Ford Ranger

[2o6]

Why is this not coming to the US?







http://www.autoblog.com/2010/10/14/all-new-ford-ranger-debuts-for-the-rest-of-the-globe/

[68_427]

IIRC it has a higher payload than the F150.  BUT Y

[MX793]

It's not coming to the US because it's basically the same size as the F150 now (one article I read called it a 9/10ths F150 in size), wouldn't cost appreciably less and would have similar capability.  Ford decided to just offer a V6 F150 again for those who want a truck that gets better fuel mileage and a V8 full-sizer.

[the Teuton]

Oh, and the Focus/Fiesta will supposedly supplant the US Ranger for lost sales. Yeah, tell that to Chevy, Nissan, and Toyota.

[MX793]

Oh, and the Focus/Fiesta will supposedly supplant the US Ranger for lost sales. Yeah, tell that to Chevy, Nissan, and Toyota.

What sense does it make to offer two trucks that are essentially the same size, have the same capabilities, and cost the same?  Chevy, Toyota and Nissan all have midsize trucks that are actually smaller and less expensive than their full-sizers.  It would be like Ford offering the current Mondeo and the Fusion at the same time.

EDIT:

Just tracked down the numbers for the new Ranger and compared to the F150 and the Dakota, Tacoma and Frontier.  The new Ranger is no larger than the aforementioned "midsizers" and is still a fair bit smaller than the F150.  It's bigger than the current NA Ranger, but not that much.  It's closer to the current American Ranger in size than it is the F150.  I'm inclined to side with the "WTF Ford?" camp.  However, given that the compact truck market is so small compared to the full size (has shrunk to 2% of the market, compared to 12.2% and rising for full-size), I can't completely fault them for just bowing out.

[SVT666]

I would love to see a new Ranger the same size as the current one.  They still sell a ton of those tiny little Rangers. Hell, I still want one.

[Onslaught]

That looks way better and I'm sure it's built better than the current one. But that's a rather easy thing to do. Did I ever say how much I hate the Ranger?

[CALL_911]

Hell, I still want one.

Phew, I thought I was the only one.

[SVT666]

Phew, I thought I was the only one.

I love the Ranger.  If you're gonna buy a Dakota or Tacoma, you may as well get the full sizers.  Those mid-size trucks are huge.  I love how tiny the Ranger is.  I had one in high school that we used for off roading.  It had a 3" lift and mud terrain tires.  Just like this one but it was two tone brown:

[Mustangfan2003]

My dad had an 88 Ranger for a long time, it was a very great truck. 

[3.0L V6]

Why is this not coming to the US?

The chicken tax.

The small pickup market is pretty limited in North America and the average transaction price of the Ranger is pretty low. When you can buy an almost 300-hp 3.7L F-150 for the price of a loaded Ranger, it's a no-brainer. Hence, there's not a lot of revenue to be derived from selling it, probably not enough to justify the costs associated with running a North American factory.

If Ford could import the Ranger from overseas without the 25% 'chicken tax', they'd likely do that, since they could produce it somewhere where there is appreciable demand would allow them to utilize the full capacity of a plant.

I guess they figure they'll help out GM by ceding the small and cheap pickup market to the Colorado/Canyon, kind of like how GM ceded the large body-on-frame car market to the Crown Victoria in the 1990s.

[Atomic]

the "new" grille design really looks "forced" on this new ranger. it spoils the truck. or one could say, the vehicle spoils the front end  !

[Rupert]

I think this whole thing is a shame. I don't really want a truck large than the current Ranger, so I don't myself ever buying a new truck unless my priorities change.

[MX793]

I think this whole thing is a shame. I don't really want a truck large than the current Ranger, so I don't myself ever buying a new truck unless my priorities change.

Based on the numbers I managed to dig up, the new global Ranger isn't really much bigger than ours.  The crew cab version is 7" longer than an extended cab NA Ranger and rides on a wheelbase that is within an inch of our current Ranger.  It's roughly the same width too.

[Rupert]

But we won't get this one.

[MaxPower]

I think this whole thing is a shame. I don't really want a truck large than the current Ranger, so I don't myself ever buying a new truck unless my priorities change.

I agree, except I choose the previous gen Tacoma instead of a Ranger.  All the new trucks are too big.

[the Teuton]

I agree, except I choose the previous gen Tacoma instead of a Ranger.  All the new trucks are too big.

Massive frame rust and all...

[Atomic]

it does not look back from the rear/side view. the front if ill-fitting, though.

[MaxPower]

Massive frame rust and all...

New frame for free & a free rental car while they did the work.  Toyota handled it so well that frame rust isn't an issue.

[Atomic]

New frame for free & a free rental car while they did the work.  Toyota handled it so well that frame rust isn't an issue.

i heard this from others. cool to see their response.