Ranger and Bronco officially returning

Ford announcement by way of Jalop

Short version - Ranger in 2019 and Bronco in 2020. We knew about the Ranger, but the Bronco is sort of news. I suspect it will be a rebadged or adapted Everest. Which might suit me fine.

Ford would be extremely wise to make the Bronco look as close to the concept vehicle as possible... but how often does that happen. They did good w/ the S197 tho.

It's not really a vehicle I'd consider anyway, but the concept (EDIT: fantasy of someone with photoshop, no connection to reality or FoMoCo. And that lets me completely out of this conversation) photo certainly punched my "still want that Tonka toy!" buttons...

fasted58 wrote: Ford would be extremely wise to make the Bronco look as close to the concept vehicle as possible...

It will look nothing like that rendering that virtually every "the Bronco is coming back!" story is using as it's headline.

It's just a rendering done by an online forum enthusiast. It's not even from Ford.

Some backstory on it's origin was covered by C&D: "Well, we still haven't gotten a glimpse at what, if anything, Ford is planning for the Bronco nameplate. But that hasn't stopped the amazingly talented fans over at Bronco6G.com from taking matters into their own hands"... http://www.roadandtrack.com/new-cars/news/a28292/2020-ford-bronco-renderings/

It does look cool though

There have been no concept Bronco vehicles in the last 10 years. The image in the link is a rendering done by a fan with no connection to Ford. Don't base decisions on that image.

Another site is reporting that the Ranger and Bronco are expected to share a frame (hooray for body on frame construction). Assuming that can be trusted, I'm expecting it to be more like the current Durango in it's size than an original Bronco.

Hmmmm...when does OJ get out of prison? If they time it just right for the release of the new Bronco, imagine the advertising campaign.

In reply to Klayfish:

I hope they think to do a Hertz edition

FWIW- for the announcement- the Ranger pictures are the world Ranger, no Bronco pictures. So if you see any Bronco pictures, none are official.

You know it's a concept because there's only two doors.

Tyler H wrote: You know it's a concept because there's only two doors.

I would assume that the production version will have two doors, as well. Otherwise, it's too close to the Explorer, and why have both?

Anyhow, this is a good thing. I don't see myself ever wanting a Bronco, but down the road, a Ranger might be a good fit for me.

The Ranger that is sold elsewhere is as big as a Chevy Colorado which is as big as any half ton pickup was 10 years ago. And it looks like an Escape UTE. The Bronco will just be another SUV re-badge effort. I can hardly contain the jaw-breaking yawn this evokes.

I want one of these berkeleying companies to make an 80's sized mini 4x4 truck with modern power and comfort. Gimme the ecoboost in a 1990 Ranger body with the MKZ interior and something other than a twin beam suspension and my palms might sweat.

In reply to Huckleberry:

Pretty much, though I will also accept a Transit Connect pickup, since in addition to size, nobody seems to make a truck with a load floor that isn't 4 ft off the ground anymore.

As others have said the images floating around of the Bronco are nothing to do with FoMoCo and most certainly not a concept car. As many know I work in the Design department at Ford so know exactly what is and isn't happening but can't talk about it if I want to stay employed or ever want a job in the industry again. All I will say is the Ranger is very close to the NA version. The only thing I will say on the Bronco is it's not an Everest with a new badge on the back.

End of comments.

Excuse the crude mock-up but how about a shorted Raptor?

Adrian_Thompson wrote: All I will say is the Ranger is very close to the NA version. The only thing I will say on the Bronco is it's not an Everest with a new badge on the back. End of comments.

I'm well aware the click bait photo Jalop is using is a fantasy, but I have to admit I'm intrigued by your statement about the Everest. As a long time owner of a RWD Explorer, I was actually excited by the Everest as a body-on-frame, capable 4wd truck that retained comfort and a good bit of towing capacity. I couldn't realistically think it would have a market being so close to the current Explorer, though. Even given its significantly different mechanicals and character, it looked too much the same for most buyers to understand it.

But if Ford is planning something else, I'll be very interested to see what. A full size, 2 door Bronc would be awesome. Anything that could put me in a comfortable daily that has some decent 4wd chops and tows 5k-7k might make me a buyer in 3 years. The wife's car will be paid for and my old pickup will be getting long in the tooth by then.

You've got my attention...

Adrian_Thompson wrote: As others have said the images floating around of the Bronco are nothing to do with FoMoCo and most certainly not a concept car. As many know I work in the Design department at Ford so know exactly what is and isn't happening but can't talk about it if I want to stay employed or ever want a job in the industry again. All I will say is the Ranger is very close to the NA version. The only thing I will say on the Bronco is it's not an Everest with a new badge on the back. End of comments.

Over ten years ago I saw my first quad cab diesel 4x4 ranger in Europe on a business trip. At the time, I said I'd buy one if it ever came to the US...

I'm waiting

Isn't saying the Everest is too close to an Explorer, pretty much like saying that the 4Runner is too close to a Highlander?

I think the Bronco will end up channeling the FJ Cruiser. Clamshell rear doors so it looks more like a two-door than a 4-door. There's a reason there aren't 2-Door SUVs anymore.

In reply to Driven5:

...or the FJ Cruiser.

In reply to Huckleberry:

I know the new trucks seem bigger, but I saw an 8th gen F150 (1986-1991) with a mid 2000's Superduty box on it. It barely stuck past the body lines of the old cab. Now it did look a lot taller with how low the box went compared to the door sills but it didn't look that ridiculous. My point is the new trucks aren't really that much bigger in terms of foot print, but taller and heavier.

SyntheticBlinkerFluid wrote: I think the Bronco will end up channeling the FJ Cruiser. Clamshell rear doors so it looks more like a two-door than a 4-door. There's a reason there aren't 2-Door SUVs anymore.

I could get behind that.

Tyler H wrote: You know it's a concept because there's only two doors.

well if the make it a 4 door they can just call it a Centurion model like the ol' days

SyntheticBlinkerFluid wrote: I think the Bronco will end up channeling the FJ Cruiser. Clamshell rear doors so it looks more like a two-door than a 4-door. There's a reason there aren't 2-Door SUVs anymore.

I was thinking about that--what 2 door SUV's have there been since the Blazer and Bronco left? I come up with the FJ (kinda), the Juke (kinda), and the Element (kinda). I guess Isuzu's, but I think those left around the same time as the last Blazer/Jimmy and Cherokee.

Not including the Wranglers in this, because they're different. For reasons.

In reply to mtn: You can get a 2 door Evoque.

For me, if they made it in 2wd instead of 4, I'd probably be trading in my GMC for one. And I don't generally like Fords (no rationale, just always liked GM trucks over Ford trucks).
I've had several different flavors of GM trucks/SUV's over the past few years and this seems to check all of the boxes for me. I like the size of my single cab shortbed Sierra. However, I need something to tow with, so the 9900 lb. tow rating made me get a truck. I miss having a back seat, but didn't want an extra cab or extra doors while also extending the overall length of the truck. And, I live in the south, so 4wd is something I'd probably never use.

Big towing with a back seat and a short wheelbase would be perfect. (Before you guys who tow say it, I don't tow a large trailer, so I'm not losing anything with the short wheelbase)

I've said it before, that if the Bronco is a success and kicks GM in gear to do their own version, I'll be at the dealer ordering one. Once I get over the sticker shock......

-Rob