Ford has commenced work on developing a small, unibody pickup truck, Ford Authority has learned. According to sources familiar with the project, the Dearborn-based automaker has commenced engineering and design work on the vehicle several months ago, with the very first prototypes set to begin testing in the near future.
Last summer, we told you that Ford is considering a small, unibody pickup truck to slot under the mid-size Ranger. Reports stated that the small pickup truck would be based on the new Ford Focus platform, meaning that it will have a transversely-mounted powertrain. Engines will likely consist of small, four-cylinder motors in either naturally-aspirated or turbo-charged guises driving the front wheels; all-wheel-drive will also potentially be available.
Last-generation Ford Courier previously sold in South America
The future small truck could potentially be called Courier. Ford filed to trademark the Courier name in July 2016 with the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO). The Blue Oval also sold a small unibody pickup truck called Courier in South America. The vehicle was based on a last-generation Ford Fiesta platform.
Another possibility is that Ford will revive the Ranchero name that was previously worn by a series of low-riding, car-based pickups that today carry a notable amount of collectibility and nostalgia. Our sources said that the name for the vehicle has not yet been locked in, but that Courier is the frontrunner.
Whatever it ends up being called, the upcoming small, car-based Ford pickup truck will will be introduced in the 2021 calendar year as a 2022 model. That's all we know, for now.
Stay tuned to Ford Authority for more coverage of the car-based truck, as well as for more Ford news coverage.
Sign and drive lease, interest-free financing offered on all-electric crossover.
It's unclear what, exactly, caused them to do it.
A move that has been expected for a while.
It would also feature an extendable bed floor for longer items.
And it has 65k miles on the clock.
View Comments
What markets is this being developed for?
Sadly, it won't be the Ranger of old. Why didn't Ford continue with the Ranger and redesign it and upgrade it? Instead the quit making the Ranger and a few years later come out with a large midsize expensive pickup.