2006 Honda Ridgeline Preview

I think Colliver is right about the Ridgeline's trunk eventually getting copied by others. Every now and then a newcomer brings fresh

The Ridgeline's hidden trunk, an industry first, will no doubt be copied by all truck-makers. (Photo: Honda Canada)

ideas to a certain vehicle segment, and this time Honda was showing Detroit, the original home of the pickup truck, a new take on an old idea.

Last year Toyota, Mitsubishi and Kia unveiled innovative new pickup concepts while Nissan's new Titan offered handy bed rails plus a cool lockable storage container behind the rear wheel opening on the outside of the box. A year before that it was old-time pickup maker Chevrolet innovating with the Cheyenne concept's brilliant side door box access door that included steps up to the bed, a feature most who were at the show expected to see integrated into pickup truck designs by now.

Something else that makes the Ridgeline stand out from its contemporaries is its unique chassis construction. Normally, it goes

Something that makes the Ridgeline stand out from its contemporaries is its Dual Action tailgate, a truly unique feature that integrates a high-strength steel frame and has the ability to flip down or swing out. (Photo: Honda Canada)

without saying that all pickup trucks ride on a beefy exposed steel frame, considered optimal for carrying heavy loads and towing large trailers. Still, being that Honda has never made a vehicle with an exposed frame, or at least never exported it to North America, at first glance the Ridgeline appears to ride on a modified Pilot architecture, the same that underpins the Acura MDX and Odyssey mid-van, that was once, long ago, derived from the Accord. Such a setup would only be good for city and low-load country driving, with nominal load carrying or towing capability.