The last time a Ford Ranger rolled off a U.S. assembly line was in December 2011. Ford has continued to manufacture and sell the truck outside the U.S., updating the look of the truck in the 2015 model year and adding two diesel engine options.
We reached out to Ford spokesman Mike Levine, who declined comment on the Car and Driver report, instead saying the automaker remains focused on improving fuel efficiency in its F-150 and Super Duty trucks.
“We do not speculate about future product plans. We have been and will continue investing in F-Series for the North American market—with new powertrains and improved performance, including fuel efficiency,” Levine said in an emailed statement.
As far as engine match-ups go for the 2019 Ranger, Car and Driver is betting that the truck’s current 3.2-liter diesel engine offered outside the U.S. will make its way into the new U.S. model and that it may rival the fuel efficiency of the diesel-equipped Chevrolet Colorado and GMC Canyon.
An EcoBoost four-cylinder engine and naturally aspirated gas V6 are also expected to be offered as other engine options for the 2019 Ranger, Car and Driver reports, adding the truck “will use the same body-on-frame construction as the truck sold elsewhere in the world.”
The base price for the 2019 Ranger is expected to be below $25,000. A new Ford Bronco, with a starting price of $30,000, is expected to hit dealers’ lots the following year.
