Lutz Praises Ridgeline

The more telling issue could be widespread consumer recognition that pickups can be more refined and useful, and feel more like sedans when they are driven. Such recognition will force some automakers to spend more quickly and more heavily for redesigns and more sophisticated engineering.

At the North American International Auto Show in Detroit earlier this month, Bob Lutz, GM's vice chairman, brought a large contingent to inspect Ridgeline. He told Flint: It's the best ``packaging' of any vehicle he has ever seen, meaning the best layout and use of space.

Lutz praises competitors sparingly, especially those from abroad.

If the Ridgeline does prove to be a game-changer, it's likely that Honda will need more production capacity in North America, which is already beginning to approach capacity. In December the company said it should reach capacity of 1.4 million vehicles by 2006.

A big splash by Ridgeline also may spur a new crop of pickups even more quickly from the competition, models with more clever use of space, a friendlier feel and somewhat smaller engines.