Ford Compact Pickup Truck: Coming Back After All, Sized Like Ranger?

What a difference a year makes.

Thoughout the long lead-up to the launch of its aluminum-bodied 2015 Ford F-150 full-size pickup, Ford has maintained that it sees no market for smaller pickup trucks.

But now, the company may be changing its tune.

DON'T MISS: Will Smaller Pickups Be More Popular Than Carmakers Expect?

In an interview with USA Today, truck marketing manager David Scott said that the company is evaluating its current and future trucks throughout the world for a smaller pickup that could be adapted for the U.S. market.

Importantly, he said that the mid-size Ford Ranger pickup now sold outside the U.S. would not be that vehicle.

It's a much larger truck than the Ranger compact pickup whose production ended almost three years ago: "90 percent of the F-150 size," he said.

ALSO SEE: Pickup Truck Gas Mileage, 2015 And Beyond: 30 MPG Highway Is Next Hurdle

Instead, Ford appears to be considering a true compact pickup truck.

Such a vehicle would be a segment smaller than the current Nissan Frontier and Toyota Tacoma mid-size trucks, which are now being joined in the market by the 2015 Chevrolet Colorado and GMC Canyon--also mid-sized.