In case you missed it, rumor has it that Ford Motor Company is looking to replace its old, Fiesta-based Courier pickup model, and the resulting compact, unibody pickup could launch in the North American market. The new model would be smaller than the forthcoming North American Ford Ranger, slotting below it in the lineup, and representing a comparatively fuel-efficient small pickup with car-like driving dynamics.
The rumored model could even revive Ford’s historic “Ranchero” nameplate, repurposing a moniker used by a line of Ford car-based pickup models based primarily on the Falcon and Torino from the late-1950s through the 1970s.
Now, designer Kleber Silva has rendered what such a pickup model could look like, assuming that its front end is styled after the all-new, fourth-generation Ford Focus compact car. His renderings on website Behance show a compact four-door pickup with the front end of the new Ford Focus Active, body-side stampings that resemble those of the current Ford Explorer, and a short pickup bed with the new Focus’ angular, horizontal taillights. The rear of the unibody truck appears to have a higher ride height than the front, and the wheel arches are a bit more squared-off than anything Ford has on the market today.
Of course, Ford’s compact, unibody pickup model may not ever be offered in the North American market, if it comes at all. But should the automaker decide to pull the trigger on such a vehicle, we’d expect it to arrive for the 2022 model year, making good on Ford’s promise to explore so-called “white space” car models – that is, cars with something other than the traditional “three-box” sedan silhouette. It might also give the Blue Oval an early start in an emerging segment, as currently, the only other unibody pickup on offer in North America is the Honda Ridgeline.
Be sure to check out Kleber Silva’s renderings of the rumored Ford Focus-based pickup truck on Behance.
(Hat-tip: Motor1)
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