The Ford Courier could come back in 2022

Thursday, 12 March 2020

One of the more iconic television ads back in the early 2000s was a thirty-second spot for the then-new Ford Courier turbo diesel. You know, the high-pitched guys talking about Jono's new Ford Courier Turbo Diesel. 'So, how's it going?' 'Bloody beautiful, mate.' Classic. Then Ford ditched the Courier and began its market domination with the one-tonne Ranger. Now though, it looks like the Courier is coming back.

Actually, we had a feeling it was coming back a while ago. A report back in 2018 suggested Ford was strongly considering a new 'compact' unibody pick up for the US market. It would be based on the latest Focus platform and take on the 'Courier' nameplate.

It would launch in South America before making its way into the US to slot below the North American Ranger. Thanks to those Focus underpinnings, the reborn Courier could technically be converted to right-hand drive fairly easily and launch in New Zealand as well as Australia and South Africa.

Ford is reportedly dusting off the Courier badge for a new Focus-based ute. The North American brass are interested and hopefully they'll offer it in right-hand drive for markets like ours as well.

According to a new report from Automotive News, Ford in the United States is targeting an end-of-2021 launch with a sticker price of roughly US$20k (NZ$30k). It almost certainly wouldn't be that cheap here, but it still has plenty of room to slide in under the nearest wellside Ranger, that being the 2WD XL Super Cab which starts at $43,990.

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The Courier wouldn't be the only half-tonne ute in New Zealand. Renault has confirmed it will bring the Duster-based Oroch to our market in the next year or so.

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Volkswagen is also building the Tarok for the South American market, which is essentially a Tiguan with a tray. No right-hook models have been confirmed yet although VW NZ expressed interest in it back in 2018.

* Renault NZ confirms two utes inbound

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* Is Ford going to reintroduce the half-tonne ute?**

Because South American ute buyers place far less value on towing and engine capacity than we do, a Focus-based half-tonner would almost certainly only be powered by the same engines as a Focus hatch. And it would be front-wheel drive, although AWD could be a possibility, albeit a slim one.

That said, it isn't stopping the likes of Renault from bringing in the Duster-based Oroch in the near future, which will fill a similar price/performance slot as the Courier. It will have a 650kg/680L tray while under the bonnet will either be a 1.6-litre four-cylinder or a 2.0-litre four-cylinder, both fed by petrol.

Overseas markets get the option of a manual or automatic transmission but Kiwi buyers will likely only be offered the auto. Power is sent exclusively to the front wheels, with no all-wheel drive model mooted.

Renault NZ hasn't confirmed price or final specifications, but with any luck, we'll see it early next year.

Volkswagen also has a car-based ute in the works for the South American audience. The Tarok rides on the MQB platform, meaning it will largely behave like a Tiguan SUV with a tray. It features a relatively small cargo area (compared to the likes of the larger Amarok), but has an innovative 'variable loading area' that can be extended thanks to a folding rear panel in the back of the cabin. VW said at the reveal that power would come from a 110kW 2.0-litre turbo diesel, sent to all four wheels through a six-speed automatic.

As for a local launch, VW NZ said back in 2018 that a RHD Tarok is something they would be 'very interested in indeed.' That leaves just the Oroch with a confirmed local launch.

Hopefully Ford joins the growing half-tonne tray with the Courier and we get to watch that ad a few more times on TV.