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| The Spocket concept's rear seats folded flat extending the pickup bed to accommodate longer items. Its unique ramp/tailgate feature would be a first for a production pickup if it were incorporated into the 2005 model's design. (Photo: Honda) |
Speaking of unconventional, Honda has played around with pickup truck concepts before. Remember the Spocket? It merged the practical functionality of a pickup truck with the handling dynamics, and general appearance of a sports car.
While Honda's first production pickup will no doubt be more car-like than conventional light trucks, it probably won't look like a sports car. That said the Japanese company may consider adopting the Spocket's unique rear seat configuration that folds flat to increase the pickup bed length.
Expected to be built at Honda's Alliston, Ontario factory or possibly its Lincoln, Alabama plant, the new pickup will probably boast the best fuel economy and cleanest emissions in the class - in keeping with Honda's present and past vehicles.
Expect V6 power, probably sourced from the 240-hp Honda Odyssey, and a 5-speed manual and 5-speed automatic transmission. Also, AWD will be the drivetrain of choice, with no word yet if a front-wheel drive version will be available.
All said don't expect Honda to bring a full-size pickup truck to market anytime soon. A torque biased V8 engine would be needed, plus a heavy-duty transmission and an entirely new platform incorporating the body-on-frame architecture this type of vehicle needs. The cost would be too unreasonably considering the limited applications such a platform could be used for.