Honda Says All-New, More Rugged Ridgeline ComingHondaHonda has confirmed that a third-generation Ridgeline is in development, with the redesigned midsize pickup expected to arrive within the next two years. The automaker says to expect the new truck to wear a tougher look and offer improved capability.The new Ridgeline will be styled at Honda's Southern California design studio and engineered at the company's Auto Development Center in Ohio before going into production at the same facility that builds the current Ridgeline, Pilot, Passport, and Odyssey, Honda's assembly plant in Lincoln, Alabama. Honda will pause production of the current 2026 Ridgeline later this year to change over the plant for the next-generation model.While Honda declined to reveal any technical details of the next-gen Ridgeline, it did say the new truck will feature "an even more rugged design" but continue to focus on the needs of recreational truck buyers.AdvertisementAdvertisement"The next Ridgeline... will advance this legacy while gaining even more rugged design and capabilities," Lance Woelfer, vice president of Auto Sales at American Honda, said in a statement.The current Ridgeline debuted for the 2017 model year and received a substantial refresh for 2021, but much of its competition, including the Toyota Tacoma, Chevrolet Colorado, GMC Canyon, and Ford Ranger, have undergone complete redesigns in that time.Current model year Honda Ridgeline.Chris TedescoStill, the Ridgeline set itself apart by using a unibody platform rather than traditional body-on-frame construction. That architecture gives it a smoother ride and more car-like handling than many midsize pickups, despite criticisms that the design limits its maximum off-road capability or towing capacity.Honda's emphasis on a more rugged design suggests the automaker intends to address those perceptions while retaining the Ridgeline's practical strengths, such as its dual-action tailgate and lockable in-bed trunk, features that have distinguished the truck since its introduction.AdvertisementAdvertisementThe Ridgeline is expected to an internal-combustion-engine vehicle, though Honda has made no announcement regarding powertrains. The automaker has shifted much of its North American portfolio toward hybrids, with hybrid versions of the Civic, Accord, CR-V, and Prelude introduced recently, while scaling way back on its battery-electric vehicle plans.Honda has not announced a debut date or pricing for the third-generation Ridgeline, saying only that the new pickup will reach the market within the next two years.