At the 2017 North American International Auto Show in Detroit, the Ford Motor Company announced that two historical Ford nameplates will come back to the American market: the mid-size Ford Bronco SUV and the mid-size Ford Ranger pickup truck.
These will both be built in the US, at Ford’s Michigan Assembly Plant. The new Bronco and Ranger will both be body-on-frame construction, so they’re destined to go off-road.
Here’s what else we know so far.
The Ford Bronco Rides Again
The new Ford Bronco SUV will be coming as a 2020 model. As you can see in the rendered image above, the Bronco is to be a 4-door SUV that will be based on the Ranger pickup platform.
In addition to body-on-frame construction, it’s rumored to have a solid rear axle, a shift-on-the-fly 4×4 system, and a special off-road suspension with low range transfer case. Each of these features is available on the current T6 model of the Ranger.
With specifications like these, the new Bronco will likely be going up against Jeep’s 4-door Wrangler. If that’s the case, the new Bronco will follow in the footsteps of the original 1966-1977 Ford Bronco, which took on the Wrangler’s forerunner, the Jeep CJ.
Among the Bronco’s several different trim levels will be one that offers customers a comparable version of the “Trail Rated” Jeep. This hardcore, heavy-duty Bronco will be perfect for serious rock crawling, mudding, and intense off-roading.
The Ford Ranger Heads Home
The upcoming Ford Ranger pickup will be all new and is to appear as a 2019 model. It will be the next generation of the current “T6” Ranger model that is sold in other worldwide markets. Ford of Australia led the design of the present T6 Ranger, and it is currently built in South Africa, Argentina, and Thailand.
The North American market Ranger will have some significant differences when compared to the Ranger made for the rest of the world. These will include upgrades to the styling, the interior, and both standard and optional equipment.
The North American model will also get drivetrain options appropriate for the varied terrains in this market. Ford said they will decide on a diesel engine option later. The Ranger will compete against other mid-size pickups already in the US market. These include the Chevy Colorado, GMC Canyon, and Toyota Tacoma.
Built As Tough As Every Ford Truck
The new Ford Bronco and the new Ford Ranger will both be excellent additions to the Ford truck line. Ford already sells America’s favorite truck, the Ford F-150, along with a full line of Super Duty trucks and commercial vehicles. There’s no doubt that these renewed models will be built to perform just as well.
Please contact us at County Ford in Graham, North Carolina, for the latest updates and breaking news on the exciting new Ford Bronco and Ford Ranger.