...here is a Reddit user who claims to be on the Bronco/Ranger design team, and is/was leaking information about the next Ranger and Bronco. I don't know if he really is what he says he is, but from some of the info he provided, he sure sound real to me.

https://www.reddit.com/r/fordranger/...mpany_product/

 

Read a good portion of it. Can't decide if it is an interior/exterior engineer or not...as usually the F150 and Super Duty ones do come on here and do AMA here. Regardless, appears the Bronco will be a rebadged Everest, 4 door only with interior and exterior changes for North America. Some sort of EcoBoost is in the mix, but won't know until Auto Show in Detroit. Possibility of diesel powertrain, but they are watching VW diesegate and FCA's fiasco too see what happens. 2 door SUV is kind of dead in North America, exception the handful of Wranglers sold. Possible FX4 off road options.

Far as the Ranger goes, Extended cab and crew cab configurations only because of the lack of sales numbers for standard cabs. Manual transmission maybe an option but only in a 2wd stripped down version and depends on sales figures with Colorado's with them. Similar size to the 1997-2003 F150...or 3" wider than the 2011 Rangers. Cost point should start less than same year F150. FX4 possibly.

 

I thought I had read back in February that this guy said he was part of assembling chassis components for the test mules, or something to that effect.

What this guy says completely contradicts what this Ford Rep apparently said:

https://www.ford-trucks.com/forums/1...r-everest.html

Either one of them was misinformed (or outright lying) or they are both wrong, and is two-or-four door optional like the Wrangler (not likely).

 

Unfortunately unless the person can give proof that they are a Ford employee, I honestly cannot trust what is said. Frantz maybe right but it's also hearsay so it won't hold much weight either. I agree though they both contradict. The two says it's limited production and the supposed designer says it'll be multiple trims and made it sound like mass produced and not limited. The "designer" claimed that unless they sell well, they won't do any radical designs to them. I'd rather wait until the Ranger and Bronco are shown off at the Detroit Auto Show rather try to go off of what a redditor says. It leads to speculation and over hyping, leading for disappointment and possible failure.

 

I think the Reddit post is right on. The "Ford Rep" who made the quote in February, as I recall, sounded like he was a "suit" and not a development engineer. And Ford's landscape has shifted since February.

I believe we will get a restyled Everest wearing an outdoorsy costume, built in the Wayne, MI plant alongside the new Ranger, sharing as many parts as possible, especially from the front seat forward. Much like the 1978 Bronco was an F150 from the front doors forward. Ford can't afford development money for new chassis engineering--the Everest exists already.

Nobody except fleets is buying 2 door pickups any more and there is no mass market for 2-door SUV's--aside from the Wrangler, there are none even in the marketplace (or am I missing one?)

Especially with their recent corporate realignment (which took place far more recently than February), Ford CANNOT afford to lose money on any vehicle, new or old. They are desperately chasing sales and max profit. They are moving the Focus out of the Wayne plant to make way for the Ranger/Bronco because they can't make money on the Focus...

George

 

Whether they deliver a direct competitor to the Wrangler is debatable but I'm telling you and you guys see em all over as well (Wranglers) they'd sell mother load of the smaller sized Broncos with options such as removable top and doors. Factor in Fords superior engine options and they wouldn't be able to keep the shelves stocked. This Everest thing is beyond disappointing.

 

I do see Wranglers all over, but there are under 200k of them sold per year. Jeeps do tend to last a long time and live many lifetimes. Ford sells 300k+ Escapes per year, and there are a number of other small SUV's that sell way in excess of the Wrangler. Taking a piece of the Wrangler market is not gonna make Ford a lot of money for a newly developed vehicle.

Jeep sells more Cherokees (Fiat based transverse engine SUV) than Wranglers although I'm sure the profit margin on Wranglers is higher.

Here's the numbers on small SUV sales, and sales numbers is what Ford is chasing:

US sales 2016 Compact SUV segment - carsalesbase.com

And for reference, here are the mid-sized SUV sales (where the Bronco may end up), with the Explorer totally dominating at 250k per year, and the Grand Cherokee not that far behind and still outselling the Wrangler:

US sales 2016 Mid-sized SUV segment - carsalesbase.com

As passionate as most of us are about cars and trucks, Ford corporate has to play the "show me the money" game before they do anything else.

Remember what a flop the new 2-seat Thunderbird was even though they thought they were re-creating the 1955-57 2 seater.

George

 

So I'm taking that as it'll be a competitor of the Toyota 4runner... just seems with all the success of retro themed new vehicles out there a modern version of an icon would be a home run for Ford.

 

Looking at just a few of the sales details, it looks like the small SUV sales have flattened out.

I like the clean looks of the Escape but I certainly don't want the Bronco to like that. I was hoping for something a bit more old school and rustic but that's not in Ford's DNA. I'm out.

 

I think Ford has an opportunity in terms of customer loyalty and reputation to do way better than the 4Runner in terms of sales. I have driven recent 4Runners and they have severe limitations in terms of really lousy rear seat legroom and a useless 3rd row. The Highlander is a really good, highly rated crossover SUV, but Ford is selling more Explorers and Jeep sells more Grand Cherokees.

In terms of pickup sales, F series pickups are selling 800k per year where the Toyota Tundra is selling 100k per year (and the 4Runner is also right around that 100k mark). There is a sentiment that pickups are just supposed to be American, and as a Detroiter, I sure feel that way. The Wrangler, selling 200k per year, is a more logical *sales* target than the 4Runner but I don't think Ford can spend development money on a vehicle that will differ a lot from the Everest. Ford is consciously trying to shrink the number of world platforms that it uses.

So IMO the target would be a combination of the Wrangler, Grand Cherokee (unit body but still off-road cred), and 4Runner. And even the pre-2012 Explorer. Without cannibalizing the Explorer/Edge sales much. I would LIKE the new Bronco to have a unique retro look and with body panels, that would not be an impossibility. And a proper transfer case with a lock feature and hopefully a low range (and maybe also a full time AWD setting) would be great.

In terms of my old school esthetic, the Escape and Edge do not have the truck vibe that I like--they have short, low-profile tires and give up ground clearance for aerodynamics, etc. In comparison, the 2008-2012 Escape really looked much tougher IMO, with 225/75x16" tires...it had a better truck look--and function at least in terms of tires and belly clearance. And it was a more upright truck-looking body than the new Escape which is a swoopy car-looking design. I don't find it "clean" looking at all--I prefer the 08-12 Escape which IMO was "truck clean" looking, with prominent tall wheels and tires. It resembled the 2002-2010 Explorer more than a bit.

I'm still looking forward to the new Bronco and I am a potential buyer if they hit a sweet spot for me. I'm a long term truck guy (had a pickup or full size van from 1978 until 2016--so 38 years) and moved to a minivan in 2016 and it is not a truck. So a small "truck" would be something I want as a daily driver. I don't want a Wrangler. I kind of like the Grand Cherokee but don't really want another Chrysler product. Can't bring myself to spring for a 4Runner.

George