Ford Bronco no nearer to Australia

Ford CEO Jim Farley says the corporate may “after all” engineer the Jeep Wrangler-rivalling Bronco for right-hand drive, however proper now it’s too busy clearing its order backlog, principally from North America.

That theoretically applies as nicely to the Bronco Sport, a crossover that shares its bones with the Escape however has been designed to look extra just like the rugged Bronco.

Mr Farley stated the corporate wanted to spend money on manufacturing capability if it wished to promote the Bronco – which makes use of the identical T6 ladder-frame platform because the Aussie-developed Ranger and Everest – if it wished to take the automotive correctly world a la the Mustang.

“We may do Bronco and Bronco Sport for the globe for certain. However we’ve got like a 12 months or two of orders for now, we’ve got a variety of work to do with capability earlier than we will even take into account that,” Mr Farley informed CarExpert.

“In fact it may be engineered, like Mustang, however we’ve got to spend money on the capability.”

He famous the corporate has been busy rolling out the complete Bronco vary since its preliminary launch in 2021, with the Everglades and Raptor the newest additions.

“We’re nonetheless within the first or second inning… So give us a while,” he added.

The Bronco is a two- or four-door, body-on-frame off-roader with retro styling and a spread of petrol engines.

The bottom turbocharged 2.3-litre four-cylinder engine produces 205kW of energy and 427Nm of torque and is mated to both a seven-speed handbook or 10-speed automated transmission, whereas the twin-turbocharged 2.7-litre V6 makes 235kW and 556Nm and is out there solely with the auto.

The Raptor, revealed this 12 months, packs the identical twin-turbocharged 3.0-litre V6 because the Ranger Raptor, albeit with 312kW and 597Nm – 20kW and 14Nm greater than the ute.

Each two- and four-door fashions function detachable roof panels for all passengers, together with detachable quarter window panels whereas the hardtop is in place. A delicate high is customary on the four-door mannequin.

The detachable doorways are frameless, one thing Ford touts as a class-exclusive.

Two four-wheel drive techniques are provided throughout the vary. The much less superior of the 2 includes a two-speed digital switch case, whereas the “superior” setup positive aspects an automated mode able to transferring between modes relying on what’s required.

There’s a Dana 44 strong rear axle and an impartial Dana front-differential unit, though Spicer Performa-TraK digital differential locks can be found.

The four-door Bronco Raptor builds on these off-road credentials with an upgraded rear axle, position-sensitive damping with Fox 3.1 inside bypass semi-active dampers, higher torsional rigidity and 122mm extra floor clearance than the bottom four-door.

The Bronco Sport is a much less rugged automobile, although its Bronco-inspired styling has helped it stand up the gross sales charts.

In accordance with Carsalesbase, within the first half of 2022 it was the tenth best-selling automobile in its phase, simply behind the associated Escape.

It’s accessible solely with all-wheel drive and an eight-speed automated, although there’s a selection of a 135kW/260Nm turbocharged 1.5-litre three-cylinder engine and a 183kW/373Nm turbocharged 2.0-litre four-cylinder engine.

A set of G.O.A.T. (Go Over Any Terrain) off-road modes function.

The flagship Badlands upgrades to a twin-clutch all-wheel drive system with a differential lock, designed to imitate a correct mechanical diff.

It’s additionally able to shifting torque to both wheel on the rear axle relying on the place the traction is.

There’s additionally an off-road cruise management system able to maintaining the automotive under 32km/h going ahead and 10km/h in reverse.

Following the discontinuation of the slow-selling EcoSport and Endura, Ford Australia at the moment presents three SUVs: the European-sourced Puma and Escape, in addition to the massive Everest.

That leaves a variety of North American SUVs out of attain, together with the massive, unibody Explorer, and even bigger body-on-frame Expedition.