Honda has confirmed a new-generation Ridgeline ute is on the way, with the third iteration of its mid-size pickup due to arrive within the next two years and bringing a more rugged design, fresh engineering and the prospect of hybrid power.

The Japanese carmaker released the first teaser image of the new Ridgeline this week, confirming the replacement for the current model is already in development. While the shadowy preview reveals little beyond its overall silhouette, Honda says the new ute will adopt a tougher appearance than its predecessor.

The next-generation Ridgeline is being styled at Honda’s design studio in Southern California, while engineering work is being carried out at the company’s Auto Development Center in Ohio. Production will once again take place at Honda’s manufacturing plant in Alabama after output of the current model is paused later this year to prepare for the changeover.

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Although Honda has yet to reveal technical specifications, overseas reports suggest the new Ridgeline will remain a unibody vehicle rather than switching to the ladder-frame architecture used by rivals such as the Toyota Tacoma, Ford Ranger and Nissan Frontier.

Instead, it is expected to continue sharing much of its underpinnings with Honda’s large SUV range, while adopting styling cues inspired by the recently launched Passport, including a squarer, more off-road-focused exterior.

A new hybrid powertrain is also tipped to headline the range. Reports from the United States indicate Honda is developing a hybrid V6 system featuring up to three electric motors that could deliver more than 10 per cent better acceleration and improve fuel economy by more than 30 per cent compared with the outgoing petrol-powered Ridgeline.

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Whether the new Ridgeline will finally make it to Australia remains uncertain, but Honda Australia has previously indicated it would consider the model if a factory-built right-hand-drive version became available.

The local ute market continues to grow, with models including the Ford Ranger, Toyota HiLux, Isuzu D-Max and BYD Shark 6 dominating Australian sales. Honda currently has no entrant in the segment.

A right-hand-drive Ridgeline could give Honda a foothold in one of Australia’s most competitive vehicle categories, particularly if its hybrid drivetrain arrives at a time when demand for electrified utes is accelerating.

Honda says the new Ridgeline will go on sale in the United States within the next two years, with further details expected closer to its launch.