2024 Ford Ranger for NA Market Spied

Tim Healey
by Tim Healey

Normally, prototypes of future vehicles being tested are draped in camouflage. Not the 2024 Ford Ranger that spy shooters caught -- it was buck naked.


The global-market version of the truck debuted last year, but the new North American-market version hasn't launched yet.

Unsurprisingly, the truck spotted in the Detroit area doesn't look too different from the global version -- the only differences are a sliding rear window, center high-mounted stop light, and the presence of a rearview camera. Oh, and the grille pattern is a tiny bit different. Motor1 seems to think the front fascia looks "smoother" and the site speculates a longer bed could be an option for us Yanks (and, presumably, Canucks).

Motor1 thinks that the diesel engine available on global-market trucks won't be sold here, and we agree. As you know, the current American Ranger uses a 2.3-liter turbo four throughout the lineup. Motor1 speculates that the Ranger will get a hybrid powertrain -- not shocking, since that's the base powertrain on the Maverick, though we'd expect the specs to be different for the larger truck -- and that the Ranger Raptor will be available with a twin-turbo V6. The Raptor has been confirmed for our market.

Ford says that the truck will debut sometime this year. I'd like to point out that the Chicago Auto Show, often considered to be a "truck" show, is just a few weeks away, and the New York Auto Show follows in April. Ford could also do a stand-alone event. If the truck is prowling Detroit naked, the formal debut could be sooner rather than later.

[Image: Ford]

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Tim Healey
Tim Healey

Tim Healey grew up around the auto-parts business and has always had a love for cars — his parents joke his first word was “‘Vette”. Despite this, he wanted to pursue a career in sports writing but he ended up falling semi-accidentally into the automotive-journalism industry, first at Consumer Guide Automotive and later at Web2Carz.com. He also worked as an industry analyst at Mintel Group and freelanced for About.com, CarFax, Vehix.com, High Gear Media, Torque News, FutureCar.com, Cars.com, among others, and of course Vertical Scope sites such as AutoGuide.com, Off-Road.com, and HybridCars.com. He’s an urbanite and as such, doesn’t need a daily driver, but if he had one, it would be compact, sporty, and have a manual transmission.

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  • Oberkanone Oberkanone on Jan 19, 2023

    Ranger is 25% less cost than F-150 comparing base MSRP to base MSRP. This is significant cost savings. Ranger is extended cab and F-150 is regular cab.

    MPG of midsize vs. full size has been similar enough as to be insignificant for a long time.

    Tacoma, Frontier, Colorado, Ranger, Gladiator are most certainly all midsize trucks.

    • MrIcky MrIcky on Jan 19, 2023

      But you can't get a base ranger. XLTs are running 47k for ranger crew and 51k for a f150 2.7 crew at my local dealership. The Rangers have very limited availability because they are spending that production capacity on broncos (or so I'm told).






  • Lag65688157 Lag65688157 on Jan 19, 2023

    Except the picture is of a current 5G Ranger, not the 2024 6G Ranger.

  • Calrson Fan Calrson Fan on Jan 19, 2023

    I'd like to go with a midsize truck but too many sacrifices compared to a FS 1/2 ton with little to no benefits. I don't daily drive my current Tahoe & when it is replaced with a CC 4WD PU in a year or two that won't be a DD either. That is the pretty much the only advantage I can see of a midsize over a FS 1/2 ton.


    In addition I can at least get a 1/2 ton with a 6' bed in CC form where the box on a CC midsize is miserably small & IMO next to useless. Just get a unibody Maverick. Most importantly, a 1/2 ton is a much more capable tow vehicle than any midsize. Especially if your towing something heavy enough to require tandem axles which I do summer & winter.


    Lastly, having owned a compact Toyota PU I can tell you from experience that once you start working those little engines towing, any fuel economy advantage they might have over a V8 goes right out the window.

    • Ajla Ajla on Jan 19, 2023

      You can get a 6ft bed on a crew cab with the Frontier and Tacoma. I agree with you on towing, but I could also say a 1-ton is also more capable than a half-ton for that. It depends on what you're moving and how far you are going.

  • Calrson Fan Calrson Fan on Jan 21, 2023

    I had a GMC 2500HD CC PU when I owned a SeaRay cruiser that tipped the scales on the trailer at just under 4 tons. Now the the heaviest thing I tow is under 3 tons which a 1/2 ton will handle with ease all day long. Anything bigger is overkill.

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