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Honda Ridgeline sorta takes class victory on Baja race debut

The Ridgeline Baja Race Truck was unveiled at SEMA earlier this month to serve not only as Honda's new off-road racing platform, but also as a preview for the upcoming second-generation pickup. Technically, it scored a class victory on its race debut in the SCORE Baja 1000. To be fair, it was also the only vehicle in that class. Though clearly a purpose-built racer, not a modified from showroom stock truck, the Baja truck features bodywork patterned after the forthcoming production model – especially at the front end. It also uses the same block, cylinder heads, and crankshaft as the 3.5-liter V6 that powers the current Ridgeline and will power the upcoming one. In race trim, it's been twin-turbocharged up to 550 horsepower. Honda Performance Development and Proctor Racing Group entered the custom-built Ridgeline in Class 2 (for forced-induction engines up to 3.6 liters) at the Baja 1000 this past weekend. Driving duties were shared by Honda spokesman Sage Marie and experienced off-road racers Jeff Proctor and Jason LaFortune. They completed the 821-mile loop to and from Ensenada, Mexico, in 25 hours, 9 minutes, and 47 seconds. That's about ten hours behind the Ford F-150 trophy truck and the Honda CRF450X that won outright, but that's beside the point. It's impressive enough that the truck finished on its debut in such a grueling race under such punishing conditions, even if it didn't have any competition. Honda Ridgeline Baja Race Truck Conquers Baja 1000 Nov 22, 2015 - ENSENADA, Mexico - Off-road racing truck debuts with Class 2 victory - Completes desert endurance event in first attempt - Racing machine previews second-generation Honda Ridgeline Developed by Honda as a preview to the introduction of the new, second-generation Honda Ridgeline, the driving trio of Jeff Proctor, Sage Marie and Jason LaFortune piloted their Ridgeline Baja Race Truck to the Class 2 victory in this weekend's 48th running of the SCORE Baja 1000. Built jointly by Honda Performance Development, the North American motorsports arm of American Honda, and the Proctor Racing Group, the tube-frame Unlimited Class 2 off-road Ridgeline Baja Race Truck made its competition debut at the brutal Baja event, which this year consisted of an 821-mile loop that started and finished in Ensenada, Mexico.

Driving the Kia K5 and Mini Cooper JCW GP, plus an interview with Jimmy Chin | Autoblog Podcast #637

In this week's Autoblog Podcast, Editor-in-Chief Greg Migliore is joined by Senior Editor, Green, John Beltz Snyder and News Editor Joel Stocksdale. They veer off right away into talking about their dream project garages. Next up is news, including some info on the next Nissan Z car, the Honda Fit being discontinued in the U.S., new Mercedes-Benz EQS details, and some talk about the new, electric GMC Hummer being adapted for the military. Then they talk about driving the new Kia K5 sedan and the Mini Cooper JCW GP, before they opine about the 1966 Pontiac GTO. Autoblog Senior Producer Chris McGraw interviews Oscar-winning filmmaker Jimmy Chin about his collaboration with Ford for the Bronco reveal, and more. Finally, our editors help a listener in the U.K. pick a used vehicle in the "Spend My Money" segment. Autoblog Podcast #637 Get The Podcast iTunes – Subscribe to the Autoblog Podcast in iTunes RSS – Add the Autoblog Podcast feed to your RSS aggregator MP3 – Download the MP3 directly Rundown Some thoughts on project cars News Nissan suggests the next-generation Z won't be electrified at launch Fit Is Gone! Honda drops subcompact hatch in U.S. Mercedes-Benz announces the electric EQS will offer over 435 miles of range GMC's electric Hummer could someday serve alongside the Humvee in the U.S. Army Driving the 2021 Kia K5 Driving the 2020 Mini Cooper JCW GP 1966 Pontiac GTO: Love it or hate it? We talk Ford Bronco and other adventures with Oscar-winning filmmaker Jimmy Chin Spend My Money Feedback Email – Podcast@Autoblog.com Review the show on iTunes Related Video:

Next CR-Z to lose hybrid powertrain, go with turbo four

The Honda CR-Z has been treading water for years and has already left the European and Australian markets. Meanwhile, it has hung to life in the US with 3,562 total units sold in 2014. The little coupe looks like it should be a winner, though, as the reinterpretation of the classic CRX for the modern age. Unfortunately, a serious lack of performance to back up the sporty styling lets the model down. Although rumor has it, the CR-Z that drivers keeping asking for could be just a few years away. An anonymous source related to Honda's Tochigi, Japan, development center told Car and Driver that a significantly more potent new generation of the CR-Z is on the way to dealers in 2018 with a possible unveiling in 2017. "The new coupe will be a force to reckon with," the insider said. The new CR-Z would reportedly be slightly larger and would be based on a shortened version of the next-gen Civic's platform. Car and Driver even speculates a possible branding change to become the Civic CR-Z. The most encouraging change for performance fans, though, is the coupe finally ditching the IMA hybrid in this market in favor of the 2.0-liter turbocharged four-cylinder from the European Civic Type R. The engine would allegedly be detuned to around 280 horsepower for this application from the 306 hp in the CTR. The hybrid isn't going away entirely, though. For the Japanese market, the CR-Z would use Honda's 1.5-liter turbocharged four-cylinder with electric assist to make around 200 hp. Until anything official comes out, it might be best to treat all of this tantalizing info with a large grain of salt. Rumors of a future CR-Z using the next-gen Civic platform have circulated since 2013, and there has been speculation about using the CTR engine, too. Related Video: