It’s official: The Bronco is back

MANILA: The 2021 Bronco has finally made its world debut and for the first time will come in a four-door body along with the conventional two-door configuration and a smaller Sport trim.

Just like its predecessor 24 years ago, it aims to provide maximum 4x4 capability while incorporating new, innovative systems like off-road mapping and other drive technologies that weren’t available in 1996.

“Bronco’s advanced four-wheel-drive technology is at the core of its off-road capabilities, and at the heart of it all is Bronco’s exclusive Terrain Management System with GOAT Modes that is designed to help drivers better navigate any type of terrain,” said Mark Grueber, Bronco consumer marketing manager.

There are up to seven driver-selectable modes from Normal, Eco, Sport, Slippery and Sand, Baja, Mud/Ruts, and Rock Crawl.

Two 4x4 systems are available on all Bronco models, the base setup and advanced 4x4. The base system uses a two-speed electronic shift-on-the-fly transfer case while the optional advanced 4x4 has a two-speed electromechanical transfer case with an auto mode for on-demand engagement to select between 2H and 4H.

Power courses through a Dana 44 AdvanTEK solid rear axle and Dana AdvanTEK independent front differential unit. Both come with Spicer Performan-TraK electronic locking differentials for improved traction over rough terrain.

The Bronco comes with a segment-first Trail Toolbox that includes Trail Control (cruise control for low-speed trail driving), Trail Turn Assist (tightens off-road turning radii through torque vectoring), and Trail One-Pedal Drive (provides acceleration/braking control for more precise and confident slow-mode rock crawling).

It boasts of 295mm ground clearance, water-wading depth better than the Ranger at 851mm, breakover angle of 29 degrees, and departure angle of 37.2 degrees.

“Bronco two- and four-door models leverage the company’s Built Ford Tough durability and performance testing and take it even further off-road with Built Wild Extreme Durability Testing in the harshest possible environments, including the brutal trails of the King of the Hammers off-road competition,” said Dave Pericak, director, Ford enterprise product line management, Icons.

The fully boxed, high-strength steel chassis is held up by long-travel position-sensitive Bilstein dampers with end-stop control valves at every corner. It is also available with a segment-exclusive semi-active hydraulic stabilizer bar disconnect design for maximum articulation and increased ramp angle index for off-camber terrain.

Another segment first is its 35-inch off-road tires direct from factory. A segment-first beadlock-capable wheels is also an option.

Under the hood of the Bronco two- and four-door are two engine options, a 2.7-liter EcoBoost V6 gasoline engine with 310hp and 542Nm of torque and a 2.3-liter EcoBoost gasoline engine with 270hp and 420Nm of torque. Both engines are mated to either a segment-first seven-speed manual or a 10-speed automatic transmission.

The seven-speed manual transmission generates a class-leading crawler-gear ratio of 94.75:1 while the 10-speed automatic transmission offer a maximum crawl ratio of 67.8:1.

For the smaller Bronco Sport, its Badlands and First Edition series are powered by a 2.0-liter EcoBoost engine that produces best-in-class 245hp and 373Nm of torque while the Base, Big Bend and Outer Banks series use a 1.5-liter EcoBoost engine with 181hp and 258Nm of torque. Both engines use an eight-speed automatic transmission.

Both the two- and four-door Broncos offer an open-air experience with its frameless doors and roof panels that can be removed along with the rear quarter windows.

The cabin takes inspiration from the first-generation model, using rough and rugged materials and with colors and materials that take after natural palettes and outdoor gear.

There’s a segment-exclusive 12-inch multifunction color LCD infotainment system with SYNC 4, grab handles built into the instrument panel and center console, MOLLE hooks mounted on the seatbacks, and 12-volt power connections.

A 360-degree camera system is made possible by SYNC 4 along with class-exclusive off-road spotter views to added visibility while off-roading and rock crawling.

The tough part about off-roading is the cleaning up after, but not in the Bronco. It comes with washable rubberized floors with integrated drains and marine-grade vinyl seating surfaces that resist mildew. Instrument panel surfaces are wipeable, with seamless silicone rubber on the dash-mounted hero switches, while rubber touchpoints protect against dirt and water. Six available upfitter switches mounted overhead are silicone-sealed to protect against the elements and to make customization easy, with pre-wired leads to key accessory points.

Eleven color choices are available among the seven unique trims (base Bronco, Big Bend Bronco, Black Diamond Bronco, Outer Bank Bronco, Wildtrak Bronco, Badlands Bronco, and the First Edition Bronco) and can be combined with four content packages for total personalization.

The base two-door 2021 Bronco is priced in the US at $29,995 (about P1.486 million).

“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 4x4 segment and take people further into the wild. 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,” said Jim Farley, Ford chief operating officer.

Photos from Ford

Also read: Ford PH marks new territory this August with all-new SUV