How about just a newer version of the old Ranger FX4-Level II? The most powerful engine offered in the standard Ranger combined with off-road suspension, skid plates, fancy wheels, beefier rear axle, and bucket seats. Also gotta have the "twin-stick" option!
Ford could then apply the same philosophy to the Bronco for an off-road special of that one.

 

It'd be nice to have a special edition Ranger with a 5.0.

The perfect stock race truck...

 

Just for kicks I went on GMC's website to price out a Canyon the way I would want it. A mid-level Canyon (not SLE or anything) Extended cab, with V6/4x4 came to $34k. Maybe just because I'm a self-proclaimed tightwad, but that still sounds a bit expensive for me. For that much you can get a new F-150 XLT supercab, after some incentives of course. And the '150 would have a useable back seat! Ever seen the back seat in a Colorado/Canyon Extended cab? It's more cramped then the folding jumpseats in my old Ranger's! Too small for even a large dog.

 

The problem is there are no incentives, rebates or cash-back offers on the Colorado/Canyon trucks. I was shopping two years ago for a new truck and came to the same conclusion. An F150 with MSRP of $44k could be bought for $34k, same price, lower actually, than the Colorados I was looking at. So that's what I did.

As for the new Ranger, I will wait and see what Ford offers, I might be ready to buy in 2021-22. If it's a 7/8 size truck like the Colorados and Canyons, there's not much incentive to buy it. V8 or 2.7L Eco sound cool but I don't see such powerplants offered in a Ranger, they would need the big transmission and drivetrain to handle those engines and would overlap too much with the F150. I could be wrong. The 2.7L eco in my F150 is pretty awesome, in a Ranger the size of my 2002 would be insane.

 

We're right there with you and our fingers are crossed! Would love to see a 5.0 or 4.8 in the Ranger.

 

I'd take that!

Engine choices should be interesting... The next F150 gets a V6, two EcoBoost V6's, the 5.0L Coyote, or a mini Power Stroke!!! I honestly dont see the need for three V6 options...

I hope the next Ranger and Bronco have reasonable engine choices, but NOT, I repeat NOT multiple V6 options.

 

I saw a new Ford Ranger on the road in Texas today. It had Mexican license plates, so it must have been someone on vacation who brought the truck.

My initial impression was........ I wish it was a little bigger.

 

The Colorado/Canyon trucks are almost full size. I wonder if this truck will be the size of the Dakota before it was dropped? Hope the Ranger will do well against the Wrangler truck.

 

Or The Rangster!

 

Is the new Ranger going to be a Compact Truck or mid-size? That link speaks of mid-size.

I see similar here where the author states new Compact Truck and the hyperlink takes the ride to language about a mid-size truck.

Ford to Invest $850 Million to Build New Ranger, Bronco - PickupTrucks.com News

 

I think i found the answer to my question if this US Ranger is like the UK Ranger.

The curb weight for the XL single cab 4x2 is 4168lbs. That's not a compact pickup.

Curb weight for the Mexico market 2017 Nissan NP300 single cab is 3400lbs as i recall.

 

How do you define compact vs. midsize? If weight is the factor, you will probably never see another for sale in the domestic market. Modern cars and trucks are expected to do a LOT more than they were 20 years ago. Quieter, better fit and finish, more tech gizmos, SAFER, and better performing. Lots of vehicles sold in Mexico could never be legally sold here.

Crash Test Of Mexican And U.S. Nissans Shows The Impact Of Fewer Airbags : Goats and Soda : NPR

My '14 Escape weighs over 4,000 lbs, and it's built on the same platform the Focus is. It's also substantially safer and more comfortable than the model introduced 17 years ago, even though it's a bit smaller overall. I wouldn't want to have a wreck in the old model, and I sure as heck wouldn't want to be anywhere near an accident in that Nissan NP300.

ON edit: And on that point, just to clarify, the '15 Nissan Tsuru is a rebadged previous-generation Sentra that weighs 2,200 lbs dry. The Versa it hit in the crash test linked above is about 200 lbs more, but significantly smaller. Watch the video and think of which one you'd rather be in.

 

I'm all for safety but do we need a dozen airbags for each passenger? Do we really need inflatable seat belts? Do we really need cameras on every corner of the truck? Simple answer: don't wreck! I