The Ford Ranger's just about ready to kick the bucket, gas prices are higher than the dress neckline of a Texas polygamist cult and CAFE standards — well, let's just say they don't leave much room for error on the high side of the gas guzzle range. Sounds like high time Ford announced a new pickup truck, doesn't it? Perhaps. But only if said pickup truck is the purported return of a badge not seen from Dearborn since 1983 — F-100. That's right, we're hearing rumors this morning of a mini-pickup based on the current F-150. Well, it'll be based on the F-150 in look, feel and most importantly not in size. If it's coming, we're told to expect a Ford F-100 at 9/10ths the size of the 2009 Ford F-150 to hit dealer lots in the 2011 model year.
Our friends at PickupTrucks.com are also telling us this morning rumors aren't as far-fetched as one would think. Ford desperately is looking for ways to hold on to their share of the ever-shrinking pickup truck market and if they need to offer a stripped down F-150 on Weight Watchers, they'll do it. Heck, they've even got a pretty sketch of what a new boldly-moving-smaller pickup based on the current F-150 might look like. Expect the real version to look nothing like it. But have a look anyway. [PickupTrucks.com]