Why no US "Utes"? (replace, Chevrolet, GMC, Hyundai)

[easy62]

Originally Posted by robr2

But you are part of a target market that numbers in the hundreds - that's not enough to make a business case for a high performance ute.

There has to be a couple hundred thousand who would sign a contract to buy one because no automotive company is going to retool a assembly plant and a stamping plant and a engine and a powertrain plant to make a mine pickup you have no idea how much money it cost to launch a new vehicle. The vehicles you see on the road today were designed years ago at their tech centers. Look at the new Ford Ranger it was conceived in 2017 but won’t hit dealer showrooms until 2019. So you can’t say hey let’s build a new mine pickup and just start making them, that’s not how the automotive industry works.

[LKJ1988]

Originally Posted by robr2

But you are part of a target market that numbers in the hundreds - that's not enough to make a business case for a high performance ute.

I know. I just hate full size trucks. Even two of my Ford Lightnings were too big for my taste. I like S10 size trucks.

[scorpio516]

Originally Posted by Airborneguy

What happened to that market? This is my “secondary” question. Why no more true smaller trucks?

That's a very good question.

I think it has to do with big trucks becoming more car-like and small trucks up-sizing. But 80s Rangers and 90s S-10s aren't very car-like at all!

In 2000, Ford was selling 330k Rangers - and that was pretty steady throughout the 90s since the redesign. By 05, it was only 120k and going down...

[easy62]

Originally Posted by LKJ1988

I know. I just hate full size trucks. Even two of my Ford Lightnings were too big for my taste. I like S10 size trucks.

Wasn’t your F-150 Lightning a step side, those were smaller bed pickups because of the rear flare fenders.

[easy62]

Originally Posted by scorpio516

That's a very good question.

I think it has to do with big trucks becoming more car-like and small trucks up-sizing. But 80s Rangers and 90s S-10s aren't very car-like at all!

In 2000, Ford was selling 330k Rangers - and that was pretty steady throughout the 90s since the redesign. By 05, it was only 120k and going down...

Yep it’s all about the sales numbers that derermines weather a vehicle will continue to be manufactured to not.

[LKJ1988]

Originally Posted by easy62

Wasn’t your F-150 Lightning a step side, those were smaller bed pickups because of the rear flare fenders.

Yes.

[easy62]

Originally Posted by LKJ1988

Yes.

That’s what i thought because they made a regular short bed lightning with a regular cab back in the 90’s.

[JaxRhapsody]

Originally Posted by Airborneguy

The Baja is 4 doors.

Yes, but it's still considered a Coupe Utility Vehicle. Much like the CanAm Spyder is still a motorcycle.

[JaxRhapsody]

Originally Posted by easy62

Wasn’t your F-150 Lightning a step side, those were smaller bed pickups because of the rear flare fenders.

2nd gens are flareside, 1st gen are fleetside(I believe that's what ford called standard beds).

[Stonepa]

Originally Posted by scorpio516

That's a very good question.

I think it has to do with big trucks becoming more car-like and small trucks up-sizing. But 80s Rangers and 90s S-10s aren't very car-like at all!

In 2000, Ford was selling 330k Rangers - and that was pretty steady throughout the 90s since the redesign. By 05, it was only 120k and going down...

Yeah - given the last real chassis and powertrain redesign of the Ranger was in 1990 during the Gen 1 Explorer work, it always amazed me how many they still sold at EOL. Ford killed that nice little truck due to zero investment and milking it for all it was worth.