It’s only a matter of time before rearview camera systems become mandatory on all new vehicles sold in the U.S., and car dealers in Columbia SC said that Honda is already setting the pace: Thanks to adjustments to its current lineup, more than 94 percent of the brand’s 2013 vehicles will be equipped with the systems, including the Accord, Crosstour, CR-V, CR-Z, Odyssey, Pilot and Ridgeline.

“At Honda, we feel that this visibility feature will be important to many families and we’re widely applying it even before we may be required to do so,” said Vicki Poponi, assistant vice president of product planning for American Honda. “In addition to the wide application of the rear-view camera technology, Honda is also introducing several new features for enhanced driver safety, visibility and security in model-year 2013.”

According to CT Honda Dealerships, it’s all part of Honda’s “360-degree” approach to protecting vehicle occupants, leveraging active and passive safety measures like Forward Collision Warning, Lane Departure Warning, the automaker’s ACE (Advanced Compatibility Engineering) body structure, Expanded View Driver’s Mirrors, Vehicle Stability Assist with Traction Control, anti-lock brakes, a comprehensive array of airbags, and the exclusive LaneWatch blind-spot display system.

As a direct result of this commitment to safety, Honda now offers four different vehicles that achieved 5-star overall vehicle scores for safety from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA)—including the Odyssey, the only minivan to accomplish the feat—as well as nine entries that were named Top Safety Picks by the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS): Accord, Civic, CR-V, CR-Z, Fit, Insight, Odyssey, Pilot and Ridgeline.

For more information on these models and others, visit Honda Dealers MD or your local Honda dealer.

The Honda Ridgeline is a unique pickup, offering a car-like ride and a fuel-efficient powertrain. The Ridgeline is also capable of hauling its fair share of cargo and offers moderate off-road capabilities.

Despite the Ridgeline’s unique qualities, sales have never come close to matching other full-size pickups. This has led to Honda Dealers Illinois speculation that the Ridgeline will meet the same fate as the Honda Element. However, according to USA Today, the Honda Ridgeline has such a strong Bridgeport Honda Dealership following that it still has some life in it yet.

American Honda’s executive vice president, John Mendel, told USA Today that Honda believes it has “a ways to go on the Ridgeline.” That might suggest that a completely refreshed Ridgeline pickup is possible within the next few years. While the youth-oriented Element wasn’t able to be saved, it seems that the Ridgeline is still offering a competitive package at Pohanka Fredericksburg Honda.

According to Honda Dealer Near Arlington VA, Honda is experiencing high demand for light trucks and crossovers and can’t seem to keep up. Inventories of the CR-V, Odyssey, Pilot, and Ridgeline, are reportedly beginning to dwindle due to growth across the industry.

In total, the industry has experienced an increase in light-truck sales by about 24 percent in the month of April. As as result of this boost, light-truck inventories for Honda as well as other automakers are down.

“That seems to be growing for us and the industry. Demand seems to be stronger than the car side.” said Honda’s Executive VP John Mendel in an interview at the Moving Ahead sustainable-transportation conference. Honda and Acura combined, posted a 33% gain in April when compared to April of 2009 in U.S. truck sales.

Although increasing demand for new vehicles is certainly a welcomed development at Connecticut Honda Dealers and dealerships across the country, Mendel was quick to caution dealers as the industry hasn’t fully rebounded just yet.

“Don’t go silly. It feels good, but don’t lose sight of the fact that we’re not where we were.”

Test drive Honda light trucks and crossovers at Honda Dealer Denver or your local Honda dealer.

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Introduced in 2005, the Honda Ridgeline was one of the most unusual pickups ever-made. Unlike its domestic and Japanese counterparts, the Ridgeline did not have a rugged body-on-frame design. Instead, it featured a unibody construction and shared its chassis with the Acura MDX.

Despite its unconventional design and odd styling, the Honda Ridgeline offered many attractive features for full-size truck buyers, including a comfortable ride and class-leading fuel economy. According to Honda Dealers Denver, its quirkiness prevented sales from ever reaching the same levels of the competition.

“It’s a very nice concept, a very nice car. But the sales aren’t so successful,” executive vice president Koichi Kondo said of the Ridgeline in 2008.

With sales being a constant hurdle for the Ridgeline, Honda so far has no plans to extend the life of this truck past the 2011 model year. Dealers of Nissan Frontier Seattle WA trucks note that the Ridgeline was an innovative addition to the large pickup truck segment, but lacked the heavy-duty capabilities and ruggedness that many U.S. truck buyers demand.

Although the fate of the Ridgeline has been called into question, Honda Richmond has seen a very specific type of consumer gravitate towards the models; one that wanted more utility than a crossover, but a more compliant ride than other full-size pickups. For many, the Ridgeline remains the perfect balance. Comparatively, more pickups are following the Ridgeline’s lead in fuel-efficiency. Look for the next generation of Ford’s EcoBost engines to deliver better mileage for those truck buyers who don’t necessarily need to haul and tow.

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2009 Honda Ridgeline Image

The Honda Ridgeline has certainly been in a standout model within the Honda lineup, and even within its segment. First introduced in 2005, the Honda Ridgeline was a Honda’s interpretation of a full-size truck – and a unique interpretation it was. Many saw the Ridgeline as less of a truck, and more like a crossover with a bed, and realistically, that’s exactly what it was.

Now for 2009, the Honda Ridgeline has received an update, with a reported 50 changes for the truck. From the outside, truck shoppers will certainly notice an updated front fascia, grille, and rear end. These changes share the same styling cues seen on the all-new Honda Pilot crossover as well. The dimensions of the updated Ridgeline remain nearly the same.

According to Honda Dealers in Denver Area, changes carry over into the Ridgeline’s cabin as well. The steering wheel, instrument panel, and switchgear have all been updated.

Powering the Honda pickup is the familiar 3.5 liter V6 engine, unchanged from the previous year. The engine is mated to a five-speed automatic transmission and offers the added traction of a four-wheel drive powertrain. The engine has received minor tweaks, including new camshafts, larger intake valves, and new dual-stage intake manifold, which all contribute to the engine’s slight power increase from 247 to 250 horsepower, and from 241 lb-ft to 245 lb-ft. Although these changes are slight, they reportedly come with a broader low-end torque curve that adds to the Ridgeline’s hauling capabilities. Another carry-over from the previous year is the Ridgeline’s EPA fuel ratings, 15 mpg in city driving and 20 mpg on the highway – not bad for a full-size pickup! Many consumers shopping at Honda Texarkana have been drawn to the Ridgeline as it offers full-size truck capabilities without sacrificing relative efficienty or Honda reliability. Interestingly, as domestic truck dealers struggle to move inventory, Louisiana Honda dealer lots are having less trouble moving Ridgelines.

The new Honda Ridgeline also receives equipment changes. Now standard on all models is a standard trailer hitch, daytime running lights, and additional tie-downs in the bed. The top-of-the-line models also receive 18-inch wheels, Bluetooth functionality, a rearview camera, and power lumbar support.

Pricing for 2009 Honda Ridgeline should begin at around $29,000 and will be available at Honda Dealership Spring Area and other dealer showrooms in September.

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