In the run-up to its global debut in the coming months, Ford has released a new teaser of its all-new Bronco SUV. The Bronco nameplate will make a return to Ford’s international line-up after a hiatus of more than two decades and is expected to be as rugged and off-road-capable as its siblings. The teaser highlights this ability by showing a test mule being put through its paces in the Mojave Desert.
The teaser doesn’t reveal the finer details of the SUV but Ford claims that they are testing all-new Bronco’s powertrain and chassis in an experimental prototype vehicle. This could mean that the test mule’s design details may not filter to the production-ready Bronco.
However, we can expect the Bronco to get a removable roof and door panels, rounded headlights and three-door and five-door body styles, just like the Jeep Wrangler in international markets. Do note the fourth-gen Wrangler that launched in India in August last year is only available in five-door guise.
Based on the same ladder-frame chassis as the Ranger pick-up – called the T6 platform , which is similar to the Endeavour SUV sold in our market – the Bronco is expected to share the 274hp/420Nm, 2.3-litre four-cylinder turbo-petrol engine (from Ford’s EcoBoost range of engines) with the pick-up. In addition, the SUV may also get a 2.7-litre, V6 turbo-petrol engine that is tuned to produce 330hp and 542Nm of torque.
Ford’s 10-speed torque convertor automatic gearbox is a certainty, as is a four-wheel-drive system. A manual option of the SUV may also be on offer.
Ford is unlikely to bring the Bronco SUV to the Indian market. However, the brand is working on a number of models that will emerge from its joint venture with Mahindra, including an SUV that will share its underpinnings with the next-gen XUV500 and a Marazzo-based MPV,
Dipan Sur
Viraaj Bhatnagar
