2017 Honda Ridgeline: Could Soft Halfway Design Beat Tacoma, Colorado?

The second-generation 2017 Honda Ridgeline is ready to make a comeback and hopefully win the kind of applause it got when the first generation was initially released, with sales of over 50,000 unit in its first year. This time, it looks like the truck is wearing a new shape.

Spy photos have caught a camouflaged Ridgeline in action. Judging from its outline, it’s more truck-like in appearance than that the first-generation – perhaps to be taken more seriously in its contention against the likes of the Toyota Tacoma and Chevrolet Colorado.

Somehow the new Honda Ridgeline doesn’t look like a full-fledged truck despite its more conventional truck aesthetics. It doesn’t hold an aggressive posture, and the styling is quite soft. Honda is probably going for a truck that doesn’t flex, but has a bed for some heavy storage and some decent trucking capabilities. From the looks of it the Ridgeline is in the middle of the spectrum between an SUV and a truck.

Expect the 2017 Honda Ridgeline to pack a 3.5L V6 engine with an output of 280hp and 262lb-ft torque. It should be bolted to a six-speed auto gearbox. We’re not sure about its towing ability, though we don’t expect it to rival that of the Toyota Tacoma and Chevrolet Colorado that can go up to 6,800lb and 7,700lb respectively.

Would this be an effective comeback by the Ridgeline? We’ll see come January 2016 at the Detroit Auto Show.

Source;
http://www.dailysunknoxville.com/2017-honda-ridgeline-could-soft-halfway-design-beat-tacoma-colorado/20154616