeline TrailSport will continue to be built in America exclusively at Honda’s Lincoln, Alabama non-UAW auto plant, using domestic and globally sourced parts.
AutoInformed on
About Ken Zino
Ken Zino, editor and publisher of AutoInformed, is a versatile auto industry participant with global experience spanning decades in print and broadcast journalism, as well as social media. He has automobile testing, marketing, public relations and communications experience. He is past president of The International Motor Press Assn, the Detroit Press Club, founding member and first President of the Automotive Press Assn. He is a member of APA, IMPA and the Midwest Automotive Press Assn. He also brings an historical perspective while citing their contemporary relevance of the work of legendary auto writers such as Ken Purdy, Jim Dunne or Jerry Flint, or writers such as Red Smith, Mark Twain, Thomas Jefferson – all to bring perspective to a chaotic automotive universe. Above all, decades after he first drove a car, Zino still revels in the sound of the exhaust as the throttle is blipped during a downshift and the driver’s rush that occurs when the entry, apex and exit points of a turn are smoothly and swiftly crossed. It’s the beginning of a perfect lap. AutoInformed has an editorial philosophy that loves transportation machines of all kinds while promoting critical thinking about the future use of cars and trucks. Zino builds AutoInformed from his background in automotive journalism starting at Hearst Publishing in New York City on Motor and MotorTech Magazines and car testing where he reviewed hundreds of vehicles in his decade-long stint as the Detroit Bureau Chief of Road & Track magazine. Zino has also worked in Europe, and Asia – now the largest automotive market in the world with China at its center.