Thanks in large part to consumer demand, Ford this week said it’s officially bringing back the Bronco and Ranger. The automaker unveiled the news at the North American International Auto Show in Detroit, along with some details about what to expect.
“We’ve heard our customers loud and clear,” said Ford’s Joe Hinrichs, president of The Americas. “They want a new generation of vehicles that are incredibly capable yet fun to drive. Ranger is for truck buyers who want an affordable, functional, rugged and maneuverable pickup that’s Built Ford Tough. Bronco will be a no-compromise midsize 4×4 utility for thrill seekers who want to venture way beyond the city.”
The Bronco and Ranger are two of Ford’s most beloved vehicles. Few cars beat the look and ruggedness of an old Bronco, especially when it has been restored. Unfortunately, consumers who don’t know any better may associate the vehicle with an infamous car chase rather than for being one of the industry’s coolest SUVs.
Just look at that photo below.
The Ranger, meanwhile, will be all-new and “tailored to the needs of North American customers with unique front styling, engines and features,” according to Mike Levine, Ford product communications manager for North America.”
Technically, the Ranger never went away and is sold in some markets around the world. However, those models won’t inform the version Ford brings to the U.S., as Levine said.
It’ll be a while before they debut
While Ford announced intentions on releasing these vehicles, don’t expect them to hit anytime soon. In fact, Ford said the Ranger won’t hit its North American vehicle lineup until 2019, while the Bronco isn’t expected to be released as part of its global portfolio until 2020.
No concepts or renders were officially released by Ford though there have been some renders of the Bronco floating around. We’ll have more as we learn details.