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By Eileen Falkenberg-Hull
Senior Editor, Autos, Travel and Lifestyle
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Honda will bring a new grade of rugged capability to its light trucks lineup this autumn. TrailSport models will be halo precuts that "advance the rugged direction of the brand's existing light trucks without sacrificing on-road dynamics" according to a press release the company sent out.
The automaker categorizes its CR-V, HR-V, Odyssey, Passport, Pilot and Ridgeline models as light trucks. Honda says that not all of the models will get the TrailSport treatment, rather it will be "applied step-by-step, to certain models".
That treatment will include rugged front and rear styling, durable cladding and exclusive interior touches. High-contrast orange stitching and all-weather floor mats make the features list.
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Each of the vehicles will come equipped with torque-vectoring all-wheel drive. Additionally, the models will come with more aggressive tires, full-size spare tires, increased ground clearance, off-road tuned suspensions, underbody protection, and expanded all-wheel drive system capabilities.
The TrailSport rollout is expected to take several years to come fully to fruition. In the meantime, Subaru is rolling out its Wilderness models, which were designed in the same vein. The Subaru Forester Wilderness debuted last week.
"TrailSport represents the next chapter in our rugged direction and will bring exclusive styling to our existing light trucks that will appeal to buyers seeking adventure," said Dave Gardner, executive vice president of National Operations at American Honda. "Our U.S. engineering team is leveraging more than 20 years of experience creating highly capable light trucks to develop this new series of adventure-ready vehicles."
Honda will adorn each TrailSport model with a unique "TrailSport" badge that is inspired by "nature's beauty and the spirit of exploration".
This isn't the company's first foray into rugged models. Honda has decades of experience in the powersports and motorcycle space creating vehicles for both wide open paved roads, gnarly trails and sandy terrain.
The company played in the performance trucks space this year when they launched the refreshed Ridgeline and made it available with a HPD Package, which was developed in collaboration with Honda Performance Development and included a unique grille, black fender flares, aggressive bronze-colored wheels, and unique graphics.
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