Speculation Abounds Regarding Ford Ranger Replacement
Since the early 1970s, the Ford Motor Company has had a small pickup truck in its line up, initially selling the Mazda built Ford Courier before replacing that model with the Ford Ranger in 1983. Today, the Ranger soldiers on but the truck is woefully outdated and needing a major makeover. Indeed, Ford says that the current model will be retired in 2011, but has been pretty much mum about its replacement.
What Truck Is This?
Ford appears to be committed to selling a compact pickup truck, a segment with plenty of room to grow. Lots of people like the big Ford F-150, but find it to be too much truck for their needs. GM, Toyota and Nissan all have newer, smaller trucks in their line ups, with the latter two companies dominating the entry level truck market.
Over the past few months, spy shots of what appears to be a new Ford truck have surfaced on the internet. For its part, Ford has said that a truck slightly smaller than the F-150, dubbed the F-100 might hit the market, while others know that Ford plans to roll out a compact truck overseas through its Thailand operation.
Giving Ford Australia Responsibility
Ford has also tasked Ford Australia with designing and developing a new truck, code-named the T6 which could be readied for world markets other than the US in 2011. That model is expected to be equipped with various small gas and diesel engines, the types of powerplants desired in most markets. Recent rumors have indicated that prototypes of the T6 are being tested in the US right now, which would show that Ford may be taking a new approach with the Ranger.
So why would Ford hold the Ranger or its replacement back from the US market? For one, costs make building the truck here prohibitive – like so many small Ford cars, building them in markets where labor costs are low is the only way Ford can turn a profit with the Ranger. In addition, US safety and emissions requirements add to the cost of building the Ranger, one more reason why getting the replacement Ranger to the US market may be a tall order to fill.
We’ll let you know if we hear fresh speculation about the replacement Ranger. Ford has its hands full bringing the Fiesta and all new Focus to the market, compact cars which could pave the way for the next generation Ranger.
See Also — Is Ford Itching To Sell Mazda?
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