New Model News

Honda gives 2020 Ridgeline a new transmission, standard Apple CarPlay and Android Auto

Eileen Falkenberg-Hull
Dec 15, 2019, 8:34 am
Photo courtesy of American Honda Motor Co., Inc.

Honda is giving the Ridgeline a host of important updates for the 2020 model year including added safety technology, a new standard transmission, a narrowed trim lineup, fresh tailgate functionality, and standard Android Auto and Apple CarPlay.

For 2020, Honda will offer the Ridgeline in four trim levels: Sport, RTL, RTL-E and Black Edition. It has a starting price of $33,9001 (excluding $1,095 destination and handling).

2020 Honda Ridgeline Honda has given the Ridgeline standard Apple CarPlay and Android Auto for the 2020 model year.Photo courtesy of American Honda Motor Co., Inc.

The truck has gotten few exterior tweaks at the front aside from available LED headlights, but its tailgate now features remote locking. The truck's rear doors open wider to make ingress and egress easier.

The Ridgeline continues to be powered by Honda's 3.5-liter V6 engine, which will now be mated to a standard nine-speed automatic transmission with steering wheel-mounted paddle shifters. Two-wheel drive is standard on Sport and RTL trims, which have available all-wheel drive. Ridgeline RTL-E and Black Edition grades get standard all-wheel drive.

Honda's Display Audio system now comes standard and includes Android Auto and Apple CarPlay in addition to an 8-inch touch screen. An eight-way power-adjustable driver's seat with lumbar support and ambient interior lighting are also available.

2020 Honda Ridgeline The Ridgeline's tailgate now has remote functionality.Photo courtesy of American Honda Motor Co., Inc.

The automaker has added a standard suite of safety and driver assistance technologies to the Ridgeline for the new model year including a collision mitigation braking system with forward collision warning, lane keeping assist, road departure mitigation, lane departure warning, and adaptive cruise control.

The 2020 Honda Ridgeline goes on sale at dealerships in the U.S. on December 16.

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Updated 2021 Volkswagen Arteon debuting June 24 alongside a new model that won't come to the U.S.

The 2021 Volkswagen Arteon will debut on June 24.

Photo courtesy of Volkswagen AG

The Volkswagen what? You're not alone if you haven't heard of the Arteon. The model is easy to forget in a carscape that's crowded with a rich number of much more premium and luxury cars that compete directly with the model in the U.S. due to the car's high price point.

The Arteon is the successor to the Volkswagen CC. The company makes them in Germany and China. VW designed the car to be an upmarket offering.

2020 Volkswagen Arteon The current interior of the 2020 Arteon doesn't have the appointments or features of many modern premium and luxury cars, despite Volkswagen positioning the model to fit in with that crowd.Photo courtesy of Volkswagen AG

It's a model that hasn't quite caught on with American audiences despite the popularity of other models in the Volkswagen lineup like the Atlas, Tiguan, and Jetta. In the first quarter of the year, Volkswagen sold under 800 Arteons. Alfa Romeo sold more than twice as many Giulias during that same time and Toyota sold that many RAV4s every 17 hours.

Volkswagen will debut a refreshed version of the Arteon on June 24. The 2021 Volkswagen Arteon will have a completely new cockpit area and feature a new roster of high-tech infotainment system functions.

It will also benefit from the addition of new safety and driver assist systems, including Travel Assist, which takes over steering, acceleration, and braking at speeds up to 130 mph. Further restrictions of the vehicle's capability will likely be forthcoming.

Additionally, Volkswagen will premiere the new Arteon shooting brake alongside the sedan. VW has already acknowledged that the U.S. isn't getting this version of the car. It's planned exclusively for Europe according to a release from the company.

With just the interior getting refreshed, the U.S. version of the car is likely to continue to have its turbocharged 2.0-liter four-cylinder engine that produces 268 horsepower and 258 pound-feet of torque. For the 2020 model year, Volkswagen sold the car in the U.S. in three trim levels: SE, SEL, and SEL Plus. It was priced starting at $35,995.

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2021 Mercedes-Benz CLS gains paint options, artificial intelligence, safety upgrades

For 2021, the CLS will be available in two new paint colors.

Photo courtesy of Mercedes-Benz

The bones of the Mercedes-Benz CLS are going to remain mostly the same. It's the safety systems and high-tech interior that are getting the biggest upgrades for the 2021 model year. There's also some exterior enhancements.

Mercedes will sell the car in three variants: Mercedes-Benz CLS 450 and CLS 450 4MATIC, as well as the Mercedes-AMG CLS 53.

It will be available in new Mojave silver and Cirrus silver paint options. Mercedes has not copped to any additional exterior design changes.

2020 Mercedes-Benz CLS The interior of the car is expected to remain much the same as in the 2020 edition (shown here).Photo courtesy of Mercedes-Benz

The CLS's infotainment system will include two large 12.3-inch high resolution touch screens that are positioned side by side. This is similar to the design of the E-Class and GLS.

The newest version of the MBUX (Mercedes-Benz User Experience) infotainment system runs on the screens and allows for learning capability thanks to artificial intelligence. It can anticipate user needs based on time of day or day of the week and display prompts on the screens.

Additionally, the car's navigation system is enhanced by available augmented reality technology that can use video imagery of the vehicle's surroundings to enhance navigation data. Mercedes provides an example:

"When this feature is in use, a video image of the surroundings is enhanced with helpful navigation information—for example, arrows or house numbers are automatically superimposed directly onto the image in the media display. The system also assists the driver at traffic lights: if the vehicle is in appropriate proximity, the current traffic light status is superimposed. In this way, this new function is a particular help when there is an unfavorable line of sight to the traffic lights."

The optional MBUX Interior Assist also allows intuitive operation of different comfort and MBUX functions by movement recognition.

The CLS comes equipped with standard active brake assist with cross traffic functionality, which can be used to mitigate the severity of an accident.

Additional Intelligent Drive functions include Active Speed Limit Assist, which uses map data and information from Traffic Sign Assist to respond to changes in the speed limit and route-based speed adaptation ahead of bends, roundabouts, toll stations and T-junctions, as well prior to exiting highways and expressways.

The 2021 Mercedes-Benz and Mercedes-AMG CLS will arrive in U.S. dealers by late 2020. Pricing is expected to be announced closer to the model's on-sale date.

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