Like Santa Claus and the Easter Bunny, rumors of the return of Ford’s long-shuttered Bronco and Ranger pickup surface at least once a year.
Citing “a person familiar with the company’s plans,” Bloomberg reported earlier this week that Ford has plans for the North American return of the Ranger midsize pickup and the rebirth of the Bronco. Those rumors are heating up as Ford navigates its way through union contract talks.
The Detroit News corroborated the report of the Ranger’s possible return.
Bloomberg says the two could be manufactured in Wayne, Michigan, as soon as 2018, replacing passenger car output that is likely being shifted to Mexico.
Ford has found success with throwbacks in the past, having reignited sales of its iconic Mustang when the company gave the car retro fastback styling in 2005. Also, the runaway success of General Motors’ Colorado and Canyon has likely not gone unnoticed at Ford, which hasn’t had a midsize pickup entry in the United States since Ranger was shuttered in 2011.
Ford officials declined to comment this week, but the groundswell of public support to bring these two vehicles back gets louder every year.
With the company seemingly in need of a concession to give its union, coupled with the resurgence of the midsize truck market, Ford enthusiasts may finally get what they’ve been longing for.
