I like that. You mentioned having more truck like styling which could help boost the appeal. The truck scout put out is one of the best looking mid-sized trucks imo, so something with styling in that direction could be nice. Would a unibody construction limit them when it came to off-roading though? They might have to get creative with the marketing as well to really push the idea that a unibody truck can be as rugged and capable as the most traditional BoF trucks. 

I think a Bronco pickup should be based on the RANGER Super Duty. It would be more capable than the current Ranger and wouldn't steal sales from the F150.  https://media.ford.com/content/fordmedia/img/au/en/news/2025/04/04/ford-ranger-super-duty-designed-for-work.html  

Maverick is exactly what Ford USA wanted the global Ranger to be way back in 2006 at the kick off to T6 project. That impasse is why Ford US dropped all interest in T6 Ranger as a 2011 replacement. Maverick works because it addresses that buyer below a mid sized BOF pickup, it still has enough room to satisfy compact buyers but also superior fuel economy.       Just remember that Ranger global sales are around 386K (2024) so as the international vehicle, it and Everest are hitting profit targets.   Whatever Ford US is doing with Ranger, it’s clear that Tacoma is running away with sales.

You can keep Maverick's styling but on a new cheaper platform and make a different top hat with bolder more truck like styling with more power,payload and towing to replace Ranger.

Well, I consider myself as a "typical truck buyer" since I had previously owned a 2005 F150 and a 1996 F150 prior to that....after buying my Maverick, I sold the 2005 since I drove it very rarely and I am of the stripe that if you are not using it regularly, whats the point?    I have a hunch a "great reset" is coming for 1/2 ton trucks similar to when Ford restyled the F-Series line from 73-79 to 80-86 version....the 1980 was trimmer and slightly downsized from the prior gen....I think that is coming again soon. 

Pretty much.  I think you can keep Maverick styling as a street truck but have a more aggressive design for more hardcore truck buyers.

I was going to say this - I think Maverick's form factor works because it's appealing to alternate customers than your typical truck buyer.

I thought the same.  But it's Ford, so who knows how many times they've changed their mind lol.   So based on the chart below, Ford's level 3 still makes sense - pedals and wheels still there, and driver could take over if needed.   Level 4 and 5 take it a step further (i.e. driverless).    

You'll probably say "Well the maverick is unibody and it's been really successful" and you're right. But I believe a huge part of the mavericks success is it's not really trying to appeal to existing truck buyers. I came from a sedan into a maverick hybrid, it seems like that's the case with the majority of maverick owners.    Everything traditional truck guys hate about the maverick, I love. The small size, the hybrid system, the unibody construction, I wanted something that was less like a truck, and more like a car with a bed, and the maverick is perfect for that.    Would I like what you're describing? A ranger sized, affordable unibody truck? Yeah, because I feel like unibody is superior in 90% of scenarios, and I hate the mindset of rejecting something better for the sake of tradition. But a lot of truck loyalists feel differently than I, they feel like they need that body on frame, and that rugged stance on order to even consider buying one. So I think Ford would have to get creative if that was the route they were gonna go. I don't know how many people would be drawn to a Ford take on the ridgeline but more affordable. 

Nobody has a Level 5 self driving system ready for mass produced cars as of now. Eyes-Off Self-Driving available now, like Waymo robotaxis, are Level 4.   Why are the Ford big shots pursuing Level 3 at all?    Swapping control of the vehicle between the human driver and the Level 3 system renders Level 3 the most dangerous of the SAE International autonomy levels. As a species, humans can be irresponsible and sometimes lazy. Level 3 demands drivers remain alert and mentally prepared to retake control at a moment’s notice. Every second counts in emergency situations; therefore, the time it takes for the driver to respond to an alert to retake control could prove fatal. There have been several reported accidents caused by humans mismanaging a Level 2 system because they placed too much confidence in its capabilities. Level 3 will initiate even more unfounded confidence in humans always on the hunt to make things easier.