Ford Bronco
Pandemic be damned, we’ve seen a flood of exciting new products lately, but few have generated anywhere near the buzz of the Ford Bronco. Make that Broncos—plural—
because the Detroit automaker is rolling out three different versions—the familiar Bronco, in two-door and four-door models and a sport model—all with the same rugged DNA. And Ford is hinting that still other variants may be in the works.
The smallest, the Bronco Sport, was the first out of the gate. It’s about the size of a Ford Escape crossover, with which it shares some underpinnings. But don’t think of it as just an Escape with bigger tires. The chief engineer Adrian Aguirre suggests, “It punches way above its weight.” The Bronco Sport is able to handle extreme off-road conditions and can make even novice drivers feel like a pro, thanks to its goat (goes over any terrain) mode. A dial accesses settings that include throttle, transmission and electronic nanny systems, to maximize grip, according to road surface.
An upgraded goat mode is standard on the bigger Broncos. They are loaded with creature comforts and are as capable and mannered on-road as off. The SUVs share the same, body-on-frame chassis as Ford’s rugged Ranger pickup. But, like the smaller Sport, the chassis—and pretty much everything else—have undergone extensive modifications specifically designed to help them traverse the toughest trails you can find.
The Ford Broncos should be rolling into showrooms about when this article appears and will come in both two- and four-door styles. Bronco announces its rugged intentions with doors and a roof that can be removed and names for the various models like Badlands and Wildtrak. It can be decked out with bike and roof racks, camper tops and holders for your fishing rods, even marine-grade seating, rubberized flooring and drain plugs. The Sasquatch package includes 35-inch tires.
The Ford Bronco Sport starts out at a surprisingly reasonable $26,820. The Bronco is expected to come in around $29,000 for the two-door, $33,000 for the four-door. Of course, with optional audio systems, engines and all the other accessories, you could push those numbers up substantially.
