PRM

Using that same logic, why have Escape, Explorer, Expedition? Or Fiesta, Focus, Fusion, Taurus? They all add development cost, they take sales from each other.

While a Ranger/F100 would take some F150 sales, it would also take some Ram, Tundra and Silverado sales, as well as garner some new customers. We can only speculate on the net end result. We'll see how the Canyon/Colorado does. I would have bought something smaller had it been available. I've owned two Sport Tracs and one Ranger, and found them to meet my needs perfectly. Especially the V8 ST. With newer drivetrains something similar would only be better.

See the Rangers overseas all the time. Not a bad looking truck at all. I'll be curious to see how the Canyon/Colorado sells.

NASCAR certainly seems to be the most managed form of "racing" I have witnessed. Is there really any point to the first half (3/4) of the race other than to create a wreck or two or fill time? They throw enough cautions, whether required or not, to ensure the field is grouped up. I'd rather they run 3 or 4 30 lap sprints for points on a race day than the current show. It's kind of like comparing the circus to Olympic gymnastics. They are both shows, but only one is really a true competition. NASCAR is the circus of auto racing. I used to be a die hard fan watching all the races, went to Richmond a few times, listened to the NASCAR channel on SIRIUS during the week. About two years ago I realized it simply was not worth my time. It is not racing, at least in the way I think of racing. F1 may not have all the lead changes, but at least I appreciate it is the result of all involved going as fast as they can for the prescribed distance and only interrupted for serious on track incidents.

I am a lifelong Ford fan. Couple old Mustangs ('65, '69), a Ranger, a couple of Sport Tracs. Really wanted a Ford, but they didn't have anything that appealed to me right now.

^^ True. But I didn't get an SRT Grand Cherokee either!

I purchased a GC Overland last fall. Had an Explorer Sport Trac and was looking for another smaller truck but nothing interested me. F150 was a non-starter due to size. The Explorer did not do anything for me, and there was no Eco-boost in a 4wd version. The GC caught my eye and after looking it over really appealed to me. Mine has just over 17k miles on it and It has proven to be a very nice vehicle so far. The seats were a little firm at first but are now pleasant (or I'm just used to them). It drives fantastic, rides nice, turns on a dime and seems to have enough room for what I need. I have a small trailer hauling my dirtbike and other things that won't fit inside. I get ~22mpg commuting in terrible traffic. Pretty easy to get 25 on the Interstate and a little more if on a 50-55mph country road. Computer calculates to within 1 mpg of what I calculate using miles/gallons. The engine and transmission have been fine. The tranny makes an occasional clunk when starting in motion. About the same as the 6-speed in my ST. Coworkers and friends that have ridden in it seem to really like it too.

It would be very difficult to overstate what he achieved during his tenure at Ford. Getting a large bureaucratic organization to shift direction and make so many changes is an achievement many have attempted, few have succeeded.

Double tapped somehow...

I recently purchased a 2014 Grand Cherokee Overland. Have to say I am really impressed so far. Love the look, drives exceptionally well, gets respectable mileage. Getting 22 avg for a terrible commute and get 25-26 highway. I am a lifelong Ford fan and owner but once my Sport Trac (2nd one I've had) got long in the tooth and I went looking for something new I didn't find anything at Ford that appealed to me. I really liked the utility of the Sport Trac. First of all I commute daily and need to deal with parking garages on occasion. Beyond that, I need some offroad capability for hunting and camping and the ability to haul stuff (dirtbikes, yard debris, furniture, building supplies) and the ability to tow a 21' RV trailer. A midsize truck was my first choice, Ford has nothing and the selection across the other manufacturers is antiquated at best. Of course GM announced the 2015 Colorado/Canyon shortly after I got the Jeep. As appealing as they are to me, I'm still not sure I could own a GM. The F150 is simply too large, end of story. All the Eco, aluminum, etc. is irrelevant to me. It would not even fit in my home garage and a friend who has one is always struggling to find a place to park for business meetings. So, with a small trailer the Grand Cherokee seems to do the job. Thought about an Explorer but something about it just did not appeal to me. Too soft, too carlike, I don't know. Also, the lack of an Ecoboost option in a 4x4 configuration was a showstopper (no, I didn't want the Sport version). To add, my wife likes the Grand Cherokee so much she is considering a GC or the Cherokee to replace her Pathfinder.

I will not argue with that.

I'm not sure anybody here really knows the answer on whether poor mid-size truck sales are due to lack of a modern design or truly no market exists. Honda is releasing a new Ridgeline, Chevy/GMC are releasing a new Colorado/Canyon, Toyota continues to build the Tacoma. Ford and Dodge are out of the market. So, not even industry agrees on one particular answer. Clearly Honda and GM think a new design has the opportunity to capture sales. I'll be curious to see what the new TRD Pro Tacoma really is. I had a '94 Ranger and it was essentially the same truck as the Ranger offered in 2012. What if Ford offered the '94 Explorer in 2012, would it have sold well? Of course not. Vehicles must evolve. Vehicles don't always have to be perfectly practical either. Look at the Raptor, nobody NEEDS a Raptor. But they get it because they like it, they want it even in spite of the poor mileage, large size, etc. What if they built a ~88% scale Raptor that got decent mileage with 4 or 6 cylinder Eco-Boost, 8-10 speed tranny, aluminum body, and so on? Cool truck, and without the large size and high cost of ownership. I think they'd sell quite a few. Of course they would have 'practical' versions as well. I believe sales went to SUVs and CUVs due in large part to no viable mid-size truck design. Build one and they can capture market from other manufacturers.

Some better pics of the Canyon all-terrain. http://indianautosblog.com/2014/01/2015-gmc-canyon-112071/2015-gmc-canyon-side-view-at-naias-2014

I hear you ^^^. I think Ford has a winner on their hands with the '15 F150. Still too big for my use, but a nice looking truck. 700lbs is a big deal. Just imagine a 90% scale version with all the same engineering. That's what I want.

Looking at the Canyon vs. the Colorado, it's apparent they have worked hard on the aero for the GMC. Includes active grille shutters and the front airdam is pretty low. Without people or some object to compare to, the truck does not look like a small truck. It's just a tad bit larger than the Sport Tracs, albeit quite a bit lighter.

I'm sure they think sales will come from Tacomas, Frontiers, Ridgelines, F150s, Ram 1500s and various crossovers too. And yes, some will come from Silverados/Sierras. They must think the combination of the med and large (Silverados/Sierras) is greater than the large models alone. We'll all know soon enough what the actual impact will be. GM even said many left to the crossover market that they hope to get back. http://www.freep.com/article/20140112/BUSINESS03/301120015/GM-revealing-2015-GMC-Canyon-midsize-pickup

Information coming out today. As anticipated, a restyled Colorado. They mention a six speed manual. That's different. Either way, it will answer the endless debates on whether there is really a market for a modern rendition of something smaller than the 1500/F150. http://www.caranddriver.com/news/2015-gmc-canyon-photos-and-info-news Better photo gallery: http://www.autoevolution.com/news-g-image/2015-gmc-canyon-unveiled-photo-gallery/177349.html#sjmp

They have released pictures. The Canyon is GMC's version of the Chevy Colorado. Same chassis. http://www.autoevolution.com/news/2015-gmc-canyon-unveiled-photo-gallery-74581.html

Canyon = GMC. Thank you, good point.

A Canyon and a Colorado?? Is that right? If so, curious to see what the Canyon is that differentiates it from the 2015 Colorado. Much smaller perhaps?

I saw a couple of them driving around yesterday. They definitely have their own look. The one that was black with the nice wheels looked really nice I thought.

I does not suggest I think Ford made a mistake. The context was that Ford has done that with other vehicles (Fiesta, Focus, etc.) and he implied that was not an option for gaining efficiencies with a smaller truck. I merely pointed out that it was an option going back to the redesign of the Ranger. Ford chose not to. I'm not questioning their reasons. Their business decision does not work for me personally, and for one of the rare moments in my life I no longer own a Ford. But that does not make it a mistake on the part of Ford. I do think the declining sales of small and mid-sized trucks is due, in part, to the lack of a modern offering. How can there be sales when there is NO restyled small or mid-sized truck with a quality interior and modern drive train? You can't expect sales of something that does not exist. Without any competition, Toyota can sell a reasonable number of Tacomas while investing practically nothing in innovation. Ford has concluded that even if they did offer a modern rendition in the U.S. that this is not a market to pursue. Fine.

I agree. Put the same transmission and engine improvements into a chassis that weighs 800-1000lbs less and has less frontal area and you'll get the same relative benefits.

I get that and already stated that I understand they made that decision. No need to chime in with the pretentious response.

Ford does make a smaller truck they sell around the world. They could have made it suitable for US sales and gained the benefits. They've done the math and chosen to limit their offerings to the F150 market and above, I get that. And I just sold my Ford ('08 Sport Trac) and bought elsewhere.