Posted on 01/16/2018 2:37:10 PM PST by Red Badger
Ford has officially announced the 2019 Ford Ranger, the long-awaited return of this midsize truck.
From 1983 to 2011, the Ranger was one of the most popular pickups on the road. It disappeared as the car companies moved more and more toward oversized trucks, leaving a big fan base pining for the return of the Ranger ever since. The success of the Chevy Colorado has been a barometer for the mid-size truck market, and sales are up 83 percent since 2014. Now Ford is banking on the new Ranger as a Chevy rival and a solid alternative to its best-selling full-size F-150.
Ford has packed all of the tech and ruggedness of the F-150 into the smaller Ranger, which will boast better fuel economy and maneuverability compared to its larger sibling. A high-strength steel frame supports a mostly steel body, with the hood, front fenders, and tailgate being the only areas where aluminum is used (for now).
Ford's proven 2.3-liter EcoBoost engine and 10-speed automatic transmission provide a solid power plant and drivetrain. The F-150 will introduce a diesel option in 2019, but that will not be available on the Ranger.
The Ranger will be available in a slew of trims and packages to fit the budgets and needs of a variety of buyers. These options include the entry-level XL, mid-level XLT, and high-level Lariat series with available Chrome and Sport appearance and FX Off-Road packages, and in SuperCab or SuperCrew cab configurations. Although the FX4 Ranger will be a capable off-road vehicle, Ford has yet to announce a Raptor version of the Ranger—which, if launched, should compete nicely with the ZR2 Chevy Colorado.
Production on the Ranger will begin later this year at Ford's Michigan assembly plant, the same location where the 2020 Ford Bronco will be built. Both new trucks should bolster Ford's already impressive truck lineup, and we look forward to seeing how each performs long-term.
If the passenger compartment is longer than the bed it isn’t a pickup truck but a car without a deck lid IMHO.
Good Lord; could almost pass for a full size truck. Does anyone make a small truck anymore or are we just that fat. Don’t answer.
In defense of this century’s vehicles, I just bought a 2015 Corolla. It’s a fine product of Blue Springs, Mississippi ... and a huge improvement over its predecessors.
And yes, if after 19 years your truck hasn’t taken a few hits, you’re not using it right.
No 6 or 8 cylinder engines. I’ll pass till something akin to at least a 5.0 is installed.
You can spin little engines fast and pump air into them but there is no replacement for displacement. Trucks need torque.
I had a used 2004 Ranger XLT fitted with a small camper. V8, auto. Drove it all over the US. Put over 100K miles on it. Still hauling good when I traded it.
Pickups trucks are for what you need them for. In the 70s I did some drywall in new building construction. A beat up old Chevy with a big long bed suited me fine. In 2014 as a retired guy who likes to hunt and fish with my 3 large adult sons, a loaded Ram with crew cab and a 5 foot capped bed is what I need. Comfortable too. Tows my boat and can load it with more gear thanI need for a week hunting.
And the kids use it for hauling whatever they need to haul for their own houses.
If it’s like the big Ford pickups, it will have a body made out of beer can quality aluminum and plastic.
bump
Personally I’m holding out for the new International Scout.
WELCOME HOME FORD RANGER!!!!!!
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
Yes, as I wrote before, I’d be quite happy with a brand new International pickup, screw the emissions nonsense. I live in a rural area and it shouldn’t matter; Maine doesn’t emission test outside of Cumberland County.
“Pickups trucks are for what you need them for.”
There is nothing wrong with that. It is just that they start looking like a 1974 Lincoln Town cars without a deck lid.
I hope you enjoy the fishing. It is good you share an interest. My sons got interested in computers and have no interest in woodworking or cars.
You must have the Chelsea Manning trannie.
“I have a 1993 Ford Ranger, 247,000 miles on it.”
I’ve got a 2002. People keep stopping by wanting to know if I want to sell it. I changed the tires two tears ago and the tire guy told me that the ones he took off were the original tires.
See, that’s what I’m afraid of happening. That and the thin aluminum.
Looks like I am just going to have to keep fixing up the old ones.
I DO NOT WANT a 4-door pick-up.
They’ve been making parking spaces smaller to discourage large too.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.