At a press conference at the SEMA show here on November 2, American Honda announced that its first American pickup truck, the Ridgeline, will go on sale in Spring 2005 as a 06 model. Prices could be near $30,000, according to news reports. The five-passenger, crew-cab pickup will be powered by 3.5-liter, high-output, V-6 engine and 5-speed automatic transmission with a fully automatic 4-wheel drive system and a list of standard safety features including 4-wheel anti-lock brakes, side curtain airbags and Vehicle Stability Assist with traction control. The most radical element is Ridgeline´s unibody construction. Unibody construction is common on cars and minivans for its tight, rattle-free properties. It is relatively lightweight, which helps fuel economy and handling. Pickups typically use separate frames, which are robust, but heavy and hard to rattle-proof.