The way things are looking, we will get a global Ranger designed by Ford of Australia. I just hope it is actually the work of Ford and not Mazda. I don't have anything against Mazda, but like I said in another thread, if I'm going to buy a Ford truck, it better be an actual Ford.
This is just my best guess, but I think the next Ranger will have a Duratec 3.5 and an EcoBoost 4 banger as the engine options. A SFA is pretty much out of the question...the next Ranger will most likely continue to use an IFS setup for 2 and 4WDs.
If it was up to me, the next Ranger would be an American designed and built truck with a SFA for 4WDs and coil spring IFS for 2WDs. The 3.5 would be the V6 option, along with an EcoBoost engine and a conventional NA four banger. The auto transmission would be the 6-speed from the Explorer, and there would be a 6-speed manual option.