The Ford Ranger will finally return to the United States early next year and a new report is claiming it could eventually be followed by an even smaller pickup.
According to Automobile Magazine, Ford is working on a replacement for the Fiesta-based Courier pickup that used to be built in Brazil. The new model is expected to be larger than its predecessor and sources have told the publication the truck will be based on same platform that underpins the redesigned Focus.
Little else is known about the model, but the magazine says Ford is considering offering the pickup in the United States. The report also implies the truck could come to Europe as well.
Ford Courier
Since trucks imported into the United States face the infamous chicken tax, the report suggests the model could be built at Ford’s plant in Cuautitlan, Mexico. If this were to happen, the model would fall under the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA) and wouldn’t be subject to a 25 percent tariff on imported trucks.
If everything works out, the Focus-based pickup could arrive by 2022. However, that’s far from certain at this point as Ford is only considering the idea and the company is reportedly keeping a close eye on the policies of the Trump administration.
While there could be some demand for a small car-based pickup, previous models haven’t done well in the United States. Assuming the report is correct, the truck could very well be a modern day version of the ill-fated Subaru Baja. That particular model went into production in 2002, but the truck was quickly dropped as US sales peaked at 10,694 units in 2003.
