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Ford Considering Unibody Ranger Replacement?

March 6, 2013 by 10 Comments
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rangerWe’ve made no qualms about our disappointment with Ford and its unwillingness to replace the Ranger, a mid-size pickup that was one of the few alternatives to a full-size truck. Ford has insisted that consumers would rather have a full-size truck, but rumor has it that the Blue Oval might be considering a car-based, unibody pickup to replace the hole left by the Ranger.

Production of the Ford Ranger ended in December of 2011, bringing to a close an era of the mid-size American pickup. Sure there are still other contenders, including the Chevy Colorado and Nissan Frontier, but the Ranger was the undisputed king. Ford reasoned that the overlap in price, size, and fuel economy meant there wasn’t a business case for the Ranger, but grumblings among consumers have not been quelled. To date, one of our most popular posts ever is a petition to get Ford to bring their global Ranger to the U.S.

Ford is finally starting to realize that there is a real demand for a true “compact” pickup that is affordable, fuel efficient, and capable. To wit, Ford may be planning a unibody pickup, most likely based on one of Ford’s global chassis architectures. Such a vehicle would have a payload of around 1,000 pounds, a towing capacity of 3,000 pounds, and could even be front-wheel drive. Wrap your mind around that.

As a consumer in the market for a fuel efficient-yet-effective vehicle, this writer’s heart lights up with joy at the prospect of such a vehicle. Stick the 1.6 liter or 2.0 liter EcoBoost engine in there, and you could easily have a 30 mpg pickup with versatility to match. Of course, Ford could do what GM is doing, and just import their diesel-powered pickup from abroad…but we won’t hold our breath for that.

Does the idea of a fuel efficient, car-based Ford Ranger appeal to you? Or would you rather have a more traditional body-on-frame setup, even if it meant sacrificing fuel economy?

Source: Car & Driver

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About Christopher DeMorro

Chris DeMorro is a writer and gearhead who loves all things automotive, from hybrids to HEMIs. You can follow his slow descent into madness and non-nonsensical ramblings on Twitter @harshcougar.

  • http://www.facebook.com/people/Daniel-Watkins/629637578 Daniel Watkins

    Or the Ford fusion/C-max hybrid powertrain but that would probably make it cost too much

  • Jason Carpp

    If a Ranger replacement becomes available, the only engine(s) that’ll probably be available are the Ecoboost engine. Whatever the hell they mean by Ecoboost? What bothers me is that Ford says that there’s “no business case for a compact pickup truck.” I disagree totally with that statement. Not everyone needs a big, hulking monster of a truck like the F150. If you do need an F series truck, excellent! But what about those who need, or want a smaller truck? And how about offering that small truck with the option of a diesel engine if we need it?

  • Wolfpak765

    Doesn’t sound like a Ranger to me. Sounds like an El Camino or El Rancho or whatever they were called. Interest = zero

  • Jerryt1960

    I would love a pick up that got 30 mpg, I would love a small pick like Toyota and Nissan produced. The 95 Nissan hardbody and the Toyota 4 cylinder. Not everyone needs a huge gas sucking truck. Don’t get me wrong a big truck is nice if you REALLY require one. Today with gas so high I am sure alot of people want a gas saving pick up that they can use as a pick up every once in a while. But a vehicle that is easy on gas easy to park and just maybe less expensive than a full size truck. You know the market segment that has been forgotten but now has a lot of consumers waiting to be satisfied,Come on Ford, Bring it !!!! I know you can build a high quality gas saving small low end pick up, it has been done before. 

    • Jason Carpp

      I agree with what you’re saying. I would also like to see a compact truck with a diesel engine available as an option for those who need it. Diesel may not be for everyone, and with the cost of diesel being more than that of gasoline, it may be even bought by less people. But so what? I’m sure there’s a niche somewhere for a small truck with a diesel. It’s been done before.

  • argusd

    Ford has been making such a vehicle for years in Brazil and South Africa — the Courier.  Not the rebadged Mazda pickup from the -70s, but the car-based ute/bakkie sold in Latin America. 

    http://www.ford.com.br/showroom.asp?veiculo=10
    They are all over Baja California, and someone was driving one around here in Seattle a couple of years ago, with Mexican tags.  Looked very sensible and useful to me; I cannot understand why Ford wouldn’t bring it to the States.  

  • argusd

    . . . not to mention Ford Australia’s Falcon Ute:

    http://www.ford.com.au/commercial/new-falcon-ute

    • Johnmangos

      The Falcon ute is unbelievable.
      Also check out the 310kw F6 version from Ford Performance Vehicles in Australia. Get some over here now!

  • bill b

    I think ford stole my idea, I have been wishing for a front wheel drive unitized body for years. I have owned three rangers over the years and thought that the best way to improve traction is to go with front wheel drive, and to improve milage a unitized body. A perfect vehicle to base a new ranger on would be the transit connect.

    • Christopher DeMorro

      @ bill b

      Ford has actually been building car-based trucks for years…in Australia. That said, they’re still RWD, and called Utes…but I’d still take one or two.