55 years since the first generation model was produced, the highly-anticipated, all-new 2021 ford bronco has been revealed with a retro-inspired design. the family of rugged, ‘wild’, off-road SUVs now feature, for the first time, both a two-door and four-door model – each with detachable doors and rooftop panels. its heritage-influenced style combines with smart off-road technology to, once again, deliver ‘maximum 4×4 go-anywhere, anytime capability and confidence.’
all images courtesy of ford
‘we created the bronco family to elevate every aspect of off-road adventure and equipped them with class-leading chassis hardware and exclusive technologies to raise the bar in the rugged 4×4 segment and take people further into the wild,‘ said jim farley, ford chief operating officer. ‘they’re built with the toughness of an F-series truck and performance spirit of mustang – and come wrapped in one of the most stunning and functional off-road designs that’s true to the original bronco design DNA.‘
to start, the retro-future design of the 2021 ford bronco was initially created using a life-sized digital scan of the first generation model. as such, it retains the square proportions, short overhangs and wide stance. the side profile defines a flat, no-nonsense surface with clear-cut edges and robustly flared fenders, including the large, open wheel wells that aid quick-releases. exposed two hooks features on both the front and rear. the 4×4 offers a 11.6-inch ground clearance which ensures a class-leading water fording capability of up 33.5-inches.
based on a fully boxed, high-strength steel chassis, the bronco’s architecture is the same to support either a two- or four-door model. the former has a standard removable three-section roof system whilst the latter has four detachable roof panels. this, together with the easy-to-remove rear quarter window, creates a totally open, wild off-road experience. on top, the frameless doors can also be removed and stored onboard in special protective bags.
much like the exterior, the interior has been inspired by the first generation model, specifically the clear and intuitive gauges and controls on the instrument panel. it is located front and center with the transmission selector and modes controller in the center console below. it frames the 12-inch display which communicates its 360° camera system and features over-the-air updates. attachment points are integrated into the instrument panel as well as around the cabin to allow users to mount their own devices, from phones to more.
post-adventure clean-ups are easy in the SUV thankfully. to start, the natural-colored materials of the cabin are all tough and rugged to match the performance of the model. washable rubberized floors line the bottom and feature integrated drains throughout. wipe-able marine-grade vinyl surfaces also adorn the seats and body panels.
to match the go-anywhere capabilities, the 4×4 enhances a 2.7-liter ecoboost V6 engine that produces 310 hp and 400 lb.-ft of torque. there are two systems on offer: a base setup that utlizes a two-speed electronic shift-on-the-fly transfer case; and an advanced 4×4 system that features a two-speed electromechanical transfer case, which adds an auto mode for on-demand engagement. power is distributed to a solid rear axle and independent front differential unit – both available electronic locking differentials for improved traction over rough terrain.
to aid fun, drivers have a suite of up to seven driver-selectable modes, including normal, eco, sport, slippery and sand, with baja, mud/ruts and rock crawl. its exclusive trail toolbox offers another host of technologies to further elevate their off-road experience. this includes the trail control that offers cruise control for low-speed trail driving, trail turn assist to tighten turning radiuses, and trail one-pedal drive acceleration/braking control which delivers precise and slow-motion rock crawling when needed.
