A Look At The New Bronco
The New 2020 Bronco is a marvel in the making. The SUV was on the shelves for more than two decades waiting for the right time to steal away market share. The Jeep Wrangler appears to be the target. All that is known about the New Bronco is that it is built to hail the simplicity of its rustic roots, whilst simultaneously upgrading its image and tech to the most novel apparatus imaginable. The world is on the edge of its seat waiting for the great unveiling after Ford announced the return of the Bronco at the 2017 Detroit Auto Show.
History
The Ford Bronco is a legendary SUV that Ford produced from 1966-1996. The Ford Bronco was first engineered to capture a share of the off-road market dominated by the Jeep CJ and International Harvester Scout. The primary competition for the Bronco was the sturdy Blazer that Chevy first developed as a short truck. The Bronco was redesigned to compete with the Blazer by borrowing from the F-100 Ford truck platform. The subsequent models were similarly based upon the F-150 Ford truck platform. The history of the Bronco demonstrates a prime example of how the popular American SUV market of today came into existence via the marriage of Jeep and Truck designs.
Exterior
It is rumored that the New Bronco will have a much more apocalyptic look than its processors, like something built to rumble up and down the DMZ with sharp-shooters. Other sources speculate that it will have more traditional-styling like that conveyed by the images of the Australian Everest and Brazilian Troller. The Everest is similar to the Ranger model currently on sale in the US, and will be based on the new Ranger platform. Some are speculating that the Bronco will look a lot like the Jeep Wrangler it is seeking to compete with, hoping to again capture the versatile 4x4 compact SUV market. Like the Wrangler, the Bronco is supposed to sport a removable top. The resolution of the many exterior rumors will determine whether the New Bronco will stand out like something as iconic as the VW Beetle and Hummer or if it will simply blend in with the pack. Any pictures of the Bronco so far are speculative, however, as Ford has only given us a veiled teaser.
Interior
The images available for the interior of the Bronco speculate that the latest model will similarly be equipped with futuristic Detroit-styling. Detroit-styling has frequently sought to convey a sense of masculinity and Picasso-esque cubism. Looking at some of the mock-ups of the proposed designs, the various shapes convey all of these features. In its essence, it is almost as if a certain American Indian nature is imbibed into the artwork of the interior designs. The Detroit-styling has always conveyed a futuristic AI anthropomorphic robotic look, sprawling forth from of an evolving technology interface of controls. Some of the released photos of previous mock-ups indicate that it will also create a certain ambiance with mood ring invoking LED lights. Realistically, there's a good chance we've already gotten a preview of the interior with the new Ranger (pictured above), given Ford's tradition of porting interiors across models.
Powertrain
It is generally believed that the latest power prize developed by Ford during the recession will run the New Bronco beast. This turbocharged EcoBoost engine drives more than 325 Bronco horses, capable of hauling with 500 Newton-meters of torque (369 pound-feet). Fuel economy has always been a chief concern in manufacturing Bronco prototypes. The second generation Bronco release was delayed because of the 1973 oil crisis concern that people might not go for a larger less fuel-efficient model. The turbocharged engine is the most fuel-efficient naturally aspirated petroleum-fueled engine ever invented. It would be nice to see Ford come out with a new Constantly Variable Transmission (CVT), for a smoother shifting powertrain, however unlikely it is to premiere in this model. During their Q1 earnings call, Ford did confirm that a hybrid drivetrain will be available for the Bronco.
What Changed/What Stayed
Due to the large gap in the production years of the Ford Bronco, very few of the elements will likely remain the same. Some of the general engineering trends of building a crossover compact SUV with off-road capabilities would itself capture the essence of what a Bronco should be. The preliminary 2004 conception photos that attempted to recreate the Bronco's external image in its entirety, appear to be super-futuristic and overly-iconic with a monotone Jeep-like design. This unpopular design was scrapped for something that appears to have more subtle self-expression. It is speculated that the New Bronco may even be upgraded with an aluminum-body like that of the F-150 platform it has long been modeled upon. We can only wait and see how much of the inner and outer core of the 2004 rendition is borrowed for the New Ford Bronco and how much is simply borrowed from the Ford Ranger.