Would a New Ford Ranger Have an Aluminum Body?
We suspect that there is a new Ford Ranger coming. Ford has to do something with the capacity that they’re freeing up at the Michigan Assembly Plant by moving car production out. It seems logical to assume that a new Ford Ranger could fill that void. But will it be made out of aluminum like the bigger trucks?
It’s an interesting question, for sure. Ford has been touting for the past year the toughness that comes with having an aluminum body. There’s no need to have a steel truck when aluminum can do the work with less weight and similar overall cost.
But aluminum is expensive. Yes, Ford has worked out a solid production method that has dramatically lowered the cost of building the F-150 out of aluminum, but the Michigan Assembly Plant hasn’t been retrofitted with that technology. At least, they haven’t retrofitted that technology yet.
Building the body out of steel, with some choice aluminum components, is probably the most cost-effective way to bring the Ranger to market. But with the company so committed to aluminum, do you think they’ll go ahead and construct the entire Ranger body out of it?
What do you think? Let us know your thoughts over in the forums!
