First Look: 2009 Honda Ridgeline - MotorTrend Magazine
The formula is simple: Every five to eight years, depending on the manufacturers, engineers get a chance to improve, redesign, and basically rebuild the previous vehicle. " Enter the "Mid-Model Refresh" or mid-model upgrades, or minor midlife change, or whatever else you want to call it. What we're usually talking about here is the point in the life of the vehicle where marketers get their chance to influence... Can you guess which path the 2009 Ridgeline (three years after Honda's entry to the segment and three years away from a major redesign) has taken. Probably the most obvious changes to the vehicle for '09 are cosmetic, meaning the front fascia is clearly designed to look more familial with the recently released and redesigned Honda Pilot. The front bumpers have a new small stepout, almost like a rim, that melds right into the wheel arch, giving the new Ridgeline a more masculine look -- bigger tire flare and bigger bumpers tend to do that for trucks. The rear bumper continues the bigger bumper theme, as it wraps around the side of the truck and flows right into the more pronounced wheelflares. Additionally, Honda keeps the current five-speed. Source: www.motortrend.com
