Posted on 01/09/2017 6:57:55 AM PST by mandaladon
DETROIT – The Bronco is back!
And so is the Ranger.
Ford announced on Monday at the Detroit Auto Show that it will launch a new Ranger small pickup in 2019, followed by a Bronco SUV based on it in 2020.
The news comes several months after the plans were unofficially revealed through comments made by UAW workers who will be building the trucks at Ford’s Michigan assembly plant -- home to the original Bronco from 1966-1986.
That's not all: Ford F-150 Diesel coming in 2018
The factory was at the center of controversy recently when President-elect Donald Trump criticized Ford for moving production of its Focus cars built there today to a new facility the automaker planned to build in Mexico. Ford has since decided to scrap the new plant, and will instead expand an existing one in Mexico to accommodate the Focus production.
The Ranger was last offered in the U.S. in 2011, but a new version of it has been sold overseas ever since. The Bronco was put out to pasture in 1996, two years after one took part in the infamous O.J. Simpson low speed police pursuit through Los Angeles.
Ford didn’t offer any technical details or images of the vehicles, but suggested that the Bronco will offer serious off road capability.
(Excerpt) Read more at foxnews.com ...
Well, here’s a hint. I took both for a test drive, but just couldn’t seal the deal.
“At any rate, I have read elsewhere that the new American Ranger will be larger than the old one. That would kind of defeat the purpose of the Ranger. I hope what I read is wrong.”
I’m sure it’ll be huge. Look at what GM did with the Colorado - That thing is bigger than my K1500. But then I marvel at the size of the Toyota Tundra too. My old Toyota Pickup could fit in the back.
Smart move - why let Fiat have all the cash it gets from Jeep?
Low speed car chases haven’t been the same
Holy crap, that 2016 version listed at Net Car Show 2016 Ranger says "These off-road strengths are matched by towing capability of up to 3,500 kg and exceptional payload capacity of up to 1,260 kg.", that's 7700lbs. That's better than a standard F-150.
I'd rather have the Bronco, but that Ranger is looking like a potential if it truly has that towing capacity in the US.
They never kept up sales wise. The small trucks had almost no markup, half the rebate, so by the time you discounted the full-size trucks, prices were close, and the resale difference was huge. This, along with the negligible difference in fuel mileage is why they quit them.
They’ll sell well for about a year, then they will likely be dead.
I didn't want a full size and that was just about the only thing on the market made by a US auto maker.
So far, I like it quite a bit.
Diesel just makes sense to me in trucks of any size, especially now that they’re better behaved. Greatly improved towing capacity, fuel economy and longevity. I marvel at the lack of smaller diesels for even full size trucks, and certainly for midsize. They’ve been protecting their cash cows, Ford especially. I guess I can’t blame them, but the market’s catching up to them. A market left unserved will be filled by somebody eventually and that eventuality has arrived, so they’re throwing in the towel and bringing the Ranger back. Hopefully, with the 4, 5 and even 6 cal. diesels available in other markets.
You would be amazed at how tame my little Bronco II is with the cummins diesel. A good muffler and sound insulation in cab. But it has over 400 pounds of torque just off idle. I put basically a ford explorer front and rear axle in with an np205 transfer case and a 5 speed tranny, detroit tru track gears front and rear 3.27 ratio. I relocated the battery under the rear seat and installed 2. I posted a link earlier but here you are again :)
http://www.broncoiicorral.com/gallery2/main.php?g2_itemId=3468
I would be first in line for a either a Ranger or Bronco diesel to sit beside my Bronco ii.
The crew cab resembles an old Sport Trac, which I’ve always sort of liked. Most of the midsize crew cabs look a little ungainly, but that manages to be sporty somehow. Plop a good smaller diesel in and sell it for less than $30K, I’d be all over it.
I haven’t heard any negatives about the new Colorado, other than that some think they’ve gotten too big. Unlike the previous 5 cylinder Colorado, which had shall we say mechanical issues.
Back in about 1998 or so, I watched a then late model Ford Ranger swerve violently at highway speed (distracted driver), then flip over and roll several times. I stopped to render aid and call the professionals. The cab was only slightly deformed, the airbag was deployed, the driver appeared to have sustained only minor injuries.
I currently own a 1999 Ford Ranger XLT extended cab.
Anybody who thinks it's a "POS" simply doesn't know what the hell he's talking about.
It’s just my opinion. Feel free to have a differing one.
Getting rid of the Ranger was a big mistake for they have no small trucks and I loved my Ranger. But why they want to bring back the Bronco is beyond me. They already have a number of these types of vehicles.
Mine is based on facts ...
The bronco ate a valve at 51,000 miles....1000 miles out of warranty...they were going to replace the top end only....but eventually gave me a brand new motor...Ive got no beef with ford - I have an EDGE right now - love it
In the 90s I had four new Rangers, one after another, when I was younger, and doing a lot of year-round travel, and had the money to trade every two or three years.
Had the STX package, big tires, manual transmission. Never enjoyed any other vehicle so much, before or after.
Prior to that I went through a couple Chevy S-10s, which weren’t half as well-designed or -made.
CAFE standards. The fuel economy a truck must get is proportional to its "footprint" (rectangular area between the tires).
A smaller truck can't meet the gov't requirements.
So we have no smaller trucks.
Back in ‘98 I was looking at the Ranger, the S-10, and the Dakota. The Dakota was just a bit too big (F150 was ‘way too big). I was going between S10 and Ranger, watching that rollover nailed it for me.
I'm not really in the market for a new vehicle right now but the new Ranger might tempt me.
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