Global Ranger revisited - again

['91 ranger xlt]

The lightweight aluminum body is an outright joke/scam.
I have no idea what the big aluminum push is, it isn't because it is cheaper or easier to repair. 30lbs isn't worth it either. Methinks somebody's uncle works for Alcoa or something...

aluminum doesn't rust. that's a big plus in my book.

I think it's funny that Ford is finally making a "modern" aluminum truck when Humvees have been aluminum since they came out in 1985.

 

['91 ranger xlt]

The Irish Defence Forces have new Rangers. This one is armored.

lol od green but the grille is still chrome.

 

[brokemechanic3000]

It does corrode though

 

['91 ranger xlt]

It does corrode though

yeah true, but that's much better than steel that keeps rusting all the way through until nothing is left except for little chips. lol

 

[Sweersa]

My dad showed me a clipping from the local Grand Rapids, MI press. It says they may start making the Ranger again in Michigan.

More info:

http://www.detroitnews.com/story/business/autos/ford/2015/08/25/ford-ranger/32373741/

 

[SenorNoob]

That sounds good and all, but I'd be willing to bet it wouldn't be the first time a vehicle was built here but not sold here..

 

[don4331]

Don't know if this was posted anywhere else:

http://www.caranddriver.com/features/2019-ford-ranger-25-cars-worth-waiting-for-feature

 

[86isuzu]

http://www.automobilemag.com/news/f...A89DFF4CCE54A2126698C2D0FD721FEA1D98B129AF8E0

Ford Bronco
What we know
Ford has confirmed it will build two new vehicles at the Michigan factory where the Focus and C-Max are assembled. Sources say one is almost guaranteed to be the Ranger, Ford’s midsize pickup truck that’s already on sale overseas. A second vehicle will join the plant in 2020, and a modern-day Bronco makes a lot of sense as that vehicle. It would essentially be Ford’s version of the Jeep Wrangler Unlimited, built off the Ranger platform, underpinned by a tough suspension, and sporting a boxy, retro look. Think of it as the pickup truck for people who don’t actually need an open cargo bed but want the ground clearance and towing ability a more capable, body-on-frame SUV would provide.

Why it matters
The Bronco would give Ford a credible competitor to the beloved Jeep Wrangler. Although it’s unclear whether the Bronco’s chops could really match those of the Jeep, a hardcore variant along the lines of the F-150 Raptor could be developed to help boost its go-anywhere appeal and highlight its roots in off-road racing.

Where it could go wrong
Is there a business case for launching what would likely be a low-volume SUV when Ford already sells hundreds of thousands of pedestrian crossovers here? In addition, if gas prices suddenly spike, the market for vehicles like a Bronco could dry up. Ford has long expressed skepticism about selling pickups smaller than the F-150 in the U.S., despite its decision to reboot the Ranger. Trying to push through another body-on-frame offering below the F-150 won’t be easy.

When to expect it
No sooner than 2020, and about two years after Ranger production would begin in the U.S.