Ford rethinks small pickups

With the market shifting rapidly toward smaller vehicles, Ford Motor Co. reportedly is developing two options for replacing the Ranger pickup after its St. Paul plant shuts down.

One truck, a smaller F-150 called the F-100, would be built in Michigan, the Detroit News reported.

Ford's Australian unit is also developing a compact pickup to replace the Ranger in non-U.S. markets. Motor Trend magazine reported that Ford is considering importing that pickup to the United States.

Production of either truck wouldn't begin until 2011. Ford won't comment on the reports.

Porsche tops quality survey The quality of new cars improved across the industry this year, with Porsche leading the pack, J.D. Power and Associates said Wednesday.

The annual ranking of initial vehicle quality measures problems in the first 90 days of ownership.

In rankings by vehicle segments, Honda was the only brand with three winners: the Fit subcompact, Civic small car and CR-V crossover.