Possible inside news for Ranger replacement in US

[DHEM]

I know this is an old topic that pretty much everyone is sick of hearing, but Mike Levine said something on pickuptrucks.com that I found to be disturbing.

"Ford has been working on a Transit Connect-based pickup (ugly, from what I hear) and something totally different and small. Neither is official but they are being seriously considered. Stay tuned. I'm digging."


'Posted by: Mike Levine | Jul 1, 2011 6:10:43 PM'

No evidence, just speculation. I hope that its not true though.
Incase if you dont know what a transit connect is, this is it:

A turkish built fwd unibody micro van.

 

[RangerBoy94]

I've seen those driving around town all the time. They have them at my Ford dealer as well.

 

[wrecking-crew]

Why does that sound like a bad idea?

 

[Musick17]

So ugly

 

[Black'03LevelII]

I don't know, I've seen a couple of them and got to drive one the other day. I kind of like 'em. They ride better than those flippin sprinters in my opinion.

 

[4.0B2]

They ride pretty dang good!

 

[LearjetMinako]

Sounds like Ford is trying to make a smaller version of the Honda Ridgeline.

 

[94 lngbd]

those transit connects aren't even rear wheel drive, so imagine a bone head loading the back end beyond its load ability & taking all the weight off of the front drive wheels

 

[straycat]

They have been around for awhile. I had a TV repairman come over twice last year to do a warranty job and a follow up and he was driving one. It was really cool. He let me drive it around the block a couple of times. He told me he had it for a year already and he really loves it. Lots of room for hauling all his repair equipment and TV replacement parts or TV when he has to replace a TV under warranty. I see them all over the area here in Florida.

But...this is not the Ranger replacement!!!! Still waiting to see if the F100 series is coming ..........If I like it I might buy it the next year after it's out....I never buy a first year production, got to work out the bugs....lol

 

[noahkenny]

Ugly?? Hell yea!! But I could find a lot use uses for a truck like that. Most of us here dont exactly drive pantie peelers!!!

 

[ZMan]

I'm sure it will do just fine in the fleet market, which is where most rangers were being sold anyway. (think: parts stores)

 

[4.0B2]

i was told the other day that companies could still order 2012(but everything is identical to the 2011; just made for 2012) rangers as fleet vehicles, they just wouldn't be sold to the public (unless you bought a used fleet vehicle)

 

[DHEM]

well something thats a unibody and only available in fwd only with only a 4 cyl engine wouldn't work for a truck. I mean if Ford is really serious about a unibody truck, Ford should consider using the same chassis as what the Escape is based on, at least that has awd and v6 available. A transit Connect pickup wouldnt be good for towing or hauling much. Plus its ugly.

 

[hopster]

transit connects share a lot of parts with escapes

 

[ZMan]

well something thats a unibody and only available in fwd only with only a 4 cyl engine wouldn't work for a truck. I mean if Ford is really serious about a unibody truck, Ford should consider using the same chassis as what the Escape is based on, at least that has awd and v6 available. A transit Connect pickup wouldnt be good for towing or hauling much. Plus its ugly.

Most of the rangers I see in my area are owned by napa, autozone, advanced, o'reillys, etc. All they use them for is parts delivery. Its getting rarer and rarer that I see someone driving a ranger for personal use, much less actually TOWING with it. Its a very niche thing, if you're going to be hauling serious loads, get a 1/2 ton.