Could this be a U.S.-spec next-generation Ford Ranger prototype that was just recently spied testing in the Colorado mountains? Let’s take a closer look.
Big thanks to Randall B. who sent us these images he took near Dillon, Colorado.
The worldwide version of the next Ford Ranger (aka. 2023 Ranger) has already made its official debut in November of 2021. The North American version of the truck that will be sold in the United States has not been revealed yet. We expect the U.S. version to be very similar to the one in our video below. However, our version of the Ranger will likely use a separate steel front bumper (just like the current U.S.-spec Ford Ranger has).
If you look closely, the rear bumper on this prototype appears to the U.S.-ready, but the front fascia still seems to be a plastic or composite bumper cover. The steering wheel is on the left side, and the rest of this prototype’s exterior appears to be production-ready.
We still do not have an official word from Ford about when the next generation of the Ford Ranger will make its debut in the United States. We anticipate that it will be near the end of this calendar year, but the actual can always be very different. The 2023 Toyota Tacoma continues for the next year without major changes or redesign. This may encourage Ford to delay the major U.S. Ford Ranger redesign until a bit later.
GMC is expected to unveil their all-new GMC Canyon AT4X later this year. The redesigned Chevy Colorado may not be too far behind. No matter what, the midsize pickup truck segment is still full of action, although current sales of most of the models is down due to shortages or factory capacity constraints.
Ford is building the new 2-door and 4-door Ford Broncos at the same facility in Wayne, Michigan where the Ford Ranger is also built. Ford is trying to satisfy many outstanding Bronco reservations, so the Ranger may not have the highest priority. This is my evaluation and not an official statement from Ford.
