Consider the image at the very top of this post. If we didn’t mention the word truck in the headline, would you suspect there was an open bed behind that second door? New spy shots for the much-anticipated $30,000 small electric pickup truck from Ford give us our best look at it so far, but perhaps more importantly, it gives us perspective on what this vehicle might actually be: a car with a pickup bed.
Ford EV Truck Ranchero Spy PhotoCarBuzz / Valnet
We also get a good perspective on just how small this new offering really is, thanks to a cameo from Ford’s largest SUV. And our spy photographers also nab a fleeting glimpse of this prototype’s interior. Spoiler alert: there’s a touchscreen. Let’s take a closer look at these photos to see what we can learn.
Maverick-Sized But Definitely Not Maverick-Shaped
Ford EV Truck Ranchero Spy PhotoCarBuzz / Valnet
Perhaps one of the best shots in this recent sighting captures the new small EV conveniently next to a Ford Expedition, where we get a true taste of its size. It’s definitely small, but it’s even smaller than you think. The heavy black camouflage at the front has some fake risers beneath it, lifting the covers to give the hood a straight appearance when in fact it slopes down heavily. You can see this slope along the front fenders from the A-pillar to the front.
Further evidence for this comes in the plethora of head-on spy shots we now have. See how the heavy covers push inward at the top as the truck is in motion? Either Ford is hiding the largest, ugliest nose in the history of cars, or a panel is running across the top, lifting the covers. If you follow the horizontal line in the front cover that is even with the headlights, that’s where the hood really sits. And it’s low – very much the opposite of the Maverick and pretty much every other traditional truck you can buy right now.
Ford EV Truck Ranchero Spy PhotoCarBuzz / Valnet
Car Body + Pickup Bed = Ranchero
Some time ago, CarBuzz found a trademark for the Ranchero name. Back in the day, that was Ford’s answer to the Chevrolet El Camino, a two-seat car with a full-size pickup bed behind it. Obviously, this new EV isn’t a two-seater, but back in the Ranchero days, most pickup trucks were still single-cabs with a big bench seat, so evolving for the times with a full crew cab makes sense.
Ford EV Truck Ranchero Spy PhotoCarBuzz / Valnet
Seeing this prototype in profile makes us think more than ever that it could well be called the Ranchero. The sloping hood and steeply raked windshield absolutely scream sedan, or at the very least, a lifted wagon. Another area of interest is at the rear of the cab, where heavy covers appear to hide a roof spoiler. However, it’s possible that Ford is doing more trickery here, raising the covers to conceal the roofline.
A Trade Secret Perhaps?
Ford EV Truck Ranchero Spy PhotoCarBuzz / Valnet
This could be more about hiding secrets from competitors rather than just keeping the looks under wraps. Ford has continually emphasized how important the design of this new vehicle is in terms of range. The bed of a pickup truck is a notorious aerodynamic hotspot for turbulence, so we could see something clever on the production version that adds to both form and function.
Related
Ford CEO Says New $30,000 Truck Is ‘Really Not A Pickup’
That Ranchero trademark may be even more fitting than we thought…
There could be more trade secrets under the skin, too. This will be Ford’s first vehicle on its new universal platform, designed from the ground up to compete with China’s rapidly expanding auto industry. Powertrain details are unknown, though it will use a lithium iron phosphate (LFP) battery to power its arrangement of motors. Ford has also emphasized simplicity, from the platform’s unicasting to fewer wiring harnesses – the company claims it will have 75% fewer parts than a conventional pickup truck. That could mean a simpler interior as well, something we can see (in part) with a single screen visible in the spy photos.
The First Of Many Launches Next Year
Ford EV Truck Ranchero Spy PhotoCarBuzz / Valnet
Whether it’s called Ranchero or something else, Ford’s long-awaited new truck will launch in 2027. We could see it revealed later this year. Following the truck, Ford has plans to build all kinds of other vehicles on this platform, from subcompacts to crossovers, other trucks, and commercial vehicles.
CarBuzz Insight – Why This Matters:
Ford is really pushing this platform as something that will deliver affordable vehicles to American buyers, and that is something the company sorely needs. The Maverick is the only Ford vehicle under $30,000, and it barely squeaks in for the most basic trim once destination charges are added. If the new truck proves popular, the door is open for a wider lineup of affordable models.
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Ford Is One Step Closer To Bringing Back The Ranchero
After a lengthy back-and-forth with the Feds, the Blue Oval has nearly recaptured the trademark for its stylish coupe utility pickup.
And that’s what Ford needs more than anything right now. All its eggs are basically in one basket: pickup trucks and SUVs. Meanwhile, competitors like Hyundai offer several different vehicles under $30,000, including sedans and crossovers, and they are setting sales records while Ford sales continue to slide. Frankly, this new platform can’t launch soon enough.
