Ford CEO Touts New U.S.-Built 'Affordable' ICE-Powered Truck at Trump Factory Visit

[Sherminator98]

A proper thread to discus this now 😂 

 

https://www.roadandtrack.com/news/a69990477/ford-new-us-built-affordable-internal-combustion-pickup-truck-president-trump-factory-visit/

[twintornados]

So, will CE1 beget a CG1 variant? 

[T-dubz]

Is there room for another ICE truck? Seems to me like ford has covered all the bases with compact, mid size and full size models already. 

[Texasota]

A single cab sport truck named Ranchero. It would not overlap existing truck models like a Bronco truck would. Built off of the Maverick platform with a 6’ bed, hybrid options and Pro Power Onboard. This would be consistent with Farley’s “a different kind of truck “ comment. 
 

It could be very affordable and appeal to the younger buyers.

Edited January 15 by Texasota

[Motorpsychology]

1 minute ago, T-dubz said:

Is there room for another ICE truck? Seems to me like ford has covered all the bases with compact, mid size and full size models already. 

Kei trucklets  are on the horizon, maybe Ford can cobble up a CE-0.5 platform. DJT likes them, too.

 

[T-dubz]

18 minutes ago, Motorpsychology said:

Kei trucklets  are on the horizon, maybe Ford can cobble up a CE-0.5 platform. DJT likes them, too.

 

While it’s not a kei car, I think something like the Toyota hilux champ could do well. I think they start around 10-13k. The one in the picture below probably costs way more than that though.

 

[DeluxeStang]

35 minutes ago, Texasota said:

A single cab sport truck named Ranchero. It would not overlap existing truck models like a Bronco truck would. Built off of the Maverick platform with a 6’ bed, hybrid options and Pro Power Onboard. This would be consistent with Farley’s “a different kind of truck “ comment. 
 

It could be very affordable and appeal to the younger buyers.

That's what I would buy. The only type of 2 door truck that makes sense imo is a sporty ute that looks like a mustang with a bed. Cab pass thrus have made long bed 2 door trucks irrelevant for people who just wanna haul stuff imo. 

[morgan20]

47 minutes ago, T-dubz said:

Is there room for another ICE truck? Seems to me like ford has covered all the bases with compact, mid size and full size models already. 

 

There's always room for another truck in the Ford vehicle lineup. 😃 Trucks are Ford's biggest strength.

 

However, while adding another ICE truck is fine and dandy, Ford's focus (haha) should be on getting its CE1 electric truck to market on time, in high volume, with high quality. And bringing F-150 Lightning back to life. 

[T-dubz]

3 minutes ago, DeluxeStang said:

That's what I would buy. The only type of 2 door truck that makes sense imo is a sporty ute that looks like a mustang with a bed. Cab pass thrus have made long bed 2 door trucks irrelevant for people who just wanna haul stuff imo. 

I could be wrong, but imo there is only a very small segment of people who want a ute like vehicle that you and texasota are describing. No one is buying single cabs anymore. The more car-like design of the Hyundai Santa Cruz doesn’t sell nearly as well as the Maverick does. Vehicles need to be multipurpose these days and a single cab rules out families. I also think utes just look strange, as do long beds. Sport trucks are historically more expensive too, as I am sure a Mustang inspired truck would be too. Now, I do think you could get away with Mustang design cues on a truck. Here’s a photoshop of a Mustang front end on a raptor that doesn’t look half bad

 

[Texasota]

1 hour ago, Motorpsychology said:

Kei trucklets  are on the horizon, maybe Ford can cobble up a CE-0.5 platform. DJT likes them, too.

 

Yes, a platform and manufacturing process based on ce1 elements makes total sense given the 2029 time frame. It could result in a ~25k price. 

[Texasota]

1 hour ago, T-dubz said:

While it’s not a kei car, I think something like the Toyota hilux champ could do well. I think they start around 10-13k. The one in the picture below probably costs way more than that though.

 

That doesn’t look like a Ranchero!  😁

[rmc523]

As I posted in the other thread....

 

It's not laughing out of the building as much as it's questioning the market for a 2-door truck.  I don't see that having much appeal, since 2-doors have largely gone the way of the dodo outside of a few vehicles.

 

To overcome that, it'll have to be ridiculously cheap, and I'm skeptical that they'll want to charge that little.

 

You'll also inevitably have some cannibalization of Maverick from something cheaper (i.e. people buying a base Maverick because it's cheap may instead go for this other product because it's cheaper).

 

I see something like the midgate idea on a crew cab making more sense because you'll get the best of both worlds (more bed capacity, ability for 5 people as needed), but that's just a next-gen Maverick with that capability built in.

 

I'm just skeptical that "different kind of truck" could just be Ford speak in the same way we got "all new" current gen Expedition or Mustang, which reused much of the same body and interior on the former and latter.

[Bob Rosadini]

Seems to me, if they are not doing an electric, and if objective is to build a cost leader, what is the point of adding another ICE truck.  I'm all for ICE but from a market objective, what is the point?  What market does the present slate NOT address?

I'm thinking, who needs a bare bones single cab truck?  Parts houses? Advance Auto, Auto Zone, and a big regional parts house next to my town each have 2 or 3 parts "runners".  Canyons, Transit Connects etc.   Why not offer a rear seat delete option on Maverick?  Done deal.

Appears to me idea of another truck is a knee jerk reaction to utilize another plant that is perhaps too far along to cancel or just delay.

[rmc523]

1 minute ago, Bob Rosadini said:

Seems to me, if they are not doing an electric, and if objective is to build a cost leader, what is the point of adding another ICE truck.  I'm all for ICE but from a market objective, what is the point?  What market does the present slate NOT address?

I'm thinking, who needs a bare bones single cab truck?  Parts houses? Advance Auto, Auto Zone, and a big regional parts house next to my town each have 2 or 3 parts "runners".  Canyons, Transit Connects etc.   Why not offer a rear seat delete option on Maverick?  Done deal.

Appears to me idea of another truck is a knee jerk reaction to utilize another plant that is perhaps too far along to cancel or just delay.

 

They are doing an electric truck, just a small one, and not the F-150 T3 one.

 

Otherwise, I'd agree with your points here.

[akirby]

29 minutes ago, Bob Rosadini said:

Seems to me, if they are not doing an electric, and if objective is to build a cost leader, what is the point of adding another ICE truck.  I'm all for ICE but from a market objective, what is the point?  What market does the present slate NOT address?

I'm thinking, who needs a bare bones single cab truck?  Parts houses? Advance Auto, Auto Zone, and a big regional parts house next to my town each have 2 or 3 parts "runners".  Canyons, Transit Connects etc.   Why not offer a rear seat delete option on Maverick?  Done deal.

Appears to me idea of another truck is a knee jerk reaction to utilize another plant that is perhaps too far along to cancel or just delay.

I don't think this is market driven as much as it represents a truck that can be manufactured cheaper and sold cheaper and therefore return a much higher profit margin with decent volume.

[Texasota]

Ranchero's and El Camino's were popular in the 60's and 70's (Ford built the Ranchero for 20 years) but I think they largely appealed to the younger demographic. If Ford could build a small sport truck that looks cool, is fun to drive and is irresistibly affordable, then I can see it being successful. I can also see owners upgrading from it to a Maverick, CE1 pickup (or even a Ranger) as their needs change (e.g. starting families). It might prove to be another conquest vehicle like Maverick has proven itself to be but at an even lower price point.

 

I think this is going to be fun to watch and see what Ford comes up with. The convergence of an "affordable ICE truck", "a different kind of truck", and the resurrection of the Ranchero trademark is very interesting to me.

Edited January 15 by Texasota

[danglin]

I suppose you could say this is a similar strategy that several other manufacturers have with their multiple SUV offerings. Ford is just going to do it with Trucks! 

Edited January 16 by danglin

[T-dubz]

Something that hasn’t been mentioned yet, but definitely fits the description of a ”different kind of truck” would be a sport trac type vehicle. I would be interested in something like that if it were ever to return. 

[HotRunrGuy]

1 hour ago, T-dubz said:

Something that hasn’t been mentioned yet, but definitely fits the description of a ”different kind of truck” would be a sport trac type vehicle. I would be interested in something like that if it were ever to return. 

 

Why?  IMO the Sport Trac was just an over-priced 4-door Ranger, not sure what you think the Explorer brought to the picture?

 

HRG

[akirby]

1 minute ago, HotRunrGuy said:

 

Why?  IMO the Sport Trac was just an over-priced 4-door Ranger, not sure what you think the Explorer brought to the picture?

 

HRG

Exactly.  Sport Trac was a 4 door Ranger.

[Sherminator98]

2 minutes ago, HotRunrGuy said:

Why?  IMO the Sport Trac was just an over-priced 4-door Ranger, not sure what you think the Explorer brought to the picture?

 

IMO the Sport Trac was a better vehicle for every day driving vs the more primitive Ranger of the era. 

[jpd80]

A modern Explorer Sport Trac done on CD6?

Or,

 

An “F100” using modified Ranger Frame with F Series alloy body?

Edited January 16 by jpd80

[akirby]

6 minutes ago, Sherminator98 said:

 

IMO the Sport Trac was a better vehicle for every day driving vs the more primitive Ranger of the era. 

Because it had 4 doors and more weight and more amenities.  Underneath ranger and explorer were almost identical.  

[Texasota]

5 minutes ago, jpd80 said:

A modern Explorer Sport Trac done on CD6?

Or,

 

An “F100” using modified Ranger Frame with F Series alloy body?

But would those do justice to the "affordable ICE truck" and "different kind of truck" statements from Ford and Farley?

Edited January 16 by Texasota

[Sherminator98]

1 hour ago, akirby said:

Because it had 4 doors and more weight and more amenities.  Underneath ranger and explorer were almost identical.  

 

The first gen Sport Trac was based on the Second Gen Explorer platform and the second gen Sport Track was a completely different animal because it had a 4.6L in it that the Ranger never offered. I want to say that the post 2002 Explorer and 2007 Sport Trac had IRS also?

 

The Ranger more or less had no updates post 1993 outside of some sheet metal or a new I4 in it.