Downsizing the pickup truck

Ford is working on two new, smaller-than-F-150 pickup trucks, says Motor Trend. One is based on the F-Series and the other is a replacement for the Ranger compact. Motor Trend speculates that the smaller F-150 may be badged F-100, the name of the F-150's predecessor from the 1950s. At one point, the new F-Series truck and Ranger replacement were competing proposals, but with the growing need for higher-fuel-mileage trucks, both projects are expected to become reality in 2010 or 2011. The possible F-100 won't be offered with V-8 power, but instead will come with four-cylinder and V-6 EcoBoost (gas direct injection and turbocharging) engine options. The Ranger replacement is being developed by Ford Australia and was originally intended only for world markets other than the U.S.

Meanwhile, Suzuki goes bigger

Motor Trend also reports that, while other automakers such as Ford (see story above) are racing to bring smaller vehicles to the market, longtime small-car specialist Suzuki is moving into the midsize and pickup truck segments. Bad timing or just a clever zig while others zag? Too early to tell, of course. First, Suzuki adds a pickup to its North American line, although the 2009 Equator is a compact pickup, based on the Nissan Frontier and actually built by Nissan in the U.S. Second, Suzuki's 2010 midsize car, based on the Kizashi concept vehicle, will enter the most competitive auto segment, battling Toyota Camry, Honda Accord, Hyundai Sonata and Chevrolet Malibu. There's also a mid-cycle "refresh" of Suzuki's Grand Vitara SUV on the way. Plus, in 2010, the U.S. market will see the return of the small Suzuki Swift as a 2011 model.