Ford Mini Pickup

FORD CONSIDERING RANGER-SIZED COMPACT PICKUP FOR U.S.

Quote :

A new report finds Ford is considering returning to the small pickup segment after a nearly three-year long hiatus.

The project is at the embryonic stage of development and it hasn’t been approved by Ford’s top brass yet. However, Dave Scott, the marketing director of the Blue Oval’s truck division, said he is pushing for the introduction of a truly compact pickup that would be smaller than the recently-introduced 2015 Chevrolet Colorado / GMC Canyon duo.

Speaking with USA Today, Scott explained the ideal compact truck needs to be roughly the same size as the 200-inch long Ranger that was axed in December of 2011. The truck needs to be built in the United States in order to avoid the Chicken Tax and it must get about seven miles per gallon more than a full-size model. Finally, the truck should cost between $5,000 and $6,000 less than a 2015 F-150.

Ford is still debating whether it’s smarter to design a truck from scratch or to modify an existing overseas model to meet U.S. standards. Either way, the upcoming compact pickup will most likely ride on a unibody architecture for cost and weight reasons.

Putting an end to a long-standing rumor, Scott stressed the body-on-frame Ranger (pictured) that is sold in a host of global markets will not be sold in the United States.

“It’s too big. It’s 90% of the F-150 size,” explained the executive.

A time frame for when Ford will decide whether or not to re-enter the compact truck segment was not given.

Digital Trends

Yet people are already stating the Colorado/Canyon cab is too small. Seems Ford is trying to cast doubt into GM's offering because they have no way to respond. Just thoughts, wishes, and words currently.

The Colorado/canyon is small for a current full sized.
Sat in a CC and it feels too big compared to my S-blazer.

joemac wrote:

Seems Ford is trying to cast doubt into GM's offering because they have no way to respond.  Just thoughts, wishes, and words currently.

No way to respond? I'm sure they could bring the global Ranger here if they wanted, just like GM did.

Ford said they would not bring the global Ranger here siting it's too big too close to full size.

Quote :

Putting an end to a long-standing rumor, Scott stressed the body-on-frame Ranger (pictured) that is sold in a host of global markets will not be sold in the United States.

“It’s too big. It’s 90% of the F-150 size,” explained the executive.

Ford put themselves into the corner. Trying to cast doubt on the GM trucks, yet having zero product that's even remotely close to less than 3 years from a showroom that's if they decided to do it now. They would be better off simply trying to compare the 2.7 EB in the F150 as a efficient equivalent to the GM mid-sizers with greater capability or not giving GM any unwarranted attention at all.

Would be interesting to here Mike Levine address versus this goober.

Anyone who says the Colorado/Canyon is too small, would never want anything less than a half-ton anyway, so their input doesn't really account for much regarding anything less than full-size.
I'm sure if Ford, GM, Ram (or anyone else) came to market with a true mini-pickup (around the size of the Ford Courier), they wouldn't have any trouble selling them.

Hypothetical, Ford brings in a true small pickup. What platform? Not the global Ranger right, it's too big. Invest and develop an all new truck platform to be sold where? US only? Or global? Possible negative impact to global Ranger? What happens to the global Courier and strategy in the US and around the globe? Cost to bring a new platform to market is easy $1 billion if not more. What would be the optimum power plant options. Where would it be produced in the US? Twin Cities where the the previous Ranger was produced was torn down and no longer exists. Flat Rock along side the Mustang? At Dearborn or Kansas City along side the F150 or at Kentucky with the Super Duty? Going to take time on one of these production line from an easy $6k per unit full size truck and share it with a truck that only brings $3k near for same production time fixed costs? What's the North America market opportunity for a mini-truck? 100k, 200k, 300k units? Lot of business case issues that would need to settled if a mini-truck is the goal for Ford north america.

Rough dimensions, all CC short box.

Ol' trusty Ranger (supercab)
length 5171 mm
width  1763 mm

Global Ranger
length 5359 mm
width  1850 mm

GM Colo/Cany
length 5402 mm
width  1885 mm

'14 F150
length 5890 mm
width  2012 mm

joemac wrote:

Hypothetical, Ford brings in a true small pickup.  What platform?

Possibly the Transit Connect? Much in the same way other global markets are doing it. Front drive and unibody. Look what Ram is doing just a little south of you. Fifteen hundred pound payload for the regular cab.





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