Ranger Update

dixie_boysles · #1 01-20-2010, 11:15 AM

I was on CarDomain, on their blog page, they had an interview with J Mays who is Global Executive Vice President for Design at Ford. He had this to say about the Ranger at the NAIAS:

Quote:

Originally Posted by J Mays 1/19/10

Once again, any hope of a new Ranger was dashed: “the market isn’t here for it. Even the smallest trucks, like Tacoma, are getting close to full-size. And smaller SUVs and CUVs are nearly as big as a Ranger. Small trucks have basically been squeezed out of the market.” Mays seemed to chide us for our mini-truck love. “It won’t work. No matter how you slice it.” Can’t blame us for trying!

Link: http://blog.cardomain.com/2010/01/19...uff-is-coming/

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Last year on January 15, 2009 he had this to say at the same place interviewed by the same guys:

Quote:

Originally Posted by J Mays 1/15/09

So then to follow up on some of your feedback, I asked him about the Ranger. Mays said that Ford has not abandoned the Ranger, that they are in fact working on a new one, and that Ranger fans “will not be disappointed.” Bronco fans will be disappointed, though, cause according to Mays the Bronco isn’t gonna happen any time soon. Sorry guys

Link: http://blog.cardomain.com/2009/01/12...n-with-j-mays/

A TOTAL backtrack! This is bullshit! I've seen articles everywhere like the one on pickuptrucks.co and such, but this is coming right out of the horse's mouth!

Tom · #2 01-20-2010, 11:41 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by dixie_boysles

A TOTAL backtrack! This is bullshit! I've seen articles everywhere like the one on pickuptrucks.co and such, but this is coming right out of the horse's mouth!

No it's not, you need to understand the context and source of what is being said.

There are only two thing being said:
1) Ranger design is outdated
2) Ford is working on a new Ranger

The guy who is saying the Ranger design is outdated is the VP of design. His job revolves exclusively around vehicle designs, so of course his opinion of the Ranger will be 100% focused on the design of the Ranger. The Ranger's success isn't due to it's design, but due to the fact that's it cheap and it's a fleet vehicle. I would be willing to bet that the VP of sales, VP of marketing, and VP of production, are all saying the exact opposite of what this guy says.

The fact that he says "Ford has not abandoned the Ranger, that they are in fact working on a new one" sounds good to me. But remember, a "new" Ranger is very much open to interpretation. It could mean a hybrid Ranger, a new model (such as how there is a "new" sports model), adding an option for four full doors, etc. etc. He doesn't say anything about a total revamp.

I'm going to go ahead and label this article as pure speculation.

dixie_boysles · #3 01-20-2010, 11:49 AM

He said those things above in the article last year. This year he is saying:

Quote:

Originally Posted by J Mays

Once again, any hope of a new Ranger was dashed: “the market isn’t here for it. Even the smallest trucks, like Tacoma, are getting close to full-size. And smaller SUVs and CUVs are nearly as big as a Ranger. Small trucks have basically been squeezed out of the market.” Mays seemed to chide us for our mini-truck love. “It won’t work. No matter how you slice it.” Can’t blame us for trying!

Everything you mentioned Tom was from last years article...

Tom · #4 01-20-2010, 11:59 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by dixie_boysles

He said those things above in the article last year. This year he is saying:

Everything you mentioned Tom was from last years article...

Sounds like he is just saying that Ford isn't going to re-design the Ranger or come out with whatever "new" Ranger the designers were working on. The designer probably got a talking to from all the other departments since a larger design most likely wouldn't be economical for Ford anyways (as I mentioned in my previous post). Doesn't sound like a big deal to me...

surfer03133 · #5 01-20-2010, 12:02 PM

i dunno scott, VW is releasing a new compact truck, albeit not in the US, and theres also that new company that only makes trucks that get better than like 30 mpg, so i think there is still a market for these trucks. the transit just won best truck of 2010, even though its a Van..lol. and that is the same exact size as the ranger, basically a ranger with a van body. i've seen those transits around everywhere now. i think ford is still working on a new ranger, they are probably stuck on which type of power plant to put in it though, because new CAFE standards were put in place that will effect a new ranger, but its anyones guess, they were trying to get a new bronco through for a couple years and that just evaporated so who knows!
i say we just let ford be ford and in 3 years we'll know what the fate of the ranger is..

Jay FX4 · #6 01-23-2010, 05:25 AM

The Colorado/Canyon are getting axed, too.

TerrenceStuart · #7 01-24-2010, 11:59 PM

as sad as it sounds and I really thought i'd never say it, but when it's time for me to get a new truck, i will most likely go with a Toyota tacoma or whatever they have that suits my needs at the time.

Brutus318 · #8 01-28-2010, 06:57 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jay FX4

The Colorado/Canyon are getting axed, too.

There's a perfectly good reason for that... Have you seen 'em? And I hear that the actual mileage ain't what they claim it is, if you care about that kind of thing.