“Ford” reports that the legendary American purebred “Ford Bronco” will soon be available for order in certain European markets. The manufacturer expects that a small part of the cars will also reach buyers in Latvia.
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In this region, the Bronco will be offered in strictly limited numbers and will be available in extreme off-road versions, Outer Banks and Badlands, powered by a 2.7-liter V6 engine with 335 hp and 563 Nm of torque. The improved drive really justifies the designation GOAT (Goes Over Any Type of Terrain) given to the model, as the technology includes, among other things, a refined all-wheel drive transmission with reduced gears and even seven driving modes.
A symbol of the spirit of adventure
The original Bronco was created by Ford as a symbiosis of military transport durability and sporty Mustang performance, and debuted in the US in 1966. Combining the best of both worlds – a rugged 4×4 off-roader with a lively, sporty attitude – the model pioneered a whole new segment of adventure-oriented off-road vehicles.
The first generation Bronco proved its durability and agility by winning the 1969 Baja 1000 off-road race, a feat that was not repeated by other production 4x4s for more than 50 years. More than 200,000 copies of the first generation “Bronco” were sold in the United States, while in the period from 1966 to 1996 more than a million of these legendary cars were produced in five generations.
The design process for the new Bronco began with a digital full-size scan of the first-generation model to ensure that its strong proportions and iconic shape were preserved. Short overhangs and crisp, functional lines make the Bronco instantly recognizable and contribute to its outstanding off-road performance.
To get the maximum outdoor effect and even better visibility, which is important in difficult off-road conditions, all four doors of the model can be removed. Plus, it can be done in just eight minutes and only requires one tool for the job. On the other hand, frameless windows reduce the overall weight of the door, so they are light enough to be removed by people of any build. The special storage bags available in the Bronco Badlands allow the doors to be firmly fixed and stored safely in the cabin, so that they are ready to be put back in within minutes.
There are other removable elements and they also allow you to both customize and improve the off-road ride. The front grille and bumper can be swapped out for alternatives, while the plastic wheel arch extensions are designed to detach without damage in the event of an off-road incident and can be easily and quickly replaced.
Built to last, ready for anything
Ford’s 2.7-liter EcoBoost V6 Twin-Turbo gasoline engine with multi-point direct fuel injection delivers 335 hp and 563 Nm of torque. The Bronco comes standard with a 10-speed automatic transmission that provides optimal torque for smooth on- and off-road driving. The maximum gear ratio (crawl ratio) is 64.33:1, and it allows the “Bronco” to drive at 6 km/h at 2400 engine revolutions per minute. In this way, precise control of the engine during slow driving is ensured and the possibility of its stalling is significantly reduced, even in particularly difficult conditions.
The Bronco Outer Banks is equipped with an electronically controlled two-speed transfer case that allows you to switch between up and down gears with buttons.
“Bronco Badlands”, on the other hand, has a lockable front differential and a front stabilizer disconnect system, which ensures maximum wheel articulation when driving over difficult terrain. In addition, the two-speed electromechanical transfer case with automatic mode can seamlessly switch between two- and four-wheel drive depending on the conditions, allowing the driver to focus on the road ahead.
To meet the toughest challenges, the Bronco is built on a high-strength steel rectangular tube chassis with seven cross members. This means not only a convincingly robust basic structure, but also a suspension travel of up to 259 mm and thus impressive off-road capabilities.
Up front, the Bronco features an independent High Performance Off-Road Stability (HOSS) suspension with long-travel coil springs. Compared to the construction of the suspension bridge, this solution reduces the unsprung weight by as much as 20 percent, and also ensures an excellent ride and constant contact with the road surface, whatever it is. At the rear, the new model has a five-link bridge with variable stiffness long-stroke springs as standard. High-performance shock absorbers are also installed in the front and rear.
The Bronco Badlands comes standard with high-spec, position-sensitive Bilstein shock absorbers with external reservoirs. The additional fluid contributes to more intensive cooling in severe conditions, while the damping force, which automatically increases at the extreme points of the suspension travel, ensures precise handling in off-road conditions and smooth everyday driving.
Technology that supports every adventure
The Bronco’s ability to move in any road conditions is provided by the Terrain Management System, which allows the driver to easily select the mode most appropriate to the conditions. Along with driving modes such as Normal, Eco, Sport and Slippery, GOAT’s special off-road modes include Mud/Ruts and Sand, and in the Bronco Badlands version, Rock Crawl and the “Baja” mode that came from the racing tracks. Each mode optimizes throttle and steering response, as well as transmission shift points, according to the conditions.
The “Trail Control” function works similarly to cruise control. This means that all you have to do is set a speed of up to 31 km/h and the machine will automatically control acceleration and braking to maintain the selected speed. Meanwhile, the driver will be able to focus only on steering in difficult terrain.
When driving on narrow off-road areas, the torque vectoring system “Trail Turn Assist” will come in handy – by braking the inner wheel, it can reduce the turning radius of the car by as much as 40%. On the other hand, the one-pedal mode “Trail One-Pedal Drive” allows both acceleration and braking using only the accelerator pedal, which significantly improves speed control in difficult conditions.
Robust equipment, intelligent software
The interior design of the new “Bronco” is highly functional and rich in technology, but at the same time it is also durable and designed to withstand harsh conditions.
Handles are built into the front panel and center console for passengers to hold onto when driving over rough terrain. The center console has a wireless charging pad that keeps your smartphone in place even at an extreme angle. The surfaces of the front panel are easy to clean, but the physical switches have a silicone seal, while the touch points have rubber dots. In this way, they are protected from external influences and are easy to clean.
Although the Bronco is built for the toughest conditions, there are no compromises in terms of comfort and convenience. The 8-inch partial TFT instrument panel is connected to a 12-inch LCD central touchscreen and the latest generation “Sync 4” communication and entertainment system. Its “Ford Power-Up” technology allows software updates to be received remotely, so multimedia functionality will only improve over time.
At the top of the Bronco’s front panel are mounting points for a rack with 12-volt and USB power ports – a place to plug in cameras and mobile phones.
As standard equipment, the new “Ford Bronco” offers “Apple CarPlay” and “Android Auto” functionality, as well as “B&O Premium Sound System 8” with 10 speakers, including a subwoofer. Also, the basic equipment includes a 360-degree camera system with terrain monitoring, which is automatically activated when one of the off-road modes is activated. This gives the driver a view of the wheels that is not possible from the cabin and improves visibility in challenging moments such as climbing rocks.
