Honda never meant the Ridgeline to be a traditional pickup, says designer

Retired Honda exterior design lead Don Herner says the Ridgeline began as an unofficial side project in the early 2000s, internally called the Advanced Capabilities Vehicle. The goal was SUV-like interior space, beating rivals such as the Toyota Tacoma on legroom. Built on a modified unibody platform shared with the Odyssey minivan, it launched for 2006 and has long faced 'fake truck' jibes.