Sigh. Ford has said that, despite between 70,000-200,000 annual sales in the last decade,  it did not make financial sense for them to sell a small pickup truck in the United States (or something along those lines). Head scratch. 

Being that this little Mazda is built right along the new Ford Ranger in other parts of the world, it won’t be coming here either. And that’s sad, because look at this thing… it’s totally bad-ass!

[Source: carguideblog.com via MazdaMovement| Thanks for the tip Bill!]

While Mazda has not revealed any specifications, the power-train in the Ford Ranger adds insult to injury: “2.2-liter four-cylinder engine producing 148 horsepower and 277 lb-ft of torque, and a 3.2-liter in-line five-cylinder engine producing 197 horsepower and 347 lb-ft of torque”. Yes… small diesels.

Ford is choosing to focus on electric and hybrid vehicles for the economy starved people, and the magic that is EcoBoost, direct-injected turbo engines, for more conventional choices. Given that pickups, small and large, have been the bread-and-butter of the big three for decades, I fail to see why none of them have developed a small diesel for the North American market. B.S. excuses don’t work, just look at Audi, BMW, and Mercedes-Benz cars and SUVs.