(November 9, 2009) Automotive News reports that the Ford Ka minicar and the global Ford Ranger will not be sold in the United States as previously indicated. Ford CEO Alan Mulally says Ka is too small for U.S. tastes.

Mulally previously had said both vehicles were under consideration for sale here. But the Ka, a minicar developed with Fiat, has been deemed too small for American tastes. The Ka is smaller than the subcompact Ford Fiesta, which will go on sale in the United States early next year.

"Our view is that Fiesta is about the smallest vehicle that we think will be a real success in the United States," Mulally told Automotive News.

At 142.5 inches long, the Ka is about 25 inches shorter than the Fiesta. But the Ka is a few inches longer than its sister vehicle, the Fiat 500, which Chrysler Group plans to sell in the United States in 2011.

The global Ranger is a new compact pickup, different from the aging Ranger currently sold here. It was developed in Australia for worldwide markets.

Production of the U.S. Ranger is scheduled to end in 2011. Ford has been looking for options to fill the compact pickup segment.