Mini Ford Ranger Secretly Presented to Top Dealers
Ford smartly filled a void last year by bringing back the Ranger, a midsize pickup slotting right below the venerable F-150. The new Ranger has nothing to do with the old generation, which was more of a compact truck.
Apparently, that’s just what the company is preparing to launch in 2021.
- Also: 2020 Ford Ranger: Bigger and Pricier Than you Remember
- Also: 2019 Ford Ranger: My, How You Have Changed!
According to Automotive News, Ford recently showed its top U.S. dealers a new pickup model that’s smaller than the Ranger. No cameras were allowed, but the goal with this product is to win back customers who left the brand following the loss of small, affordable cars like the Fiesta and Focus.
In fact, this mini Ranger would share its platform with the next-generation Focus currently sold overseas and cost under $20,000 USD.
It looks like Ford’s Australian division is in charge of development, while production will take place in Hermosillo, Mexico, where the last remaining Ford Fusion and Lincoln MKZ sedans are being manufactured. Executives predict 100,000 units sold annually across the globe, including in Canada where pricing would start in the high-$20K range.
Echoes from the Ford presentation to dealers suggest a fairly boxy pickup that puts more focus on function than form. Similar to the Ranger, it will probably stick to a single, four-door cab body style in order to simplify the lineup and limit costs.
Mechanically speaking, we hear the compact pickup will use a 2.0-litre four-cylinder engine and eight-speed automatic transmission. Of course, buyers will have a choice of 4x2 and 4x4 configurations. It’s too early to speculate about power, payload and towing capacity, however.
Meanwhile, certain rumours hint at a pickup variant of the upcoming 2021 Ford Bronco, a move that would allow the Blue Oval to compete directly against the Jeep Wrangler and Gladiator. As for the next-generation 2021 Ford F-150, the premiere is set for April 29. Hybrid and fully electric powertrains have already been announced.
