10 Trucks & SUVs That Ford NEEDS (Back) In Its Showrooms!

Intro

The 2024 Ford truck and SUV lineup is loaded with outstanding products. From the recently redesigned Super Duty to the venerable F-150 and the Bronco Ford fans are spoiled for choice. But things can always be better, right? We put our thinking caps (and wishing caps) on and came up with a list of ten trucks and SUVs that we would love to see Ford build. Some may be more of a stretch than others, but none of them are completely out of the realm of reality. We are not asking for flying Broncos here. Would you be interested any of the vehicles in our list?

10. Bronco Platinum with a Fixed Roof

The new Bronco has been a most welcome addition to the Ford lineup in recent years. We love the rig and the many configurations that are available. But we would like to see Ford add another one. And that would be a Bronco Platinum with a fixed roof. You can already get several Platinum trim Ford models including the Super Duty, F-150, and Expedition. So, why not a Bronco? The Heritage Limited Edition is close, but there may be folks out there that would like even more luxury with their Bronco experience. Give this model a fixed roof which will add to the refinement level and give more of a Toyota Land Cruiser or Land Rover Defender feel.  Pack it with ventilated seats, more soft touch plastics and leather, make this model more of a lux off-roader.

9. Bronco Sport ST

We would love to see Ford inject a little more sport into the Bronco Sport. Take the 335 horsepower 2.7L EcoBoost from the Edge ST and put it in the Bronco Sport. Add some upsized brakes with red calipers, peeking behind 21-inch black wheels that are wrapped in performance tires. Lower the suspension a bit, give the front seats some aggressive bolstering to hold the driver and front passenger in place. That could be a really fun take on the Bronco Sport.

8. F-150 Flareside

It has been about 15 years since Ford offered a Flareside option. We miss it. It might not be as practical as a traditional bed, but folks are often OK with sacrificing some practicality for a dose of style. We think a 2024 F-150 Flareside truck would look amazing.

7. V8 F-150 Raptor (Not a Raptor R)

The first-generation F-150 Raptor really came into its own when the 6.2L V8 became available. When we lost it with the second generation it felt like something was always missing. We finally got the V8 again with the incredible Raptor R. But the Raptor R is more than $30K more than the already expensive standard Raptor. Can we get a V8 engine back in the standard Raptor again? Even if is it a $10K option, that puts out say 550 horsepower, it would be wildly popular.

6. 2-Door Bronco Raptor

Other Bronco models are available as 2-doors, why not offer that in the top shelf Raptor model? A shorter wheelbase and less weight would make the Bronco Raptor even more entertaining. The off-road race ready Bronco DR only has two doors, so why not the Raptor? Plus, we think it would just look cool.

5. Expedition ST (Expedition R?)

Give the big Expedition big power. How about stuffing the Raptor R 5.2L V8 under the hood? Does that sound a little crazy? Yes. But sometimes a little crazy can be good. Cadillac has the silly expensive and powerful Escalade-V. Ford could counter that with a 700+ horsepower Expedition ST. The Expedition sometimes gets a bit lost in the Ford lineup. An over-the-top powerful version could put the spotlight back on the model line.  

4. More Regular Cab Options

The pickup truck has evolved from a work implement into a family hauler for many people. With that the number of doors has become more important than the length of the bed in many cases. But aside from bed length we like having the option of a traditional 2-door truck. In the F-150 line it is only available on the XL trim. Can we get a Lariat or Platinum F-150 or Super Duty in a regular cab configuration? The Maverick and Ranger trucks don’t have any regular cab options regardless of trim level. It would be nice to see more regular cab options in the Ford truck lineup.

3. Ranger MS-RT

Ford Europe announced last month a Ranger MS-RT model that looks like it would be a great little street performance truck. It has a lower suspension, wide tires, and distinctive looks. The only problem is it is not going to be sold in America. We would love to see a Ranger MS-RT on American roads. All we ask is that Ford swap out the 3.0L diesel V6 in favor of the 3.0L EcoBoost V6 from the Ranger Raptor. (Or dare we say 5.0 Coyote V8 or a 3.5L EcoBoost???)

2. Bronco V8

Even the $90K Bronco Raptor doesn’t pack V8 power. The Bronco DR had a Coyote V8 engine, but that was limited to just 50 units and cost about a quarter of a million dollars. We are not asking for anything that outrageous. We don’t need the V8 Bronco to be a Baja racer. Drop in the Coyote V8 from the F-150 into any of the Badlands and higher trims and even if the option cost $5,000, we think that plenty of people would gladly go for it.  

1. A Factory V8-powered F-150 Lightning

Ford, please give us a ‘real’ F-150 Lightning again. The new EV version is fine for what it is, but it is not what we think of when we hear Ford Lightning. We are thinking of a fire breathing V8 performance truck.

Yes, the FP700 packages exist and can be installed by dealerships along with other Ford Performance or 3rd party parts. But even Ford Performance gear is technically aftermarket and you still only have a base XL truck. We want a factory-made, showroom-ready regular cab Lightning successor with a lowered suspension, wide tires, and an interior that is on par with the Lariat or higher. Ford would not be able to build these fast enough. We know the world is going EV and hybrid, so can we have one last shot at V8 greatness? Ford needs to build this truck for us.

Images: Ford