Enter the Rumormill: Ford considering F-100 small pickup
We've been begging for better small trucks from automakers for some time now, and it looks like Ford may have an answer for us. Pickuptrucks.com reports that Ford may revive the F-100 name on a new mid-size truck built on a modified version of the future F-150's platform. Rumored to be a little less than 9/10th the size of the F-150, the F-100 would also feature extensive use of aluminum to save even more weight. Unlike the Ranger, which shares no parts with the F-150, the proposed F-100 would share many and be built on the same assembly line as its big brother. Ford clearly needs a solution for the upcoming change in CAFE standards that will required a fleet average of 28.6 mpg for light duty trucks by 2015, and an F-100 offering an EcoBoost twin-turbo V6, a naturally aspirated V6 and V8, and possibly even a diesel could do the trick. As for what will happen to the Ranger if an F-100 is added to the line up, no one knows for sure. Believe it or not, but the Ranger still sells having moved 7,585 units in April and 29,182 year-to-date. Whether or not those numbers are high enough (or whether they're predominately sales to fleets) to keep it alive for much longer remains to be seen, but its presence in the market place satisfies a need for small, relatively fuel-efficient pickups. We don't see an F-100 filling that role, but rather competing with larger mid-size trucks that are predominantly powered by V6 and V8 engines. So we hope that Ford sees the value in a redesigned Ranger, even if the rumored F-100 comes to market.
[Source: Pickuptrucks.com]
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 4)
Matt 1:19PM (5/12/2008)
The funny part is, Ford is stating that this F-100 will be the size of an older F-150.
Why on earth does Ford need TWO full size trucks?
I think Ford is in the business of answering questions nobody asked.
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Sam Minnitti 1:34PM (5/12/2008)
Becasue by the time this thing comes out, the current F150 will be 3 x's as big, so it should be just right.
Matt 2:33PM (5/12/2008)
Isn't the Ford F-Series the best selling vehicle in the world, with annual sales of 700,000-1.1 million? Sounds like a lot of buyers found their answers.
SPG 1:16PM (5/12/2008)
Very nice, glad to hear this.
However I'm thinking 7 or 8/10's might be a bit better of an idea.
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Rocketboy 2:03PM (5/12/2008)
It should be about 66.6 smaller.
Glenn 2:35PM (5/12/2008)
I agree .. 9/10 would be fine if that WAS the F-150 replacement .. but it make no sense besides that.
There will be a growing market for substantially more fuel efficient small trucks like the Ford Ranger - probably why it does still sell eventhough it dates back to 1982.
Lightweight materials great .. but again that has to be for the F-150 (maybe it becomes even more different then the F250 etc).
I don't know -- sounded wonderful when I first read it; but I'm thinking 9/10 is hardly worth noticing.
Josiah 2:58PM (5/12/2008)
Maybe this is a combination of two rumors, 1 being that the new F-150 is going to be 9/10ths the size of the current and the other being about the Ranger placement's new name being the F-100. Just a thought.
Gstill 1:21PM (5/12/2008)
A scaled-down F-150 would be a good replacement for the Ranger.This isn't quite that, but it'd be a good replacement for the SportTrac. This could also finally give Ford a decent competitor with the Tacoma and Frontier.
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Mike 1:25PM (5/12/2008)
How about an F-75?
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bvz 1:27PM (5/12/2008)
just under 90% as big... wow. huge change. really fills a hole in their lineup. then they just need one at 80%, 70%, 60% etc...
Maybe they could also release some sort of ruler so that you could tell the difference from the f-150.
"Hey look! a ford f-150!"
"No, I think that's the 100"
"wait, let me measure... wait for it... wait for it... oh look. You're right."
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Jim 1:30PM (5/12/2008)
I have to think this is a bad idea; being only a little smaller than the full-size truck is almost entirely why Chrysler can't sell Dakotas anymore.
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Guenther 2:57PM (5/12/2008)
I don't think size is the problem- the Dakota is a great size for me, but its so heavy/thirsty/expensive that it makes almost no sense to choose it over a Ram.
mroverlord 6:52PM (5/12/2008)
..which is precisely why they don't sell. The current Dakotas are nearly as large as the old D-150s of the 1980s. If the Dakota had stayed the same size like in the 90s, it would be lighter, smaller, more fuel efficient. I have a 2007 Dakota and I love it (saves $600 a year in fuel over my 2002 Ram with the same 4.7L) but it dwarfs my friends '89 Shelby Dakota - and his will easily pull a car trailer and race car.
mk 1:42PM (5/12/2008)
If this is better than the ranger, and with V6 and V8 engines, great. (V8s in moderate pickups don't have to work hard, and get better mileage and towing/hauling capability than over-stressed V6s)
If this is merely a touch smaller than the gargantuan F150, then meh.
If this gets the new sub-5 liter diesel V8 iteration that is coming, then it is even better, especially if the diesel price comes down.
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Justin 1:33PM (5/12/2008)
Why didn't they just keep the Ranger?
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John P. 1:40PM (5/12/2008)
I think it's a great idea, especially if they offer it with that small diesel engine they are developing. A smaller than f150 pickup would be perfect for me.
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TriShield 1:36PM (5/12/2008)
What's wrong with just redesigning the Ranger and calling it the Ranger?
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Matt 2:36PM (5/12/2008)
They'll probably change the name in the middle of the product cycle, like they did with the Five Hundred/Taurus, to further destroy the resale 'values'.
Torrent 2:52PM (5/12/2008)
Usually, cars get more attention when they are introduced under a new name. Just like the Cavalier. The same stuff crammed into a new car called the Cobalt. It has gotten great sales all because of a simple name change and redesign. Plus Ranger's name is tired, But won't it just add to Ford's 'eFF'ing problem of naming all their cars with an F?
Judy Zik 1:37PM (5/12/2008)
Sounds more like a F-149.5
Based on that size it is likely to just steal sales from the F-150. People are looking for a truck that get's decent fuel economy and this doesn't sound like it.
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