New Ford F-100?

[fordboy]

I have heard that Ford is stopping the production of the Rangers in 2010 or 2011, and bringing the F-100's back.

Anybody else heard this?

 
(I should know, I am a ford man)

[Trainman]

A quick google search got these:

http://consumerguideauto.howstuffworks.com/2011-ford-f-100.htm

http://www.autoblog.com/2008/06/02/ford-planning-f100-and-global-ranger-replacement/

http://www.pickuptrucks.com/html/2011/ford/f100/rumors/is-ford-thinking-smaller-with-a-new-f-100-pickup-based-on-f-150.html

http://jalopnik.com/389430/ford-f+100-coming-in-2011

[tpl]

I saw in one of those links that the F100 will be  9/10 size of the F150. I'm no truck person but shouldn't it be a bit smaller than that?  F150s seem to be really enormous nowadays.

e.g.    make a bed 49" * 100"   and then add a 2 person cab fronted with the smallest possible hood on the front. Then put a solid 2.x litre 4  under that hood with a turbo for the more powerful version ( ecoboost)    The simplest possible AWD powertrains underneath ( like an Audi A4 but without the independent rear end for cheapness)    Maybe a transverse 4 cyl with a Haldex driving the rear wheels would be cheaper somewhat like a Fusion AWD

Would that not end up only 75% the size of an F150 and with good economy as well?

[Squishy]

I did hear the Rangers were being stopped, but didn't know about the F-100.  9/10 doesn't seem much smaller at all.

[kardood69]

http://www.motortrend.com/features/auto_news/2009/112_0901_ford_f_100/index.html

Sounds like it could be dead?

[G0dspd]

There were rumors last year that Ford may introduce the F-100. (Notice that most of link in this thread are dated May 2008)  When the economy went in the crapper, Ford canceled the project and concentrated on the F-150.  The F-100 might have worked a few years back, but these days, I don't think Ford wants to take any sales away from there beloved F-150. (still the best selling truck ... meh)

In the last few months, a Ranger replacement has been spotted.  It's a brand new truck and it has nothing to do with the "newer" Ranger sold in Asia.

http://news.pickuptrucks.com/2009/05/spied-again-future-ford-ranger.html

[PJungnitsch]

Sounds like Ford is sticking with the 'One Ford' plan, instead of selling one Ranger here and another one everywhere else, they are just engineering one truck for all.

[maritime_storm]

If it were my choice I'd import the Australian version of the Ranger, diesel drivetrain and all. But it's not my choice to make.....

[madjak30]

I remember reading about the F-100 last year...largest engine choice was to be the ecoboost V6...but I also heard that it was cancelled due to the current state of the economy...they already have that sized truck with the Explorer Sport Trac...

Even the Dakota is supposed to be replaced with  smaller version...right now it is not quite big enough, and not really that efficient...I guess they are going the efficient route with a "life style" truck and hoping that the current buyers of the Dakota will move up to the Ram...

[maritime_storm]

What they were proposing as an F100 was a unibody pick-up similar to the Honda Ridgeline. Ford dodled just enough to find out what Honda didn't realize when they built the Ridgeline, if you use a unibody pickup for any amount of work, the chassis flex causes the box to a create a crease at the back of the cab. Ford then scrapped the original F100 idea and is now going ahead for 2012 MY F100 based on the Australian T6 platform(new body on frame)that has been in use for couple years now, as a world model. Unfortunately for us they are leaving the aw creating diesel powerhouses in Australia(8000 lbs towing capacity 40IMPG) and offering(as it is currently rumoured) 2 ECOBOOST engines and I4(1.8L or 2.0L depending on rumour) and 3.5L V-6(ala Taurus SHO). The new truck will be 9/10ths the size of the new F150 due out around the same time. The 2 spied mules don't inspire much for styling(think Nissan Frontier), however should be an improvement in terms of fuel economy, ergonomics and flexibilty over the current model. My hope is that Ford also builds them as rock solid as the Ranger in terms reliability and durability.

[tpl]

Don't get this  90-95% the size of an F150 thing. Surely a new truck needs to be smaller than an F150 by a much bigger margin... the same ratio as the current ranger is to the current F150.

I agree about body on frame for a real working truck. So  put a 4 cyl engine ( gas*** or diesel) as inclined as possible under the cab floor, in between the frame rails, of a forward control cab to make the vehicle as short as possible, driving the rear wheels. Add a bed that can take 4*8 sheets lying flat, which might well be wider than the cab.  Ideally make the sides of the bed fold down as well as the tailgate.  Aim for a 0-60 with a 2000 lb load of about 16 seconds and an unloaded economy of 8.5-9.0 l/100 city so that would probably be a 2 litre 4 of which there are plenty around to modify for this application.

This would look like earlier VW pickups and some Toyotas not sold in NA.

*** the spark plugs should be ON TOP and the oil filter and drain accessible without using a jack.  Make a 5 spd manual available and a rugged and simple as possible 5 spd auto.

Sell for well under $20K

[canuck_driver]

Twin Cities Assembly should be done soon if Ford sticks to their restructuring plan. Just wondering if anyone has heard where the next Ranger will be built?

Thanks