mackinaw Posted November 9, 2009 Share Posted November 9, 2009 From today's Automotive News, article by Amy Wilson: DETROIT -- Ford Motor Co. will not sell the Ford Ka minicar or the global Ford Ranger pickup in the United States, CEO Alan Mulally says. Mulally previously had said both vehicles were under consideration for sale here. But the Ka, a minicar developed with Fiat S.p.A., has been deemed too small for American tastes. The Ka is smaller than the subcompact Ford Fiesta, which will go on sale in the United States early next year. "Our view is that Fiesta is about the smallest vehicle that we think will be a real success in the United States," Mulally told Automotive News. "The global Ranger is a new compact pickup, different from the aging Ranger currently sold here. It was developed in Australia for worldwide markets. Production of the U.S. Ranger is scheduled to end in 2011. Ford has been looking for options to fill the compact pickup segment. Last year, Ford shelved a lightweight version of the F-150. It is unclear what product, if any, will fill the current U.S. Ranger's spot." Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MadManMoon Posted November 9, 2009 Share Posted November 9, 2009 Wow. Unless Ford has renewed their plans for the F-100, resurrected the 4.4L diesel, or expects to get phenomenal fuel economy from a 3.5L-Ecoboost-powered F-150, this seems like a huge mistake. I can't believe there isn't a market for a well-designed truly compact pickup here in the US. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rbc150 Posted November 9, 2009 Share Posted November 9, 2009 Peter Brown and Jason Stein and Amy Wilson Automotive News November 9, 2009 - 12:01 am ET Do you see a rebound in the pickup segment? It's already rebounded. Even though fuel prices are up, there was still a tremendous market for pickups because 50 percent are used for work. We really learned a great lesson: No matter what the size vehicle, the owner wants a vehicle that works for their life, but they also want it to be fuel-efficient. But we'll be trying to give them that kind of capability in a little bit smaller, more efficient vehicle. ***** Is the "little bit smaller, more efficient vehicle" the F-100? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jpd80 Posted November 9, 2009 Share Posted November 9, 2009 (edited) This is a case of so near yet so far. In a broad scale product like T6 it is tempting to try to include as many markets as possible, the parameters and scope for the T6 truck project were set in place in 2006 and at that time the perceived needs for Ford North America was for a completely different (larger) truck. The realities of how different the US market is quickly puts a nail in that (T6) coffin. It is possible that the T6 may be re worked for Ford NA like some of the European vehicles but at this time diesels dominate the line up and the lack of a V6 option is an impediment. Edited November 9, 2009 by jpd80 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
old_fairmont_wagon Posted November 9, 2009 Share Posted November 9, 2009 I'm going to step out on a limb here, but, does anyone think that its possible that Ford could produce a light pickup based on the underlying fundamentals of the Transit Connect (this or the next generation)? I know loosing the cargo box would be a big thing to overcome in engineering, but, if they can manage it with perhaps a small EB engine under the hood, it could be "just the thing" for a lot of people. It'll be interesting to say the least without the ranger, but, given how the ranger has been such a non-factor in the market for so long, I can see it not being really missed. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
focus05 Posted November 9, 2009 Share Posted November 9, 2009 I cannot believe the new Ranger isn't coming. There must have been some dramatic shift in cost or some unexpected limitation in the vehicle that prevented that. I think it is a mistake - and so will Ford by 2013/2014 when gas is knocking on $5. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
David The Bruce Posted November 9, 2009 Share Posted November 9, 2009 Wow. Unless Ford has renewed their plans for the F-100, resurrected the 4.4L diesel, or expects to get phenomenal fuel economy from a 3.5L-Ecoboost-powered F-150, this seems like a huge mistake. I can't believe there isn't a market for a well-designed truly compact pickup here in the US. I just recently bought a barebone Ranger XL. The prime reason for going for a ranger was it was a good cheap ford and it got decent mileage. At 15.5k and around 24 mpg it has met both those needs. But if I was going to spend any money on a truck it wouldn't be on a ranger. The rangers with a 6 in them get crappy mileage and cost roughly the same as an f150 xl. I really can't see why someone would spend 21k on a ranger when you could get an f150 for that kind of money. 15k yes, 21k just can't see it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PRM Posted November 9, 2009 Share Posted November 9, 2009 Wow is that a disappointment. I was really looking forward to seeing what they could put together in a new Ranger. I need a truck, but the F150 is a bit too large. I hope there is more to the story. Like the existence of an F100 or something. If gas does indeed climb again, not having a smaller and more fuel efficient truck will be a big mistake. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sixt9coug Posted November 9, 2009 Share Posted November 9, 2009 I just recently bought a barebone Ranger XL. The prime reason for going for a ranger was it was a good cheap ford and it got decent mileage. At 15.5k and around 24 mpg it has met both those needs. But if I was going to spend any money on a truck it wouldn't be on a ranger. The rangers with a 6 in them get crappy mileage and cost roughly the same as an f150 xl. I really can't see why someone would spend 21k on a ranger when you could get an f150 for that kind of money. 15k yes, 21k just can't see it. As someone else that bought a Ranger recently, I can assure you that even though the sticker says 22K, I got it for 16K. It wasnt a bare bones model either. Im disappointed to hear this news as well. I was looking forward to a new small pickup thats not as big as the competition. The Tacoma is massive in most trims, and so is the rest of the compeitition. I like the size of my Ranger, and i would understand some growth, but to place it just a notch below the F150 sounds like its gonna be huge too. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
silvrsvt Posted November 9, 2009 Share Posted November 9, 2009 As someone else that bought a Ranger recently, I can assure you that even though the sticker says 22K, I got it for 16K. It wasnt a bare bones model either. Thus part of the reason why Ford isn't going to do it...they can get more profit out of say a F-100 shared with the F-150 platform instead of giving away Rangers. Short of the I4 in the Ranger, the MPG in the Ranger isn't anything worth writing home about. Most I4 Rangers are prob stripper models that can be filled in by the TC and you'll have more room for crap for it, just not the truck mentality that non-fleet buyers want. How many Rangers have really been sold since gas has gone crazy? The F-150 still outsells it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BORG Posted November 9, 2009 Share Posted November 9, 2009 (edited) Well, that does that, the Ranger in the US is kaput. To be honest, I'm not surprised, the Thai Ranger never made sense for the US market and I would be surprised to see it here. Edited November 9, 2009 by BORG Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ausrutherford Posted November 9, 2009 Share Posted November 9, 2009 Just means we'll get the F-100. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MY93SHO Posted November 9, 2009 Share Posted November 9, 2009 http://news.pickuptrucks.com/2009/11/repor...not-for-us.html Mike Levine at PickupTrucks.com has mentioned the F100 several times in the last few months. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pioneer Posted November 9, 2009 Share Posted November 9, 2009 Thus part of the reason why Ford isn't going to do it...they can get more profit out of say a F-100 shared with the F-150 platform instead of giving away Rangers. Modified F-150 frame. Not exactly "shared". Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Deanh Posted November 9, 2009 Share Posted November 9, 2009 Just means we'll get the F-100. my thoughts exactly, Ford will not abandon this market segment chaps, so stop freaking...F-100 will be slightly larger than the current Ranger...a GOOD thing....AND 100% more efficient........ Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Blue II Posted November 9, 2009 Share Posted November 9, 2009 Doesn't anyone want a D4 truck? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
goinbroke2 Posted November 9, 2009 Share Posted November 9, 2009 I know several people who own rangers, all love them. They all concede the milage isn't great but the price was low, works excellent and from the woman who drives a honda,"it rides so nice". They are everywhere here and outsell everything else at least 2-3:1. tacoma's,dakota'setc are few and far between. If it's not a ranger then the next most common is mazda's. Not sure, I'd guess colorado's are 3rd. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AlRozzi Posted November 9, 2009 Share Posted November 9, 2009 (edited) What happened to this F100? Edited November 9, 2009 by AlRozzi Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ausrutherford Posted November 9, 2009 Share Posted November 9, 2009 What happened to this F100? That was a rendering done at Pickuptrucks.com. Not official. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ausrutherford Posted November 9, 2009 Share Posted November 9, 2009 my thoughts exactly, Ford will not abandon this market segment chaps, so stop freaking...F-100 will be slightly larger than the current Ranger...a GOOD thing....AND 100% more efficient........ Also F-Series gets a slaes bump. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Deanh Posted November 9, 2009 Share Posted November 9, 2009 That was a rendering done at Pickuptrucks.com. Not official. but not a bad direction to take eh? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ExplorerDude Posted November 9, 2009 Share Posted November 9, 2009 Doesn't anyone want a D4 truck? I am and so would my father. So is the D4 program still on? Is that gonna be called the Sport Trac and will the F-100 actually be a smaller/lighter F-150? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ausrutherford Posted November 9, 2009 Share Posted November 9, 2009 Doesn't anyone want a D4 truck? With the Ridgeline, Dodge and Chevy all doing it... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
twintornados Posted November 9, 2009 Share Posted November 9, 2009 Doesn't anyone want a D4 truck? Sign me up.... :hyper: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rkisler Posted November 9, 2009 Share Posted November 9, 2009 Doesn't anyone want a D4 truck? I could point you to to a couple of black notebooks (unless someone pitched them) where it was investigated a couple of times 6-7 years ago; most of the people who worked on it are gone. Basically, think Ridgeline except hopefully done better. The basic concept is the same; unibody FWD/AWD pickup with stowage under the bed (or perhaps a good place for batteries). The big issue at the time was the ability to carve out a niche with this product given Ford's success with the F-series. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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