2018 Detroit auto show: Ford Ranger returns

Ford has been content for years to allow other automakers to profit from midsize pickup trucks. When the company discontinued the compact Ranger in 2011, after a 27-year run, it was convinced buyers would transition to full-size trucks as the F-150 received a suite of new, fuel-efficient engines.

However, the midsize market has grown 83% in the U.S., on the outright success of GM's Colorado and Canyon models and the ongoing popularity of Nissan Frontier and Toyota Tacoma. This spurred Ford planners to recognize demand for a more package-efficient and maneuverable truck option. So the Ranger returns in midsized form for 2019, bringing a bevy of new technology with it.