Ford Bronco first look!

[Payman]

Impressive. 

https://www.caranddriver.com/news/a33277335/2021-ford-bronco-specs-revealed/

[Gotta-Qik-C7]

Chevy dropped the ball! This is what The Blazer should have been! Looks cool AF!

[Payman]

Needs a 302 version (Coyote).

[Soup DeVille]

Needs a 302 version (Coyote).

I'm sure we'll see that or the Raptor 3.5 in the next year or two.

Unfortunately, the tow rating is 3500 lbs, which puts it out of the running for replacing the LC.

[MX793]

With what felt like years of teasers and hype, I thought for sure I'd be hugely disappointed, but this looks pretty good.  I'm not even really an off-roader type and I find this pretty appealing.  V8 would be cool, but I doubt we'll see it.  The 2.7TT is a pretty potent motor, should offer decent enough performance.  It does have a bit of that bloated, tall sides, tiny windows look that the FJ-Cruiser had, with heavy A pillars, that tend to hinder visibility when maneuvering on a tight trail.  The Wrangler has more classic proportions in that regard.  But since you can pull the doors easy enough, that should help with visibility when crawling.

[Laconian]

Strange powertrain choices. A three cylinder? Do little turbo mills provide enough low end torque to go off-roading?

[Payman]

3 cylinder? It's the 2.3 4 cyl, and 2.7 6 cyl.

Seems strange though, that it's so far removed from the retro craze era of 2002-2009. I believe this was first rendered in 2004? If so this is one of the longest to market ideas ever.

Edit: ah, the lame "Sport" model has the 3 cyl. My bad.

[Morris Minor]

It'll be a huge success. I'd like to be a Ford salesman.
https://youtu.be/804v_uYrsko

[MX793]

Didn't realize those dark pockets on the exterior of the doors were windows.  That's a pretty cool feature.

[Raza]

It's very cute. I'm beginning to warm up to it.

[Payman]

Lol, fekkin Ezra Dyer. Ford mentions the front fender tie down rings are rated for 150 lbs, and are good for securing a canoe. Ezra wonders how you'd see over a canoe tied down across the hood. What a maroon.

[MrH]

This thing is ridiculously cool.

Kind of sad the 7-speed manual (with a crawl gear!) is only available with the 4 cylinder terbow.

[2o6]

Strange powertrain choices. A three cylinder? Do little turbo mills provide enough low end torque to go off-roading?

The Bronco Sport is a blocky Escape with a better AWD system; the 1.5L is fine for those buyers needs. I actually really like the Bronco Sport.


------------

I think it looks super cool, although I doubt I'm the target market.

The only thing is that when internet people hype the shit out of a product, they rarely ever show up to the dealership. Or, they turn on the car 9 months after it leaves the factory (See GT86). People are already complaining about dumb shit, and literally no one has driven the car yet.

The only concerns I see is that I truly wonder how successful this product will actually be. "Jeep" is a lifestyle brand, and arguably, it's performance is irrelevant. People buy Jeeps because they gotta have a *Jeep*. The last Bronco was made in 1996 ish, and I don't know if "Bronco" has the same power. I wonder how well this will sell after the hype dies down.

[FoMoJo]

I'm sure we'll see that or the Raptor 3.5 in the next year or two.

Unfortunately, the tow rating is 3500 lbs, which puts it out of the running for replacing the LC.

I would have expected it to be similar to the Ranger seeing that it's supposedly based on the same platform.  Ranger is 7500 lbs.

[MX793]

I hope they come out with a special "Pursuit" edition in white.

[MX793]

I would have expected it to be similar to the Ranger seeing that it's supposedly based on the same platform.  Ranger is 7500 lbs.

Suspension on this is no doubt a lot softer, which will hurt tow ratings due to stability concerns.

[CaminoRacer]

The only concerns I see is that I truly wonder how successful this product will actually be. "Jeep" is a lifestyle brand, and arguably, it's performance is irrelevant. People buy Jeeps because they gotta have a *Jeep*. The last Bronco was made in 1996 ish, and I don't know if "Bronco" has the same power. I wonder how well this will sell after the hype dies down.

Ford is also a pretty big lifestyle brand with the F-150, if we're being honest. But you're right, they need to tap into that.

What makes this better than a Wrangler?

[r0tor]

They definitely didn't half ass this... Good Job

[MX793]

Ford is also a pretty big lifestyle brand with the F-150, if we're being honest. But you're right, they need to tap into that.

What makes this better than a Wrangler?

Last I checked, Ford doesn't hold F150 jamborees or have national gatherings devoted to the F150.  There's brand loyalty and then there's lifestyle branding.  Jeep and Harley are lifestyle brands.  They sell as much on belonging to a "club" as on the merits of the products themselves.

[Morris Minor]

They could run an optical fiber strand through each of those hood tie-downs - corner/edge markers.

[CaminoRacer]

They could run an optical fiber strand through each of those hood tie-downs - corner/edge markers.

TRON

[Payman]

Ford is also a pretty big lifestyle brand with the F-150, if we're being honest. But you're right, they need to tap into that.

What makes this better than a Wrangler?

The front suspension is a biggie.

[Soup DeVille]

Lol, fekkin Ezra Dyer. Ford mentions the front fender tie down rings are rated for 150 lbs, and are good for securing a canoe. Ezra wonders how you'd see over a canoe tied down across the hood. What a maroon.

I believe that was a joke.

[Soup DeVille]

Last I checked, Ford doesn't hold F150 jamborees or have national gatherings devoted to the F150.  There's brand loyalty and then there's lifestyle branding.  Jeep and Harley are lifestyle brands.  They sell as much on belonging to a "club" as on the merits of the products themselves.

Which, to he honest; is a big turn off for me.

I want a vehicle, not a membership in a club

[Soup DeVille]

I would have expected it to be similar to the Ranger seeing that it's supposedly based on the same platform.  Ranger is 7500 lbs.

Yes, and the F-150 with the 2.7 can tow 8000, and the last Bronco pulled 6000.

I was hoping for 7500 at least; 6000 would have been OK, 5000 would be Ok-ish.

3500 is just too little.

[Payman]

I believe that was a joke.

Dunno man. I remember when C&D marvelled at the new F-150, with its fancy lockable tailgate. They mused it must be because getting your tailgate stolen is a real problem. Apparently none of them own an ATV or dirt bikes.

[Morris Minor]

Which, to he honest; is a big turn off for me.
I want a vehicle, not a membership in a club

The lifestyle thing is golden for the likes of FCA & Harley. Few companies have that  - I guess Tesla does, for now... And Apple used to, during their pre-commoditization era.

But I agree - if you want a Wrangler, but not the identity & the stereotypes associated with being just another sheep in that flock, this is for you. Land Rover had a chance with the new Defender, but IMO they went too effete, nowhere near agricultural enough.

[MX793]

Yes, and the F-150 with the 2.7 can tow 8000, and the last Bronco pulled 6000.

I was hoping for 7500 at least; 6000 would have been OK, 5000 would be Ok-ish.

3500 is just too little.

IIRC, Wrangler is only rated to 2000 lbs.  Seems like smaller SUV tow ratings have been dropping over the past 15 years or so.  Some is surely the shift to car-based crossover platforms.  Although even the old Jeep Liberties were only like 5000 lbs.  Nissan Xterra was the same.  Been a while since we've seen a smaller SUV that could pull more than 6000 lbs.  The old S10 Blazers were about 6000 (maybe 5500?).  First generation Dodge Durangos could pull like 7500 (depending on trim), but 2nd generation were reduced to 5900 lbs (less depending on trim)

[Payman]

The lifestyle thing is golden for the likes of FCA & Harley. Few companies have that  - I guess Tesla does, for now... And Apple used to, during their pre-commoditization era.

But I agree - if you want a Wrangler, but not the identity & the stereotypes associated with being just another sheep in that herd, this is for you. Land Rover had a chance with the new Defender, but IMO they went too effete, nowhere near agricultural enough.

Agree with the Defender. They royally messed that up.

[Laconian]

I've read enough articles to be pretty pumped. It looks like they really sweated the details.

It's not a car I'd buy for myself, but I'd surely rent it for Moab, but I am pretty happy about Ford lighting a fire under Jeep's smug dinosaur butt.