Ford Maverick Spy Shots Confirm Name Of Small Blue Oval Pickup

It’s been assumed for some time now that Ford’s forthcoming compact pickup will dust off an old model name – Maverick – and reuse it. But while we’ve seen one spy shot of what is purported to be the Maverick’s tailgate detached from the vehicle itself, we haven’t received any other sort of confirmation that this is true. However, these new Ford Maverick spy shots clearly prove that the Maverick will indeed be called the Maverick.

Ford’s Maverick prototypes are still covered in heavy camo, but in these new shots, we can clearly see the letters “R,” “V,” and “VE” on the tailgate. The position of the letters also provides further confirmation of the Maverick name.

Despite The Blue Oval’s best efforts to conceal the identity of its forthcoming compact pickup, we’ve learned quite a bit about it through a host of Ford Maverick spy shots in recent weeks. That includes a side-by-side comparison with the Ford Ranger, a look at its sliding rear window, as Ford Authority exclusively reported, in addition to a fairly conventional suspension system.

The prototypes we’ve seen so far also have rather strange exhaust routing, but that could change when the pickup reaches production. We also recently caught the Maverick with all four of its doors in the open position, which reveals just how large they are.

The Maverick will share the same Ford C2 platform and styling details with the Ford Bronco Sport, though it will feature a spare tire located underneath the bed, while the Bronco Sport’s spare is positioned in the rear cargo area.

The Maverick is expected to be offered with either Ford’s 1.5L EcoBoost Dragon three-cylinder or an optional 2.0L EcoBoost inline-four, both of which are expected to be paired with FoMoCo’s new 8-speed automatic transmission. It’s currently unclear, but a naturally-aspirated four-cylinder is also a possibility. The compact pickup will come in front-wheel-drive configuration, but all-wheel-drive will also be available.

The Maverick will be offered as a four-door / Super Crew body style at launch. Production of the new model will take place at the Ford Hermosillo Assembly Plant in Mexico, which is also the birthplace of the new Bronco Sport. Expect a launch in mid-2021 as a 2022 model.

We’ll have much more on the new Maverick soon, so be sure and subscribe to Ford Authority for more Ford Maverick news and around-the-clock Ford news coverage.