Ford plans to introduce a small utility vehicle

Ford Motor prepares to introduce a small utility vehicle based on its compact Focus sedan, with more rough offroad styling cues compared to the Escape, a top executive stated on Wednesday.

The new model, that will share parts with the Focus and Escape, will showcase “offroad positioning and imagery” and will carry a premium cost, according to Hau Thai-Tang, executive vice president of product development and purchasing. Thai-Tang was discussing at an investor conference in New York.

The vehicle, that is not yet named, is an all-new model with a design meant to recall Ford’s classic mid-1960s Bronco offroader, as per a source knowledgeable about the company’s strategies. The new compact could debut in 2019 as a 2020 model, according to the source.

Thai-Tang mentioned the vehicle as an example of how the automaker is modifying its product development process to use more flexible vehicle architectures, boost parts commonality and accelerate new products to market sooner.

Ford revealed a boxy Bronco concept at the 2004 Detroit auto show that never entered into production. The U.S. automaker stated last year it prepares to release a midsize Bronco, based on the upcoming Ford Ranger midsize pickup, for model year 2020.

Unlike the 2020 Bronco, which will utilize a trucklike body-on-frame architecture, the “baby Bronco” is going to be more carlike since it will share its foundation with the Focus and Escape.