Puerto Rico General Obligation Bondholders Release New Proposal for Consensual Deal on GO Debt

June 21, 2016

WASHINGTON, June 21, 2016 /PRNewswire-HISPANIC PR WIRE/ — Certain General Obligation (GO) Bondholders of Puerto Rico have made a new proposal to Commonwealth officials for the restructuring of Puerto Rico’s GO bonds. Under this new proposal, existing GO bonds (approximately $18 billion face amount) would be exchanged for new GO bonds at 89% of the existing face amount, and the Commonwealth’s debt service would be reduced by $2.9 billion over the first five years.

Andrew Rosenberg of Paul, Weiss, Rifkind, Wharton and Garrison LLP, an advisor to the GO bondholders that made this proposal, issued the following statement:

“We believe there is significant bipartisan support in Puerto Rico for this proposal, which gives ‘breathing room’ to Commonwealth leaders by deferring principal payments and reducing contractual interest rates until July of 2022. This proposal shows a clear and continued willingness on the part of GO bondholders to negotiate with the Commonwealth, and avoid an unnecessary July 1 default on General Obligation debt.”

For any media inquiries, contact Miriam Warren at [email protected], (202) 772-2186

Is Your Car Ready for a Road Trip?

June 21, 2016

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BETHESDA, Md., June 21, 2016 /PRNewswire-HISPANIC PR WIRE/ — If you are planning a road trip this summer, it’s important to remember that you shouldn’t just put gas in your car and go, says the non-profit Car Care Council. A pre-trip vehicle check can determine how road-ready your vehicle is so you can take steps to have any problems fixed before heading out for vacation.

Before you hit the road, the Car Care Council recommends a vehicle check to help avoid the inconvenience, potential safety hazards and unplanned expense of breaking down miles away from home.

Check filters and fluids, including engine oil, antifreeze/coolant, windshield washer and power steering, brake and transmission fluids. Dirty air filters can waste gas and cause the engine to lose power.
Check the hoses and belts and replace if they become cracked, brittle, frayed, loose or show signs of excessive wear. These are critical to the proper functioning of the electrical system, air conditioning, power steering and the cooling system.
Check the brake system and make sure the battery connection is clean, tight and corrosion-free.
Check the tires, including tire pressure and tread. Underinflated tires reduce a vehicle’s fuel economy and uneven wear indicates a need for wheel alignment. Tires should also be checked for bulges and bald spots.
Check the engine to make sure it is delivering the best balance of power and fuel economy and produce the lowest level of emissions.
Check that the gas cap is not damaged, loose or missing to prevent gas from spilling or evaporating.

“With summer vacation season upon us, a thorough inspection of your vehicle will give you peace of mind and help make your road journey safer,” said Rich White, executive director, Car Care Council. “Taking a few minutes to ‘be car care aware’ will make for a less stressful and more fun adventure.”

The Car Care Council is the source of information for the “Be Car Care Aware” consumer education campaign promoting the benefits of regular vehicle care, maintenance and repair to consumers. For a copy of the council’s Car Care Guide, which is now available electronically, or for more information, visit www.carcare.org.

Refreshed 2017 Acura MDX Launches with Bold New Styling, Premium Features and Standard AcuraWatch™ Technology

June 21, 2016

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TORRANCE, California, June 21, 2016 /PRNewswire-HISPANIC PR WIRE/ — The restyled and refreshed 2017 Acura MDX, the best-selling three-row luxury SUV of all time, goes on sale tomorrow at Acura dealerships nationwide with a starting MSRP of $43,950. The 2017 Acura MDX raises its game with bold new exterior styling, larger wheel and tire options and an expanded complement of premium features and technologies, including the AcuraWatch™ suite of advanced safety and driver-assistive technologies, now offered as standard equipment on all 2017 MDX models, a first in the luxury SUV segment.

Featuring refreshed exterior styling inspired by the Acura Precision Concept, the 2017 MDX is highlighted by the new face of Acura, the bold and distinctive Diamond Pentagon grille. Integrated with a more sculpted hood, front fascia, front fenders and revised Jewel Eye™ headlights, the result is a more “executive athletic” appearance for Acura’s class-leading luxury SUV. Additional styling updates include new chrome rocker panel trim, a revised rear bumper and skid garnish, and the return of visible dual exhausts with bright finishers.

“We’re raising the Acura MDX’s game for 2017 with premium new features and technologies that luxury SUV buyers want, complemented by bold, new styling we know they’re going to love,” said Jon Ikeda, vice president and general manager, Acura Division. “Backed by its high-performance credentials, the 2017 MDX has advanced its competitiveness and will continue its legacy of leadership as the best-selling three-row luxury SUV in America.”

Premium Content
All 2017 MDX models benefit from increased standard luxury and technology features, including an Electric Parking Brake with Automatic Brake Hold, Auto High Beam headlights, SiriusXM Radio 2.0, four 2.5-amp USB charging ports and capless fuel filler. Technology and Advance packages add Bi-Directional Keyless Remote Engine Start, two new 20-inch wheel and tire options, power folding side mirrors, and HD Traffic.

In addition, Advance grades add LED fog lights, genuine Olive Ash Burl or Black Limba wood interior trim, a heated steering wheel and Surround-View Camera System with six selectable viewing angles. Advance models can also be equipped with two second-row captain’s chairs and a center console with two additional USB ports for third-row passengers. An ultra-widescreen Rear Entertainment System is also available on models with the Advance ENT Package.

Safety
All 2017 Acura MDX models come equipped with the AcuraWatch suite of safety and driver-assistive technologies: Collision Mitigation Braking System (CMBS), Lane Departure Warning (LDW), Forward Collision Warning (FCW), Lane Keeping Assist (LKAS), Adaptive Cruise Control (ACC) with Low-Speed Follow (LSF) and Road Departure Mitigation (RDM). All models also come equipped with a multi-angle rearview camera, and upper grades add blind spot information (BSI), front and rear parking sensors, Rear Cross Traffic Monitor and new Auto High Beam.

Combining AcuraWatch with Acura’s next-generation Advanced Compatibility Engineering™ (ACE™) body structure, the 2017 MDX delivers intelligent safety and confident driving performance at the top of the competitive segment and targets top safety ratings; a five-star Overall Vehicle Score from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) has already been achieved, and a TOP SAFETY PICK+ rating from the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) is anticipated.

Powertrain
The 2017 MDX leads its class with its combination of refined and responsive power and outstanding fuel efficiency. The 3.5-liter direct-injected i-VTEC^® 24-valve V-6 engine is rated at 290 peak horsepower and 267 lb.-ft. peak torque. The 2017 MDX with front-wheel drive and Idle Stop has an EPA fuel economy rating of 20 mpg city/27 highway/23 combined, and MDX with Super Handling All-Wheel Drive (SH-AWD) and Idle Stop is EPA rated at 19 mpg city/26 highway/22 combined. The MDX also meets the stringent EPA Tier 3/Bin 125 and CARB LEVIII ULEV-125 emissions standards.

An available Sport Hybrid Super Handling-All Wheel Drive™ (SH-AWD®) powertrain variant will be available later in the year, making MDX the third model in Acura’s lineup to utilize its revolutionary three-motor Sport Hybrid powertrain with electric torque vectoring.

For More Information
Additional media information including pricing, features and high-resolution photography is available at www.acuranews.com/channels/mdx. Consumer information is available at www.acura.com. To join the Acura community on Facebook, visit facebook.com/Acura.

About Acura
Acura is a leading automotive luxury nameplate that delivers Precision Crafted Performance, an original approach to technology and design that creates a new driving experience. On March 27, 2016, Acura celebrated the 30th anniversary of its launch as the first luxury nameplate from a Japanese automaker.

The Acura lineup features five distinctive models – the RLX luxury flagship sedan, the TLX performance luxury sedan, the ILX sport sedan, the 5-passenger RDX luxury crossover SUV, and the seven-passenger Acura MDX, America’s all-time best-selling three-row luxury SUV. This spring, Acura launched its next-generation, electrified NSX supercar as a new and pinnacle expression of Acura Precision Crafted Performance.

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Does America Need Pre-K Age 4 National Learning Standards?

June 21, 2016

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PRINCETON, N.J., June 21, 2016 /PRNewswire-HISPANIC PR WIRE/ — As the nation mulls over this question, a new report from Educational Testing Service (ETS), explores the benefits and challenges of such an effort just as policymakers and educators work to ensure a strong start for our earliest learners.

The report, “Exploring Pre-K Age 4 Learning Standards and Their Role in Early Childhood Education: Research and Policy Implications,” was written by ETS researchers Andrea DeBruin-Parecki and Carly Slutzky. The study is based on a nationwide survey of early childhood state and territory directors and administrators, geographically diverse focus groups, and one-on-one interviews.

“Overwhelmingly, throughout conversations and interviews, early childhood leaders and administrators affirmed their perception of the usefulness of having pre-K age 4 national learning standards,” DeBruin-Parecki writes. “The data indicated that having these standards would allow for more collaboration and communication among states and territories, provide more equitable expectations for all children, allow for consistency in language and organization of standards, and drive effective teaching and professional development.”

“Although conversations around this question were very positive,” she added. “…there were also comments about permitting states to continue to create their own teacher strategies and child examples, decide on their own curricula and assessments, as well as professional development, to allow for their own unique child populations.”

Currently in the United States, 50 states, five territories, and the District of Columbia have established prekindergarten (pre-K) age 4 learning standards that are intended to outline skills and knowledge that set children on a path to success in kindergarten and later on. These standards are a centralizing force in early childhood education, providing a bridge between preschool and the elementary grades. However, unlike the current 43 states and 4 territories that have adopted the Common Core State Standards, elementary, secondary and preschool programs do not have common standards.

Based upon the findings from surveys, focus groups and interviews, the authors offered the following policy recommendations:

design research-based, agreed-upon content for each domain present in standards documents to allow for the evaluation of the content and quality of current pre-K age 4 learning standards across the country
consider use of similar organization and terminology in early learning standards documents to allow for clearer communication and comparisons across states.
encourage alignment across domains beyond language and literacy and mathematics.
plan effective and consistent joint professional development for teachers to promote understanding of the developmental continuum and how to incorporate developmentally appropriate practice into everyday standards-based instruction.
determine methods for evaluating the effects of varying forms of professional development related to standards-based instruction.
discuss the creation of national standards or guidelines as a possible beginning solution to equity issues affecting young children attending standards-based preschools.

“The work ahead for developing national pre-K age 4 standards is going to be a long and difficult process that will involve deep conversation, collaboration, and compromise among U.S. states and territories,” DeBruin-Parecki wrote. “Future research will continue to shine a light on the persistent wide variation in current standards and the inequities in learning opportunities for poor children and their teachers.”

Copies of, “Exploring Pre-K Age 4 Learning Standards and Their Role in Early Childhood Education: Research and Policy Implications,” are available through Wiley Online Library.

About ETS
At ETS, we advance quality and equity in education for people worldwide by creating assessments based on rigorous research. ETS serves individuals, educational institutions and government agencies by providing customized solutions for teacher certification, English language learning, and elementary, secondary and postsecondary education, and by conducting education research, analysis and policy studies. Founded as a nonprofit in 1947, ETS develops, administers and scores more than 50 million tests annually — including the TOEFL^® and TOEIC^® tests, the GRE^® tests and The Praxis Series^® assessments — in more than 180 countries, at over 9,000 locations worldwide. www.ets.org

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National Puerto Rican Coalition to Florida Senators: Oppose Cloture; Vote ‘No’ on PROMESA

June 21, 2016

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WASHINGTON, June 21, 2016 /PRNewswire-HISPANIC PR WIRE/ — Today, the National Puerto Rican Coalition (NPRC) released the following statement urging United States Senators to vote ‘no’ on the egregious Puerto Rico Oversight, Management and Economic Stability Act (PROMESA) and oppose cloture:

“Throughout the past two weeks, we have heard a consistent message from Senate offices: In private, Senators overwhelmingly oppose PROMESA. However, these Senators are afraid that if they vote against this bill, they will be labeled as someone that contributed to Puerto Rico’s demise, and will be blamed for the island’s economic crisis.

“As leaders from the Puerto Rican communities in the U.S. and on the island, we are here to tell every single U.S. Senator that if they vote against this legislation, they will be viewed instead as the champions who saved the Puerto Rican people. They will be viewed as leaders who stood up against greedy hedge fund managers and their powerful lobbyists, and protected the hard working families of Puerto Rico.

“We know of senior Senators that are quietly working on an alternative legislation that addresses the economic crisis, while protecting the democratic values that we all cherish.

“We strongly urge Florida Senators Marco Rubio and Bill Nelson to vote their conscience and do what is right by voting ‘no’ on the PROMESA legislation and opposing cloture.”

For more information about NPRC’s efforts and the fundamental flaws with PROMESA, visit www.NoPROMESA.org.

In the past 32 years, the National Puerto Rican Coalition, a non-profit organization, has emerged as one of the most respected and effective organizations advocating for the concerns of the Puerto Rican community. NPRC’s mission is to systematically strengthen and enhance the social, political, and economic well-being of Puerto Ricans throughout the United States and in Puerto Rico with a special focus on the most vulnerable.

Democratic National Convention Committee to Convene Midwest Democratic Platform Meeting

June 21, 2016

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2016 Democratic National Convention Committee logo

PHILADELPHIA, June 21, 2016 /PRNewswire-HISPANIC PR WIRE/ — On Friday, June 24th and Saturday, June 25th at the St. Louis Grand Hotel in St. Louis, Missouri, the 2016 Democratic Platform Drafting Committee will hold its final meeting, and members will review and discuss a preliminary draft of the Democratic National Platform. The St. Louis meeting marks the third in a series of four regional events designed to engage every voice in the Party. Platform Drafting Chair Rep. Elijah Cummings (D-MD) and DNCC CEO Rev. Leah D. Daughtry will deliver opening remarks at the meeting.

Members of the public interested in attending the events can RSVP online at http://go.demconvention.com/page/s/midwest-forum; seating will be available on a first come, first served basis.

Members of the media interested in attending must RSVP by emailing [email protected] by Thursday, June 23, 2016 at 5:00 PM ET.

WHAT: Democratic National Platform Forum

WHEN: Friday, June 24, 2016
9:00 a.m. CT

Saturday, June 25, 2016
8:30 a.m. CT

WHERE: St. Louis Grand Hotel
800 Washington Avenue, St. Louis, MO 63101
Meeting to be held in the Crystal Ballroom

All Platform forums and meetings will be live streamed at www.demconvention.com/platform and open to press. Members of the media interested in attending must RSVP by emailing [email protected].

About the Democratic National Convention

The 2016 Democratic Convention will be held at the Wells Fargo Center in Philadelphia July 25-28, 2016. Working in partnership with the Philadelphia Host Committee, the City of Philadelphia and the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, our goal is to make this the most engaging, innovative and forward looking Convention in history. The 2016 Democratic National Convention will leverage technology to take the Convention experience well beyond the hall in an effort to engage more Americans than ever before in the event. With the birthplace of American Democracy as a backdrop, the 2016 convention in Philadelphia will highlight our shared Democratic values and help put the Democratic nominee on a path to victory.

The Democratic Convention is the formal nominating event for the Democratic candidates for President and Vice President. At the Convention, the Democratic Party also adopts the official Democratic Party platform as well as the rules and procedures governing party activities including the nomination process for presidential candidates in the next election cycle.

The CEO for the 2016 Democratic National Convention is Reverend Leah D. Daughtry.

The DNCC will hold platform events in the following locations: Mid-Atlantic – Washington, DC on June 8 and 9 (forum with testimony); Southwest – Phoenix, Arizona on June 17 and 18 (forum with testimony); Midwest – St. Louis, Missouri on June 24 and 25 (drafting committee meeting); Southeast – Orlando, Florida on July 8 and 9 (platform committee meeting). Members of the public will be admitted to platform events on a first come, first served basis.

The official website of the 2016 Democratic National Convention is www.demconvention.com.

MEDIA INTERESTED IN ATTENDING MUST RSVP HERE

CONTACT: Jess Torres, Assistant Press Secretary, 215-964-3616, [email protected]

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Sharemoney Introduces International Money Transfer Services to Peru

June 21, 2016

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Sharemoney Introduces International Money Transfer Services to Peru.

ENGLEWOOD CLIFFS, N.J., June 21, 2016 /PRNewswire-HISPANIC PR WIRE/ — The online money transfer service of Omnex Group, Sharemoney, is expanding its international money transfer services to Peru. Sharemoney enables people in the United States to transfer money to friends and loved ones all over the world, including El Salvador, Mexico, Vietnam, the Philippines, and more. With added services to Peru, Sharemoney’s mission of helping immigrants who live and work in the U.S. transfer money back home gains speed.

Photo – http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20160620/381635

2014 data states that more than 449,000 Peruvian immigrants were currently living in the United States. Many of these people regularly send money back home to Peru to conduct business or help support their friends and family, and international money transfer services from Sharemoney can make this process easier and more convenient.

“Our goal has always been to facilitate sending money to back home. Our expanded services to Peru allow us to service more customers,” said Anastasia Rzhevskaya, Marketing Manager at Sharemoney.

Sharemoney’s wire transfers offer convenient delivery methods including cash pickups at Banco de Credito del Peru, Elektra, and Jet Peru is available, as well as bank deposits at Banco de Credito del Peru and Jet Peru. Rates for transferring money start at $4.99.

There’s no exchange rate—users simply send USD to Peru. Sharemoney’s money transfer services offer optimal security, and money can be sent in as little as two minutes. For more information about sending money to Peru, visit online at https://www.sharemoney.com/peru/

ABOUT SHAREMONEY®
Sharemoney® is the online money transfer service of Omnex Group, Inc., a licensed remitter. With over 25 years in the money transfer industry, Omnex and its Sharemoney service offer flexible money transfer options to over 41,000 payout locations around the world. Servicing major countries including Brazil, Colombia, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, El Salvador, Guatemala, Mexico, Peru, the Philippines and Vietnam, Sharemoney allows for families and loved ones to send money in as little as two minutes with the great exchange rates and low fees. To learn more about online money transfers through Sharemoney visit http://www.sharemoney.com.

National Puerto Rican Coalition to Senators: Oppose Cloture; Vote ‘No’ on PROMESA

June 21, 2016

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WASHINGTON, June 21, 2016 /PRNewswire-HISPANIC PR WIRE/ — Today, the National Puerto Rican Coalition (NPRC) released the following statement urging United States Senators to vote ‘no’ on the egregious Puerto Rico Oversight, Management and Economic Stability Act (PROMESA) and oppose cloture:

“Throughout the past two weeks, we have heard a consistent message from Senate offices: In private, Senators overwhelmingly oppose PROMESA. However, these Senators are afraid that if they vote against this bill, they will be labeled as someone that contributed to Puerto Rico’s demise, and will be blamed for the island’s economic crisis.

“As leaders from the Puerto Rican communities in the U.S. and on the island, we are here to tell every single U.S. Senator that if they vote against this legislation, they will be viewed instead as the champions who saved the Puerto Rican people. They will be viewed as leaders who stood up against greedy hedge fund managers and their powerful lobbyists, and protected the hard working families of Puerto Rico.

“We know of senior Senators that are quietly working on an alternative legislation that addresses the economic crisis, while protecting the democratic values that we all cherish.

“We strongly urge every US senator to vote their conscience and do what is right by voting ‘NO’ on the PROMESA legislation and OPPOSING cloture.”

For more information about NPRC’s efforts and the fundamental flaws with PROMESA, visit www.NoPROMESA.org.

In the past 32 years, the National Puerto Rican Coalition, a non-profit organization, has emerged as one of the most respected and effective organizations advocating for the concerns of the Puerto Rican community. NPRC’s mission is to systematically strengthen and enhance the social, political, and economic well-being of Puerto Ricans throughout the United States and in Puerto Rico with a special focus on the most vulnerable.

General Obligation Bondholders of Puerto Rico File Suit Over Debt Avoidance Legislation

June 21, 2016

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WASHINGTON, June 21, 2016 /PRNewswire-HISPANIC PR WIRE/ — Today, certain entities owning Puerto Rico’s general obligation bonds brought suit in the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of New York, seeking to invalidate the Emergency Moratorium and Financial Rehabilitation Act hastily enacted by the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico.

Mark Stancil of Robbins, Russell, Englert, Orseck, Untereiner & Sauber LLP, the plaintiffs’ counsel, said: “Governor Alejandro Garcia Padilla has willfully violated the first priority guaranteed to general obligation bonds by Puerto Rico’s Constitution and has flouted centuries-old federal constitutional protections for contract and property rights. The Moratorium Act is transparently unlawful.”

All-New 2017 Honda Ridgeline Launches Nationwide, Delivering New Levels of Versatility, Capability and Comfort in a Mid-Size Pickup

June 21, 2016

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All-New 2017 Honda Ridgeline Launches Nationwide Tomorrow, Delivering New Levels of Versatility, Capability and Comfort in a Mid-Size Pickup.

TORRANCE, California, June 20, 2016 /PRNewswire-HISPANIC PR WIRE/ — The completely redesigned 2017 Honda Ridgeline powers into the U.S. mid-size pickup market tomorrow with a long list of new features and improvements to deliver an unprecedented combination of cargo- and people-hauling capability and sophistication in the midsize pickup class. Boasting unsurpassed dynamic refinement and extensive comfort and convenience features, along with the most spacious and versatile interior and highest available payload capacity in its class, the 2017 Honda Ridgeline arrives in dealers tomorrow with manufacturer suggested retail prices starting at $29,475 for the RT 2WD and $31,275 for RT AWD.

“We’ve advanced the best and most beloved elements of the original Ridgeline and combined them with an outstanding new platform and the most advanced technology to create new value in the midsize pickup segment,” said Jeff Conrad, senior vice president and general manager of the Honda Division. “The result is an amazingly versatile Honda truck with uncompromised capability.”

The 2017 Honda Ridgeline is the second generation of Honda’s innovative midsize pickup truck, redesigned from the ground up to offer both recreational and work users a higher degree of utility and versatility in a modern and rugged, yet sophisticated midsize pickup with the largest and most flexible cabin in its class. In addition, Ridgeline boasts a higher level of confident and refined dynamic performance and robust cargo-hauling and towing capabilities, including a class-leading maximum 1,584-pound (718.5 kg) payload capacity (varies by trim) and up to 5,000-pound (2,268 kg) towing.

Utilizing a highly rigid, aerodynamic and tightly sealed unitized body construction, which delivers up to three times the torsional rigidity of competing body-on-frame trucks, Ridgeline also features Honda’s next-generation Advanced Compatibility Engineering™ (ACE™) body structure and fully independent front and rear suspension systems with Amplitude Reactive Dampers. The 2017 Honda Ridgeline offers vastly superior ride comfort and handling precision along with the top-in-class cabin quietness and, with available Honda Sensing safety and driver-assistive technology, is anticipated to earn class-leading collision safety ratings.

Ridgeline also offers class-leading EPA fuel economy ratings along with superior all-weather traction and handling capability and robust off-road performance, leveraging the new body structure with a more powerful and efficient direct-injected 3.5-liter i-VTEC™ V-6 engine, a wide-ratio 6-speed automatic transmission and available new Intelligent Variable Torque Management™ (iVTM-4™) torque-vectoring all-wheel drive, the most advanced and intuitive AWD technology in the midsize truck class.

The 2017 Ridgeline provides customers more choices than ever before including, for the first time, both two-wheel-drive and all-wheel-drive options, as well as an expanded array of standard and available premium features and technologies, including a new 8-inch Display Audio touchscreen with Android Auto™ and Apple CarPlay™ compatibility and new generation of Honda Satellite-Linked Navigation System™. A wide array of new standard and available equipment includes Tri-Zone Automatic Climate Control, Push-Button Start, Remote Engine Start, Smart Entry, a power sliding rear window, LED exterior and interior lighting and more.

The second-generation Ridgeline was designed, developed and is manufactured in America using domestic and globally-sourced parts. The Ridgeline’s exterior and interior designs were created by Honda R&D Americas in its Los Angeles design studio, while vehicle development was undertaken at the company’s Raymond, Ohio development center. Honda Manufacturing of Alabama in Lincoln, Ala., is the exclusive manufacturing home of the 2017 Honda Ridgeline.

Premium Style and Features
The all-new 2017 Ridgeline sports a sleek, sophisticated and rugged exterior design, incorporating new premium features including standard LED taillights and available features such as LED projector headlights and LED daytime running lights. The premium quality of the new Ridgeline carries over to the interior, where designers have applied high quality, soft-touch materials throughout the cabin and added thoughtful details such as LED map lighting (see the Interior section for more information on interior styling). Additional high-end amenities include a standard 4.2-inch color display, available heated front seats and a heated steering wheel. All models also come standard with a Class III towing hitch and AWD modes add a 7-pin wiring connector.

The Ridgeline’s 60/40-split and folding rear seat offers roomy seating for up to three passengers and, with the seat bottoms folded up, has the capacity to carry bulky items like a 55-inch flat screen television or a mountain bike with the wheels intact. Exclusive in its class, the Ridgeline’s large under-seat storage area can carry long items, such as golf clubs, with the rear seats folded down.

Innovative and Versatile Pickup Bed
The 2017 Ridgeline’s new UV-stabilized, ultra-high strength glass fiber-reinforced SMC composite bed is longer (+3.9 inches, or 100 mm) and wider (+5.5 inches, or 140 mm) than in the previous model and is the only bed in the midsize class that can flat haul 4-foot-wide items, such as drywall or plywood panels on the floor between the wheel wells. The new Ridgeline bed also boasts numerous Honda-exclusive features and capabilities, including a highly versatile Dual-Action Tailgate, a redesigned In-Bed Trunk with fully flat floor and an available world’s first Truck Bed Audio System, making this new Ridgeline the ultimate tailgating vehicle. An available 115V AC in-bed power outlet with up to 400-watt charging (with engine running) and eight standard 350-pound (159 kg) tie-down cleats complete the Ridgeline’s capable and versatile bed design. The dent and scratch resistant bed construction is designed for rugged daily use and does not require the protection of a bed liner like conventional steel or aluminum beds.

Advanced Powertrain and All-Wheel-Drive Technology
The 2017 Honda Ridgeline is powered by a new 3.5-liter direct-injected SOHC i-VTEC™ V-6 engine with Variable Cylinder Management™ (VCM™) mated to a wide ratio 6-speed automatic transmission. Peak engine output of 280 horsepower (+30HP over the previous model) and 262 lb.-ft. of torque (+15 lb.-ft.), along with a 78-pound average reduction in curb weight and a more aerodynamically efficient exterior design, combine to deliver the quickest 0-60 mph acceleration and receive the highest EPA fuel-economy ratings in the midsize pickup truck class.

For the first time, the 2017 Ridgeline is available with the choice of two-wheel-drive or all-wheel-drive drivetrain. All-wheel-drive models utilize Honda’s newest and most advanced AWD technology – Intelligent Variable Torque Management™ (i-VTM4). This entirely more capable system offers reduced weight, improved all-weather traction and enhanced dynamic handling capability. Honda i-VTM4 progressively distributes optimum torque between the front and rear axles and dynamically distributes engine torque between the left and right rear wheels, with the capacity to overdrive the outside rear wheel by 2.7 percent to create a yaw moment that improves cornering precision.

Intelligent Traction Management
This new Ridgeline features a button-operated Intelligent Traction Management System that offers different operating modes: Normal, Snow, Mud and Sand for AWD models, Normal and Snow for 2WD versions. Developed, tuned and tested in challenging environments in the U.S. and around the world – including in Imperial Dunes “Glamis,” California; Moscow, Russia; and Dubai, United Arab Emirates – the Intelligent Traction Management system allows the driver to select the operating mode that best suits the driving conditions by simply pushing a button on the vehicle’s center console. Based on the setting selected, the system adjusts the drive-by-wire throttle map, transmission shift map, Vehicle Stability Assist™ engagement and i-VTM4 torque distribution (for AWD-equipped models) for optimal performance in a variety of surface conditions.

Advanced Technology
The new Ridgeline delivers the most advanced technology and connectivity that Honda has to offer, including an available 8-inch capacitive touchscreen Display Audio connectivity interface with both Apple CarPlay™ and Android Auto™ compatibility for seamless integration of compatible smartphone features and functions, including smartphone-powered navigation capabilities.

The 2017 Ridgeline can also be equipped with a newly designed Honda Satellite-Linked Navigation System™ featuring improved graphics and new capabilities, including 3D renderings of terrain, buildings and road signs, improved lane guidance, live search function and more. Additional standard and available technologies include HD Radio, SiriusXM 2.0 and up to four USB ports including two with 2.5-amp charging capability.

Advanced Safety Performance
Utilizing Honda’s second-generation Advanced Compatibility Engineering™ (ACE™) body structure and “3-bone” front floor construction, along with advanced supplemental restraint systems and available Honda Sensing™ safety and driver-assistive technologies, the 2017 Ridgeline targets the highest available crash safety ratings from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) and the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS), including an a 5-star Overall Vehicle Score in the NHTSA’s New Car Assessment Program (NCAP) and a TOP SAFETY PICK+ score from the IIHS, including a GOOD rating in the Institute’s rigorous small overlap frontal collision test.

Honda Sensing is the most comprehensive suite of advanced safety and driver assistive features available in the midsize pickup truck segment and includes Collision Mitigation Braking System™ (CMBS™), Lane Departure Warning (LDW), Forward Collision Warning (FCW), Lane Keeping Assist System (LKAS), Road Departure Mitigation (RDM) and Adaptive Cruise Control (ACC). The 2017 Ridgeline, depending on trim, can also be equipped with Honda LaneWatch™, Rear Cross Traffic Monitor and a blind spot information system; and all Ridgelines come equipped with a Multi-Angle Rearview Camera.

Standard safety features include four-channel anti-lock brakes (ABS) with Brake Assist and Hill Start Assist; Vehicle Stability Assist™ (VSA®) with Traction Control; Trailer Stability Assist; Agile Handling Assist; dual-stage, multiple-threshold front airbags, driver and front passenger side airbags and side-curtain airbags for all outboard seating positions; and a new Tire Pressure Monitoring System (TPMS) with real-time display of individual tire pressures.

Accessories
To further enhance the utility and provide personalization opportunities for the 2017 Ridgeline, Honda developed a broad range of Honda Genuine Accessories simultaneously with the truck. Examples include:

In-Bed Trunk Carpet and Dividers
Back-Up Sensors
Bed Extender – Standard and Motorcycle
Fender Flares
Hard Tonneau Cover
Skid Plate
Sport Grille
Bike, Kayak, Ski, Snowboard and Surfboard Attachments
Tent (extends from bed)
Additional Wheel Options
Automatic-Dimming Mirror
Heated Steering Wheel
Rear Under-Seat Storage System

Like all Genuine Honda Accessories, they are covered by the Honda’s 3-year, 36,000-mile limited warranty when obtained and installed at the time of original vehicle purchase.

Summary of Major New Features

3.5-liter direct-injected i-VTEC V-6 with Variable Cylinder Management
6-speed automatic transmission
Intelligent Variable Torque Management (i-VTM4) (AWD models)
Intelligent Traction Management System
Amplitude Reactive Dampers
Truck Bed Audio System (available)
115V/400W in-bed power outlet (available)
LED Daytime Running Lights (available)
LED projector headlights with Auto high-beam (available)
Acoustic windshield (available)
Power sliding rear window with defroster (available)
Smart Entry (available)
Push-Button Start
Remote Engine Start (available)
Multi-Angle Rearview Camera
Honda Sensing™ (available)
Honda LaneWatch (available)
Blind Spot Information System (available)
Rear Cross Traffic Monitor (available)
8-inch touchscreen Display Audio System with Android Auto™ and Apple CarPlay™ compatibility (available)
HD Radio™ (available)
SiriusXM 2.0 (available)

General Specifications

	Specification
Wheelbase – in. (mm)	125.2 (3,180)
Length – in. (mm)	210 (5,335)
Height: 2WD – in. (mm) AWD – in. (mm)	70.2 (1,783) 70.8 (1,798)
Width – in. (mm)	78.6 (1,997)
Bed length – in. (mm)	64.0 (1,626)
Bed width	60 inches (1,524 mm) between side linings 50 inches (1,270 mm) between wheel wells 51 inches (1,295 mm) at the D-pillars
Curb weight: Base 2WD – lbs. (kg) Base AWD – lbs. (kg)	4,242 (1,924) 4,431 (2,010)
Max Payload – lbs. (kg) (varies by trim level)	1,584 (718.5)
Engine Type	V-6
Displacement (cc)	3,471
Horsepower @ rpm (SAE net)	280 @ 6,000
Torque (lb-ft @ rpm SAE net)	262 @ 4,700
Transmission	6-Speed Automatic
Drivetrain configuration	2WD base, AWD available
Wheels	18″ alloy, 5-spoke (18″ alloy, 6-spoke available on RTL and above trims)
Tires	245/60 R18 105H light truck all-season
Suspension	Front: Independent Macpherson Strut Rear: Multi-link
Brakes	4-wheel vented disc with EBD
Towing capability – lbs. (kg)	AWD: 5,000 (2,268) 2WD: 3,500 (1,588)
EPA Fuel Economy Ratings	19 / 26 / 22 mpg (2WD) 18 / 25 / 21 mpg (AWD)
Fuel capacity	19.5-gallon (73.8 liters)

For more information about the 2017 Ridgeline plus high-resolution images and video, go to: http://hondanews.com/channels/ridgeline

About Honda
Honda offers a full line of reliable, fuel-efficient and fun-to-drive vehicles with advanced safety technologies sold through approximately 1,000 independent U.S. Honda dealers. The Honda lineup includes the Fit, Civic and Accord passenger cars, along with the HR-V, CR-V and Pilot sport/utility vehicles, Ridgeline pickup and the Odyssey minivan.

Honda has been producing automobiles in America for 33 years and currently operates 19 major manufacturing facilities in North America. In 2015, more than 99 percent of all Honda vehicles sold in the U.S. were made in North America, using domestic and globally sourced parts.

Photo – http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20160620/381017

Logo – http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20140415/73520LOGO