1996 Ford Icon Bronco
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Ford Icon Bronco
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Year:1996
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Make:
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Model:
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Engine:V8
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Transmission:five-speed manual transmission
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Horsepower @ RPM:412
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Torque @ RPM:390
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Displacement:5000 L
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body style:
The Ford Bronco was first launched onto the market in 1966 where it reveled in 30 years of production, until being discontinued in 1996. But after 15 years of non-existence, the Bronco was brought back with a specially customized unit at the 2011 SEMA Auto Show.
The tuned-up Ford Bronco is the product of Jonathan Ward and famous Ford designer, Camilo Pardo’s hard work. The two men wanted to maintain the original Bronco’s classic aesthetic and design values, while also reinventing everything about the car down to the smallest details.
The Icon Bronco uses a 2011 Ford Coyote 5.0 liter V8 engine that delivers a total of 412 HP and 390 lb-ft of torque, more than doubling the original Bronco’s output of 200 HP. The engine is mated to a five-speed manual transmission and an Atlas II part-time four-wheel drive system.
And just like any other modern SUV, the Icon Bronco has been equipped with bucket seats with carbon fiber elements, tinted glass, a laser-cut stainless steel door, and cargo panels with Volcanic Black powder coated trim bezels.
Latest Ford Bronco news and reviews:
Is This the 2021 Ford Bronco II, aka “Baby Bronco?”
As Ford moves away from its line of sedans, it’s instead focusing (perhaps “concentrating” is a more appropriate word) much more heavily on its crossovers and trucks. As such, the Blue Oval has a swarm of fresh prototypes out on the road, like this recently spied compact crossover - leading us to ask, is this the new Baby Bronco?
Continue reading for the full story.
2021 Ford Bronco II aka "Baby Bronco"
In March 2018, Ford unveiled its plans for the next two years, which includes many new models and a shift toward crossovers in the U.S. The bigger news includes dropping most cars in favor of SUVs, a hybrid version of the F-150 truck, and a revival of the iconic Bronco. The latter will be joined by a smaller sibling with similar boxy cues. A baby Bronco!
Described as a vehicle "designed to win a growing number of people who love getting away and spending time outdoors with their families and friends," the compact SUV was partially revealed in a teaser photo. And based on what we can see, it’s aimed directly at Jeep. Specifically, while the new-generation Bronco will go against the all-popular Wrangler, the smaller crossover will take on the Renegade. There’s no official name for it yet, and details remain a mystery, but it could roll out for the 2021 model year.
Continue reading to learn more about the upcoming "baby Bronco."
Here’s Everything We Know About the New Ford Bronco
I read a lot of Bronco stuff in my research for this article and let me tell you right away that we are in for the ride of our lives. Ford has some balls and, if we are lucky, it will probably give us just what we wanted - a retro looking 2020 Ford Bronco with live axles, three doors, a cool “no-roof” mechanism, a modern engine, and a freaking spare tire slapped at the back. A gazillion rumors have surfaced over the past few years about the new Bronco, but the last teaser picture revealed a lot.
The Bronco always was a cool vehicle. All the way from 1966, but it wasn’t until that OJ Simpson situation that it reached the status of an automotive icon like no other. Interestingly enough, we’ve had to wait a quarter of a century for Ford to reveal an all-new Bronco, a vehicle that will be a staple of American off-roading culture and the first one in a long time to attack the likes of the Jeep Wrangler Unlimited.
This is what we know about the 2020 Ford Bronco.
Ford’s “Baby Bronco” Will Be Little More Than a Re-Bodied Focus
Despite a strong move towards more crossovers and trucks, Ford isn’t ditching all the good stuff its got going with its line of sedans. The latest is that the Blue Oval’s upcoming “baby Bronco” will take its underpinnings from the Focus four-door.
Continue reading for the full story.
Ford Teases Shelby GT500, Bronco, And Two New SUVs
Ford just released an extended outline of its product plan for the next few years, including a good deal of info on its line of SUVs, trucks, and off-roaders. The release also gives us a preview of the Mustang’s battery-assisted future, not to mention a slew of shadowy teaser images that includes a glimpse at the front end of the new Shelby GT500.
Continue reading for the full story.
A Ford Everest Raptor is in the Works; Could Lead to a Bronco Raptor
First, there was the Ford F-150 Raptor, then came the Ranger Raptor, but if Australia’s Drive.com is to be believed, Ford might have an Everest Raptor in the works. The Everest, the three-row SUV version of the Ranger, would theoretically be easy to give the Raptor treatment. Both the Ranger and Everest share similar frames and suspensions, along with the forward second of the cab.
So, what spurred this theory? No less than Ford Performance’s head engineer, Jamal Hameedi, in fact. He told Drive, “There’s no reason [we wouldn’t do an Everest Raptor],” he said.
Continue reading for more information.
Trucks & SUVs Are The New High-Dollar Collectables
Antique vehicle prices are a good indicator as to how popular and culturally esteemed a vehicle has become over the decades. While Ferraris, Porsches, and other exotics can pull seven-figure bids at auction, they’re old news. These days, classic pickup trucks and SUVs are exploding in value – especially those with exceptionally low miles and all its factory-supplied parts. A perfect example of this just rolled across the Barrett-Jackson stage in Vegas this past weekend. Check out this 1989 Ford Bronco.
This two-door SUV didn’t need a reserve to push its price skyward; it saw an organic auction end with the winning bid of $40,700. That’s a 146-percent increase over its original MSRP of $16,526! That same money would have bought 2.5 Broncos back in the day.
There are two factors for this Bronco’s high bid: one, yes, SUV and pickup prices are beginning to rise dramatically and two, this Bronco was practically perfect. It only has 1,606 actual miles, still rides on the original Goodyear Wrangler tires, has zero damage, and has tons of factory options. Making it even more special is its listing as a “promotional vehicle.” It was likely used by Ford for marketing purposes, perhaps at auto shows or advertising, and bought by a collected rather than being sold to the general public. We’ve got more information on this true survivor down below.
Continue reading for more information.
Ford WD-40/SEMA Cares Boosted Bronco
We’re a little over a month away from the opening of the 2017 SEMA Auto Show, and as you might expect from my favorite auto show of the year, the show offerings are going to challenge your imagination. This early, we’re already getting previews of some of the projects we’ll see at SEMA, one of which is this beauty of a retro classic. It’s called the Ford WD-40 SEMA Cares Boosted Bronco, and it looks nothing like O.J. Simpson’s White Bronco. To be clear, this is the OG 1966 Bronco, the first-generation version of a model that would last five generations and, arguably, one of the most infamous Ford SUVs in history.
This particular Bronco may not have the history attached to it. But it is the subject of a collaborative work undertaken by Aaron Vaccar of The Vaccar Co. and household chemicals company WD-40, the makers of the famous lubricant of the same name. Not much in the way of details have been revealed at this point, but we do know that this piece is a legitimate one-off creation that features design and color details that are inspired from WD-40. The treatment isn’t unlike what we’ve seen from WD-40, which has a history of supporting SEMA Cares over the years. Some of its past creations include a Ford WD-40 Mustang and a Dodge Challenger WD-40 that was created with the help of Chip Foose. The Ford WD-40 SEMA Cares Boosted Bronco will be in attendance at SEMA where it will eventually be auctioned for charity. All the proceeds from the auction will then be sent to a few organizations, including Childhelp, an organization that provides important services to abused and neglected children, and the SEMA Memorial Scholarship Fund, which provides scholarship help to students who are entering the aftermarket world of the auto industry.
Continue after the jump to read more about the Ford WD-40 SEMA Cares Boosted Bronco
"Pawn Stars" Steer Clear Of O.J. Simpson’s White Ford Bronco
By now, a lot of us probably know of Pawn Stars, the hit show from The History Channel that gives us a close look at the wheelings and dealings of Rick Harrison and his pawn shop-owning family. The show itself has given us plenty of unique items and moments over the years, but recently, a peculiar piece of Americana made an appearance on the show: O.J. Simpson’s 1993 Ford Bronco.
Yes, the same white Ford Bronco that Simpson was riding in during the infamous highway police chase in 1994 was being offered to Harrison by its owner, Mike Gilbert, O.J.’s former sports manager. Gilbert bought the car from O.J.’s former NFL teammate, Al (AC) Cowlings, the man behind the wheel during the police chase through Los Angeles. Not one to turn down arguably the most iconic Ford SUV of all time, Harrison welcomed Gilbert to his shop to talk about the SUV, even going so far as to take the SUV for a spin around the block. While Harrison did eventually admit that the Bronco was still in fantastic condition and could command millions in an auction, its provenance as having been involved in a double murder case, Simpson’s acquittal notwithstanding, made it very difficult for him to stomach purchasing it. He ultimately rejected Gibson’s offer of $1.3 million for the car, presumably saving himself the headache of having a car drenched in an infamous episode of American history in his inventory.
Continue after the jump to read the full story.
Anonymous Ford Engineer Leaks Juicy Details about the Ford Bronco
The 2020 Ford Bronco has been (unofficially) confirmed as a four-door SUV based on the upcoming 2019 Ford Ranger pickup and will be powered by the 2.7-liter EcoBoost V-6 matched with robust off-road capabilities like 19.5 inches of water fording – all for a price starting around $30,000. The information comes from a Ford engineer who spoke to Gear Patrol on the condition of anonymity. The insider also divulged some telling truths about the Bronco’s revival, including that Ford is now starting the third design phase for the iconic SUV, having not been satisfied with the first two because it “looks too much like the Wrangler.” Typically, vehicles only get a single design phase before being pushed into production.
The Bronco’s correlation to the Jeep Wrangler isn’t surprising since Ford used the Wrangler Unlimited as its benchmark in off-road capability, save for its rock-crawling abilities, claims the Ford insider. “If you’re familiar with the Ford Troller, out of Brazil, that’s the basic concept, but it’ll look like a four-door version of that,” the engineer told Gear Patrol. A two-door version isn’t happening because Ford doesn’t think it would sell. Power will come from “something like” the 2.7-liter EcoBoost V-6. In the 2018 F-150, that EcoBoost makes 325 horsepower and 375 pound-feet of torque – respectable numbers in a Wrangler-sized SUV. Sadly, the engineer says the Bronco won’t be the hard-core off-roader many are hoping. Rather, it’s designed primarily as a comfortable on-road, family-friendly SUV, though sprinkled with off-road hardware. When asked about a Raptor version, the insider said, “it’s not even in the works yet.”
Continue reading for more information.
Fan Forum Renders Four-Door Ford Bronco
Remember the Bronco rendering that took the Internet by storm nearly a year ago? Well, the same folks behind it have now rendered a four-door version of Ford’s upcoming SUV. Bronco6g.com is a forum site dedicated to unearthing rumors and compiling speculation on the heavily anticipated, sixth-generation Ford Bronco. While nothing official has surfaced regarding the Bronco’s design, Bronco6g’s artwork has become the unofficial face of what’s expected in 2020.
What’s more, the new renderings show the Bronco’s backside and possible rear tire carrier. Insider information also suggests the Bronco will have removable roof panels. Called the “Air Roof,” the system is similar to the Jeep Renegade’s MySky roof, which allows for open-air driving and in-vehicle storage of the panels.
But wait, Ford never built a four-door Bronco. Why start now?That’s a truthful statement and a good question. However, looking at history, it’s clear that four-door SUVs out-sell their two-door counterparts. The Jeep Wrangler JK is the foremost example. Jeep Wranglers and CJs all came with only two doors until 2007 when Jeep launched the Wrangler JK Unlimited. Since then Wrangler sales have skyrocketed, with the four-door Unlimited version accounting for roughly 80 percent of total sales. As for the Bronco, Ford has said it will ride on the Ranger T6 platform, which is also coming to America by the end of the decade. The Ranger is obviously offered with four doors, so why not capitalize on the platform and build an SUV with more interior space and the propensity to lead sales?
Continue reading for more on the 2020 Bronco rendering.
Baloney: Ford Bronco, Ranger Getting Solid Front Axle
Word is circulating the rumor mill that both the 2019 Ford Ranger and the 2020 Ford Bronco will have solid front and rear axles, making both the only light-duty contenders outside the Jeep Wrangler to use such a suspension setup. The news comes from Automotive News, which reported famed axle maker Dana confirmed both Ford products will use its “AdvanTEK gear technology.” AN then made the assumption this means solid axles. There’s only on problem…
It’s not true.
What is true is Dana has indeed been selected as Ford’s axle provider for the Ranger and Bronco. What isn’t true is the solid, beam-style design. Dana’s AdvanTEK gear technology is indeed used in solid axles, but is also used in independent suspension systems, as well. See, AdvanTEK is a gear technology, not a particular style of axle. Dana markets the AdvanTEK brand as “delivering more miles per gallon, enhanced vehicle performance, and maximum durability for the complete spectrum of light vehicles.”
Further more, solid axles are good at two things: off-roading and being extremely strong. Conversely, solid axles are not so great at on-road driving. Ever heard of the Jeep “death wobble?” While the Bronco and Ranger would benefit tremendously off-road with a solid front axle, the on-road trade-off is far too great for Ford to okay the idea. What’s more, Ford has confirmed the U.S.-spec ranger will be based off the T6 global Ranger. That pickup uses an independent front suspension design. And since the Bronco will be based off the U.S.-spec Ranger, it too will have an independent front suspension.
Keep reading for the rest of the story.
Upcoming Ford Bronco Won’t be a Rebadged Everest, Ford Says
The 2017 Detroit Auto Show brought plenty of exciting vehicle launches, but perhaps the most talked-about vehicle wasn’t even present – the Ford Bronco. Ford however, did confirm the Bronco was coming for the 2020 model year and that it will ride on the same ladder-frame chassis as the mid-size Ranger Pickup, which is also coming to the U.S. for 2019. Sad speculation soon surfaced about Ford simply rebadging the Everest three-row SUV and calling it done. Now we can report Ford has officially debunked that claim.
New news comes from Autoline, who interviewed Ford executive vice president and CTO Raj Nair on camera. Nair spoke directly and without reserve about the Bronco and its construction and relationship with the Ranger pickup.
“This new Bronco will be based off the Ranger platform and so it’s going to be a similarly sized vehicle to what you see in the Ranger,” Nair confirmed. “Now, for our American customers who have never seen that global Ranger, it’s a bit bigger than the Ranger we used to have here in the U.S., so I would say it’s kind of in-between in what you saw with that really big Bronco and then the smaller Bronco.”
The two Bronco sizes he’s referring two are the original Jeep-sized Bronco sold from 1966 through 1977 and the F-150-based Bronco sold from 1978 through 1996.
Thankfully, Ford isn’t just reworking the Everest SUV for the U.S. market. “No, it’s a separate vehicle,” Nair said. “It will be an incremental vehicle from the Everest. The Everest kind of serves a lot of off-road capability; maybe the space the Explorer serves here in the U.S., but with a body-on-frame construction with a lot more off-road capability for the rest of the world. This Bronco is completely unique from that Everest. It is body-on-frame and so again, focusing on that off-road capability.”
While the Everest is a great SUV with impressive capability, it would overlap the Ford Explorer’s market here in the U.S., just as Nair mentioned. Introducing such a vehicle would be redundant. Rather, the Bronco will be its own vehicle. What’s more, Nair even named the Jeep Wrangler as one of its competitors. Perhaps this means Ford will develop a dedicated off-road machine that’s actually worthy of the Bronco name.
Now if Ford would just add a Raptor package, the world would be complete.
Continue reading for more information.
Bronco & Ranger Confirmed! Ford to Revive Icons in U.S.
Ford has officially announced the Ranger pickup and Bronco SUV will indeed return to the U.S. after an extended absence. The confirmation was all but expected as word of the vehicles’ return has long been rumored. Ford has not revealed any major vehicle-specific details, but the production timeline was announced.
Ford says the Ranger will fall into the mid-size pickup category and be “incredibly capable yet fun to drive.” It will hit showrooms for the 2019 model year, meaning Ford will debut the pickup in the coming year. Joe Hinrich, Ford’s president of The Americas, said this about the Ranger. “[The] Ranger is for truck buyers who want an affordable, functional, rugged, and maneuverable pickup that’s Built Ford Tough.”
As for the Bronco, Hinrich says, “[the] Bronco will be a no-compromise midsize 4x4 utility for thrill seekers who want to venture way beyond the city.” It will arrive in showrooms for the 2020 model year and will be classified a mid-size SUV.
Though no other information was given, it’s easy to speculate about Ranger and Bronco. Both vehicles will be built at Ford’s Michigan Assembly Plant in Wayne, Michigan. This means they will likely share a good majority of parts, including their platform, engines, transmission, and interior.
Since Ford is sure to use a body-on-frame design for the Ranger, it would make sense for the Bronco to ride on the same underpinnings. Combine that with Hinrich’s words about a no-compromise mid-size 4WD utility for thrill seekers, and the suspicion of a body-on-frame SUV is undeniable. Perhaps Ford has the Jeep Wrangler in its sights.
Possible powertrains include the F-150’s new 3.3-liter V-6, the 2.7-liter EcoBoost V-6, and hopefully, the new 3.0-liter Power Stroke turbodiesel. Perhaps Ford will also include the new 10-speed automatic transmission, as well.
Continue reading for more information.
Ford Bronco and Ranger Will be Built in Michigan; Confirmation Thanks to... Donald Trump?
Love or loath him, Donald Trump has seemingly squeezed great news out of Ford Motor Company. Trump’s harsh and frequent remarks on Ford’s relocation of small-car production from Michigan to Mexico has pushed the automaker to divulge secret company plans on reviving the Bronco SUV and Ranger midsize pickup for the North American market.
Yep, Ford is bringing back the Bronco and Ranger. Trump aside, that’s news we can all get behind. The news comes from the chairman of the UAW local 900, Bill Johnson, in speaking with the Detroit Free Press.
Johnson is quoted as saying, “We hate to see the products go to Mexico, but with the Ranger and the Bronco coming to Michigan Assembly that absolutely secured the future for our people a lot more than the Focus does.”
Wow, clear as day, Johnson confirms Ford is indeed reviving the Bronco and Ranger. His further comments on securing the future for UAW workers also makes perfect sense. The Focus, a low-profit margin vehicle, is moving to Mexico to make room for high-profit margin SUVs and trucks. The Ranger will complete Ford’s F-Series lineup, spanning from the midsize segment up to the Class 7 medium duty commercial segment. The Bronco, on the other hand, will be one of four new SUVs Ford is debuting. These four SUVs likely include at least one model that’s no destined for North American sales, but rather will fall under Ford’s global arm.
Regardless, Ford is indeed bringing back two iconic nameplates. It remains to be seen what design and capability direction Ford will take the Bronco, but we highly suspect the Ranger will be a U.S.-spec version of the global Ranger already on sale around the world.
We expect Ford to make an official announcement or (even better) a debut of either product in the coming months. Auto show season is upon us, and timing is running out before the end of the decade. Will Ford debut the Bronco and/or Ranger this year? Let us know what you think in the comments below.
Continue reading for more information.
2020 Ford Bronco
Rumors have continually teased the automotive industry with speculation on the Bronco’s revival. A comeback for such an iconic name would surely spark interest while shaking up the SUV segment. Though it’s still speculation, most agree the Bronco will be based on the upcoming Ranger pickup and feature a body-on-frame design with a shared group of powertrain options. Styling, however, will be unique to each.
We’ve heard and written our share of news related the topic. Just recently, we brought you a rendering of what the next-generation Ranger might look like for the U.S. market and that it’s rumored to share its assembly line with the new Bronco. Before that, we reported that Ford is making way for both the Bronco and Ranger at its Michigan assembly plant by shipping production of the Focus and C-Max to Mexico in 2018.
Even fan sites and forums have been buzzing with anticipation. In February of 2016 Bronco6G posted a tantalizing rendering of the sixth-generation Bronco. It’s heavily based on the 2004 Bronco concept truck, which itself recalls the design of the original 1966 Bronco. As we said in our initial coverage of the rendering, we can’t find anything we’d change. There are several attributes we’re betting won’t make production, but that’s a different story.
Here we’re taking a closer look at the upcoming Bronco – or at least what the rumor mill and our own speculation can piece together. Keep reading for the full run-down and let us know your thoughts in the comments below.
Continue reading for the full review
Rod Hall Preps for his 50th Baja 1000 run with Restored Bronco: Video
Rod Hall is preparing for his 50th running of the Baja 1000 – the grueling off-road race that treks across 1,000 miles of unforgiving Mexican desert territory. However Hall isn’t building some one-off custom truck from scratch. He pulled his championship-winning Ford Bronco from the Off-Road Motorsports Hall of Fame in Reno, Nevada.
Hall has achieved more podium finishes than any American off-road racer and is the only person to competed in every single Baja 1000 event since 1967. Those are indeed staggering achievements.
The Bronco has an equally thrilling story. After taking an overall win at the 1969 Baja 1000, it was sold, raced, resold, and then sadly ended up in a junkyard in Southern California. Thankfully a race fan with a sharp eye found the Bronco and saved it from its fate. The Bronco then sat in front of a Denny’s restaurant for a number of years. The Bronco was then donated in 2003 to the Off-Road Motorsports Hall of Fame.
Now with the 2016 Baja 1000 approaching in November, Hall and his build team have began restoring the Bronco to its former glory. Ford caught wind of the story and sent over a Ford Racing engine. Other companies like BFGoodrich, Mastercraft, KC HiLiTES, Fox Racing, and Summit Racing have also joined the action with donated parts.
We will certainly be keeping up with Hall and his historic Bronco as the Baja 1000 looms closer.
Ford Fan Site Renders Sixth-Gen Bronco!
Rumors have been swirling with growing intensity that the Bronco will be among four new SUV Ford will release before 2020. With that in mind, Bronco fans at Bronco6G.com created a rather realistic rendering of what Ford might have coming.
Bronco6G says they fused together styling cues from previous generation Broncos, as well as the 2004 Bronco concept truck. The front grille, headlights, and fenders are unmistakably from the first-generation SUV – a model that saw showrooms between 1966 and 1977.
Rearward, the two-door SUV carries an all-original look, though the long side glass and squared-off fender openings recall Broncos of the past. Modern touches like large wheels, somewhat low-profile tires, LED lighting elements, and an electric recovery winch all bring the honest SUV into the 21st century.
While the rendering is merely an idea of what direction Ford might be taking, Bronco6G does claim insider knowledge that Ford has purchased a Jeep Wrangler and Wrangler Unlimited for benchmarking purposes. If that’s true – which is easily believable – the sixth-generation Bronco will surely be a competent off-roader with chops liken to the Wrangler Rubicon.
That means the Bronco will ride on a fully boxed, ladder frame with an traditional 4WD system that includes a two-speed transfer case, a solid rear axle and an electronic locking rear differential. What’s more, Ford is likely to borrow these parts from its F-150 parts bin, helping save development time and production costs. If that’s the case, the Bronco will certainly be a tough truck. Oh, and of course, it will wear an aluminum body.
Powertrain options are open to Ford’s vast array of engines. If the Bronco is indeed a two-door SUV, the F-150’s 2.7-liter EcoBoost V-6 should provide more than enough power. Ford may offer the 3.5-liter EcoBoost as an optional powerplant, perhaps in an SVT version further into the Bronco’s production cycle.
Then again, all this is just rumor, guesstimation, and hearsay. The sixth-generation Bronco might never get off the ground, it might be a unibody crossover, or in fact, it could be similar to this rather awesome rendering. Nicely done, Bronco6G.
Continue reading for more information.
The United Automobile Workers and Ford Motor Company have reached a future strategy agreement that include $10,000 signing bonuses for UAW members, the creation, or at least retention, of 8,500 jobs, and a $9 billion investment in new U.S. products, two of which include the Ranger midsize pickup and Bronco SUV.
Now UAW members must vote on the tentative plan.
This is the latest and most concrete news in the rumor mill surrounding the Ranger and Bronco – two vehicles that have been the topic of heavy speculation for more than a year.
The UAW and Ford have been in negotiation over what vehicles will replace the Focus and C-Max cars at Ford’s Michigan Assembly Plant once production of the two cars are moved to Mexico.
According to the Detroit Free Press’ unnamed source, production of the Focus and C-Max will move to Mexico in 2018 and Ranger production will start shortly after that, with the Bronco following sometime before 2020.
At this point, there are still no details on the Ranger and Bronco. Many suspect Ford will adapt the U.S.-spec Ranger from its global Ranger platform, with updated in the powertrain, safety, and body and interior designs. The Bronco is speculated to be a rebadged version of Ford’s Everest SUV, itself an SUV version of the Ranger pickup.
However, such an SUV could clutter Ford’s SUV lineup and provide unwanted competition to the Explorer. Perhaps Ford will stick with the Bronco’s roots and build a more rough-and-tumble SUV with Jeep Wrangler-like characteristics.
Regardless of which way Ford goes on the Bronco, it seems the two iconic Blue-Oval nameplates are ripe for resurrection.
Continue reading for the full story.
The United Automobile Workers and Ford Motor Company have reached a future strategy agreement that include $10,000 signing bonuses for UAW members, the creation, or at least retention, of 8,500 jobs, and a $9 billion investment in new U.S. products, two of which include the Ranger midsize pickup and Bronco SUV.
Now UAW members must vote on the tentative plan.
This is the latest and most concrete news in the rumor mill surrounding the Ranger and Bronco – two vehicles that have been the topic of heavy speculation for more than a year.
The UAW and Ford have been in negotiation over what vehicles will replace the Focus and C-Max cars at Ford’s Michigan Assembly Plant once production of the two cars are moved to Mexico.
According to the Detroit Free Press’ unnamed source, production of the Focus and C-Max will move to Mexico in 2018 and Ranger production will start shortly after that, with the Bronco following sometime before 2020.
At this point, there are still no details on the Ranger and Bronco. Many suspect Ford will adapt the U.S.-spec Ranger from its global Ranger platform, with updated in the powertrain, safety, and body and interior designs. The Bronco is speculated to be a rebadged version of Ford’s Everest SUV, itself an SUV version of the Ranger pickup.
However, such an SUV could clutter Ford’s SUV lineup and provide unwanted competition to the Explorer. Perhaps Ford will stick with the Bronco’s roots and build a more rough-and-tumble SUV with Jeep Wrangler-like characteristics.
Regardless of which way Ford goes on the Bronco, it seems the two iconic Blue-Oval nameplates are ripe for resurrection.
Continue reading for the full story.
If you got a new Xbox One for the holidays, or you picked up a copy of Forza Horizon 2, Microsoft has a present for you. A new DLC pack of cars titled the G-Shock Car Pack is now available, and it might be one of my favorite packs yet. The pack comes with six cars for $5, and like all good Forza updates it has a nice selection of cars for various types of racing. There are two bargain performance cars from the modern era with the Mazdaspeed 3 and Nissan’s IDx Nismo concept, and there are a pair of off-road warriors with the SVT Raptor Shelby and the 1975 Ford Bronco. The last two cars are special in their own way, and they are both considered cult classics: the Subaru Brat GL and the 1953 Ferrari 500 Mondial.
What makes this pack so great for me is the sheer collection of wildly different cars. The Mondial is one of the few four-cylinder Ferraris ever made and the Nissan IDx Nismo is one of the most interesting concept cars to show up in years. I also love the wild insanity that is driving the Subaru Brat and the Ford Bronco across the European countryside in Forza Horizon 2.
Like all previous car packs, this is only available for the Xbox One version. It is available right now.
Click past the jump to read more about Forza Horizon 2’s new G-Shock Car Pack.
Happy Thursday, everybody. We made it to the incredible milestone of five (5!) episodes. It may not seem like much, but it is our first step towards world Podcast domination. Also, for reasons that I can’t really explain, we spend a lot of time at multiple points in the podcast discussing the Ford Bronco. So, yeah.
In this week’s episode, Mark, Justin and myself find ourselves rambling about the Hyundai Equus, Mistubishi Lancer GT and the Ford Flex Ecoboost in the Weekly Wheels segment.
For the big news stories of the week, we cover the shenanigans that transpired over April Fool’s Day, and slowly built into a horsepower war. We begin with the BoldRide created Jeep rally hatchback, then we move to the deliciously powerful rumor of a Jaguar F-Type Club Sport. Moving the horsepower even higher, we talk about the rumored 700-horsepower SRT Challenger Hellcat, and finish the insanity with some talk of the 2,000-horsepower Trion Nemesis. There is a bit of talk about the current legal dustup with Ferrari and fan’s Facebook page, as well.
For the Q&A segment, we field a pair of great questions from you guys. The first involves our thoughts on the success of super-cheap superminis, like the Dacia, and if we think they would work in the states. Our second question involves our ability to maintain a critical viewpoint when dealing with cars or brands that we hold a certain loyalty to.
Both great questions that lead to some interesting discussion.
We finish with the new Own, Drive, Burn segment where we argue over the merits of the classic mud-slingers of the International Scout, Jeep Wrangler and Ford Bronco.
Make sure to keep all those comments, questions and suggestions coming. You can hit us up here in the comments, reach us on Twitter using our new podcast account @TopSpeedPodcast or you can reach us via email: Podcast@TopSpeed.com
Thanks for hanging with us for five episodes, everyone!! See you next Thursday.
Hosts: Christian Moe, Justin Cupler, Mark McNabb
Weekly Wheels: Ford Flex, Mitsubishi Lancer GT, Hyundai Equus
As automotive journalists, we see a lot of varying racecars and racing trucks, so only a few actually make us do a double take and think “what the…” Well, the 2011 Ford “Bronco” Trophy Truck is one of those vehicles that we just cannot walk away from.
This beast was built by Marshall Madruga in honor of the classic road-racing truck, the “Big Oly.” This off-road racing version of the “Big Oly” made its debut in 2009 at the Off-Road Expo in Pomina, CA. It also made a cameo in the Bilstein booth at SEMA, in 2009 and has been in a few magazines, including DirtSports, Off Road, and Bronco Driver.
So why is this important to you? Well, the 2011 Ford Bronco Trophy Truck has just popped up for sale on Ebay. To boot, this truck is even registered as street legal in the state of California.
So how realistic is it to drive this pickup on the road? Check out the full review to see if this is a feasible mode of transportation, or just eye candy to take to the dunes every now and again.
Hit the jump to read the full review.
The Ford Bronco was first launched onto the market in 1966 where it reveled in 30 years of production, until being discontinued in 1996. But after 15 years of non-existence, the Bronco was brought back with a specially customized unit at the 2011 SEMA Auto Show.
The tuned-up Ford Bronco is the product of Jonathan Ward and famous Ford designer, Camilo Pardo’s hard work. The two men wanted to maintain the original Bronco’s classic aesthetic and design values, while also reinventing everything about the car down to the smallest details.
The Icon Bronco uses a 2011 Ford Coyote 5.0 liter V8 engine that delivers a total of 412 HP and 390 lb-ft of torque, more than doubling the original Bronco’s output of 200 HP. The engine is mated to a five-speed manual transmission and an Atlas II part-time four-wheel drive system.
And just like any other modern SUV, the Icon Bronco has been equipped with bucket seats with carbon fiber elements, tinted glass, a laser-cut stainless steel door, and cargo panels with Volcanic Black powder coated trim bezels.
