Since the rumor mill released that Ford would produce a new Bronco SUV and Ranger pickup, Ford fans have been going on nonstop. We haven’t heard many details on their production, but all we knew is that they would be coming in the next few years. This small amount of information was enough to get all of us excited, and at NAIAS, Ford officially announced the comeback of the two models.
Specifics are still slim. We know that they will both be produced at the Wayne, Michigan Assembly Plant, keeping Mr. Trump happy and satisfied. The Ranger will be released to the North American market sometime in 2019 with the Bronco following shortly after in 2020. This gives the manufacturer plenty of time to whip up some new and exciting features for the both of them.
Ford did release a bit of information on the trucks’ architecture. They stated that the Ranger will be built upon the same platform as its European Market counterpart, a proven and successful bit of kit. The Bronco will be a full fledged, body-on-frame SUV, keeping the purists happy. Engine options are still TBD, but we suspect the 2.7L Ecoboost V6 may find its way into the Ranger if not both of them. A Powerstroke diesel option may be fitted to the Ranger as well, giving it the power to punch above its weight class. This is all speculation, but Ford typically offers a selection of powerplants in all of their models, so expect to see the trend continue here.
Both models will have stiff competition from other American manufacturers. The small-pickup category has been a hit for Chevrolet and their Colorado, and Ford plans on getting a piece of the action. The Bronco will fit a bill similar to the Jeep Wrangler, a continuously successful model year in and year out. With that being said, Ford has proved that they know how to build trucks, so expect them both to be worthy rivals.
This news comes along with a host of other announcements from Ford at Detroit. They will also be revamping the F-150 with new styling and engine choices, introducing a 3.0L Powerstroke Diesel to the truck in 2018. A hybrid F-150 is also in the works, spelling out quite the change for Ford’s truck lineup in the next three years. All of the fresh equipment is enough to get us anxious to see what they’re cooking up, that’s for sure.