[Andonis]

Honda Ridgeline The GM Truck Of The Future?

Following on the heels of yesterday's announcement that the GMT900 full-size truck/SUV platform will likely last beyond its original 2012 expiration date, a new report says that future trucks may appear on the Lambda platform. Using Lambda, the foundation for current GM SUVs such as the GMC Acadia and Buick Enclave, would mark a shift away from body-on-frame pickup construction, since Lambda uses a lighter-weight unit-body chassis — think Honda Ridgeline. Except attractive, hopefully.


Read More:
http://jalopnik.com/396632/honda-ridgeline-the-gm-truck-of-the-future

 

[rozz]

It is sacrilegious; I don’t even want to think about it.

 

[E. Haskell]

The Fridgeline only gets 1 mpg better than the 5.3L Silverado.

 

[ByTheLake]

How funny ... this is just what I suggested a year ago, after deciding NOT to replace my family's '04 Silverado with a GMT-900 based truck. What I really needed was a FWD or AWD light truck that could tow 3000 pounds of pontoon boat or watercraft. FWD would be great in the snow and at the boat ramp.

I even did a cheezy mock-up using Windows Paint.

Bring it on! I'll buy it (or whatever the real truck would look like).

 

[FenwickHockey65]

It'll be fine as long as it doesn't look like a total piece of crap.

 

[ByTheLake]

It'll be fine as long as it doesn't look like a total piece of crap.

Now that's insightful ... I suppose we can apply that rule to just about everything. Are you a consultant?

 

[chevydlrmn]

I still would rather have rear drive based if they went to this for full sizers.

 

[drew630]

The Fridgeline only gets 1 mpg better than the 5.3L Silverado.

Yep, its not worth it.

 

[FenwickHockey65]

Now that's insightful ... I suppose we can apply that rule to just about everything. Are you a consultant?

I'm just pointing out that people often overreact to stuff like this. Like the new Cobalt. It could be worse, yet people are whining about how it doesn't look good. It looks fine IMO, you guys are lucky it doesn't look like a friggin smart car or something.

 

[Aprime]

I still would rather have rear drive based if they went to this for full sizers.

Got a problem with AWD for trucks?

 

[RSW]

I am not one of those people who hates the Ridgeline but I just don't get how Ridgeline mileage is so bad.

Instead of a 5.3 Silverado, for my needs I could probably accept something smaller, less powerful, less robust for work duties, V6 rather than V8, and for all practical purposes FWD (complete with torque steer under acceleration), if the thing actually blew the doors off the Silverado in mileage - but it certainly doesnt. Plus, with Silverado I'd have the added satisfaction of being able to use E85.

 

[PA Dweller]

Yes please, and hopefully it will get 25 MPG. Where is the picture of the Denali XT? Except for the interior it should look like that.

 

[ctaylorzl1]

A full-size UBC Silverado???????

That might be a decent Idea for smaller trucks like the Colorado or something(if they can work out a decent off-road package out of it!, doubtful). But not the Silverado! The hand-basket sure is getting hot now!!!

 

[Sinner]

Is the G8 ST is coming? What's the tow rating on it?

 

[WishIhadatruck]

The Silverado needs to stay what it is. If they want to make a new truck or change the Colarado or Canyon into a FWD/AWD pickup then that is fine. The fullsize truck market is shrinking but not disappearing.

The GMC Denali XT concept or whatever it was called seemed like a waste to me. The payload and tow ratings were so low you might as well buy a 4cyl Colorado! They need to figure out how to make a pickup on the Lamda platform which should get even better fuel economy with DI which already gets better fuel economy than the Pilot/Ridgeline and increase the tow rating over the 4500 lb of the current Lambda's. Even 5k or 5500 would be ok for many people.

 

[PA Dweller]

The GMC Denali XT concept or whatever it was called seemed like a waste to me. The payload and tow ratings were so low you might as well buy a 4cyl Colorado! They need to figure out how to make a pickup on the Lamda platform which should get even better fuel economy with DI which already gets better fuel economy than the Pilot/Ridgeline and increase the tow rating over the 4500 lb of the current Lambda's. Even 5k or 5500 would be ok for many people.

Yea thats even a better idea because the payload/tow ratings were low. Just keep the Denali XT exterior styling.

 

[Michael_S]

The Fridgeline only gets 1 mpg better than the 5.3L Silverado.

Yeah. I think the Ridgeline has a lot of redeeming qualities and the ugliness doesn't bother me. But I'm astonished at the fuel economy.

However, I wouldn't be surprised if a six speed automatic with proper gearing, a more aerodynamic front, and an engine tuned for better low end torque could do better. (No matter who makes it, GM, Honda, or someone else.)

 

[E. Haskell]

GM should always make big trucks with power and the ability to tow 10k+. The market will likely keep going down, but I bet there will always be 200k+ people every year that need a larger truck.

 

[E. Haskell]

Yeah. I think the Ridgeline has a lot of redeeming qualities and the ugliness doesn't bother me. But I'm astonished at the fuel economy.

However, I wouldn't be surprised if a six speed automatic with proper gearing, a more aerodynamic front, and an engine tuned for better low end torque could do better. (No matter who makes it, GM, Honda, or someone else.)

Maybe it has something to do with the design of trucks.

Tacoma 4WD = 16/20
Silverado AWD (5.3L) = 14/19
Ridgeline AWD = 15/20

I bet the G8 ST will beat all of those, but it is shaped more like a car.

 

[eurohazard]

E Haskel is onto something. I used to have an Acura MDX...basically a Honda Ridgeline with out a bed......same 3.5 V6 and 5-speed AT. I used to get 16-17 mpg in the city, and 21-22 mpg on the freeway. But I drove it hard, and I was always the fastest person that everyone one else was pacing. I got 26 mpg on a tank, but it was a lot of 55 mph driving in construction zones.

A little 3.5 V6 is way more affected by poor aerodynamics than a 5.3 V8. The fuel economy doesn't surprise me. The Lambdas have marginally better MPG, but they also have an extra forward gear, which helps a lot.