Following on from the recent first of two reports which look at the next generation of Ford passenger vehicles, the focus now turns to the brand’s pick-ups, crossovers and SUVs.
Pick-ups
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Ford is claimed to be developing a Focus-based pick-up. Courier and Ranchero have been suggested as model names for this project (P758). The monocoque platform model would primarily be for markets in the Americas. Where production would take place is a mystery: Ford would need to spend heavily at the relevant factory as for now, the only plants which have been retooled to manufacture the Focus and its C2 architecture are in Germany and China. The most likely locations would be in Argentina, Mexico and Brazil, although technically there is no reason why build could not also or instead be at Saarlouis or Chongqing.
The next Ranger should use an evolution of the body-on-frame T6 architecture and again be built in Ford’s own plants in Thailand, Argentina, South Africa and the USA. Production, at Michigan Assembly (Wayne) was confirmed by Ford in January 2017. The closely related Bronco, an SUV, will also be built at this small city southwest of Detroit. Michigan Assembly occupies two square miles of the tiny six-square-mile city of Wayne.
Unlike the existing model, the future Ranger won’t be a joint venture with Mazda, following the July 2016 announcement by the Japanese company that it will instead have its next generation pick-up supplied by Isuzu.
The potential for a Raptor variant in Australia – the Ranger is the best selling Ford in that country – is understood to have persuaded Ford Motor Company to make such a vehicle part of the next Ranger line-up worldwide. The Raptor is expected to be offered with biturbo four-cylinder diesel and petrol V6 engines. It will be premium priced just as the F-150 Raptor is in North America and elsewhere. There are even rumours that Ford’s 3.0-litre V6 diesel as well as a petrol V8 could be offered.
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By GlobalDataFord and Volkswagen’s announced alliance for light commercial vehicles means that the second generation Amarok will likely be pushed back to 2022 or 2023. The original dates to 2009 so by then, it will be quite aged. The relevant part of Ford’s January 2019 media release stated the following:
“Through the alliance, Ford will engineer and build medium-sized pickups for both companies which are expected to go to market as early as 2022. For both parties, Ford intends to engineer and build larger commercial vans for European customers, and Volkswagen intends to develop and build a city van”.
Ford is planning to add another pick-up to its North American model range but not until 2024. The company is keen to evolve the Bronco into a family of vehicles, and this model is therefore likely to have Bronco in its model name. Some believe that the Bronco pick-up will be positioned above the Ranger.
It is not clear why Ford will take so long to bring this vehicle to market but several sources claim that production will not commence until the 2025 model year.
Prototypes of what appear to be the next F-150 were photographed on test in May. A market release in the final quarter of 2021 is rumoured. The new truck should use a revamped version of the current model’s aluminium architecture. Four-, six- and eight-cylinder gasoline engines are expected, along with a six-cylinder diesel plus PHEV and EV variants. The vehicle’s world debut will probably be in mid-2021 at the Detroit auto show. For the F-150 Hybrid and F-150 EV, see the previous report.
Crossovers and SUVs
BX744 is the project code for an India-specific sub-4m long SUV which is reportedly being co-developed with Mahindra & Mahindra. This model will be a competitor for the Maruti Suzuki Brezza. The market launch could happen as soon as 2021. The platform will probably be closely linked to that of the SsangYong Tivoli. Logic says this model will replace India’s EcoSport even though the current generation model is larger.
Ford of Europe, meanwhile, now has its own small crossover. The about-to-be-launched Puma is 4,186mm long and Fiesta-based. The model name was confirmed in April, as was production in Romania. Sources indicate that this model will not be built or sold in North America or China. In Europe, it supplements the EcoSport and is around 20cm lengthier. The Puma sits 30mm higher on the road than an equivalent Fiesta.
Ford notes that a 1.5-litre diesel engine and a seven-speed dual clutch gearbox will become available during 2020, joining the three-cylinder petrol mild hybrid launch powertrains. As for the life cycle, expect a facelift in 2023 and if successful, a direct replacement in 2026.
Ford is planning another small SUV for lower income markets apart from BX744. The larger of the pair has the codename of BX745. Unlike the smaller and M&M-developed BX744, the 4.2m long SUV will (also) be for China and certain countries in the Americas. Petrol, PHEV and EV powertrains are expected. Details of timings and the platform can be found in PLDB (see link at end of this report).
A further collaboration with Mahindra and Mahindra to produce a compact crossover for India is another project which some sources believe could also be current, although some believe it has been rolled into BX745. The internal code was said to be B763. The vehicle is question would in theory be positioned above the next generation EcoSport.
The third generation of the Escape Compact crossover/SUV was revealed to the media in April. CX482 is 89mm longer than the old model and uses the C2 platform which premiered with the fourth generation Focus. As with previous generations, the model name is Escape (North America and China) or Kuga (mostly Europe) depending on the region. China’s Escape has a different grille to North America’s model and the Kuga.
The new model might also be available in seven-seat form from 2021, possibly sooner. This would be for two reasons: to take on the seven-seat Honda CR-V in North America, and to give Ford of Europe direct rivals for the Nissan X-Trail and Qashqai. Currently, it has only the Kuga but with this model becoming bigger and more rugged looking, an additional vehicle, CX430, will take on the Qashqai.
CX430 is to be an additional model in the C/Compact SUV class for North America and South America from 2020. It will have boxier, more rugged looks than the Escape. The model name might be Escape Sport/Kuga Sport, Maverick or Timberland. Ford sees it as a sort of ‘baby-Bronco’. For that reason, the vehicle might even have Bronco in its model name: e.g. ‘Bronco Sport‘, ‘Bronco Adventurer‘ or ‘Urban Bronco‘.
Ford used to build a model called Territory in Australia but the new generation SUV to use that name is a completely different vehicle. It is manufactured in China – for China – by Jiangling Motors Corporation at its Xiao Lan plant. This is the same factory which has built the larger Ford Everest since August 2015.
Ford told the media in August 2018 that it had co-developed the Territory with JMC. The model is clearly based on JMC’s Land Wind Yusheng S330. This 4.6m long SUV went on sale in China during June 2016.
The Territory initially offered three powertrain choices: 1.5-litre EcoBoost gasoline, 48V mild hybrid with Miller-Cycle technology, and plug-in hybrid. The first vehicles reached Chinese dealerships in early 2019. There is also a fully electric variant. Ford stated in August that it would offer the Territory in Brazil and Argentina in 2020. More details as well as those for the EV can be found in PLDB.
According to the agreement which Ford of Canada made with *Unifor in November 2016, Oakville will remain the main export plant for the Edge. A third generation model is due to be built from September 2021 but the agreement only lasts until 2020. Nonetheless, Ford will have to decide on what if any investments it will make at the Oakville and Essex sites before 2020 if it intends to continue making vehicles and engines in Canada.
The next Edge will use the C2 architecture as introduced by the fourth generation Focus. Production should also again be in China. The development codename for the next Edge is said to be CDX706, whereas it was previously said to be CD539. There should also be a petrol hybrid.
*the union which represents the workers at its Ontario vehicle and engine plants
The Bronco is to be a ladder frame chassis SUV for North America, the Middle East and Africa aimed directly at the Jeep Wrangler. Although based on the Endeavour/Everest, it will have unique body panels and also be offered in two-door form. Both roof panel and doors have designed to be removable and these can be stored in the cargo bay. Prior to the arrival of this model, the Bronco name was last used in the 1990s. The new model is due to be with US dealers from late 2020.
Manufacturing will take place at Ford’s Dearborn/Michigan Assembly (Wayne) plant. The Ford Ranger has been manufactured at Michigan Assembly since October 2018. According to a 15 March 2018 media statement, there will be a hybrid too.
The sixth generation Explorer was revealed to the media in January just ahead of its public premiere at the Detroit auto show. At that time, Ford’s media statement said “…vehicles are due in showrooms this summer”. This large SUV switched back to being a RWD/AWD design (the former model was FWD/RWD). The Lincoln Aviator introduced for the 2020 model year is closely linked to the Explorer.
Ford announced at the Beijing motor show in April 2018 that the future Explorer would also be manufactured in China by its JV with Changan Auto. A month ago, Ford finally stated when this would be although the date given was simply “2020”. The life cycle should be 7-8 years, which means a facelift in 2023.
Reports for many other manufacturers’ future models are grouped in the OEM product strategy summaries section of just-auto.com.
Future product program intelligence
More detail on past, current and forthcoming models can be found in PLDB, the future vehicles database which is part of QUBE. That includes those Ford crossovers, SUVs and pick-ups not named in this report.
This was the second feature in a series which examines future models for the passenger vehicle divisions of Ford Motor Company. The first one looked at Ford cars, EVs and autonomous models, with Lincoln to be the topic of the final report.
