The rumors are true. Ford is adding a new compact pickup truck to the lineup. But instead of looking like the clearly car-based Ford Courier coupe utility sold in other markets, the unibody pickup will adopt a more rugged look to satisfy American tastes.
Underpinned by Ford’s front-wheel-drive-based compact car platform, the new trucklet will slot beneath the Ranger in Ford’s truck lineup and is also intended to fill the gaps left by the Focus, Fiesta, and cancelled Focus Active hatch-crossover. The vehicle’s exact name is still unknown, but it could bring back the Courier moniker that was last used here in the 1970s on a pre-Ranger rebadge of a Mazda B-Series pickup. Other possibilities include Ranchero or perhaps something connecting it to the Bronco family (its underpinnings will be similar to those of the Bronco Sport, after all).
As for looks, we’re told the new small Ford truck will be anything but cute. Expect it to take styling cues from both the Ranger and Bronco Sport, with an upright, blocky front end and an unmistakable truck profile. Drivetrain options will likely be shared with the Bronco Sport, which, according to a leaked Ford document, is getting two EcoBoost engines—a turbocharged 1.5-liter three-cylinder and a 2.0-liter turbo-four. Those same engines can also be found in the mechanically related Escape crossover, where they make 180 hp and 250 hp, respectively.
The compact pickup truck will reportedly be built in Mexico, possibly at the same plant where the Bronco Sport will be produced. It will need a certain percentage of North American-sourced parts to comply with the U.S.-Mexico-Canada trade deal, but should still be able to avoid the “chicken tax” that has kept many foreign-made trucks from coming stateside.
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