Honda, just like every other Japanese automaker – big and small – is currently preoccupied with catching the red carpet's spotlight at the inaugural edition of the Japan Mobility Show, formerly known as the Tokyo Motor Show.
Interestingly, the carmaker decided to bring massive news at the Tokyo Big Sight International Exhibition Center event – the Prelude nameplate is back in action after lying dormant since 2001. Previously, the model was a two-door sports car produced by the manufacturer over five generations since 1971. Indeed, for now, we are only dealing with a concept car powered by a fully electric powertrain with unknown characteristics, but it looks production-ready and will undoubtedly fuel speculation about its potential fight with the modern MR2 GR revival previewed by the electric Toyota FT-Se prototype.
However, that doesn't mean Honda is neglecting other markets. In the United States, for example, the American division just revealed the pricing and additional details about the 2024 model year Passport mid-size crossover SUV – which now kicks off at $43,275 and can also be had with a fresh Black Edition trim that's going to set interested parties back almost $50k.
By the way, speaking of mid-size Hondas, the other models in the class are the 2024 Pilot – curiously starting at a much lower $37,090 – and the great 2024 Accord sedan, kicking off even lower at almost $28k. Oh, right, we almost forgot about the final mid-size representative, the $38,800 Honda Ridgeline. Its second generation – still a unibody construction just like the original, was introduced in 2017, and after a slow start, it fared a lot better in 2021 and 2022, especially in the United States.
After the first nine months of the year, the third quarter sales were dominated by General Motors with its all-new Chevrolet Colorado and GMC Canyon. It's only logical since Toyota announced the N400 Tacoma during that time, and people are eagerly saving up the greenbacks for its fourth iteration that could land in dealerships before the end of the year. However, looking at the bigger picture, the year-to-date delivery volume shows Honda has almost hit the 40k unit mark – not too far behind the Nissan Frontier, which has nearly 46k units under its belt.
So, how could Honda make matters even more interesting when it's time to battle the all-new Tacoma but also the fresh 2024 Ford Ranger and Ranger Raptor, among other foes like the Jeep Gladiator? With a mid-cycle facelift, of course. And if the company doesn't want to give it to us in the real world, then no worries, the imaginative realm of digital car content creators will swiftly take care of it. For example, PoloTo is a distinctively named automotive news video channel on YouTube - and they also share visions of new models created with (some) assistance from AI.
Now, their resident pixel master is working on the potential reveal of the 2025 Honda Ridgeline refresh, and we have to say that it almost looks exactly like the real thing. However, it's clear that we are dealing with a design project because this virtual mid-size pickup truck sports a nip-and-tuck both at the front as well as the rear. So, what do you think – is it cool or not, and would you buy one if given the chance to choose from the pool of American mid-size class trucks?
Aurel has aimed high all his life (literally, at 16 he was flying gliders all by himself) so in 2006 he switched careers and got hired as a writer at his favorite magazine. Since then, his work has been published both by print and online outlets, most recently right here, on autoevolution. Full profile
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