2023 Ford Ranger spy photos hint at stronger F-Series resemblance

New spy photos of a crew-cab Ranger covered in camouflage show that Ford’s mid-sized pickup is getting a significant makeover. While the cab shows a familiar silhouette, a totally new fascia and reworked sheetmetal ahead of the A-pillars will probably bring the 2023 Ranger visually closer to the F-Series. Based on recent leaks, the new Ranger could also share a resemblance to the upcoming Maverick.

The Ranger that we currently have in North America was initially designed for overseas markets. While its capabilities and size make it competitive in the states, the mid-sizer is based on a platform that went into production nearly 10 years ago. The Ranger’s looks are bit dated for a truck that’s only been on the U.S. market for three model years, and its chassis could surely benefit from an update as well.

These spy photos show that the next-gen Ranger, due in 2022 as a 2023 model, will have a more upright grille and taller nose. New headlights wrap around a center grille bar, a familiar F-Series trait. This version of the Ranger is also expected to spawn a rebadged version sold by Volkswagen as the Amarok.

Unfortunately, the camouflage is really doing its job on the truck’s rear. We can discern that, well, it’s a mid-size pickup. The single exhaust doesn’t lead us to much new powertrain speculation, either. However, since the next-gen Ranger will share its platform with the upcoming Bronco, look for 2.3-liter EcoBoost four-cylinder and 2.7-liter V-6 powerplants.

With Ford, Chevy, and GMC all expected to offer redesigned compact trucks for 2023, the market should soon get interesting. Perhaps the Ranger’s Bronco bloodline will also bring us some of the off-road goodies that are found in the resurrected sport-utility. Maybe 2023 is the year we finally get a Ranger-based Raptor.