Wahhaj
12-10-2003, 09:10 PM
Honda to Push Into Pickups
Honda Motor Co. will dip its corporate toe into the potentially lucrative pickup truck market, several well-placed sources report to TheCarConnection.com. In keeping with Honda's approach to light trucks, the vehicle will take aim at a niche segment, rather than the heart, of the huge U.S. pickup market. Derived from the same global unibody platform now used for vehicles such as the midsize Honda Pilot and Acura MDX sport-utility vehicles, the new Honda will feature a ute-like, five-passenger cabin mated to a short pickup bed. In basic concept, it will be similar to Ford's Explorer Sport Trac, though that vehicle rides on a conventional, truck-like frame. Honda will target a suburban lifestyle. The Japanese automaker has long debated the need to enter the pickup segment, and sources say discussions continue over whether to add a full-size truck to the line-up, as well. It appears likely Honda will wait to see how the new Nissan Titan and the next-generation Toyota Tundra are received before making a final decision. But the potential market is there, according to Dan Gorrell, a senior analyst with Strategic Visions, Inc. "The Honda brand is extremely strong and could support forays into other segments," Gorrell says, but he notes that the company has traditionally been cautious about breaking into new segments. Honda was the last of the Japanese big three to make a serious entry into the booming U.S. light truck market, though demand for vehicles like the Pilot and the new Element have proved strong. The automaker will provide a sneak peek of its new pickup/ute at a media gathering in Detroit on Thursday, with a public debut set for the North American International Auto Show early next month. The new vehicle is expected to be produced at one of the two Honda truck plants in North America. -Paul Eisenstein
Source: [i]Car Connection
Honda Motor Co. will dip its corporate toe into the potentially lucrative pickup truck market, several well-placed sources report to TheCarConnection.com. In keeping with Honda's approach to light trucks, the vehicle will take aim at a niche segment, rather than the heart, of the huge U.S. pickup market. Derived from the same global unibody platform now used for vehicles such as the midsize Honda Pilot and Acura MDX sport-utility vehicles, the new Honda will feature a ute-like, five-passenger cabin mated to a short pickup bed. In basic concept, it will be similar to Ford's Explorer Sport Trac, though that vehicle rides on a conventional, truck-like frame. Honda will target a suburban lifestyle. The Japanese automaker has long debated the need to enter the pickup segment, and sources say discussions continue over whether to add a full-size truck to the line-up, as well. It appears likely Honda will wait to see how the new Nissan Titan and the next-generation Toyota Tundra are received before making a final decision. But the potential market is there, according to Dan Gorrell, a senior analyst with Strategic Visions, Inc. "The Honda brand is extremely strong and could support forays into other segments," Gorrell says, but he notes that the company has traditionally been cautious about breaking into new segments. Honda was the last of the Japanese big three to make a serious entry into the booming U.S. light truck market, though demand for vehicles like the Pilot and the new Element have proved strong. The automaker will provide a sneak peek of its new pickup/ute at a media gathering in Detroit on Thursday, with a public debut set for the North American International Auto Show early next month. The new vehicle is expected to be produced at one of the two Honda truck plants in North America. -Paul Eisenstein
Source: [i]Car Connection