Will Ford bring this sporty SUV to our market?
The Ford Bronco name is not new for North American buyers. First launched some 55 years ago in 1965, it was a ‘money-maker for Ford in North America.
Then in June 2020 after a huge USD1 billion development investment and without a new model for almost 24 years, an all-new Ford Bronco was launched in two variants. Targeted for the American market is was an instant hit despite the fast moving Covid-19 pandemic. The Bronco is designed to rival the Jeep Wrangler with a ‘fresh’ exciting look and better on road dynamics.
Now, five months after its launch, Ford is introducing the Bronco Sport. This is the Bronco of small SUVs which is designed for adventure-seekers who welcome the return to roads and trails less traveled.
With unmistakable Bronco styling and unrelenting Bronco capability, the smaller sibling of Bronco two-door and first-ever four-door SUVs joins the family with its own idea of fun. As with all Broncos, 4×4 is standard, and this rugged SUV is engineered to handle whatever weekend adventure its owner has in mind.
Now, this version of the Bronco might make its way to Asia Pacific in 2021 and here is why.
The chassis is built on the Ranger pickup’s fully boxed steel frame with independent front suspension. The solid rear axle is mounted with five locating links for its coil springs and both ends are controlled by external reservoir Bilstein off-road shock absorbers.
The Bronco Sport’s base engine is a 181-hp, 190 lb.-ft., 1.5-litre EcoBoost inline four-cylinder engine and there is also a 245-hp, 275 lb.-ft. 2.0-litre EcoBoost I-4 engine. Both engine versions use an 8-speed automatic gearbox.
Pricing in North America starts from USD28,155 to USD32,160 which is about RM113,760 to RM129,942 before taxes which means with ASEAN assembly in place we could be seeing this new Bronco Sport in Malaysia for less than RM270,000. Interested?
There is no need to persuade Ford Motor engineers to build right hand drive versions as Ford Australia is already looking at building right hand drive versions of the Ford Bronco as well as the Ford F-150 pickup truck. This was hinted back in July 2020 when both vehicles were hinted for Ford’s IMG markets which refers to Ford’s regional markets that includes Australia, New Zealand, India, Thailand, Malaysia and other ASEAN nations.
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Press Release: Ford Bronco Sport is smartly designed to transport two mountain bikes standing up in its cargo area – and two cyclists up front. Four available accessory bundles – in addition to more than 100 factory-backed standalone accessories – let owners easily make the vehicle their own by outfitting it to transport kayaks, skis, camping equipment or whatever gear propels their adventure.
Five trim levels are available, including the base model, Big Bend™, Outer Banks™, Badlands™ and First Edition™.
Built Wild 4×4 confidence
Like the larger Bronco, the all-new Ford Bronco Sport delivers the 4×4 off-road capability that made the original Bronco a legend. With off-road performance at its core, Bronco Sport provides solid footing on sand, snow, mud, rocks and more.
Bronco Sport’s suspension can take on rugged terrain and is complemented by Ford’s trail technologies. The small SUV’s Terrain Management System™ with up to seven available G.O.A.T. Modes™ helps drivers “go over any type of terrain” and in various conditions. Standard modes include Normal, Eco, Sport, Slippery and Sand; Mud/Ruts and Rock Crawl modes are available on Badlands and First Edition.
Class-exclusive Trail Control™ technology furthers the vehicle’s off-road prowess. The available feature enables a cruise control-like setting up to 20 mph forward and 6 mph in reverse for vehicle-controlled throttle and braking, letting the driver stay focused on navigating the trail.
For adventurers taking on rough and rocky terrain, the small SUV’s design includes made-for-the-trails departure, approach and breakover angles. An available class-exclusive front off-road camera with lens washer serves as a spotter and helps provide better visibility of the trail ahead, displaying the video on the center stack-mounted touch screen.
In Rock Crawl mode, the electronic power steering assist system is uniquely calibrated to provide more precise control and help reduce steering wheel disturbance during low-speed maneuvers over rocky terrain.
Off-road capability is further reinforced by four steel bash plates, plus available frame-mounted front tow hooks that can individually withstand static loads up to 100 percent of the gross vehicle weight. Badlands and First Edition can wade through up to 23.6 inches of water.
Thrilling performance borne of Bronco DNA
The Badlands and First Edition series are powered by a 2.0-liter EcoBoost® engine that produces a targeted best-in-class 245 horsepower and 275 lb.-ft. of torque for high-speed off-road performance. Base, Big Bend and Outer Banks series feature the proven 1.5-liter EcoBoost engine with a targeted 181 horsepower and 190 lb.-ft. of torque.
Both engines are paired with an 8-speed automatic transmission, while Ford Bronco Sport Badlands and First Edition add SelectShift® with steering wheel-mounted paddle shifters to help drivers maximize control both on- and off-road. A cooling system with additional transmission and rear-drive coolers keeps 2.0-liter models running strong over tough terrain.
The Badlands series comes standard with 28.5-inch all-terrain tires. First Edition comes standard with 29-inch all-terrain off-road tires with more aggressive, deeper treads that stretch on to the sidewalls for improved off-road traction.
Ready for fun to venture into the wild
Human-centered design led to special Ford Bronco Sport features such as class-exclusive liftgate LED floodlamps – because out in the wild, there are no streetlamps – MOLLE straps to carry extra gear, zippered seatback pockets for additional stowage, and even a built-in bottle opener in the cargo area.
Smart in addition to being rugged, the vehicle features a SYNC® 3 system with an 8-inch touch screen and compatibility with Apple CarPlay™ and Android Auto™. Other available technology features include Ford+Alexa and SiriusXM™ satellite radio.
The Ford Co-Pilot360™ suite of advanced driver-assist technologies is standard across the lineup, including Pre-Collision Assist with Automatic Emergency Braking featuring Pedestrian Detection, Forward Collision Warning and Dynamic Brake Support, Blind Spot Information System with Cross-Traffic Alert, Lane-Keeping System, Auto High Beam Headlamps and a rearview camera. Available Ford Co-Pilot360 Assist+ technology includes Adaptive Cruise Control with Stop-and-Go and Lane-Centering, Evasive Steering Assist and voice-activated touch screen navigation. Available Ford Co-Pilot360 Assist 2.0 technology adds Intelligent Adaptive Cruise Control with Stop-and-Go, Lane-Centering and Speed Sign Recognition.
