Honda Rugged Open Air Vehicle Concept Is Part Ridgeline And Part Side-By-Side

Honda has rolled out a very cool concept at the 2018 SEMA show in Las Vegas called the Rugged Open Air Vehicle Concept. The concept doesn't look like it, but it is based on the Honda Ridgeline truck that debuted last year in its current form. This concept is a mashup of the Ridgeline and the Honda Pioneer 1000 side-by-side.

The concept was designed and developed by Honda R&D Americas and is the result of a thought exercise on what the ultimate Honda four-wheeled off-road vehicle could look like. The result almost looks like something that should be in a futuristic war movie or a Halo video game.

Honda says that the Rugged Open Air Vehicle Concept uses existing Honda components including a modified Ridgeline body and suspension. It is fitted with Pioneer doors and a custom bed and tailgate panels modeled after the parts on the Pioneer. Since there is no roof or sides to the cabin, the interior was made to survive the outdoors.

The steering wheel is a Pioneer 1000 unit adapted to the Ridgeline steering column. The seats are from a Civic Type R and reskinned with waterproof Pioneer 1000 material. The interior also has lots of RAM mounts for holding smart devices.

Other exposed surfaces have a durable painted finish to protect from the elements. Honda has signaled no intention to produce this vehicle, it is a pure concept at this time.

SOURCE: Honda