Ford Bronco

70 per cent of Ford Bronco customers are new to the brand

The success story of the Ford Bronco continues as the brand confirms that 70 per cent of its clientele are new to the Blue Oval brand. It’s further stated that this demographic is in fact departing from competing brands, which positions the American 4×4 as an aggressively competitive product.

Based on information sourced from Ford Authority, this result was expected after the heritage 4×4 amassed 190 000 reservations when it was officially unveiled. Now that sales are underway though, we have a clear understanding that majority of these figures are conquest sales.

According to Ford Motor Company, 70 per cent of 2021 Ford Bronco buyers who have placed an order thus far have come from other brands. In July, a total of 3 277 Broncos were sold. 60 per cent of these conquest sales are accredited to the Ford Bronco Sport of which most were sold to previous Jeep owners.

The Ford Bronco Sport is based on the Kuga platform and acts as an entry-point to the Bronco range with two four-cylinder turbopetrol models on offer. Despite boasting a unibody construction, the manufacturer promises that it has has “off-road performance at its core”, providing solid footing on “sand, snow, mud, rocks and more”.

 

Ford says it will replace every single Bronco's moulded-in-colour hardtop - Road/Show​

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Even if you've already received your Bronco, Ford will replace the hardtop -- and there's worse news if you haven't gotten your SUV yet.

It's not a good day for certain 2021 Ford Bronco owners, and those with pending deliveries. On Thursday, the automaker announced a campaign to replace every moulded-in-colour hardtop built for Broncos produced with the option.

Whether owners took delivery of their SUV, it's awaiting a quality check or hasn't begun production, every last one will get a new MIC hardtop.

Ford told Roadshow the existing hardtops are not up to the automaker's standards, but stressed these issues are only cosmetic. The problems do not affect their safety or functionality. All Broncos with soft-top roofs are not part of the replacement campaign.

For anyone who already got their hands on the hotly anticipated Bronco, there's no action required. Ford will send these owners a letter in the coming weeks with instructions on how the automaker will install the new MIC hardtop.

For those waiting for their SUV while in transit, or if it's ready for delivery at the dealer, customers can still take delivery and then receive the same letter in the near future.

However, the Blue Oval plans to prioritize the oldest SUVs first, and the first replacement units won't be ready until October.

Now, the worse news. For those who noticed their Bronco's build date came and went, it means the SUV is stuck in production limbo.

Ford said SUVs in this category await replacement MIC hardtop roofs, but it does not have updated timing just yet. Those awaiting a new build date will receive additional information in September.

For customers whose SUV is scheduled for production, expect delays, too. The company said these customers will receive updated timelines in October.

There's an even worse part. Anyone who sees their Bronco is not yet scheduled for production may be in for a lengthy wait. The automaker said if an order for a 2021 model isn't for a First Edition, it's being bumped to the 2022 model year. Ford plans to begin production of the 2022 Bronco in late December.

 
The 2021 Ford Bronco Sport Is A Normal SUV With A Healthy Imagination

Most of these will never drive over anything rougher than a speed bump, but it's still fun to pretend

Value and Verdict

Overall, I liked the Bronco Sport. Its bones are just mainstream SUV, sure, maybe with some enhancements to make it more capable off-road, but it does commit to the part of the rugged off-roader, and that gives it a certain character that helps save it from SUV anonymity.

It’s got an angle, and it plays that angle up, and if that’s an angle you’re interested in, you can play along too, and have a good time without really sacrificing anything compared to most mainstream SUVs or crossovers.

If you like the look, the handy little details, the rubber mats, the rock-horse animations, the generous cargo room, and the little easter eggs like this catcus-scene stamped on the back of one of the cubbyhole mats:

...then by all means, have at it! Life should be fun, and Ford is working to make a mass-market SUV a little more fun, which I applaud.

The one downside is that it seems that extra bit of fun isn’t cheap. While the base Bronco Sport price isn’t bad at $27,215, the prices climb pretty steadily throughout the ranges, and the ones I tested had MSRPs of over $50,000, which strikes me as too damn much.

These make sense from the start price up to the mid-$30s or so, but beyond that I really don’t get it.

The good news is that all of the features I actually like about the car are the ones that you’d find on the Base trim: rubber mats, opening rear window, general look, and so on. I don’t really think the higher trim levels are worth the money, and I definitely don’t think the Bronco Sport makes sense at $50,000.

But $30,000? Sure!

Ford’s got a decent mainstream SUV here, and it’s got that extra element of a personality. Sure, it’s a manufactured, slightly forced personality, but it’s still fun, and a car that makes you smile, even if you can’t completely rationalize why, is a good thing.


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Ford Is Embarrassed By The Ford Bronco Hard Top Problems, Decides To Replace Them All - Jalopnik​

The company called me to make it clear that it knows how badly it dropped the ball on the Bronco's hard top, and it's trying to make it right.

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“I’m gonna patch you in and ... do some introductions” were a Ford representative’s first words in a surprise call to me last week. Seconds later, I found myself in a teleconference with Jeff Marentic, the company’s General Manager for Passenger Vehicles and with Mark Grueber, the Brand Manager for the Ford Bronco.

I had no idea what this discussion was to be about, and it took a while before I figured it out: Ford wants me to tell you, dear readers, that it knows it screwed up with the Bronco hard tops, it’s embarrassed, and it’s trying to make things right.

“Call you in 10 minutes couple key guys to talk bronco,” read a cryptic text message from Ford yesterday after a company rep left a voicemail saying he wanted to “catch up with [me] on some news [Ford is making] on Bronco.” I wasn’t really sure what this meant, but I rolled with it.

Shortly after receiving the call, I could sense a sombre tone. It was apparent that Ford was being very careful with its messaging on whatever this topic was, because the call was clearly well rehearsed — more so than other PR correspondence I’ve experienced.

This wasn’t going to be an exciting announcement of a new car or feature, that much was obvious; something was afoot.

“I’m going to let Mark ... help you understand what we’re doing from a customer satisfaction and customer experience actions to try to make this as right as we can with our customers” Marentic told me. “We remain committed to deliver for these customers, and the most important thing is to get this right and reward them for their patience.”

At this point, I was still a bit unsure what this was all about, but I gathered that customers were having issues with the Bronco, a vehicle that I knew had been suffering production delays and early quality woes.

 
Ford Bronco Riptide Concept

Bronco® brand, the Ford outdoor brand of Built Wild™ and only-4x4 vehicles, revealed the 2021 Bronco Riptide custom build vehicle, designed with West Coast fun and factory-backed accessory personalization in mind.

Following the 2020's Bronco OG and Bronco + Filson Wildland Fire Rig concepts, the new Bronco Riptide project vehicle is designed for spontaneous outdoor adventures. With the roof off, doors removed and replaced with tubular doors, and surfboard rack and boards above, there is plenty of open air for the fun and sun to shine in.

The Velocity Blue exterior is meant to evoke tropical ocean hues. With durable marine-grade vinyl-trimmed seats in Black Onyx and Dark Space Gray and rubberized washout flooring, the Bronco Riptide custom vehicle never shies away from a carefree day at the ocean shore.

"For this Bronco Riptide project, we imagined a customer who enjoys the open air and a free-spirited West Coast lifestyle," said Missy Coolsaet, Bronco color and materials designer. "We wanted the vehicle to demonstrate how Bronco customers can personalize their vehicle, letting different types of customers visualize what they might want to do with their future Bronco."

Based on the 2021 Bronco four-door with Sasquatch™ Package for even more Built Wild capability, the Bronco Riptide vehicle features 35-inch mud-terrain tires mounted to 17-inch factory wheels with optional Ford Performance beadlock rings, Dana™ AdvanTEK® electronic-locking front and rear axles, a high-clearance suspension system with Bilstein® position-sensitive long-travel shock absorbers, plus exclusive Bronco Terrain Management System™ with seven G.O.A.T. Modes™ designed to help ensure Bronco goes over any type of terrain.

https://www.netcarshow.com/ford/2021-bronco_riptide_concept/

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Ford Bronco Riptide makes waves with factory-fitted accessories

Designed for “spontaneous outdoor adventures”, the Ford Bronco Riptide project vehicle is designed to off the scope of factory-backed accessory personalization available with Ford’s reborn icon.

“West Coast Fun” is the theme in mind, something rather apparent with the Bronco’s roof off, doors removed and replaced with tubular doors, surfboard rack and boards above, and general openness which gives a genuine air of beach bugginess to the Bronco.

Intending to evoke tropical ocean hues, the exterior of the Bronco Riptide is finished in Velocity Blue while the chunky and utilitarian interior is finished in Black Onyx and Dark Space Gray marine-grade vinyl with rubberized washout flooring.

“We wanted the vehicle to demonstrate how Bronco customers can personalize their vehicle, letting different types of customers visualize what they might want to do with their future Bronco,” said Missy Coolsaet, Bronco colour and materials designer.

The Bronco Riptide is based on the Bronco four-door with Sasquatch Package which includes 35-inch mud-terrain tyres mounted to 17-inch factory wheels with optional Ford Performance bead lock rings, Dana AdvanTEK electronic-locking front and rear axles, a high-clearance suspension system with Bilstein position-sensitive long-travel shock absorbers, as well as exclusive Bronco Terrain Management System with seven G.O.A.T. (Goes Over Any type of Terrain) Modes, ensuring the Bronco’s prowess no matter the terrain.

The reason for showing off the Ford Bronco Riptide, as well as previous Bronco OG and Bronco + Filson Wildland Fire Rig concepts is to showcase Ford accessories available to customers at the time of purchase, the benefit here being that the cost of factory and dealer-installed accessories can be added to their vehicle finance contracts, allowing for a slightly more palatable experience when getting carried away in the vast Bronco options list.

 
Ford Bronco 4-door

Packed with the latest off-road technology, the Ford Bronco's early years are the inspiration for new Bronco color choices for the 2022 model year.

Ford Bronco color and materials designers developed Eruption Green Metallic as a modern interpretation of Mallard Green, which was featured on first-generation Bronco models in the early- to mid-1970s.

"Automotive enthusiasts, and especially Bronco fans, are passionate about colors and will be excited about Eruption Green," said Barb Whalen, Ford color and materials manager. "Paint has a wonderful way of evolving because of technology. Eruption Green is a contemporary color, but there's a connection with Bronco heritage. It's evergreen-inspired, with yellow highlights that really tie it into nature."


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Dead: The Ford Bronco Pickup That Never Was: Report​

Ford was at one point reportedly fast-tracking the Bronco-based truck but now it is reportedly dead.​


Ford is reportedly no longer planning to build a Bronco-based truck that would have been a Jeep Gladiator competitor. The truck would’ve come out in 2024 or thereabouts, but now, apparently, will not be coming out at all.

From Automotive News:

Ford Motor Co. has scrapped plans to build a pickup version of the Bronco off-road SUV, according to two sources knowledgeable about the decision.
The automaker planned to introduce a Bronco-based pickup in 2024 but in recent months has informed suppliers the program was canceled, the sources told Automotive News. It was to be built at the same plant that assembles as the Bronco SUV and Ranger pickup in Wayne, Mich.
Ford spokesman Mike Levine declined to comment on the company’s future product portfolio but noted that “we continue to see strong demand for our full portfolio of rugged trucks and SUVs, including Bronco-brand utilities and our bestselling Ford truck lineup.”

Ford makes the full-size F-150, the midsize Ranger and the midsize Maverick, and the Bronco-based truck, if Ford made it, would likely have been something bigger than midsize but not exactly full-size. The truck was reportedly being fast-tracked this time last year, and, now that it is no longer, that is an indication of either the nimbleness of Ford, the unreliability of some car media, or both.

 
Ford Is Moving Fast On The Bronco Hardtop Replacements

Ford says replacement Bronco hardtops will begin reaching dealers "within the week."

A few weeks ago, Ford very delicately announced that it was facing quality concerns with the Ford Bronco’s molded-in-color hardtops. The company said it would be replacing all Bronco hardtops, and that production of hardshell versions of the off-roader would pause until the problem had been resolved. We still don’t know when production will return to 100 percent, but a new story from the Detroit Free Press says current hardtop owners are close to getting their replacement roofs.

To give credit where it’s due, Ford does appear to be moving fast. Production of the new top is “ramping up,” and tops are expected to begin reaching dealers within the week, according to a statement that a representative from the company made to the Detroit Free Press.

Once the new roofs have arrived at dealers, Ford plans to contact affected customers to “make arrangements for replacement.” From the news outlet:

“We’ve started the roof replacements on the hardtop. We’ll be continuing to ramp that up to replace the roofs on vehicles currently being held needing the new roof,” [Ford Bronco marketing manager Mark] Grueber told the Free Press. “Shortly, we’ll be starting to send the new roofs out to dealers for those vehicles that have already been delivered. We expect to be shipping the roofs and the Broncos with the new roofs within the week.”

 

The Bronco Raptor We've All Known Is Coming Has Leaked​

A new body code reportedly discovered in Ford's ordering system may reveal a Raptor-edition Bronco for the 2022 model year.​


Ford would be leaving untold sums of money on the proverbial table by not building a Raptor version of the Bronco. It was only a matter of time until the company did, and a little trove of information supposedly lifted from the automaker’s ordering system has teased some basic details about the biggest, baddest Bronco to come.

A user over at the Bronco6G forum has posted images of the Raptor’s page in Ford’s database, or so they claim:

After looking through the Model Year 2022 Bronco Raptor is coming around. Two different levels a base Raptor 373A and a higher package that includes lux in a 374A. Also see the new colors in Erupution Green, Hot Pepper Red and Code Orange. Really exciting stuff and will continue to see if there are other options available and keep everyone posted.

Code Orange is that Raptor color you’ve seen in all the F-150's marketing materials for the better part of a decade now. It would look mighty good on a Bronco. The user later updated their initial post to mention that the upgrade trim will include adaptive cruise control, a heated steering wheel, a wireless charging pad and a nondescript “Lux Package,” of which we don’t yet know the contents.

 
It's Official: Ford Bronco Raptor Coming In 2022

If you've been wanting a Bronco but upset it didn't have three amber lights in the grille, I have good news

I’m pretty certain we all knew this was coming, but now we all know that it’s coming. The “it” is a Raptor version of the new Ford Bronco, which, like the F-150 Raptor, will likely use the 450 horsepower, 3-liter Ecoboost V6, with Fox shocks, big tires (likely BFGoodrich KO2s), increased ride height, and, thanks to the clue of those three lights on the grille, width.

The three amber lights are called Front Identification Lamps and are required by the NHTSA for vehicles 80 inches or wider. The current Bronco comes in at 79.3 inches, so it was already riding that three-amber-light line, and the Bronco Raptor, it seems, will blast an extra 0.7 inches of raw, uncut wide into the Bronco, at least. From the very limited amount of information we can glean from the above screenshot, it looks like the wider plastic fender flares might be responsible for the extra width.

https://jalopnik.com/its-official-ford-bronco-raptor-coming-in-2022-1847715085

 
Volkswagen to rival the Ford Bronco with International Scout revival?

With the success of the new Ford Bronco, Volkswagen may be considering a revival of the International Harvester Scout. The new product, which will also square-off against the Jeep Wrangler, will fall in line with the German manufacturer’s current all-electric philosophy.

According to Motor Trend, the new product will just be called the Volkswagen Scout. The idea was brought up by Volkswagen Group of America Chief Operating Officer Johan De Nysschen during a conversation with media at a recent press event.

De Nysschen stated that Volkswagen Group owns the rights to the Scout name through an acquisition via its commercial truck division. Although it hasn’t done anything with the brand, this badge’s heritage and brand equity in the off-roading sphere is recognised. International became a part of the Volkswagen Group when its truck subsidiary, Traton, merged with Navistar just a few months ago. Navistar is the one who took over International’s operations when it went bust in 1985.

De Nysschen explained that while the Volkswagen Scout would aim to tackle the Ford Bronco and Jeep Wrangler, it would likely directly compete with the Rivian RS1 but at almost half the price. The Scout name is still in use by Navistar for its land vehicles over the one tonne gross mass threshold.

 
Ford Bronco Raptor officially confirmed for 2022 release

The Ford Bronco Raptor has been officially confirmed by the North American manufacturer as an extreme dune-bashing option for the 4×4 SUV that has been seeing impressive success in its local market. While details are scarce at the moment, Ford confirms that the new product will be available in 2022.

It’s expected that the Ford Bronco Raptor will sport the brand’s twin-turbocharged 3,0-litre V6 which offers 298 kW. It’s also probable that the brand may decide to install the larger 3,5-litre mill as found in the current F-150 Raptor. This example produces a more extreme 335 kW.

Other revisions made to the heritage off-roader will likely include a more capable set of tyres and an uprated suspension with a wider track.

Given the success of this new product, some reports suggest that the Ford Bronco range could be introduced into select international markets but sadly, a right-hand drive model still seems unlikely. The model has already been confirmed for areas such as the Middle East but the plants are struggling to keep up with demand.


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Forbidden fruit: Ford Bronco Raptor officially confirmed for 2022

It has been rumoured for quite some time, but now there is official confirmation that a Ford Bronco Raptor is in the works.

Ford revived the Bronco nameplate in 2020, as a boxy and rugged-looking rival to the Jeep Wrangler. Although the new Ford SUV shares its basic platform with the Ford Ranger, the Bronco has not been earmarked for right-hand drive production so for now the new SUV and its upcoming Raptor variant will remain forbidden fruit for South Africans.

No further details about the Ford Bronco Raptor have been released as yet, but the carmaker has confirmed that it is coming in 2022.

According to Motor Authority, the Ford Bronco Raptor will most likely be powered by a 3.0-litre twin-turbo petrol V6 engine with around 300kW on offer. Interestingly, this motor has also been rumoured for the next-generation Ford Ranger Raptor, along with a 3.0-litre V6 turbodiesel poached from the current F-150.

Currently the Bronco is offered with two turbopetrol engines in the form of a 2.3-litre unit with 200kW and a 2.7-litre V6 with 230kW on offer. Both are paired with the familiar 10-speed automatic transmission, although a seven-speed manual with a crawler gear ratio is also offered as an option.

 

Here's How A Ford Bronco Sport Looks After Rolling 400 Feet Down A Mountain - Jalopnik​

Yet another Ford Bronco Sport has crashed while off-roading; the driver sustained serious injuries.

The Ford Bronco Sport — a Jeep Compass competitor based on the Ford Escape platform — has been selling extremely well despite global supply chain issues.

Given this, it’s no surprise to see some of the little off-roaders hitting trails around the U.S., and it’s also no surprise that a few are getting into trouble (off-roading isn’t easy).

This latest news story out of Colorado shows the aftermath of a Bronco Sport rolling 400 feet down a mountain.

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Per the San Miguel County Sheriff’s Office’s Facebook page, a 23 year-old driving a Ford Bronco Sport Big Bend on the treacherous Black Bear Pass has sustained serious injuries after rolling their vehicle off a cliff.

The department’s press release from Sunday describes what happened, writing:

"Deputies have learned that the women were driving up Bridal Veil Road and entered the one-way Black Bear Pass going the wrong way. The passenger told Deputies they did not see the sign indicating the beginning of the one way pass. After a couple of switchbacks they decided it was best to turn around."

"The passenger then stepped of the vehicle to help the driver navigate, and while backing up, two of the wheels went high enough on the embankment to cause the vehicle to begin to roll. The 2021 Ford Bronco rolled off the cliff an estimated 400 feet, ejecting the driver, the dog, and the vehicle’s engine before coming to a stop."

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