Ford Plans New Unibody Pickup For The American Market - Is This The Rebirth Of The Ranchero?

It is a known fact Ford will be shrinking its car lineup in the United States to channel its efforts into pickup trucks and SUVs. Only the Focus and Mustang will make the cut, but the former will actually be a crossover-esque Active version already available in Europe with a jacked-up suspension. As for the Fusion, the midsize sedan will eventually die, but the name could live on for a Subaru Outback competitor also with crossover traits by adopting a lifted wagon body style.

The Blue Oval is making these changes to better reflect current market trends in the U.S. where the company is bringing back the Ranger, Explorer, and the Bronco to satisfy the strong customer demand for pickup trucks and SUVs. New intel suggests another rugged vehicle is on the horizon as unnamed sources cited Automobile Magazine have it on good authority a compact unibody pickup truck is in the pipeline to slot underneath the midsize Ranger.

MDarringer - 7/27/2018 10:22:05 AM

-1 Boost

Crossover pickups are BOUND to happen sooner or later. A new Ranchero would be a good move. The image shown is for a 4 door, but I for one hope that someone produces a 2 door as well.

dumpsty - 7/27/2018 12:22:17 PM

+5 Boost

Ridgeline has already happened.

I'm surprised GM & Ford hadn't tried to do a midsized crossover truck based of the Traverse & Explorer, respectively.

MDarringer - 7/27/2018 1:01:37 PM

-8 Boost

The Ridgeline has twice been a stunning failure. Both times it's tried to be a real pickup and both times have been a sales DUD. A crossover pickup would be smaller, more exciting to look at, and somehow much more fun and lifestyle oriented.

The Traverse/Explorer are too large for what this segment needs to be i.e. a way of selling cars that get good MPG when no one wants cars with good MPG.

Focus/Cruze size is where it's at or maybe even Fusion/Malibu.

zlives - 7/27/2018 7:17:41 PM

+2 Boost

well... i guess GM should have held on to the Holden UTEs

also if Ford does this.. does that mean i can no longer make fun of Honda pickup?

MDarringer - 7/27/2018 12:15:14 PM

-3 Boost

They have to pass crash standards and most don't.

greGARYous1 - 7/27/2018 4:01:06 PM

+2 Boost

Ford did this 10 years ago... Called the SporTrac off the body on frame Explorer.
It did reasonably well sales wise.

I think a unibody Ranchero would be cool off the Focus size platform... 2 door n a supercab size too.

Ford just needs to really speed up their product development time frames... New vehicles are taking way too long from early concept to delivery... Like Bronco is still 2 years away n they announced it almost 3 years ago... Lincolns New Aviator will take 18 months from NY auto show to delivery!!!!
It's too long n gives competition time to respond.
Let's go Ford... Get the new stuff out the door.. !!!

TomM - 7/27/2018 8:48:22 PM

+1 Boost

Ford beat both Chevy and Ram with a new generation of Lighter Pick-ups with better fuel mileage and a new generation of TUrbo engines to supplant the older engines. Since FORD makes it bread and butter and Caviar with the F150 - putting their eggs into THAT basket had payed off for them.

MDarringer - 7/27/2018 10:36:14 PM

+1 Boost

The SporTrac is 100% NOT what the crossover pickup will be. It was an foolish attempt at a new Ranger and the Ranger continued to do just fine.

Ford--I agree--is being S-L-O-W but FCA as no product in the pipeline at all.

GM should be able to get in on this pretty directly.

mini22 - 7/31/2018 9:27:16 PM

+1 Boost

Why is it that Ford cannot make any profit except in the Van, CUV, Truck, and SUV market? I just read that they are now considering getting out of the sedan and hatchback market in Europe just as in the US. Another point. I have been following Fords stock now for roughly 5 years. It has never really strayed far above 10 or 11 in all that time. Even FCA for all of its old outdated product has gone up over 20. GM has until recently hit 40. But not Ford. There seems to be no confidence in what Ford is doing.