The tailgate matches the computer rendering that we saw in May.
Ranger used to be a trim for the Ford F-150. It was first made into a compact pickup truck in the 1980s. It remained that way for almost 30 years. It was then retired in the USA and returned to America as a mid-sized machine for 2019. This means that there is room in the Blue Oval lineup to accommodate a compact pickup. And now, we may have evidence that it will be returning as a revived Ford Maverick.
The photo above was sent to Motor1.com It was provided by an anonymous source and is about as simple as it gets. It’s clear that the white tailgate is smaller than the one on the Ranger or F-150, and the name stamp at the bottom matches the Ranger design. This is consistent with a We saw tailgate rendering back in May It’s possible that this is a hoax but it seems unlikely to us.
We reached out to Ford regarding this photo in order to get some insight from the automaker. The company does not comment on speculation regarding future products, so the official comment was basically a no comment. Although it is not confirmation of a Maverick-sized compact truck, it is not denial. You can take that information as you like.
We have spy photos and images of the tailgate of a Ford truck. The unibody design is reportedly based upon the Focus. It is believed that it shares the same powertrain as the Bronco Sport. At least, the engines are the same: a turbocharged 1.5-liter triple-cylinder engine or a turbocharged 2.0-liter four pot. This power is available in the Bronco Sports, but it’s unlikely that such an arrangement will be available on a smaller truck.
Ford confirmed that a small truckwas under development back in 2019. Most recently, the automaker stated that a new model launch was planned for 2021. The Whitespace outline looks like a small SUV, but it could be a red herring. There is no American automaker offering a compact truck segment. Ford seems keen to fill that gap.