By Another revival is coming up, this time around it is the 2023 Ford Ranchero. Perhaps a name is long forgotten. Ford stopped production of the famed Ranchero back in 1979. At that point in time, it was a pickup coupe. It was small, it was compact, and it was a perfect pickup for working and hauling. We all know how Ford likes bringing old names back. We had a Maverick revival. Although, this time around it is a small pickup and not the speedster it used to be. Bronco received a revival as well. Its design was kept and simply modernized.
So, what exactly can we expect from the Ranchero revival? Is it going to be a completely different design? Is Ford going to invent a new type of vehicle? Are they bringing it back the way it was, but modernized? Production hasn’t started yet, so we are in a constant loop of rumors and potential information. Many fans are eagerly waiting for a Ranchero to hit the road, which will surely happen. So let us put our thinking caps on and see what the new upcoming Ranchero could look like.
Ford Ranchero Interior
The cabin of the Ranchero is obsolete as well. There are literally zero usable parts from the old design. This can be a good thing for designers. They have an empty plate and can start fresh. Nowadays, the style is different and interiors are built differently. So, with that in mind, let’s reimagine the Ranchero in this time and age. It makes sense for Ford to borrow design from one of its existing vehicles that have a dashing interior. Ford Escape is a perfect candidate for this. It is a great-looking crossover and has a lot to offer. For example, seats are comfortable and praised in Escape.
Perhaps better cushioning and better lumbar support should be made. Heated and ventilated seats were a thing of sci-fi fiction at the time Ranchero was made. No reason to not put it in now. Using premium materials like leather, chrome, and wood can make a cabin look breathtaking. A standard infotainment system is present. Considering this is a coupe, we don’t need an obnoxiously large screen. A touch screen of 10 inches should suffice. You can connect pretty much any device with the new 2023 Ford Ranchero.
This is enabled with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. You also get Bluetooth and Wi-Fi hotspot. The steering wheel resembles the one on the original Ranchero. Except it has a lot of buttons that keep the driver’s attention up front. This improves the safety aspect. Also, you get features such as automatic braking, lane change alert, pedestrian detection, and many others. Systems like these save lives on the road. Hands-free driving should also be present, considering that BlueCruise is a success so far in all trucks it has been implemented. The dashboard is digital as well, which is a nice step towards the future.
Possible Exterior Design
On the outside, we can expect a look similar to the old Ranchero. The new 2023 Ford Ranchero will borrow most, if not all of it from its predecessor. The platform rides on should be similar to that one of Maverick. We should be getting a normal-size cargo bed. So, no less than 5.5 feet in length. Ride height won’t be too tall considering it is not meant for off-road. The front fascia should resemble other trucks from Ford’s lineup. So, a big mesh with Big Blue Oval letterings.
Headlight design and bumpers could be borrowed from the Maverick as well. Or perhaps Ford goes another way and takes some things from the F-150 lineup. Tailgate will also be modernized. This gives us multiple options, such as a step, seat, stopper, and others. Expect the Ranchero to have a certain dose of sportiness to it, even though it is a working horse. So, a sporty hood could be coming up.
Engine Specs
After over 40 years, the powertrain is obviously obsolete. It simply doesn’t make sense to use anything similar to the previous setup. These are possible suspects for the engine department in the 2023 Ford Ranchero. It is expected Ford to use a smaller EcoBoost powertrain. After all, this coupe, if it is a coupe in the first place, doesn’t require so much horsepower. We have a 1.5-liter EcoBoost gasoline engine. Another option is the same engine but 2.0 liter. The Focus RS engine is another suspect for the Ranchero engine. The diesel variant is expected, but definitely not in the US. A hybrid powertrain is also on the table. Using a symbiotic system with a 2.5-liter four-cylinder and an electric motor could do wonders. It decreases fuel expenditure and also saves the planet in the long run.
For example, the engine used in the Maverick would be able to move the bigger Ranchero around. Maverick is sold with a hybrid powertrain as a standard, no gasoline-only option. This could be a trend that will continue. So, expect Ford to give at least a hybrid powertrain to the Ranchero. Full electrification is definitely possible. Big Blue Oval was able to put a battery pack on a big F-150 and it works perfectly. So, a smaller Ranchero makes perfect sense as well. At least 150 kWh of batteries should be enough. Range any less than 300 miles is out of the question. Fast charging should definitely be an option. Having another 100 miles on 10 minutes of charge is an amazing feature. Again, these are all rumors and speculations. Soon there will be more information about powertrains, so stay tuned.
2023 Ford Ranchero Price and Release Date
Ford should start production of the 2023 Ford Ranchero later in 2022. The first units should be available for purchase earlier in 2023. The price is speculated at $20000. But of course, this is an estimate. Expect the price to go up with certain amenities and premium trims. We are sure the available trims will be announced by the manufacturer very soon.
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