If Ford really making a baby Ranger?!?

"marshknute" (marshknute) 07/29/2018 at 11:07 • Filed to: None

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The article comes from CarBuzz, which as sources go,   is typically as reliable as a chocolate teapot. But apparently the original rumor comes from Automobole Magazine (yes, people still buy magazines in 2018), and thy say Ford is building a compact pickup based on the new Focus platform. And it’s coming to the US!

It’ll be awesome to have another pickup that’s the same size as the original Ranger.  I like being able to park a pickup without doing a 27-point turn.

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HFV has no HFV. But somehow has 2 motorcycles > marshknute 07/29/2018 at 11:11

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If t happens I’m 99% sure it won’t come to the north  American market 

wafflesnfalafel > marshknute 07/29/2018 at 11:15

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It’s interesting that the rumors have it on the Focus platform rather than Fiesta.  I think there probably is some market space for a bottom of market utility/commercial vehicle - but not if they have to charge north of 25k for it to make the ROI pencil out.  

jimz > HFV has no HFV. But somehow has 2 motorcycles 07/29/2018 at 11:20

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this.  two-seat vehicles not named “Miata” or “Corvette” are a hard sell.

HFV has no HFV. But somehow has 2 motorcycles > jimz 07/29/2018 at 11:22

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It could be a 4 seater, like a Baja. 

HFV has no HFV. But somehow has 2 motorcycles > wafflesnfalafel 07/29/2018 at 11:27

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After fleet discounts you can still get a based model F-150 for like 25 k(msrp start at sub  28) so yeah it’d be a hard sell.

marshknute > HFV has no HFV. But somehow has 2 motorcycles 07/29/2018 at 11:27

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I think they’d have to make it an extended cab. As  much as we pretend we want a compact pickup, 3 extra seats are way more important than an extra 12” of bed space.

HFV has no HFV. But somehow has 2 motorcycles > marshknute 07/29/2018 at 11:29

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Yup. I don’t think I’d ever buy a new vehicle knowing I couldn’t carry 3 people comfortably 

ranwhenparked > marshknute 07/29/2018 at 11:32

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Not to commercial and fleet buyers though. However, I doubt a company that considers the Fusion insufficiently profitable would be interested in building a small work truck.

and 100 more > marshknute 07/29/2018 at 11:46

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I could see an open-back Transit.

I like cars: Jim Spanfeller is one ugly motherfucker > marshknute 07/29/2018 at 11:57

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This looks like something that would do well in Europe. Thanks to 45, that means it would have to be made in Europe. Retooling a US line to make such a niche vehicle (niche because pickup trucks are “affordable”) wouod be prohibitively expensive.

It ain’t gonna happen. Plus, Muricans want their trucks to be 4WD, or RWD at a minimum. This vehicle makes no sense in the US.

Now, what would be cool is if Ford made a Mustang ute (Ranchero? Please?). They could even export them to a ute-hungry Australia. 

Svend > and 100 more 07/29/2018 at 12:58

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Well Ford do a tray version of the Transit.

dogisbadob > HFV has no HFV. But somehow has 2 motorcycles 07/29/2018 at 14:22

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or a Brat :p

dogisbadob > HFV has no HFV. But somehow has 2 motorcycles 07/29/2018 at 14:22

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only 99%? :p

dogisbadob > marshknute 07/29/2018 at 14:23

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ooo a new Ranchero

Captain of the Enterprise > marshknute 07/29/2018 at 14:50

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I’d be interested, but only if they fix the transmissions. 

bhtooefr > marshknute 07/29/2018 at 17:44

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This feels like something for South America, where compact car-based pickups are a thing.

lollercoaster > marshknute 07/29/2018 at 19:04

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If it's built on a card platform I'll die

lollercoaster > bhtooefr 07/29/2018 at 19:07

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I have properties to take care of, lots of running loads of things that aren’t heavy enough to require a mid or full size truck, but messy an inconvenient for an SUV (or too big). A truck like this would be a dream. I have an old 2001 ranger that I love for this kind of work, but it’s getting up there and the gas mileage is shit.

bhtooefr > lollercoaster 07/29/2018 at 23:06

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I mean, there’s always the compact vans, too - also built on a transverse FWD car platform, but with a cargo area you can hose out (especially if you install a bulkhead and seal it so water doesn’t get in the front).

lollercoaster > bhtooefr 07/30/2018 at 16:16

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I can twist any vehicle to work for the purposes, but it's inconvenient. What if I have a 12 foot cedar board to fix a deck? Yeah it can go in a van with some rope, etc... But trucks are just more practical.