Affordable new Ford bakkie below Ranger confirmed for global launch in 2027

Ford has confirmed its yet-to-be-revealed affordable new bakkie will launch in global markets in 2027. Here’s what we know…

Ford Maverick bakkie front

Image: Ford

In February 2026, Ford confirmed its plans for the introduction of an “affordable” new bakkie, likely to be positioned below the Ranger, before the end of the decade. Well, the Blue Oval brand has now revealed this model will make its debut in global markets in 2027. The US automaker has yet to announce whether the latter includes South Africa.

“Next year, we will be launching our affordable midsize pickup for international markets,” Ford CEO Jim Farley confirmed at the company’s third-quarter 2026 earnings call. Focused on affordability, the carmaker expects the vehicle’s base material cost will be 20% lower than the current Ranger’s.

Noteworthy, Farley mentioned the vehicle’s cost structure will allow the company to compete against more affordable Chinese rivals. “Just as Maverick has done in the US, this truck is designed to bring new customers into the Ford truck lineup internationally at a cost structure that allows us to compete — in this case with the Chinese,” Farley said.

When asked how the increase in Chinese exports is affecting Ford, Farley said the brand has held up really well, despite Chinese brands gaining more and more ground in open and closed markets. He noted the company faces its most intense competition in Latin America and Southeast Asia. However, Farley mentioned the Ranger is still doing well in these regions because it competes at a higher price point. Returning to the value-focused new midsize model, Farley said the firm will be going into Chinese rivals’ price points next year. “We’ll see how that plays out, but we’re confident,” said Farley.

Browse thousands of new and used vehicles here with CARmag!

The post Affordable new Ford bakkie below Ranger confirmed for global launch in 2027 appeared first on CAR Magazine.


The Car Guide

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Every Bakkie Confirmed for SA in 2026 [Updated]

Image
From new models to updated lineups, we highlight every bakkie that’s been confirmed to launch in South Africa in 2026. New Toyota Hilux Image: Toyota In February 2026, the ninth-generation Hilux was spotted in SA . However, despite being spotted on our shores, at the time, an official launch date for the new Hilux, which we detail in our Come the Hour: New Toyota Hilux feature, had yet to be announced. Well, fast forward to April 2026, and the local launch date for the ninth iteration of SA’s best-selling bakkie has been confirmed – June 2026. Based on an updated version of the Japanese automaker’s IMV (Innovative International Multi-purpose Vehicle) platform – the latter also underpinning the SA-bound new Land Cruiser FJ , which will cost less than the top-of-the-range Hilux – the box-fresh Hilux retains the outgoing, eighth-generation model’s trusted GD-6 powertrain, available in “standard” and 48 V mild-hybrid format. The 2.8-litre, four-cylinder turbodiesel engine will be a...
Read more

5 Slowest-Accelerating Vehicles CAR Magazine Tested in 2025

Image
We have rounded up the five slowest-accelerating vehicles, based on their 0-100 km/h sprint times, tested by CAR magazine in 2025. See the list below. 5. Suzuki Swift 1.2 GLX MT: 12.05 seconds Image: Peet Mocke Starting the off the list is CAR magazine’s budget car of choice in our Top 12 Best Buys for 2025 awards, the Suzuki Swift. The variant we tested in March was equipped with a five-speed manual transmission. We recorded a 0-100 km/h acceleration time of 12.05 seconds. Although not the last word in straight-line performance, the Swift was one of the highest-scoring and most fuel-efficient vehicles we tested in 2025. 4. Honda Amaze 1.2 Trend MT: 12.22 seconds Image: Peet Mocke The Honda Amaze, which we tested in the July 2025 issue of CAR magazine, employs a 1.2-litre naturally aspirated four-cylinder petrol motor producing 66 kW and 110 N.m – the latter transferred to the front wheels via a five-speed manual gearbox. With a (tested) 32 kg weight penalty over the Swift...
Read more

Top 10 most dependable car brands according to J.D. Power 2026 study

Image
We have rounded up the top ten most dependable car brands based on a recent study by J.D. Power, ranking vehicle reliability based on the number of problems per 100 vehicles. Image: Lexus Global market research and consumer insights company J.D. Power has recently released its 2026 U.S. Vehicle Dependability Study, which identifies the most dependable vehicles based on overall problems per 100 vehicles during the first 90 days of ownership over nine problem categories. The 2026 results show a two-point increase in problems per 100 vehicles (PP100), resulting in an industry average of 204 PP100. In other words, A score of 204 PP100 means that, on average, owners reported 2.04 issues per car. A lower score indicates better vehicle quality, and vice versa. The 2026 U.S. Vehicle Dependability Study covers 184 specific problem areas throughout nine vehicle categories: climate, driving assistance, driving experience, exterior, features/controls/displays, infotainment, interior, powertr...
Read more