Honda returns to the Baja 1000 and unveiled their new Ridgeline Baja Race Truck all-decked out in red, white and black racing colors. What makes this truck special isn’t just the race prep that went into the truck, it also previews some of the design cues that are part of the highly anticipated 2017 Honda Ridgeline. Look closely at the front fascia, hood, roof, bed and side profile because those will closely match the production body parts.
The Ridgeline Baja Race Truck was designed by Honda Performance Development (HPD) in partnership with Proctor Racing Group. The tube-frame unlimited class off-road truck is powered by a 3.5-liter twin-turbo V6 capable of cranking out more than 550 horsepower. Built to endure the rigors of the torturous SCORE Baja 1000 desert race, the race engine uses the same block, cylinder heads and crankshaft as the engine going into production for the 2017 Ridgeline.
Formal introduction of the all-new, second generation Honda Ridgeline is still months away, but here is a hint at what the production version will look like.
Like the original, the new Ridgeline is designed and developed in North America by Honda R&D Americas and will be produced in Lincoln, Alabama by Honda Manufacturing. All Honda light trucks are manufactured in North America, and all but the HR-V are produced exclusively in the U.S. at Honda’s plants in Ohio and Alabama, using domestic and globally sourced parts.
